Hi
I need some help with the Tribute 3d FX. It will not harrier or hover worth a damn. Inverted it will. It keeps wanting to roll off in either direction. Harrier's wing roll right or left and hovering it wants to lay over on its back. On parachutes oe elevators, same thing.. it wing rolls right or left. Throws are set at manufactures recommendations. Expo is at 35% for all. I tried 60% on ailerons and played catch up way to much. Plane is set for straight and level at 1/2 throttle. For what ever reason it floats better upside down.
Servos are Esky -- ? causing problem??
Motor is Park 450 with 20 ampESC and E-tec 1250 11.1v. Any help would be appreciated.

First
Check the elevators are even with each other and move equal amounts.
Then check that they are connected firmly to each other and not broken at the carbon joiner. My has broke twice from inflight abuse.
I have many flights on mine and like it very much.
I have noticed that the harriers have a lot of wing rocking but I think that may be because of the rounded wing leading edge.
Hovers a good but the plane is really effected by the wind. If there is even a slight breeze it is a handful to keep in one spot and yes it likes to fall over on it's back! Maybe because the battery is so high up in the top of the canopy.
I think its more of a pattern plane and a 3d plane but I like it just the same!
Rickc

Rickc

Thanks for the info. I had the same with the elevator. I'm trying some epoxy now to see if it holds better. I tried some other info on the plane and it helped alot. I moved the battery back past their CG and set the radio up with Spoilerons (elevator and Aileron mix). With that set up it becomes a new plane. It does the harriers and will hover for more than 10 seconds.
I was blaming my servos for it's jumping around, but I guess it doesn't like the wind as much as they said it would. I got it because of our lovely NY weather. I like it and it does look good in the air, but I agree that it seems more of a pattern plane.
Now I gotta go buy a new foamy for those few and far between calm days.
RS

How did you set up the spoilerons? I have a Spektrum DX6 and should be able to experiment with that. Let me know.

I've only had four flights and all of them with winds around 10 mph. Can't really know for sure if it is trimmed well, so I have to wait for a calm day to check that out.

So far, I've had difficulties with hovers, but I'm sure the wind is not helping out. I'm going to add some weight on the tail since it seems a little nose heavy with the batteries I'm using. Maybe that will help.

I can't offer advice on the Harrier issue but the Hover may benefit from moving the battery pack to a lower postion relative to the center line of the model. I have not flown this model but it seems to help flat wing foamies. Since the wing isn't doing much in a Hover it may be a balance issue.

I'm using the Futaba 6CHP so I programmed in one of the mixes to be equal ailerons up as the elevator goes up. That way when I flip my switch and use up elevator the ailerons go up equally. If you don't have that on your radio, you can try the air brake switch and set it up so when you flip the switch instead of elevator up and ailerons down it goes to elevator up and ailerons up. I first did that by changing the aileron % to the opposite on my radio. I don't know a damn thing about your radio so I can't get that specific. If you need me to I can find out.
Also, skip what the CG recommends. I put my battery as far back as it could go, just short of the balsa wall and it did make a differance. I trimmed mine out at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle and it will stay level (except when the wind hits - then skippy)
Setting it up so both the ailerons and elevator go up together makes a big differance.
No matter what I don't know if it is possible to get rid of the rolling on it's back though. I'm gonna try a heavier battery when the weather clears to see if that makes any differance. I'm running a E-Tec 1250 now, gonna try a 1500 I have. I'll let you know.
RS

So far, I've had difficulties with hovers, but I'm sure the wind is not helping out. I'm going to add some weight on the tail since it seems a little nose heavy with the batteries I'm using. Maybe that will help.
The plane is not easy to HOVER!!!
It is even harder if there is any wind!
It just gets pushed around alot becasuse its rather large and light.
Moving the c/g back may help but a calm day will make it alot easier to hover.
Rickc

RamboSmurf,

Shortly after I posted the message, I took out the DX6 instruction booklet to find out how to program the ailerons. The DX6 allows to program "flaperons" which, in essense, allows me to program "spoilerons" since that would be the opposite.

I went with 25% deflection to see what would happen. Well, it make hovering a lot easier than without them. Could not really test it well because wind was around 10 mph, and gusty.

I did find out that when I swith the spoilerons on and go inverted, the plane flies straight with no need to adjust the elevator to keep it flying in a straight line. That is really a welcomed feature since I like to make inverted, low-passes. This will make it so much easier!

Again, thanks for the tip. It gives the Tribute another dimension.

Now.... if the wind would just come down a bit........... I can test the rest of the features......!

Glad it worked out. I didn't try it inverted with them on. I'll have to give it a try. But I think the wind is going straight up the east coast, it's to windy here now also.
Good Luck
RS

Hey guys, move your CG back a bit. The further back it goes, the easier it is to 3D.

