I'm new to this thread, but I just built a UCD 60 powered by a Saito 1.0--definitely NOT overpowered. I have about 70 minutes on it. I don't fly it "fast," not the purpose for this bird, but I WAS hoping it would be as acrobatic as my Twists (one with a .45 Super Tigre; one with a Saito 82a, love them both). The UCD is NOT that acrobatic, my opinion, but I'm still learning from the new bird. Admittedly, there's a different grace to it. And I'm learning to overcome my prejudices for the Twists. I flew all three of them tonight.

My question is how do you QUIET the damned thing? The resonance off the UCD's monokote wing sounds like someone beating it with a cat o' nine tails. All of my birds have unique sounds in the air: the Dart whistles, the Uproar and Big Stik whisper, and the Twists sometimes reverberate almost as badly as the UCD 60, but NONE of them is as noisy as the UCD. [I've put heat on the wing to tighten the monokote, no help. And it is NOT a problem of vibrating control surfaces--it happens on the table, where I can see it. The space between the ailerons and the wing is the thickness of one sheet of paper.]

The prop (14 x 6) and spinner are well balanced, and checked again. Any ideas? I CAN learn to live with the sound, but I'd rather not. It gets between me and the beautiful sound of that Saito.

Question #2: anyone have over-heating problems with a Saito and the UCD's cowling? This Saito 1.0 was previously on a Hangar 9 P-51D. In the 5th flight the Saito, with cowling, quit as I was about to turn upwind on approach. The lost power did me in: no speed, and not enough altitude to recover. That was the FIRST time that Saito quit in the air. My only reasoning was it overheated. I have YET to put the cowling on the UCD because of worries re: overheating--and when I change to a 15 x 8 prop, probably tomorrow, I STILL won't have that cowling on--and when I DO put the cowling on, I'll richen the mixture--to probably 9300 rpm. It's now at 9500-9600. Any comments?

About the UCD landing gear: I can see how they might come off if you landed badly--and it would mean rebuilding the whole front fuse if you did. So... what's so bad about learning to land with grace and aplomb? The UCD lands (and floats) like a dream. I flew tonight in 23 mph gusts--no problem. AND I had one flame out--when I got so excited flying I forgot about looking at my flight clock. Ran out of fuel! 'Twas the best landing of the evening. If you can't land the UCD without taking the wheels off, you've done something very wrong with the CG--or you are beyond your skills. Someone else said it: if you have a problem, look in the mirror. And there's your teacher, too. In the mirror. The teacher MUST be honest. As for me? I try not to use the wheels at all. Flying is not about "rolling," hm?

But we make mistakes, I know. So, if we can't learn from our mistakes, why make them?

Jack

Hi Jack, Mine sounds like a snare drum too. I think it is because the the ribs in the wing are spaced so far apart that there is a lot of surface area to vibrate. Short of adding more ribs to take up some space, I don't know if anything can be done to fix it.

Jack211...With that Saito 100 you need a lot of room for the air to get out of the cowl. I basically cut the entire bottom out of the cowl and a great big hole up in the front to get the air in and out. Open that cowl wayyyyyy up. If you get enough airflow you won't overheat.
Also, you need a different prop. I used a 16x4W, some would rather use a 15x6 either is an excellent choice but not a 14" and not an 8 pitch. That will help with the aerobatics. You'll find the UCD will hover easier than the Twist and KE better and when you get used to it I think you find it's more fun to fly. 30% nitro will really liven the Saito up too.
Welcome to the thread and have a great time here...and of course, at the field.
THanks
Barry

Barry
You were dead on concerning weak set-up on tail-wheel. Bumped it and knocked rudder loose. Will put the
tail-wheel bracket on fuselage instead of supported on rudder. Flew 2 flights yesterday in 10+ mph winds.
Sweeeeeeet! Definately flies slow enough on low rates to be a good trainer, if you have a little help with landings. So far Saito 80 is plenty of engine for me. Watched what happens when you fly a UCD low with a strong tail wind. Flipped it over and right into the ground. Busted fuselage in half. so stay high.

Doug

CeeGee.... Heck I lost it:-).... Here another of the Kangle SU-31...(red is where
I broke the fuse in half after running out of fuel and not making it back to field)
Oh and the S-100 on the 4*:-)

dougwill.. I too hate the tail wheel on the rudder... It's best on the fuse
But have been lucky so far on my "Do" It's still on the stock setup with no
problems..
On taxing with a tail wind... sometimes it takes down elv. with little throttle to
help keep the tail down... But in those times.... float her in right next to you
and grab it

Barry, CeeGee, thanks for the input. Tonight I put the 15 x 6 prop on the UCD 60. Took off in five feet--10mph wind at one meter, gusting to 20 at 10 meters, so I had a hard time figuring out just how well the new prop was working. When I removed the 14 x 8 prop, I found it slightly out of balance--maybe some reason for the increased noise previously. The noise is still there but not as bad, and I was able to hover across the sky in the wind. The real challenge is keeping verticality in the torque rolls and the BOTTOM of the bird is towards you, rudder reversed. More to learn, joy, joy.

I flew three different birds tonight--for pictures. Tomorrow it'll be all UCD 60 and I'll learn her well. I got my remote glow plug igniter tonight--from a friend--and will put the cowl on--with big holes exiting. That ramped groove aft of the firewall bottom is there for that reason, lots of air outlet, hm?

Thanks again.

Jack

Jack, Sounds like you had fun...... [X(] Glad to hear the noise has calmed down some. The guys at the field used to comment about mine all the time. I don't know if it's changed or I have gotten more used to it.

