Hey guys...

First of all, how are you guys normally securing your firewalls on the great planes, flatout series foamies?

Secondly, what do I have to do to get the engine to fit flush against the firewall? The holes all line up, but the large collar that is on the back-side's shaft of the engine does not fit through the pre-drilled holes....This is my first electric, so I wasn't quick to take the collar off, although I don't think its needed? I'm not sure. Thanks in advance for you responses.

all i do is use some 5 min epox to glue the firewall on, make sure u have a good bead all in all the corners

as fot eh collar, i had the same exact problem, the didnt really think their design through very well. all i did was drill the center hole out so the coolor went through. You dont however want to just take the collor off, because that is what is holding the motor together. With out it, the thrust of the prop will just pull the bell off of the arm.

I also used a small blob of epoxy. Then I used a Dremel with the cone-shaped tip to gently ream the holes slightly larger. It has worked really well. And I agree - don't dismantle the engine in any way. I'm just glad they supplied a really nice mount for the RimFire.

Yup, dremel tool and cone bit is what I used also, Just reamed it out a bit and it fits Perfect, I too am glad for there nice mount, and the template in the rimfire manual helps for amking new mounts for other planes alot.

this is my second rimfire, if i remember correctly the first one did not have such a large collar over the shaft, if i recall correctly instead of the collar + set screw it was secured to the can via a circlip like the ones holding the shaft in gws style gearboxes. i suppose you could remove it if you were running the motor upside down, inside the firewall with a prop adaptor. wich would explain why the mounts need to be revised.

the new ones do have that circlip plus the collar. so i just took the collar off and the clip holdes everything together. i havnt had any problems with it yet.

I removed the collar and I am going to look at it again tonight, but I'm almost positive it has the clip also.

No a few more questions from a first time electric guy.....How do you know which of the three yellow plugs from the engine go into the other three yellow female plugs from the ESC?

Also, How will I know if I have accidentally plugged my ESC into my receiver with the polarities reversed?

Thanks guys. It's like starting all over again.

Ok for the ESC motor hook up, put them into any one, if it runs backwards reverse any two wires, and if the polarity to the reciever is wrong, it just wont do anything, if its right you should hear some tone, either for programming mode or flight mode, look to the instructions for this, also if you go into the programing and set the timing where they tell you to for the outrunner motor it helps a bit.

Vertical, Can you elaborate a little more on the tones/programming/flight mode a little? I just got everything worked out, and the receiver and stuff hooked up correctly, but I did not hear any tones, nor do I know how to go into the programming mode. The instructions that came with the engine and the ESC don't really elaborate on anything. This is my best resource. Thanks again.

One more quick question....Do you need any type of break-in on electric brushless engines? I'm used to glow, feel so new to everything... Thanks again

here is a simple pic to show the motor/mount/apoxied onto the fw
and yes i removed the collar too

Alrighty, I put the collar back on for now, and widened the firewall. I'm going to position the ESC to balance it if possible. I installed the receiver and all of the servos tonight. Thanks for the feedback, Vertical, I'm still not clear on what you mean. And how about break in on these electrics?

let'er rip no breakin needed
the tone will let you know you have it hooked up correctly

Yeah, no brakes for 3-D, they use it in sailplanes so the prop will stop and fold up, and sometimes it can be uses to stop a non folding prop to creat drag and slow down, 3-D planes slow down plenty quick(not fast to begin with)I'd say like a foam brick when the power is cut,(foam bricks may not go real far but they dont smash hard to the ground either). as for elaborating on the tones, it has two beeps for flight mode, and some other sequence for the programming, What esc is it, I just asumed a bl-8 from great planes. until i know that, you can try this, you need to start with the throttle stick at minimum, and turn it on if it does nothing unplug it and then reverse the throttle channel and try again, if not a bl-8 try starting like that, then go to full throttle and back, some have that safety on them, if it is a bl-8 follow the instructions to program they are step by step but read through them complete before you start. leave the prop off when setting up in case you dont have it that way right now, dont need any accidents. to acces the bl-8 programing you put it to full throttle then plug the battery in, this accesses the program mode. Then it will automaticly step through the different things that can be programed. When it gets to what you wanna change and it gets to the correct setting in that step pull the stick back to zero throttle, this saves the setting, then you unplug and repeat until its how you want, the only thing I had to change was the timing i believe, it tells you the settings and where the factory defaults are, only thing i did was change the timing, and make sure it was set to my battery type, i think its set on 3 cell li-po to start with.

It is the BL-8 from great planes.....I got it plugged in right, I have to read up more on my programming though.
Thanks

Yep, no problem, if you need anything else let me know. just noticed you were from york, Thats not to far from here, I'm from myerstown, in lebanon county.

