Hey Guys.
I have been flying the Model Tech Magic Extra for a month or so and thanks to all of you on this thread. According to the posts I was able to get it real close on the first flight. I think I started at 4 3/4" and it was safe and easy to land.
CG is now 4 7/8" from LE. When I was at 5 1/8" back it was neutrally stable with the motor running. When the motor died during the maneuver it could not recover from a flat spin. It was an easy fix. I do flat spins when the motor is at idle.
When landing, I find that a little throttle up will allow the plane to actually glide a little and have some roll out on the ground rather than pancaking in because it can practically stop in mid air if your not careful with your flair.
I now fly it with a newer GMS 47 (it looks like the Tower Motor with the large muffler) and an APC 12.75x3.75 It will hover just under 1/2 throttle and pull straight up with authority at full throttle. My model weighs 4 lb. 9 oz. with what ever little is left in the tank.
Throws are 30 Deg. on ailerons and 45 Deg. on the tail feathers and use a Stylus radio with Acro card with lots of expo to keep everything under control. I am use two HS-85 servos for the elevator--one for each elevator half. I was thinking on mixing the elevator to the ailerons for better roll speed, but it's not necessary. Rolls are very fast now with the 5 cell pack. I use a 5 cell 500AR RX pack for better and crisper reaction compared to the 4 cell pack.
I did not like the 13x4W on the Magic Extra with a GMS 47. It flies much better with the APC 12.75x3.75. Yes, there close but the 14x4w seem to grip to well and would not let the airframe do a flat spin or snap very well at all. It now flat-spins and snaps good with the 12.75x3.75 and the CG is little farther forward too. Like a said it's now at 4 7/8.
Just a note on the GMS motor. On the first day, I and the rest of the "Motor Gurus" in the area, could not get the motor to tune. It would run and cut out, die out and was not tunable. Went home and took the head off to measure the head shim. And guess what...the factory used the thick .030 in the head space right from the factory. Took that out and replaced it with the other one in the bag. It's .003 and it ran hot. Burned out a glow plug getting it close to running good. Added the second .003 shim for a total of .006 head shim and now this baby was running good. I am now able to fine tune the low end so it had no delay and the top end was great too. Glow plug still looks like new one run after run. So far I have ran a gallon through it. Most of the guys are amazed at the power. I am new to Glow planes (About 6 months) so I can't compare it to other motors of the same size. If your interested you can pick up the motor at Model Engine Company Of America, Cermark or Great plains. Great motor at a great price. And let me know what you think.
I can get em for you too...$79.00 shipped.
BTW. I just picked up the FuntanaS by Hanger 9 and a New YS63. This power stuff is really cool