Also what battery are you using and what motor. We used a Park 450, with a 1320 3 cell, and an APC11x3.8 slow flyer prop. The battery is located almost at the aft area of the canopy area.

Hope this helps.

Here's the Tribute FX 3D being hucked around the backyard. Hope you enjoy!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showa...mentid=1293134

3DownLow,

That video shows not only your great 3D capabilities, but also the fact that the Tribute can handle all of it.

I'm still learning 3D hovering and it seems like it is going to take me longer than usual -- just a slow learner, I guess.
I can't keep wings from flopping back and forth on harriers or elevator. Hovering OK for about 5 to 10 seconds, then I loose it.
Probably need to move the CG back some, so will have to experiment. Also, I think a 12 X 3.8 would do better at hovering than the suggested 12 X 7. So, more testing coming up.

Questions: I noticed you have made some modifications to the Tribute. Would like for you to comment on what you have done.

I added a tail wheel and made some holes on the canopy since the battery was getting a little too warm. Those are the only changes I've made.

I wish that was me flying! That's my friend Blake on the sticks. Needless to say he's not too shabby in the 3D department. He knows how to bring out the best in an airframe. Decided that there needed to be a little more side force for rolling maneuvers and more precision. Added the SFG's and T-wing and that made a difference to an already great airframe. I've since added some outboard wing fences and some RFG's(rear force generators?) to the elevator. Nothing groundbreaking aerodynamically speaking, just some "crutches" to help me smooth out some of the wing rock. I'm not that great a 3D(2.5D?) flyer and I need help too, so these mods have really helped with the harriers, rolling maneuvers and hovering. Seems to make it go really straight too. Stay tuned for some more video of Blake putting the Tribute thru it's paces, you'll enjoy I'm sure!

John
I am running the park 450, 20 am esc, 1250 E-tec 11.1V Li-po. Prop is 12x6 Electric.
I am not great with the prop stuff so I didn't know what else to try. I have moved the battery as far back as it can go.
RS

Here's another vid of the Tribute FX 3D. Hope you enjoy! Have another longer video if anyone's interested...
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showa...mentid=1294700

Fascinating!!!!

I wish I had a video of the thumbs/controls on that transmitter!

Another 8min. video. Hope you enjoy!
http://www.rcuvideos.com/item/SM3WZFBLS6JT8WMK

Outstanding flying. Taking into account that my flying skills are now where near that good,(I would find that tree), the SFG's made that much of a differance? If so, I will be making them tomorrow.
RS

They do for me. I tested out each set until it seemed to fly just right. Wouldn't do all that just for looks! If it flies well, don't care what it looks like!

Another great video!

I just cut out my SFG's out of some foam I had on hand. Is that carbon rod at the end really needed?
How did you attach them to the wing? I'm just planning to glue them on with CA glue.
Any suggestions?

Here's a pic of my setup for aligning the main SFG's. Used pushpins to hold the top SFG in place while aligning with laser and square. Then a couple of drops of CA to tack it in place. Used carbon flat stock on trailing edge of top SFG thru wing to position bottom SFG. This is the only thru wing point and it doesn't hurt to add some extra thick CA into the slot. The T-wing needs 6mm depron vertical and 3mm stock for wing. Used round stock for leading edge and flat carbon for the trailing edges. You'll need these reinforcements if you plan on throwing this plane around.

So, the top SFG is connected to the bottom SFG with the carbon rod, right?
I kind of hate to bore a hole through the wing. But, I guess it makes sense in order to align them correctly and add strength.

I made a simple jig to make sure SFG's where properly aligned and equidistant from the fuselage. But, didn't plan on the carbon rod until I saw the photo closer.

Thanks again for your help and illustrations.

Jmir

You just have to cut a slot with a #11 x-acto blade behind the SFG, right at the base thru the wing to the bottom surface. Then slide the flat carbon stock thru and push down while holding the undersurface with a finger. You'll feel the carbon start to push thru and then you have an alignment point. I don't think the SFG's will hold up with out it, but you can try it without. Just makes a nice line up between the 2 SFG's and adds some rigidity so the SFG's don't flex during KE flight. Helps with precision. My 2 cents. Good luck and don't rush thru it. Take your time and do a final CA after you've tacked everything and you've double checked the alignment. I don't think I could have done it without my laser. My eyes are good but not that good! Of course any jig you can make will only make the job easier- when your friends want you to do their Tributes too!!!

3DownLow,

Thanks again for info. Will post some photos when I add the SFG's.

Sure thing jmir. You'll notice how it kind of gives you that "box kite" kind of feel. Just smooths out everything in all axis'. I even hot glued on the RFG's on the elevator in case I didn't like them. Should have known they only made it better! Should have CA'd em' on an been done with it. The F3P guys have the right idea when it comes to precision flying and how to add surfaces to a plane to make them that much smoother. Lesson learned!