The Goop worked okay on the scraps, but I've been told that using screws for the canopy is better.
So you can glue in new pilots etc.

The aileron horns are installed. The push-rods are too short.
I installed the Servo arms at a slight angle so the threads could get some bite. I found some old FMA Razor push-rods that I may be able to cut down to size.

All the servos are cranking. I'm about ready to work on the CG setup.
Here's a fit check picture. 95% done at this point. Just have to decide how to put on the belly plates.

I flew mine today for the first time. I followed the instructions on cg. Balanced it at 3.5 inches. the plane flew like it was nose heavy, so I took off the nose weight and it flew better. I think I will have to add a little tail weight to get the plane to fly to my likings. The plane flys similar to the UCD3D. Hovers, Walls, Harrier rolls very similar to the UCD3D. Before removing the nose weight, I did 4 point rolls and slow rolls and rolling circles. I would recommend this
plane as a alternate to the UCD3D on a budget. Oh for those of you wondering what engine I am using, it is a Thunder Tiger
pro 46 and for now a 11X5 APC prop. When the engine is better broken in I will use a 12X4 APC.
The engine has plenty of power for this plane. The plane pitches and rolls in knife edge. I will have to mix them out. I have a cable pull pull on the rudder. I chose not to use the rods that came with the kit. The rudder has alot of authority. I also added a little right thrust.
overall a good little flier

Okay awat,
Thanks for the flight report. Now, can you please clear up a couple of items.

(A). Besides the P-P cables on the rudder and the right thrust on the engine, what other changes did you make to your plane?

(B). You said it flew like it was nose heavy, but later said you were doing some Acrobatics before removing your nose weight.
Since this is my first zero-dihedral plane, I'm wondering if the ME46 was just too stable for your liking?
Or was it so nose-heavy that you had to add back-stick trim to the elevator? Details please.

rlt55

The right thrust, pull pull and a new tail wheel assembly was the only modifications I did to the plane. The plane flew fine with the nose weight.
Very stable. I like to fly these type of planes tail heavy. It makes 3D stuff a little easier.
I added tail weight today and now the plane flys to my likings. It did not fly heavy as to adding up trim. It just flew more pattern like with the nose weight. I flew it today with a 12X4 APC prop. What a difference alot more stable in a hover and harriers where more stable.

Mine came out tail heavy.
The CG is point is about 4" back from the LE.
And that's with the battery & receiver (abt 4 oz) almost on top of the fuel tank!

Since this plane is a slow-flyer anyway, I'm thinking of dumping the lightweight wheels (and pants) and replace them with my old LT-40 wheels.
Those Du-Bro 3.00 T wheels are 2 oz. each.
They might not look too cool, but may pull the CG forward and allow me to land it in the bumpy snow pak..

AW, what is your CG measurement with the tail weight added?
Thanks,
Rich<>

C.G is now 4 3/4" from the leading edge and the plane still flys fine.

Aye Chi-wa-wa!! That's good news!
If you like 4.75, I'm sure I could learn to like it too!
I'm glad you're around today aw!
Thanks,

Although the MAgic Extra looks a little like a Somethin Extra, but flies more like a UC3D?

How many who have flown both the SE and MagicExtra and have seen or flown the UCD3D have additional flying opinions/comparisions?

And do you agree that the Magic Extra is a asmall UCD3D?

Thanks Dennis.

Finally got my Magic Extra in today, anyone else having trouble with their belly pan not matching up quiet right?

I have flown all 3, UCD3D, Magic extra and Sig something extra. Yes, the Magic extra does look like the sig but for 3D the magic extra is better suited. IMO, the Magic extra is a smaller version of the UCD3D.

I doubt you'll ever get a quite as good/light feeling with the Magis Extra, as with the UCD3D, since size really makes a big difference in how this type of plane acts in the air. As you know, larger planes handle higher wing loadings much better, but lower wingloadings is actually much easier to accomplish with larger planes.
I fly the USD3D with a YS120SC. It almost hovers itself, and is quite alright. I found that the Extase from S2G with a YS91AC had a lighter feel to it though, but lacked in ease of hovering (would easy fall off on rudder) and flat spin capability. The wall however, and waterfalls were exeptional.
I also flu a Kevin Harbrecht design Aeron with a YS53FZ, and this plane came out a bit to heavy, but is quite lively. Practicing hovering with these smaller planes really sharpens your abilities though.
DKjens (sorry for all the rambeling)

I think my belly pan is a little too long
and has a big gap on one side.