Ron, Cool looking profile......[8D] I'm having a ball with mine. I ordered 2 more.......

Hello all
Raining here in Ohio today. Yesterday we had a picnic, fun fly at the field. Great turn out.(pics to follow) Too windy for me early on. 10 to 15 mph. Too many people watching also. 3 46 UCDs flying. gjeffers you would have loved the low inverted passes in windy conditions. (2 -3 ft.) These planes are amazing. The comments about how extreme to how trainer-like these planes can fly. Starting to get used to this plane. Will fly a couple more tanks on low rates and then kick her up a little. Where do you start as to acrobatics?

Doug

Hi,
I am new to the hobby and this post. Just got my 46 ucd together and few her yesterday.. ucd is my second plane. My first was the nexstar. Just want to thank all of you 4 the great info you post. built my ucd with all the upgrades i found on the thread. My question at the time is where to buy a cline regulator? I have the classic fuel ploblems with my Saito 82 on the ucd. Thanks agin to all for the help with buildin the ucd with info from the thread!!

gone2theriver...Congratulations on your maiden flight. Welcome to the thread. I hope your stay is enjoyable.
Thanks
Barry

dougwill...A good place to start your aerobatic adventure is with figure 8 and cuben figure 8 and inverted flying. And of course start practicing your hovers, they take a long time to learn. The inverted flat spin is easy with the UCD so that's another one but save if for later. And of course my favorite...the inverted flat spin landing.

Yea!!! the inverted flatspin landing, thats the ticket save it to last though!!!
just start with the high stuff Doug andwhen you feel like your eyes,fingers and ucd are one then wring it out, the ucd loves flat spins, and slow inverted fly bys, youll be doing fine in no time with this plane

thanks for the comments GONETOTHERIVER, youll love the ucd, but as far as the cline on the 46, i dont know anyone here that needed it, what probs are you having, flooding? but if you really think you need it go here:

http://www.billsroom.com/pcfs/produc...fs_details.htm

Jack 211,

The 46 and the 60 both make the drum sound, it will get worse if you are running a 4 stroke with to big of a prop, I ran a 15x4W on an OS 91 FS on the 46 size, tried 14x4W and the drumming was less severe and it flew straight up, I miss mine crashed it showing off to a small crowd that had gathered in our parking lot at the club, I am going to fly this next.

Hey GONE2THERIVER, Welcome to the best thread on the web. [8D] I'm not sure how you have your fuel lines set up but here's a picture of how mine are while using a Saito 82 and it doesn't leak or flood. [X(] Keep us posted and send some pictures.......

I had a problem with my OS91FS surpass 1 in my UCDo-46, I would really struggle to maintain an idle and eventually the engine would load up and cut out, made landing with the engine running just about impossible.
Anyways i was going to get a regulator when i decided to try an on-board glow on the beast, now the engine can idle forever without cutting out.
One area i am battling with at the moment is knife edge, I cannot get this plane to hold a decent knife edge without it trying to pull out, are there any tricks to make the KE work

maybe the trick is to fuel and fly, dont fuel and then go yaking and let it sit, like CEEGEE, i have never had a problem with my saito and easyfueler valve, cause if you fuel it and fly it there isnt enough time to flood

i do have a problem with my 60 size flooding and i do need a cline for it and it works great!!

I knew it!! Gary's been spying in on my flying field........[>:]

Thats right Rob!!!! and here is how i do it, Barry and Ron keep hiding under canopys though
just type in Auburn wa and click on satilite[X(]

http://maps.google.com/

I've recently discovered that if you kneel down while flying it gives you a different prospective. Low passes seem...lower. The inverted low pass seems, upside down and low. The hovers appear closer to the ground and the vertical runs seem to go higher.

Made me think.

Thanks
Barry

Thanks to all 4 the help. Got an on board glow setup. Adjusted low speed needle in 3 turns. Will idle without on board glow now but still is nice to have. Saito 82 is getting better with every flight!!
Thanks again..

Great looking plane. Glad you are enjoying it. They are sooooo fun to fly.
Thanks
Barry

Ok IM only gona say this one time 4stokes are best for 3d because thay have a mid range torke that 2 strokes can"t get.If you want top end power than 2strokes are the way to go.the ucd like 4 pich props that gives low gear torke whith no speed so you cant over speed it well all most a blender at full power will defantly blow it up.I have been flying my 46 size whith a 100 satio for 7or 8 month"s and love it climing inverted flat spins cartwheels are just a few power hungry moves that it well do





REMEMBER WITH GRATE POWER COMES RESOABILITY TO USE THE LEFT STICK WITH RESPECT!!!![8D]

Anyone flying a Magnum XL91 on their 46 UCando? If so, how do you like it. If not, what are your thoughts?

I think the Magnum 91 would be a great engine for the UCD46. It would fly it very nice.

Thanks
Barrry

DPRC.... The Mag will have plenty of power... That was what I was going to install
in my "Do"... But...... If I ever get it repaired I have now switched to an S-100

Some report no problems... But most at my field, including, a inverted mag on a
different plane but similar tank/engine position has had flooding/starting problems
and dead sticks from low "3D" type throttle positions.... That was the reason for
my engine switch...... Or just use a regulator with that combo....

Dang....... Our fun fly is getting real close...... Having a hard time waking the "Do"
Darn espn poker:-(....

Ahhhh ha! Satilites huh! [X(] I knew there was a trick to it. [:-] That's okay. I save all my best stunts for when there is dense cloud cover so the satilites can't see me. [8D]
Gary, you're a riot. I would love to come fly with you anyday........