What to do what to get...
 

Alright - I've been getting a little frustrated - just a little at my options.

At the beginning of the month I bought an E-Flite Ultimate 3d which I think is a great plane except for the fact that In about 10 flights I've clearly been very hard on it. When I get back from my travel this weekend I'll do some repairs to it but the bottom wing has separated from the fuse and the cabane struts are taking some stress at the glue joints.

I need something that is a bit more durable for outdoor use but the same general concept. I need it to work with the same gear, 3S 1320mah lipo, 20amp brushless esc, eflite park 370 brushless, etc. I'm wary for another foamy because this one simply did not hold up to anything less than a perfect soft landing. I almost always have some wind to deal with where I live so perfect landings every time simply aren't realistic.

Hopefully my repairs will go well.

I've got half a mind to scratch build something based on the eflite Ultimate. Use the foam wings as they are holding up fine more or less but build a ladder framed fuse with a slightly stronger landing gear mount, maybe an actual tailwheel for good measure (though it just doesn't seem needed).

You know, thinking on the fly that doesn't seem like such a bad idea does it...

RE: What to do what to get...
 

I had a depron plane (and am about to build another) but for flying out in my back field...
I build mine out of Fan Fold foam.....
they fly about the same and are much more durable.......

RE: What to do what to get...
 

Your gonna be hard pressed to find something that will take a hit as well as the ultimate. The e-flite ultimate is a really durable little plane.

If your having difficulty landing it its probably due to two reasons, the CG is off and its nose heavy, and your trying to land it like a glow plane. You need to pull the nose up...WAY up, and use the throttle to harrier it down to the deck, let the tail touchdown first, and then start pulling off the throtte. It should just settle right down and not bust it up or break the landing gear.

RE: What to do what to get...
 

I can take some responsibility here - it probably is nose heavy since it is set at the factory recommended cg. Also - I put it together using foam safe CA - no give there either as CA isn't as flexible as some of the other glues out there including epoxy.

The first and most significant damage to occur was when I had the first hardish landing the gear became loose at the mount. It's still held in there but it is not held firm - it's loose in the thread because the CA is still holding in the thread but not against the metal of the gear. That of course has led to some more damage. I'm seeing stress cracks along the length of the fuse starting just behind the engine mount too.

I'm sure in the end it will be fine but I do like the idea of a built up version with a stronger gear mount and such. I just wonder if I could keep the weight down and get what I want.

RE: What to do what to get...
 

my tribute gear has 2 diff glues on and a paper clip reinforcement bar between the legs
now when i land i just have to bend the legs back in place lol i moved the 3 cell back
more and noticed a nice tail landing try moving the batt back

RE: What to do what to get...
 

i used alot of expoxy on the nose becasue my first take off my wing servors where on rev and she went behind my house and nose dived to ground bending prop shaft
all it took was expoxy and needle nose i bent shaft back in place and havent crashed since over 20 flights on tribute pulls into hovers and wings flap in dives :)...............i love flying 3d

RE: What to do what to get...
 

what you can do to beef up the ultimates gear is drill a hole near the top of the block its attached to, then run a bolt through it, just over the gear wires, and use washers so it clams down on the wires. itll add a couple grams, but the gear will be as solid as those wires can be. did this on my dads tribute (which has longer, bendier gear) and the landing gear/carbon rod/motor mount is the only thing that survived the planes total destruction :p

RE: What to do what to get...
 

theres something else too...

If your doing indoor flight, I've found that the lighter planes fair better in mishaps then the heavier planes do.
With less mass, they dont suffer as much damage. They just tend to kinda flop on the ground like a piece of paper floating down.
Its still possible to crash them of course, but if you manage to get it level before it hits, it will most likely just plop down.

Im talking about planes under 5oz.

Ive got a new Shocky superstar coming with a axi 2204 in it, and micro servos. Should end up around 4.5 oz finished.
I cant wait.