Bob,

I just received one of these beautiful birds from Chief. I have followed your posts on the GP Ultimate. The instructions are out of date for this plane. The elevator servos install in the stab not the fuse as they show in the instructions. How did you get the servos installed in yours with the arms? I don't see a whole lot of room.

Gdeezer

There isn't much room. They mount so the shaft is INBOARD and FORWARD, then install the servo arm using a long ball driver, servo at center. I had to thread the servo lead and extension first, bring it back out the root rib, then pull it as the servo gets installed. It worked best holding the stab vertical, root rib up. Wasn't the easiest part of the plane, but worth it.

Also had to elongate the slots for the servo arms to permit enough travel.

Thanks Aerobob! This is well engineered plane. My goal is to be able to complete it and fly this weekend before I go back to work. I have installed the firewall and hinged the elevators and ailerons. This the first time I ever used Gorilla glue, that stuff is strong! I am using a DA 50 with a 25mm drop header and a K&S canister. I have serious doubts about the strength and length of the landing gear. I fly off concrete at Luke AFB in AZ and it is very unforgiving on 23 X 8 props. I will do search and see if there is an aftermarket one available. I will post my progress on this thread.

Gdeezer

A few posts up are pics of my Graphtech gear. The stock gear is TERRIBLE, soft, and TOTALLY unforgiving/flexible. JUNK.
The Graphtec I bought is for the Great Planes Wagstaff 1/4 Scale Extra, had to trim 5/16" off the back of the top plate that attaches to the fuse to get it to fit in the recess there. From that, piece'o'cake, and it is hellbent for stout. Plus, gave almost another 2" of ground clearance for the prop when horizontal!!!! Worth the $70, for sure.
www.graphtechrc.com

Aerobob,

You are the man. Thanks for confirming my suspicions about the gear. I will be on the phone with Chief in the morning to order one if they have it in stock. If they don't have it then it's off to Graphtech I go!

Gdeezer

All,

Did anybody encounter extremely tight fitting wing tubes while building this plane? I am 96% complete and I can't get the tubes to fit easily in either the wing or fuselage. Does anyone know a way that I can fix this? Help!

Gdeezer

The hole at the wing ROOT rib on mine had plywood overlapping the socket. When I used the Dremel to sand that opening to match the socket, things got better fast. I think after that, I had to do some minor sanding of the socket along it's inside length, but very little.

Aerobob,

I sanded the tube and got it to fit. It is still tight but it can be inserted and removed. Chief and I will be talking tomorrow. I finished the bird this morning. Stats are:

DA 50 with KS 86 Canister 25mm drop header
Tru Turn spinner
Xoar 23 X 8 prop
Graphtech CF gear
3 2400 MaH Li-Ion batteries (1 ignition , 2 receiver with 1 redundant)
Smart-fly optical kill switch
Hitec 5945s on Aileron, elevator
Hitec 5625 on throttle,
Hitec 5955 on rudder.

I haven't weighed it yet, my guess is about 16.5 lbs.

This plane flies like a dream. It goes exactly where you point it, no mopre , no less. This engine, prop, muffler combo is super quiet and powerful. I can pull vertical until I can't see what its doing.

I am going to have to re-check my balance. It flies tail heavy. All in all, I am in love. My GP Ultimate might have to sit for while.

Gdeezer

Mine felt "tail heavy" at the suggested CG also. Also had some belly pitching on knife edge. Moved the CG forward some, got better.

It really is a very precise airplane, I know what you mean about the Ultimate taking back seat. Mine did.

Sounds like you have a great combo! Enjoy!

Okay how do you post after downloading install pics?
Opps - That' s okay - The RCU must not like MAC software. Oh well

I modified my stock gear and increased the angle of the bends at the top. It is far less "squatty" and added a lot of stffness to it. It has worked fine, though my landings have been smooth so far. I would still like to get the carbon goodies but the gear is working fine modified. BTW this plane flies great and I haven't even adjusted any setup yet. CG at recommended seems to be almost perfect. I will still probably have to tweek the engine thrust angle and cg a little. One more thing, I used a lightened, G62 on CH ignition and it is working out well too. Yeah, I own a DA50 too so no need to be educated on their coolness.