The way they tell you to install it
can't be the best way.

I just glued mine down last night
with a bunch of Goop. I plan to
use tape over it.
If it turns out to be a mess,
I'll replace the pan with Coroplas.

Whats the problem with the belly pan? Anyone have a picture?

I still have a magic extra on order (now due after Christmas), but am having my doubts about fit and finish. Beginning to think I'll wait until spring and see if they have cleared up some of these details.

I'm not crazy about having to use goop and/or coroplast on a new arf.

Mine fit okay.

It was tight, but mine went on okay.
The tree had to go up, so I got kicked out of the den today.
Working down in my ham shack, drilling holes for the power switch and had my first crash! (The plane fell out of my lap).
Caved in the lower side of the fuse about 6" from the tail. An easy repair job.

Only thing left is to set the throws!

Since I'll be flying off a bumpy snow field,
I did put on the training wheels (I am a newbie after all).

Battey pack and FMA Extreme 5 rx.

Open bay.

Almost done!

Man, that plane is RED. Is anybody spiffing it up with extra trim?
DKjens

I slapped on the ARF stickers last night,
does that count?

I hope to fly mine tomorrow. I'm going to use a Saito 72 for power. I have a UCanDo & if this thing flies anything close to as good as the UCan, Modeltech will have a winner here. I'll let you know how the flights go. Later

Wow, that sounds like a lot of power!
Looking forward to hearing your report.
I've setup for the training throws and hope the weather clears up on Sunday. It's raining now and we are getting snow tonight!

Sunday AM, loading up on eletrons:

I'm leaning heavily on getting the Magic Extra. This thread is about to cement it. Lots of great info here.

I'd like to hear how the Saito 72 works too. I have an OS 70 I'm considering using on it.

Today, I had my first 2-stroke experience! (Now, I love my 4-stoke even more)!

After 4 tanks of break-in (including one 5 minute flight in windy condx), it stalled out on take-off at about 5 feet.

Crash Report:
I got the nose down okay and was recovering nicely, but I didn't see the 3" deep rut (left by our motorcycle friends).
The left gear bent back a couple inches as the wheel embedded itself into the mud.
While cleaning, I picked out a lot of mud and grass stuck between the rim and tire.
The plane was spun around, but besides the main gear, I see no other damage.

During the first two tanks, the engine seemed to run better each time cranked it over. (At home in my driveway).
At the field, I used two more tanks on taxi practice (the wind was whipping).

Flight report:
When the wind dropped down a bit (about 10 mph), it was running a little rich, but seemed to sound okay over the throttle range.
I took it up, only to have the wind pick up again. So, I didn't get much chance to tweak the trim settings. A couple of times, it appeared to be flying a little nose-up. (Might have been the wind).
I did a few loops and a little inverted. The plane seemed to handle okay.
The rolls looked real good, even with the 'beginner' throws set.
I flew at low to half throttle most of the time. Take off was quick at 3/4 power.
Wind was gusting hard during landing, so it wasn't real pretty.
A little bounce and a short roll out, (diagonal across the runway)!

It seems like the idle needed to be tweaked a little, every time I restarted the engine.
Starting at 2.5 turns out, I was moving it about +/- 1/5 a turn each time I ran it and re-started it. In the end, it seemed to only want to run (well) very rich.
To get max RPMs, I had to make it so rich that the right wing was
being sprayed with lots of fuel from the muffler. It was dumping more fuel than it was burning!
I would lean it out (to max rpms) and pinch the fuel line. It would die off so fast, there wasn't time to let go of the line before it died out.
I would try again, one click richer and it would die out the same way.
I would repeat, moving one click at a time, and soon, it would be spraying large amounts of fuel.

After a couple of frustrating hours, Mitch showed to fly his E-plane (too windy).
He tired it, starting from 2 1/2 and leaning it out for best RPM (and doing the pinch test).
He got the same results as me. As he was leaving, he recommended I adjust the low-speed idle. (I'm saving that for later).

For my 'last' flight, I picked a spot in the middle. It was rich, but not spraying a lot.
Throttle response seemed okay until take-off when it stalled, under a slow steady application of throttle up to about 3/4 full, where she died.

I'm using an ENYA #3 "Hot" plug and I'm thinking of trying an ENYA #4 "Medium-Hot".
(Or maybe get another brand)?

Any advice?