Yeah, I had seen you were from PA, but was too caught up in asking questions to say something about it. I fly at a field on the Adams/York line, the website's on my signature.

Programming.......What does this soft start feature do and how should I program it? I'm running the rimfire brushless with the BL-8 ESC on the stock 3 cell 640 MaH Li-Po. Also, what is the timing feature that you can program? I understand all of the rest. I have the motor hooked up all right, but when I throttle up, it does not start to move until it is about 1/3 stick, and when it does start to move, its really rough....is this something to do with the soft-start? Thanks a lot guys.

Yes mine starts a hair high up to, not 1/3 i dont think though, you can try to take that out with the throttle trim, as for the timing, it can be set at automatic(which is the default) or at hard, 30degrees which is what you want for yourrimfire, and there is another one but i forget which, its in the instructions with the rest of the programming features. the soft start is used for a couple different things, it can be used for an inrunner motor and gearbox so you dont strip the gears from putting the power in to quickly, also i use it on my rimfire because of the oring holding the prop on, that way if i "drop the hammer" so to speak it will have less chance of breaking the oring, the orings wont break when they are new but i had two go on me in flight, so i switched to a heavier one, you can prolly find the heavier ones in hardware stores, or like lowes or home depot maybe. it will somewhat limit the prop saver a little bit though so if you nick the prop on take off and landing alot you may wanna keep the stock ones on.

Ok, thanks vert. So the timing deals with how it advances from no-throttle to minimum? or that's the soft start?

The soft start is what makes a difference from no to minimum throttle, basicly what it does is get the motor spining slowly(like 1-3 turns) before adding any decent power, I geuss to explain it is that if you took something and immeadietly put power to it(causes stress, may break a gear if there are any) where as with the soft start, it will gradually spin up(which will reduce stress all around, like on the o-ring holding the prop on)which is why I use it, no mind you in this application its only gradual until it spins a couple times, then you have all normal throttle response, it's only a split second it does it, so it wont effect your throttle up noticably, and it benefits the reliability or the o-rings, so id say use it unless you dont like it(which you dont notice it while flying so why not). As for the timing, It is set for the type of motor you use(hard for outrunners)basicly just bringing the most outta what you've got. That should get you started, Any flying yet? I really enjoyed my flatana, great plane to learn 3-D stuff on, At least thats what I learned on. Then you can move up to something like a reflection, Radix, or Tensor with the same equipment. Yes, I do prefer bi-planes now as you can see, which if you havent flown one they are different, but i think its in a good way. anyway good luck, and if you need anything else just let me know.

Alright thanks.

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Maiden today, went well
Then went for second flight, launched it, and immediately it throttled back and I landed it right away. I brought it back to the bench and looked everything over, nothing was hot or anything, so I reconnected the battery, and then I throttled it up slowly, went to half throttle or so, then tried to go to full, but it throttled back again. This was after I charged it, It throttles back and makes a noise (musical tone) as if the voltage on the battery is low or something? Any ideas? It didn't charge long, and now, after the plane is on for thirty seconds-1 minute, the engine just loses all response and the servos get sluggish, sound like battery failure? Is there any way to mess them up charging them? I'm using the stock 640 MaH Li-Po 3 cell that comes with the brushless flatout upgrade, and the charger that they supply, charged at 500 Mah, says it can accept up to 640 Mah charge, Claim to have safe-charge circuitry and whatnot. Anyway, any reply's are better than none, I'm clueless.

Mine Throttles back when the battery is low, that part seems fine. I dont know whats up with the musical tone. The motors make noise, kinda like a tone, but If its from the dontroller than I have no ideas there. They throttle back to warn you the pack is low and to land.(so get used to landing with about 1/4 throttle)without a 2nd change at it. This is because if you discharge a li-po to much its not good for battery life and will lead to loss in duration. I'd say charge another pack if you have one or try that, or hang the pack you have on the charger and see if charges or just says its done(if you use a GP poly charge it will beep fairly soon, as it does when the battery is done). If neither of those work than call Great Planes and report the problem, maybe there tech support can help you through it if its not something wrong with the controller.

Yeah, I'll probably end up calling great planes today, I put it on the polycharger that comes with it, and it says its done right away. I just hope it's not the speed control or something, I loved every second of the first flight though, and was able to stick the landing from a harrier/elevator type manuver. The other guys all fly glow as of now, and they all stood around and watched and yelled "that's not flyin!"

Anyway, I just hope its not the speed control or something, just the battery pack died or wahtever, I dont have another pack yet, but will be getting one shortly.