Searcher, all

Watch out with the power combos. Suffered a firewall failure this weekend. Landed after 5th flight of the day, rolling out on the runway and the firewall fell off! Engine was idling, so no other damage, but had to be one of the funniest looking things I have seen. When it separated and the prop hit the runway, it started the UCD bouncing up and down about a foot as it rolled along the runway. Sure am glad it did not release in the air! I did not do the dump of epoxy up there when I put it together, so I would strongly recommend that you do. Especially if you use a heavier engine like my YS120. At least this will be an easy repair.

Dale

Saito 180 with U-Can Do???

- most impressive!

If I can get one, I have a ST2300 setup going in it.
Jim

Unfortunately, I havent weighed it. I will tomorrow and let you know.

Thanks for the warning regarding the firewall. As with many of my creations, the firewall breaks loose at some point. I have an ugly stick with a Zenoah GT-80 twin. I figure that either the firewall will fail or the wing will give up... Only time will tell! Actually I dont fly haphazardly. I really go over my planes prior to each flight which generally identifies these potential failures.

The UCANDO is still a bit nose heavy as she sits right now. As with wings of this type, basically an ugly stick wing, the stall characteristics are very gentle. She does a nice harrier landing using full rates to control her all the way to touch down.

Searcher,

Surely you didn't manage to get the UCD cowl attached around that big Saito 180 did you?

___________
jmboss

that saito 180 has the exact same mounting dimensions as a saito 120 and i ahve a satio 120 in mine. mine fits pretty good. got about 1/8 - 1/4 " on each side of motor mount in the cowl.
the hardest thing was it sticks out the bottom a little so i had to cut bottom of cowl out
Chris

I'm going to try a G62.

So, Dale,

You mean to say after your firewall popped out, your UCD did the dying chicken dance that the heli guys have after impact?? Glad to hear that will be an easy fix.

I think mine is going to be seriously underpowered right now. I have only a measly Enya 80 on the nose, with test flights happening this weekend (weather permitting). Oh well, at least it will let me get up in the air and putting around. I think that Enya is gonna have to end up in a Kadet Senior or Seniorita though LOLOLOLOL. I'm still torn between a Saito 100, or an RCS 1.4 gas engine in the nose in its next incarnation .

Has anybody added tail wires to strengthen the tail yet?

Steve

Steve,

Looked like a rolling heli crash. Beyond nicking my $10 APC 16 X 4W prop up, I thought it was very funny to see. I still get a chuckle thinking about it....

Dale

I flew her again today and it was pure gold! It hovers just off idle and is inifinitely controllable even in her noseheavy condition. She handles so nicely, that flying inverted circles just off of the ground is child's play. Harriers and inverted harriers are done with unbelievable ease. Dragging the tail down the runway can be done for such a distance, I am probably going to have to make a new tail or glue a plastic skid the the tip.

In some ways it is kind of scary. The plane has so much power and recovers so well, I find myself performing wild stunts with less than 10 feet under the plane. At some point, somthing will break or I will make a mistake and that will mark the end of my UCANDO, but until then, you havent lived until you have performed multiple snaps just feet off the ground!

The cowl has to be cut just a bit to give room for the exhaust cannister to have clearance out the tunnel area in the bottom. Just under the "chin" of the cowl has to be cut to allow room for the valve covers...that's it.

This is a fantastic setup which I would recommend to anybody. Now the fellow that is going to try a G62... Keep me posted!!! All joking aside, I may try a Saito 300 twin if I build another!

Sercher can you post some pictures of your plane with the engine set up, at close up

Searcher,

I have been reluctant to get into a harrier that low, mine woobles back and forth kinda bad as my forward speed decreases. I'm more in and out of a hover, hard to hold a real high alpha harrier (nothin like my Edge 540T!). I have tried mixing in some spoilerons with not much effect, any suggestions?

Second, my snaps are kinda barrel roll-ish with this plane. I've tried then with 3D elevator, applying rudder earlier, etc -- and it still does barrel roll... Any secrets?

BTW - I'm running the OS 91FX with the CG on the recommended location 4 7/8" back from the leading edge. I've been planing on moving it back, by relocating my battery pack and possibly moving the tank over the CG -- but have yet to do so...

-Chris

At least on mine, the snaps became tighter as the CG was moved back. I'm now at about 6 1/8" from the leading edge. Its still stable otherwise. I've heard of some with the CG 6 1/2" back. It seemed to tighten up the spins as well.

I'm still new to 3D and can hover fairly well but can't seem to figure out the harrier. What's the best way to enter it? I seem to come closest by accident when I don't quite make it to a hover. The wings are rocking back and forth wildly and it falls out quickly.

Chris

Chris,

I just got my U-Can-Do and haven't put it together yet. I'm usin' a Saito 100. I plan on a more aft CG based on all the posts here. How did you set yours up to get the aft cg?

Your probably going to have to cut a hatch in the back part of fuselage, and then mount battery back there. I I started mine at 5 1/4 back which was way to forward. I have moved it back some more. But it is still to forward. I think most people are running theirs in the 6- 6 1-2 aft.

Shoot - I'd just slap a DA 100 on it

Gbee,

I have a YS91FZ on mine. The tank is on the CG. The throttle servo, receiver, and battery are in the rear of the compartment. With no added weight it balanced at 5". I have added 4 oz. of lead to the tail and it balances at a little over 6". Once I have it the way I like, I'll make a hatch and put the battery in the tail so I can remove the lead.

Without some sort of pump/regulator you won't be able to put your tank on the CG with the Saito. However, your engine is lighter than mine and if everything else is pushed to the back of the compartment, you may get close to 6". You may still need the battery in the tail though.

Chris

I have a video of mine online at www.3dmoen.abadus.com/framesmovies.htm

Cool video..............crappy song. lol

I agree with coomarlin , I couldn't hear the engine for the song. What engine prop combo are you using? & how did you get it so quiet? Thanks, Rob

I am using a O.S. .91FX with a 14x6 Master Airscrew. I am also using the stock muffler due to noise resrtictions at our field. This engine choice was the best for flying at my altitude(6000'). Sorry for the song in the video, a friend of mine fell in love with that song uses it for everything. From here on out I'll do all my own video editing.

Don't listen to them. Tell your friend I liked it. NICE CATCH

I used that song for all my heli demo flights in 2001 and the first part of 2002. When he first heard it he offered to buy the CD for something like 20 bucks, I just gave it to him, heard that his girlfriend had to hide the CD because she was sick of hearing it over and over...lol I had to chuckle about that. I have since moved to another handful of songs.....glad you liked it though! Myself and two other people are contemplating building three of the Hurley 300's this winter. I have seen the plane fly and talked with Mike on a couple of occasions, nice guy. It looks good in the air and flys like it's on rails from what I could tell.

I think someone suggested this earlier in the thread. The UCD3D scheme is a perfect match to the Crest toothpaste colors! Kirby's Kustom Vinyl Graphics did these for me. This bird flies great! Power is an .91 OS Surpass II w/ pump. Futaba digitals on all flying surfaces. (9250 on everything except rudder which is a 9151). I replaced the 2-56 rods with carbon rods w/ titanium ends.

Hey Contempo
That look's aewsome!! Just received mine, now all I have to do Is make up my mind on which engine to use.Good luck with her.

Doug

Cool video. I noticed a lot of right rudder during most of the hover. Is it a good performer over all for hovering?

-s