Hi all,

This plane really caught my eye and I'm very interested in buying this plane, but I have some questions and concerns first and would appreciate feedback from "Widebody 60" owners and/or people who are knowledgeable and experienced about sheeted foam core wings as I don't have any experience them, but I'm willing to learn.

Do these sheeted foam core wings have holes for the aileron servo wires allready cut out from the factory? If not, how do you make these holes?

How do you go about cutting the holes for the aileron servos and cutting the ailerons out of a sheeted foam core wing? If someone would tell me how to do this and tell me the proper tools I need to use to do the job right without butchering the sheeted foam cores, then I'll be confident I can successfully do this.

I've read several complaints about the balsa wing sheeting being too thin. This worries me! Does anyone know if CA Models has corrected this issue or not?


Don

Don,

I too am interested in this kit. Let me start by saying that the wing sheeting is "probably" not too thin. I don't have the kit yet, but it probably comes with 1/16" sheeting for the wings. This is the same thickness sheeting I use on my 35% IMAC planes, and there are no worries or problems.

To make the aieron wire cutouts you can use an exacto knife or a dremel tool with a router base on it. All you need to do is cut a trough out of the top of the foam, and then lay a piece of string in the trough before you sheet the wings. Use the string to pull the servo wire through the wing.

To make the servo holes...you can cut them out with an exacto knife or a soldering iron before you sheet the wing. After the wing is sheeted, then you can put the servo mounts in place. There are numerous ways to do this, but here is how I do it. I use some 3/8"x3/8" square hard wood sticks and cut them to about 3 or 4 inches long. You will need 2 per servo. Then measure the length of the servo and apply that length to your servo openings. Cut 2 troughs the length of the sicks. One at the leading edge and the other at the trailing edge of the servo opening. Glue the sticks in place with some epoxy making sure they are recessed about 1/16" below the sheeting. Now take some scrap sheeting to make some "covers" for the sticks, but don't cover the part of the stick that the servo mounts to. Glue the covers in place and sand them flush with the surface of the wing. (I hope that makes since)

To cut the aieron out simply use an exacto knife and a straight edge to cut the sheeting and the foam where the direction say to.

Hope this helps, Bryan

Hi Bryan,

Sorry for my delay.

Thanks for responding to my post! I'm dissapointed no Widebody 60 owners responded :-( Here's about 6 people who bought a Widebody 60: http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...129&forumid=31 They need to come forward and answer some questions!

>>All you need to do is cut a trough out of the top of the foam, and then lay a piece of string in the trough before you sheet the wings.<<

Sorry, I should have said the foam core wings allready come 'pre-sheeted'... :-) You know, the online manual is so poorly written and I can't tell for sure from looking at the pictures if the wings allready have the holes cut for the aileron servo wires from the factory. And so, Widebody 60 owners really need to come forward and answer this question: Do the wings allready have the holes cut for the aileron servo wires??? If not, I don't understand why CA Models doesn't cut the holes being the wings come pre-sheeted... Every foam core wing I've ever seen has the aileron servo wire holes allready cut from the factory.

Unfortunately, I read some complaints on the Giant Scale Aircraft forum from people who just bought and received the 27% Extra 300L manufactured by CA Models about their fiberglass cowling being 'deformed'...and the fiberglass being too 'thin'. Click here if you want to read about it: http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...r=3&forumid=38 Another question for Widebody 60 owners: Is your cowling deformed in anyway or do you feel the fiberglass is too thin???

If you decide to buy the Widebody 60, RCSuperstore.com sells them $10.00 less than PlanesPlus.com however, I haven't confirmed if the cowl and wheel pants sold by RCsuperstore are fiberglass or ABS plastic. It is my understanding, this particular kit can come with either. If I buy this kit, I think I'll go with the paint scheme shown in the picture I've attached below.


Donn

Wing sheeting to thin?
NO they are real nice 1.5mm very even and with very good quality balsa, I just love the sheeting work made on this plane.

Do the wings already have the holes cut for the aileron servo wires???: YES

Is your cowling deformed in anyway or do you feel the fiberglass is too thin???

It will depend on your point of view yes they are lite (thin) but the main idea is to keep the model within weight I personally like them this way and then add some reinforcements by myself once I have make the cut offs for ventilation this way you get the best of both worlds.

The kit is awesome I would only suggest:

You will need some experience on building airplanes because the instructions are really bad, so you will have to read double read and figure out how you are going to build each part before you start, check the number of pieces of each part and be sure where goes each one and in what order. I would say this is the scariest part of the job.

Use some Carbon Fiber for Reinforcements on the Landing Gear, Firewall and maybe Ruder.

I decided to substitute the Aluminum Landing Gear for CFLG and the Fiberglass Wing Joint also with CF to make it lighter

I haven't finish the plane lets say I have it like in ARC condition but so far I'm very happy how it looks in all aspects.

Hi Joaquin,

>>Do the wings already have the holes cut for the aileron servo wires???: YES<<

That's VERY good news to hear! I know now I can successfully cut the holes for the aileron servos and cut the ailerons out of the wing with satisfactory results. My flying buddy just gave me a beat-up sheeted foam-core wing to practice on.

I have a couple more questions:

Do you guys feel a OS .61 FX will be enough power for moderate aerobatics and good vertical performance? I don't have to have unlimited vertical and I don't care about 3D capabilities.

I see the Widebody 60 has top-hinging for the ailerons and elevator. What is the advantage/reason for top-hinging as opossed to center-hinging?


Don

This plane as far as I understand was designed for Freestyle and its control surfaces are huge, well as the control surfaces are not already cut so if you like you can make the control surfaces smaller to add stability to the design.

As far as a .61Fx yes I think would give you the power for what you are asking for.

About the hinges I just decided to make them centered, also you would not need the clearance for +/- 45 Deg. for the kind of flight you describe +/-25 Deg. should be more than enough.

I hinged at the top and it is a pain to do on this shape of a wing.