Gents ...
Sure that thread's gona grow......gimie a couple of weeks and we should be airborne...1.20 FSIIIP...O.S. 502 tuned pipe system...great hopes for this lovley...more later ...somewhere....TTFN

Weight results are in, refer to post 2064 for details on contents.

7.7 pounds, dry.

In the process of balancing this thing now, I think I'm going to go for a 5 1/2 - 3/4. Oh! and it just came to me, I have decided to omit the wheel pants as since this thing is well known for its ugly looks, why bother trying to pretty it up. I purchased it for what its designed for a (3D) learning tool and thats it, keeping the weight down.

Blackie

Well it looks like I need some weight in the tail, so I'll be changing out the HS-545 with an HS-645MG on the rudder and gluing the rear stab with epoxy leaving the bolts in place with epoxy as well in hopes to add weight to the rear. If this dosen't work I may replace the mini digitals with standard size servos depending on my findings.

Blackie

Blackie, would it be possible to just move your battery pack further back? I just cut a piece of Monokote out of the bottom of mine and stuffed the battery all they way back by the former in front of the stab. Just monokote overtop after securing the pack and your done.

This way you move your CG without having to add additional weight.

...........Mark

Hmm, I thought about that I may leave the 545 in and just add the epoxy as I don't plan on removing the stab anyway.

Blackie

Off topic here, but last night I did a search. Much to my dismay, a keyword search does not take you to the post containing the phrase. It takes you to the beginning, yoiks! I eventually found what I was looking for, but as I combed thru this mega archive of tips and tricks, it was interesting to see the "comeings and goings" of various pilots and their experiences. Curiously there are a few that have hung on from the beginning and I see are still active with the UCD. On The Edge-RCU from just about the beginning, Coomarlin in the low 200s with Rajul running a close second. Contempo, Bob NJ and so many familiar names, with just as many that have moved on. I jumped in around the mid 1400s and that seems like an eternity. Quite a thread and still going strong, Joe

Next time you do the search choose topics and replys NOT combine topics and replys and see if that will not get you better results.

Ed M.

Thanks Ed, most searches consist of 2 or 3 page threads, after an hour or so on this one, I wondered if there was a better way. I'll try that in the future. Joe

It was Contempo that sold this one to me.

Joe when the U-Can -Do came out it was released in a 60 size only. And it was to say the least pretty popular ARF. Pretty well divided With the people who had them and the people who were trying to get them. I waited 6 months due to back orders and the damage wing shipping problem it had. When I got mine guess what? The wing had four broken ribs across the middle crushed. Tower had no wings to replace it So rather send it back and wait. I just fixed it. Just few weeks ago at my club a guy smashed his after a few runs and went down the next day and bought a new engine and plane. He A hooked X patter flyer's . Like many of us who have one .

Blackie and Steve, it was confuseing to say the least as to who came when with the magnitude of posts. I take it that you two were also pioneers with the UCD, if so , I thank you and everyone else involved for all the time and effort in shareing your tips and experiences. It made it a lot easier for us late comers. Joe

I've been around this thread for a long time. [8D] I'm glad I started reading early else I could've never forced myself to read everything. This thread has a ton of information in it, but like you said it can be hard to find. I still keep up with the thread because it involves one of the few planes I own. I don't have a huge hanger full of planes due to budget concerns, so what I do have I fly the hell out of.

Over the last 6 months it seems that there are tons of new 3D planes coming out because it's the "IN" thing. A year and a half ago there wasn't nearly as many. Most people stuck to profiles or things like Extras and Edges. I think the UCD actually played a big part in making 3D mainstream. At the time it came out I thought it was ugly, but it's grown on me over the last year and I don't even think about it now. A lot of people love the UCD and at the same time a lot of people seem to hate it. But it's served me well and it's helped me learn the 3D tricks I couldn't do with my old SE and trainer. Yeah I'm sure there are better planes out there and if and when I loose my UCD I'll look into something else.

There are some things I don't like about the UCD. I never unerstood why Great Planes put the tank location where it is. It's a given that it will be higher than the carb on an inverted engine. I would've rather had it lower by getting rid of the slanted piece of ply that is built into bulkhead. Maybe put a flare on the cowl in order to allow the air to escape the cowl. I also couldn't understand why GP included skimpy hardware (2-56) in the ARF. Yes it would've cost a few cents more to include 4-40, but it would be far more reasonable. 2-56 is way too small for a plane with control sufaces this size. Lstly I don't think the rudder or tail feathers are optimally designed. I think the tail end of the plane is responsable for the bad knife edge performance of the UCD.

But after the few dislikes, it really is a fun plane to fly. It can fly like a trainer on low rates, but flip the switch and all hell breaks loose. I'll keep flying mine as long as it lasts [sm=thumbup.gif]

That's what I said.....now I'm preparing to maiden my 2nd. Battery failure cost me the first one.

This plane continues to hold my attention. It is evident as I am on #4. It took the first two to figure out I had an intermittent radio problem. Got al new JR gear, stem to stern for #3 only to have the crystal fall out on the sixth flight. I am now so gun shy, that I feel I was never meant to fly one of these. I do enjoy it though. Joe

Hey Joe, how on earth do you have a crystal fall out? Do you not wrap your reciever in foam?

Coo, it was wrapped. Don't know if I just didn't have it in all the way or what. I read that unlike Futaba, the reciever plug for the crystal on JR is tapered inside. The recievers attitude in the plane was with the crystal end pointing aft. and on falling out of a hover, I applied some up elv. at about half throttle to fly out and thats when it started looping. Perfect loops. On track with no deviation. Took about 10 min. to come down. Lost about 4 or 5 feet with every loop. After a while I gave up on the sticks and we just talked for a while, watching. After investigating the remains, the crystal was found out of its jack. We put the crystal back in, turned it on and applied input. Holding input, we pulled out the crystal and the surfaces locked in that position. I never thought to tape a crystal in. This one is. Joe

Father Joe , APC makes a 15x4w prop that worked very well when I had a os 91 fs in my UCD3D....APC's website is apcprop.com..... JW

Well J Dubya, thanks for thinking of me, Just recieved shipping confirmation yesterday as to my order. Joe

Well ,if they can't get you a APC 15x4w prop ...send me a PM with you'r address and I will send you one....JW

I keep hearing people complaining about the tank being above the carb. I don't see why this matters when you want the plane to work when upside down and right side up. If you turn the plane over it would be on top. If you have a plane that you are trying to do tricks with.. I think it comes down to it just needs to be pumped somehow. Your thoughts? I miight be missing something.

btw.. totally agree about the ucd hardware. That tailwheel sucked too. Keeps coming out taking off pieces of rudder when it does.

Thats just it. If your going to leave it parked, pull the fuel. If your doing what it was meant to do, its not inverted for long. I think its a small percentage with that problem and even less with the guys running Saito. Never as much as a dribble on mine. Joe

Forget landing on the tail first , it always dreak after two landing. its a teriable gear. I have a 1/4 scale tail that take,s a beating. Works prety good . Now front landing gear needs help to try landing cross wind at 15 to 20mpr.

Ya than try it inverted!....That will save the landing gear .....just kidding....use the sullivan tail wheel bracket.....The one in the pic is a Great planes 1/4 scale tail wheel bracket....JW

HOW many of you guys lost the main gears????

Never, There is a small percentage that lost main gear which I find is the results of trying to land the UCD like a sport plane. This plane floats in like a feather. As far as the tail wheel goes, you can drag this tail the length of the runway if its installed correctly. I'm not saying that there aren't better assemblies out there. I fly off one of the roughest grass fields around without any problems with the gear. Joe