JoeMamma

Hi Kent,

Thanks for the condolences.

Also, thanks for the offer but I just got started on another twin; a Seagul Piper Commanche.

Joe M.

sfl

Hello all.

I am wondering if there are still commander shrike owners/enthousiasts out here.

I might buy a BH commander shrike (when they get in stock), and convert it to electric.
But there is not a lot to be seen of read about the model. Even on youtube there's hardly anything about this model.

Would be nice if this thread could be reanimated!
Maybe some nice mods, pics of video's to be shared?

Regards Dave

kcforsythe

Hi Dave,

I ended up selling my Shrike but I would recommend the plane. If you do get one, I would recommend beefing up the structure around the landing gear in the wings. Add some wood and epoxy to make it stronger and you'll have a great durable plane. I was really happy I did mine as electric. It made for hassle free flights. The plane looks GREAT in the air. It's a real show stopper. I somewhat regret selling mine but wanted to fund other projects and I have A.D.H.D. when it comes to planes. I get bored with them quickly.

Kent

sfl

Nice to hear Kent.

As for the beefing-up: I will remember to do so.
I am still searching for some afforable 90 degree rotating electric retracts. I don't like the air-stuff, but the nice electric ones (for this weight) are expensive.

sfl

...nobody else ?

handyman 220

My Feedback: (54)

I can't offer any building advice as mine is still in the box. It is a beautiful plane. I'm glad I bought one while they were available!

sfl

I'm still waiting for them to stock again! Damn....

Ricardofuentes01

My Feedback: (2)

Rcmodeler.com.uk Aero Commander small 56" and I this 86" models. Don't buy the engines from them, get them somewhere cheaper. Ordered and waiting for it. I had a c-130 from ASM , boy what a disappointment. If anyone needs a C-130, Mr. Bob Sealy is your guy. Kit and hard work , but worth it. A jewel. Not a piece of crap like the ASM. No wonder they went belly up.
anyway, try with Mike for the aero Commander.

sfl

I can't find the adres you mentioned... rcmodeler.com.uk, rcmodeler.co.uk, rcmodeler.com... it's not the shop you mentioned i think. Can you please check? Also, what price is the aero commander over there? Because there is a shop in Nld where it's in stock, but the price is too high for my liking.

Also: keep us posted on your progress! I am curious.

sfl

Well, I got my commander!
Started to do some building. There's a lot of work, so it will be a while.
Finished aileron hinging and aileron servo mountings.

A few questions:
1.do any of you guys use counter rotating props? And if so, do you mount these with any down- or right-thrust?
2.did you have to do a lot of shaving/sanding to get the engine cowls to fit?
3.Regarding the light system. Can anyone confirm this is the right setup:
-navigation light on each wing - red/green
-navigation (continuous) light at the rear - white
-beacon lights underside fuse + rudder - red
-strobe on each wing - white
-strobe light at the rear - white
-Landing lights (motor + fuse) - white


Regards Dave

edit: (3) is confirmed by experts.

Lil Hoss

My Feedback: (58)

Hello Dave
Where did you find a Commander???

Thank you

Hoss

Ricardofuentes01

My Feedback: (2)

RCModelcentre.co.uk checked with my previous order. Price wise , once in the site you' ll see.
my AeroCommander had a hick up. One of the motors at full throttle burned the connection inside the motor and of course at 5 feet from the floor it is a bit hard to compensate quickly, so RIP. Started the C-130 again. Trying my smarts with Aero Works extra300 3D. Lets see how my 3D hard core fingers work this out.
RCMODELCENTRE.CO.UK. , mike would be your contact there.

sfl

@Hoss: i bought mine at www.verspaget.nl (that's the Netherlands)...

Still busy with the build. Just finished the forward retract installation (not the air retracts though). Did the steering servo in the wheel bay.
Now I'm waiting for the main rotating retracts (I decided to give the FMS 1700mm corsair electric retracts a try).

The struts that come with the kit are rubbish (and ugly), so I am trying to source some other struts (will try VQ P51 struts for the mains).

@Ricardo: sorry for your loss. 5 feet shouldn't neccessarily be a total loss, should it? No chance at repair?

Ricardofuentes01

My Feedback: (2)

Sorry to say, garbage . 5feet at full , Full throttle and servo for the elevator freezes. Futaba 617 , who would think.
ordered sbach FMS to get accurate fingers before hitting Extra 300 from aero works. Got engine 20 cc DLE and a lot of goodies to keep me busy on that one. Will keep Cessna 337 twin , BeaverDHC-2 and will keep little by little on the C-130 national guard electric with 4 each 5200 lipos.
keep you posted on that one. Will put maiden on you tube. Well. Keep em in the air.
R.Fuentes.

sfl

Please do, I'm very curious about the c-130!

sfl

Did some work on the commander.

Aileron hinged. Aileron servo's installed.
Elevator hinged, stabilizer glued. Elevator steering rods installed. Servo's installed.
Motormount, motor, esc, capacitor installed.
Front retract, steering servo installed.
Prepared main retract bays. Strut opening to wheel bay enlarged.

sfl

And rudder done too.

sfl

Nacelles and spinners.

sfl

I've replaced the front strut. Still working on the main retract/struts.... Hopefully I'll get some stuff I ordered, a week from now.

Does anyone know any numbers about their electric setup? I recently did a measurement, but was quite surprised by the numbers.
5s - G32 600kv - 12x8x2 prop - 60a ESC (everything x2) - seperate bec.
total: 65a - ~1200w - 2600gram thrust.

The latter surprised me, as I expected about the double.
Nevertheless, 2600 gramm thrust should suffice a ~5kg plane if you don't do 3d.

sfl

Almost done.

Spend hours and days figuring out the retracts.
Al that is left now is some sort of tray for the lipo's.
She's balanced at 60mm from LE with 2x 5s4000 and 40gr in the nose.

sfl

determined AUW at 5.5kg

sfl

5s - G32 600kv - 13x8x2 prop - 60a ESC (everything x2) - seperate bec.
total: 86a - ~1600w - 5500gram thrust.
That's more like it!

sfl

Had my maiden yesterday.
The plane wouldn't take off from the ground. Numerous runs on the field, full throttle, giving full up, nothing happens.
I think I should add a few cm to the front wheel.

There was one instance where I (finally) did manage to take off. A bit violently, suddenly the elevator took effect, and it went up hard.
Once in the air, it wanted to come down very hard, so I had to trim elevator up (maximum). And at that point it was manage'able, but still not pleasant.
It felt like the plane needs a decent speed and bleeds off speed fast when throttling down.
The air presence was great, it simply looked great in the air.

I managed to get the plane down. It was a pretty fast landing (it felt like it would drop down if I slowed down), nothing too eventfull.

All in all, it wasn't a a big succes, but I took the plane home in one piece. So....

I will try to give the front wheel a few cm extra, to give the wing some angle in takeoff. Other than that I will try to move the CG a little to the back. We'll see next time.

sfl

Update: the plane is flying and everything is fine! The front gear had to go up a few cm, now it takes of like it should! Gave the engines a washer up-trust also.
It looks great in the air and the sound of the two engines is awesome.

To be honest I am eyeball'ing the H9 spitfire, so thinking about selling this plane....

Quigleywins

As I'm interested in this thread I thought I say we are reading your posts with intest and thanks. Yours Paul T