haroldpo6

My Feedback: (10)

anybody built the cloud dancer 120 from RCM plans? would like to know the final weight and if it could handle a g-23 engine. i can't find any info on the 120 size in the forums. thanks for looking harold

haroldpo6

My Feedback: (10)

come on guys, someone has built one of this. alot of 40&60 size on forums but no 120

clouddancer120

Harold, The cd120 is my most favorite plane that I fly. I have all 3 sizes and 2 of the 120 size. One is powered by a 91 os 4 stroke with the pump the other is powered with a saito 120. the 91 is the best all around plane. as fred reese stated in his construction artilcle DO NOT USE GAS. he is right as I found that if you go heavy as you will with gas you will defeat the whole purpose of why the cloud dancer was designed. I am also in fl flying at several fields near sebring and avon park. My planes have been flown all over down here. I have built and helped others build 12 cd120s and also put a pair of saito 50s in the wing of one and made it a twin. It flew very well. regards Jack

fredsutton

Harold, I built the 120 size cloud dancer (short wing version) from the rcm plans in 2001. I have an RCS 1.4 gas engine on it and it weighs 11 lb 3 oz. I fly at 5000 ft elev and the RCS flies it with authority. It flies great and is not at all too heavy. It will stand still in a 15 mph head wind all day long. I also have a 60 size with a magnum 91 4-stroke and they both have the same delightfull characteristics. This is a Wonderfull airplane!

Fred S
Pueblo, CO

haroldpo6

My Feedback: (10)

thanks for the reply. i'm almost finished covering mine. with the firewall moved back 1inch and beefing-up the fuse a little, the balance with the g-23 was right on. I had ralph @ rcignitions install ch ignition on it that saved about 16oz. of weight. i don't have a final weight yet, maybe this week. thanks harold

clouddancer120

check the May issue of the AMA mag and my 3 clouddancers are shown in the focal point picture page. They are such a great plane I just can't help myself in promoting them. also a new email address clouddancer57@bellsouth keep your wings level!! have you got your cd in the air yet?

haroldpo6

My Feedback: (10)

got it in the air this weekend. take-off at half throttle,needed to add one click-up trim to elevator to have it flying level. very easy to fly and land. also very easy to see in the air. flew mosty at 2/3 throttle. roll rate a little slow. all-up weight about 12lbs with bathroom scales? flys very lite. this is going to be a great plane. harold

fredsutton

Glad to see you have the new cd in the air. You are right, the roll rate is a bit slow. If I build another one, I will add a little more ailerone surface, but this is not a 3-D trickster. It is a gentle great flying aerobat.

I also beefed up the fuse. The sides are lite ply instead of the stick construction called for. I had previously reinforced my cd 60 the same way after a dead stick hard landing broke the fuse in half. It actually helped my balance a little since I am running oversize engines. As you said the cd flies very light and the extra weight was not noticeable at all.

Have fun, the Cloud Dancer will make you look better than you are.

rcairplanenut

I have built one, I have a Super Tiger 2300 on mine. The engine weighs around 30oz the flying weight of the aircraft is around 12 ½ lbs. Its very light in the air its defiantly a floater. I also built the 40 and 60 sized Cloud Dancers.

SGG

DBono99

My Feedback: (1)

My Cloud Dancers.. I have 2 of the 40 size.. One of the 40's is a modified.. I also built the 60 size..Here are the pics.. I have a 4th one almost ready for covering..

Dan

FlyBoy95

I know this is an old thread but i have started building the CD 120 and was hoping for some help. I have come to love the CD as i have been flying one of the older 40's and need to step up as i have plans to build a TF giant F4u corsair and i want some experience flying larger models.
I have read the original articles which shy away from the use of a 'gas' engine for power due to.... (im assuming weight). I have a DLE 20cc RA that i thought would be great for this but as its my first larger build i was wondering what others who have got the 120 CD would recommend. The engine comes in at around 860g all up weight and i was planning on covering it with Sig Koverall. Where i am we are at sea level! i would prefer to move away from glow fuel with this larger model due to the running costs. Any thoughts / comments / ideas will be greatly appreciated

I posted this on another forum !!

I know this is an old thread but i was wondering if any of you had any luck with building a CD 120. Ive just started the build for mine doing the 96" version and was hoping for some advice . I have been flying the CD 40 for a bit and wanted to step up! i am in the process of getting all the parts for it. Unfortunately i cannot find the 15" SIG ww2 canopy anywhere in Aus so might have to order from else were.

I have posted on a few other threads but still have some questions.
I have only just recently started to build the CD 120 and it has only dawned on me that i need to choose and engine I know the article recommended Glow but I would prefer to move away from glow but i am a newby when it comes to gassers. I have heard a few stories about gassers and comparisons to glow etc....
If i was to run it as a glow I know i would be able to run an Evo 1.00nx (discontinued a few years ago) happily! but as even mixing my own fuel the price is high i want to look at the more economical and humble gasser.
This leaves me with quiet an issue!
I know id need to look at around a 20cc engine due to the weight of ignition.... etc...

The engines are -
1) DLE 20RA (fairly cost effective and easy to maintain while producing 'power')
2) Evolution 20cc GX / GX2 (semi-cost effective but uses the small 1/4-32 plug)
3) OS 22cc gas (heavy/ expensive)

Now each engine has its 'pros' and 'cons' but i was hoping for a little bit of help and maybe a recommendation from the more experience!
I am a full time university student so i dont have alot of cash (at least i try to save).