You guys liking your 260's so far? I think I'll build mine soon... I had a motor mox come apart on my old Extreme Flight Yak 54 and it donated all of its goodies, including a DA 50r and a KS 886 can/header... The plane is gorgeous and makes me want to build mine.

I have only flown mine once due to weather and other commitments. However, I really like this plane. I followed Aerobob's suggestions and they all work great. Previous poster has success with the stock gear. I don't like it and went with the CF gear. It is stronger, taller and looks good. The only nit that I have is at the recommended CG it flies tail heavy. Aerobob said his was like that also. I moved my CG forward and hope to test it out today weather permitting.

Gdeezer

Thanks.... opinions always vary..... and the right one is always the one that works for you....Let me know how the CG shift feels for you. I've not flown mine for quite awhile....

My only "real" beef with the AM designs is that they haven't yet copied Chris Hinson (and QuiQue's) phenolic dual horn/plate setups to fix ball links at the hinge line on all the control surfaces. On the Extreme Flight and QQ stuff, those things make a HARD task SUPER easy and reliable.

All of these 3D giant scales fly tail heavy to me personally. I like it, and deal well with a little heavy tail plane. I start my build next month when I get home. I have all the parts.

I was wondering if anyone has used the DA-50R on the AM 260. Im having trouble with the throttle and choke linkage. Pictures would be great.

I am using a DA 50R with a K&S canister muffler on mine. It is one sweet setup. I will send pictures later today. I mounted my throllte servo inside the engine box on the left side. I made a manual choke for it to eliminate using another servo.

Gdeezer

BTW - everyone - I was checking mine out since it is "weather grounded" a couple weeks back.... for whatever reason, I turned the wing tube in the fuse, and noted the OTHER end sort of moving elliptically- The alarm bells went off.... SURE ENOUGH.... in my FIVE flights on this airplane.... I bent the wing tube. Not bad... but bent, nonetheless.

So I replaced it with a STRAIGHT CF tube from JAE (they advertise somewhere on RCU) $54 delivered, but it's lighter, and it dang sure will NOT bend.

BTW - I am NOT a 3D guy; but I tossed it around pretty hard in those five flights....

So when are one of you guys going to post some video??? Ordering this plane this weekend and plan to put a BCMA MT 52Pro in it or a DA 50 depending on availability. Going to need all the help I can get on this one as I'm ordering through Chief and they sure aren't going to help me. Thanks for all of the great info so far. Now I know all of the bells and whistles to order with the plane. That helps a HUGE amount.

Bob, You might have bent the tube on the landing that bent the gear. I see you have a lot of these larger planes. For some of the folks new to 30% and larger, you really need to try and grease the landings. These planes are 16 lbs and up and it doesn't matter what the gear is made of, it will be subjected to a lot of force on even moderately bumpy landings. I think it is why we read so much about LG blocks ripping out of fuselages on these aircraft.

Do you really believe a wing tube would bend under the force of a bounce landing that didn't rip out the gear blocks and destroy structure? Really think so?

That's almost an unbelievable theory....

I believe you said you used the titanium turnbuckle links for your elevator servos. Which ends did you use on them?? I'm trying to put all of this hardware together. Thanks

Here's the Turnbuckles - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXSF96
Ball links - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXFRG7
Control Arms - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDCU2&P=M (I replace the Dubro screw with a 3" Stainless 6-32 machine screw, then cut to proper length.

Uh, I was kidding but, the block is attached by aluminum angle to the motorbox sides and I have seen a heavy duty carbon gear snap mid leg on a hard landing without ripping the block out. Don't really know how your wing tube bent. Didn't sit on it did ya?

Whew! I thought maybe you had seen the video of the landing....
If I sat on it, there would be a whole new image of "squatting gear"....