GJEFFERS
What size carbon rods are you using on UCD? I will try the stock stuff for now. I do have Dubro extra strength servo arms ready. Might order the carbon rods & ends. Sorry about the wife thing. Haven't seen any lady fliers out there. I have very supportive Lady. If she would only learn to cover planes. [8D]

Doug

It is hard to resist doing wild stuff at first but they just aren't too dependable at first. I have a new Katana profile and thought I had the motor set up just right. I had several flawless flights in Monday but yesterday it dead sticked over the runway and about 6 feet up. The crash knocked out the landing gear. Just a thought...

Gjeffers, I knew there was a trick to it........[:-]

Ha, thats exactly what happened to my UCD. Stalling over the runway is the worst. I need to install a parachute so I can drop it straight down. I knew there was know way i was going to be able to turn it back to the runway, so now i need to glue my gear back on. Has anyone who reinforced the landing gear had problems with greater damage on a hard hit. I dont want to reinforce the landing gear at the expense of more damage to the plane.

I will watch for the flutter in the sky. I have the 440 rods and Dubro servo arms. I may think about those Carbon rods though, looks like a nice setup.

I use carbon fiber pushrods on both sizes of UCDs. I use the 5/32" pushrod with the titanium 2-56 ends. They are plenty stiff for either plane. I just use the standard control horns with a 2-56 screw on clevis. Works fine and is very very light. I'm a weigth kick to keep the weight down.
THanks
Barry

Thanks Barry
What type servo arms do you use?

Doug

dougwill, Barry has it right, same setup as mine except i use the dubro ends with safty latch.get the 5/32 carbon fiber rod with the 2-56 titanium push rod ends and use jb weld to join them

crash, no problems since reinforcing mine eith lots of 30min epoxy, see pic for 6-32 allthread install too

thanks Barry, got it!![sm=thumbup.gif]

sctcrash... Mine ripped out the tank saddle and the the section that holds
the wing dowel.... But of course I was trying to fly more then I should have
instead of landing, doing the low invert pass.. Then remembered the fuel..
So I was going to pull a half loop and land with the wind about half way down
the runway... Almost made it to the top before that dreaded "no sound" at
about 5'... I was able to pancake it in, which is what caused the damage..
All at the field was surprized of the min. damage.... So I would say....
Beef the gear up:-)

Well for my set up (for the control rods) I found some carbon fiber tube type stuff from Tower (I think that's where I got it) and put some cut off sections of 2-56 threaded end in the GF tube and also put a little band of aluminum tube on the end where the 2-56 goes into to keep it from splitting. For the servo horns, I wanted to extend them a little and found that Dubro has a pack of longer ones that did the trick. They were a little pricey though but they work good. And as far as the landing gear I took it all apart and reglued and stuff and it's plenty strong now. I've bounce it in more than a few times and it's almost idiot proof. Well, nothing's fool proof to a competant idiot but you get the idea. [:-] I'm sure if I bashed it in hard enough it would just break something else then I would be saying " honey I need another UCD " [X(]

dougwill...I use the Dubro heavy duty servo arms. I use the longest one one the rudder and the next longest on everything else. I get plenty of throw. Well,...maybe not. Sometimes I don't have enough throw to recover. So I have to recover@!??!?!@?
Thank
Barry

You're welcome
Thanks
Barry

Barry Recover as in Monokote, I get you. 5/32" carbon fiber, titanium ends, Thanks guys!

Doug

Hey Gjeffers,
Man I wish I had a back yard like yours. Nice pics your making me envious.

Hey Barry,
Nice to see you on the thread.

Hey Raideron,
Good advice to our new comers.

Hey CeeGee,
As always hello.

Welcome Dougwill.....These guys are the backbone of this thread and when I was getting ready to fly my UCD, I did all of the improvements these guys suggested and have had nooooooooo problems. I made braces for the horizontal stab from left over push rods. I drilled through the LG block and epoxied two rods through there. I put an OS 90 4C on the nose. Ran two servo screws thru the tailwheel bracket(keeps it from pulling out during your harrier landings). I still have the stock hardware on the controls but will upgrade someday. I'm using Hitec 635's for my servos. These guys know what they're talking about. Your going to love this plane.

Now for news on the SPUD home front: I finally flew my Byron 60 size SUKHOI after 14 years. Flies great. Its heavy compared to some of the stuff I've been flying lately......ie....UCD's. After getting caught up with the thread I threw the old UCD on the charger to get it ready for some air time tomarrow. Works been nuts since the hurricane, I feel a deep sorrow for those folks in LA, I went through Andrew & know for a fact they have a long road to recovery. I also want all our vets out there to know that I recieved my mobilization orders for IRAQ[X(].......no set date yet just the ones that say get your stuff in order cause your going soon.[:@] Good thing the military has internet over there so I can keep up with the thread. Well I hear the charger beeping so I'll give a report tomarrow.

SPUDs out .........see ya.....

Man Spud...Good luck on all accounts
Thanks
Barry

thanks Spud for the comments, and when ya go well be with ya, stay in touch

Spud, Iraq? [X(] Oh man! You'll be in our thoughts and prayers that's for sure. They probably don't even have nitro over there. Well we hope you don't have to be over there too long....... [&o]

Spud... You take care!! We wish you the best.. We'll be thinking about you
and keeping you in our prayers!!
The Gulf coast is a Heart breaker!! Have fun with the "Do"

Good Luck Spuds. Should bring a foamie along with ya, you can let us all know if you need any parts.

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the support. With the current rotations I'll probablyget sent off to training in Oct. or Nov. They do 4 to 6 month work ups before you go over.

Hey Crash,
I was thinking of either the tuffy or that suitcase one they just had in the magazine+ my old 7chan should be good to go.

Went out today and got some UCD time in. What a great day. Gjeffers would be proud = inverted passes at 30-40 feet. Man were my palms wet. Flat spin heaven today, get up about 100" push over and spin the only reason to come out of it was that the wind would carry it too far down the runway.[8D] Hovers were the same. No torque rolls cause the wind would knock it over in rotation.[>:] Bunch of nice sloooooow landings. Fridays were made for flying

Well thats the tail............SPUDs out.

hell, i am proud of ya Spud

I'm proud of ya too Spud! Great job. Ya know, the other day I was doing some inverted fly bys also. Once I even got it low enough I could tell the plane was inverted. But I'm no gjeffers.
Thansk
Barry

Glad you had fun Spud!!
The only thing that saves me is not knowing the plane is inverted... But I
must admit... When I do find out it's inverted.. And slam the sticks around
in fear........ I make the BEST inverted flat spin landings!! Barry you would
be SOoooooooo Proud!!

Hey... One more thing.... I feel soooooo proud...... I put my tank in
the UCD... Well it's just set in there at the moment.... But it's progress

Hey if we keep posting as we have been.... We will soon pass that funky
Yak thread:-))

OK just wanted to update all on my progress.... Yeeeeepie....

raideron...Looks like a grat knife edge on your 46. Training? Keep us apprasied of your progress. I can hardly wait for the news on that 100. Far as I know it's just you and gjeffers.
Thanks
Barry

Hey Ron, Keep going and getter done. I'm looking forward to you flying it again.

Sounds like everybody on here flies inverted passes but me.......[>:] I feel a challenge coming on. I'm going to have to do something about that.......[>:] Boy! Do I feel inept.[&o]

Yak thread? whats that? maybe Barry should try that on some broke props
i wonder if it might go inverted? [sm=idea.gif] maybe i should get one[:@]NAW, couldnt put up with the Yaking

dont feel to bad CEEGEE, rember it was done with wires and mirrors