Personally i like the look of the DLE 20 RA, power, compact and still rather light.
My dad (experience of 25 years but hasnt flown in 10 like the evolution due to the 'glow' engine design)
It is my first larger build and first with a gas option!
I know the DLE can be tricky to run the throttle links and choke compared to the evo but the evo can throw the pump and sprays fuel from the carb. (3 down at the club continuously do at least).
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
My radio system will be a futaba 14SG with the 7008SB reciever and i am looking at hitec digitals for the surfaces.

And any indications on the sorts of strengthening you have done to the airframe / firewall / anything would also be appreciated! I like this plane as there aren't many out there!

Im looking forward to the problem solving and building of this incredible model!!!!!

Any help will be greatly appreciated as what ever avenue i go i will have to commit due to my financial situation!

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

How's this build going? Any progress to report? I'm fixin' to start building one myself soon. I'll be using a Saito 150 on mine.

ETpilot

I've been studying the CD 120 plans for a long while now. I plan to make it my next build once I finish my current build. It will be gas. I have an OS GGT 15cc and a VVRC low profile 21cc. Have to figure out which to use. Post pictures n info ref your build. I plan to start in a few months.

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

I have a short kit from LaserWorks, and am planning on building it with the 98" wing. This should present well in the sky! I have one of those GGT 15 engines, but it's reserved for a Kaos 90 I'll be building.

FlyBoy95

G'Day RD and ET,

Unfortunately I had a bit of a side track project middle of the year and then had to pay more attention to my studies. SO with respect to the build thus far......
I have competed the fuselage with some slight modifications to the original plan, using a little more carbon and fiberglass to add strength.
I have decided to run a RCGF 26BM engine (this is where the side tracking began)...,..
I started playing around with engine mounts / firewall design to try limit the vibration caused by the gas engine....
I found that a silicon (standard bathroom corking) a piece of rubber matting and custom rubbed extrusions with pieces of dowel worked best (although very heavy)..
I then starting playing around with the engine, I am tired with how heavy the standard gas engine is so I started by removing the ignition system, then bought a few of the OD G5 plugs ( extremely expensive but worth it in my opinion) I machined a brass insert (11/12mm to the glow thread) {you can by them} and started playing around with them as a new ignition system. After many tanks of fuel, some tuning and making a custom exhaust system I came up with a suitable engine weighing in at only 1100g ( still heavy but i needed to make a very noise friendly exhaust for the club I'm at).....
******Health Issues and studies*******
I will be finishing the model (fingers crossed) in the new year,
I am going to be fully sheeting the wings with .8mm Balsa I am doing a 2 part wing and using some Futaba Sbus servos. I have bought a power commander running 2 x 6v nimh eneloop packs, with a 11.1v lipo as a back up (last resort).
the entire fuselage is skinned with light balsa or light fiberglass cloth in places.... the rudder and elevator surfaces are skinned with a fiberglass sheet that i made up running around 1oz (2x 1/2oz lam).
I have also made my own cowling that I moulded from foam and then fiberglassed, carbon fiber and then sprayed with a high heat paint internally.

I will take photos some time in the near future as progress shots..... hopefully.... I have a terrible memory and often forget to do so...
Anyways gentlemen I wish you a safe festive season and good flying.

Regards,

FlyBoy

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

Here's the result of a long day in the shop yesterday, I hope you find it inspirational!

ETpilot

Thanks for the photo. Looking good. You are moving along. My build will be super slow whenever I get started.

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

A bit more progress to report. I sure do enjoy working with big sticks of wood, much easier than the little stuff. That wing is huge!

FlyBoy95

Ahhh!
That is a familiar sight!
Yes the larger build is nice!
I have decided to discard my use of the RCGF 26, in turn I will be using a Rotomotor 25. I managed to find one below cost ~$310AUD.
I have officially run out of room in my work shop so will be looking at building a new one soon.
I like the work RD, what will you be covering your model in?

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

I have a big stock of ChinaCote in the primary colors, still pondering a color scheme.....

ETpilot

Where do you purchase your ChinaCote? I've only used fabric and dope and would like to try the iron on covering.

You are progressing well on your build. Looking real good. It may be a few months before I get started.

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

I don't know if ChinaCote is an actual product name, but you can buy it at Hobby King for pretty cheap. It is pretty easy to work with too.

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

Its hard to get photos of this plane inside the shop due to it's size. I'm almost finished with it, just need to install the servos in the fuselage, then add some color details to the wings and fuse. I'm looking at doing it up very similar to what Fred Reese had on his original in the article from years ago.

ETpilot

Beautiful!! You did a great job on this build. Happy Flying.

RDJeff

My Feedback: (11)

Just need to glue on the canopy, fiddle with the flap linkages a bit, and replace a faulty servo extension on one of the ailerons. It weighs 11 lbs. 4 oz. RTF. I used a pull/pull setup on the rudder, carbon fiber pushrod for the elevator, Futaba 3305 servos except for the throttle. I'm afraid that Fred Reese did a nicer job trimming his model than I did, but I've never been very artistic. Now I have to wait until May to fly it.