I landed hard today and tore the landing gear block and firewall off the model. The breaks are very clean. It will be an easy fix. I think it was for the best that this happened. After looking at the front end of the model I'm going to reinforce the structure behind the firewall.



Regards,

Scooterpilot

I've done that 2 times already. We have tall grass off our runway. If I deadstick to the grass ... off it goes.

STLpilot,

Did you reinforce the structure when your landing gear block came off?

Regards,

Scooterpilot

Clean breaks indeed. Even the pinned block cleanly pulled out from the firewall, cleanly pulling out the wood (or is it bamboo?) pins. I did in fact notice that they used that darn hot-melt glue to hold it all together.

Comments welcome.

Since the landing gear block, fire wall seperated after a hard landing I intend to fiberglass the fire wall and landing gear block. Are there any drawbacks to doing this?

Regards,

Scooterpilot

I do not see any drawbacks as I did the same. Even with the tank removed, it's challenging to get cloth and epoxy in there the way you want it. Takes a little time and patience. I also "sandwiched" the existing (broken during impact) fuse section just behing the pinned bulkhead with another pc. of ply. I also added tri-stock where even I could... can't hurt (except the addition of a few grams). Before you decide to glue in the broken gear block, spiff up the insides first. After glueing in the gear block, it limits what you can see and do.

Tompowa - from your description it sounds like you apply the fiberglass to the inside of the fuse. When it comes to firewalls and landing gear blocks I apply fiberglass from the outside.

how hard are you guys landing? I've had some really nice ones so far with no sign of damage... (deadstick, stalled, and dropped vertical like a rock about 5 feet...)

another tip you may want is to replace the metal bolts that hold the landing gear on with nylon. you will rip them out and slide to a stop on a hard landing, but they WILL save your plane.

i have had a really hard landing also, i came in about a foot off the ground, and did a wall(it looked awesome) but, my engine quit because it got loaded up. it fell rom about 6 or 7 feet and all i had to do was replace the prop

Dropping the plane from a height (straight down) is not the problem. The problem is when you exert force on the landing gear such that he force is directed towards the aft, usually folding the gear under the plane. Although I pancaked my UCD46 and ripped the gear off, it also had a bit of forward motion, that is what wrecked it. Ever since fixing, I've had a few rough landings and all appears OK,.. so far. I also forgot to mention, I applied CF tape around the entire fuse section and langing gear block. I tried nylon bolts but had problems with them snapping at unopportune times. Maybe I had a bad batch.

dam i had mine hariers preaty hard and did some tuch and go fast to that i pick up some dust and i fly out gras and never knock on wood had accidents but who know maybe ill be next LOL

I have always put nylon bolts on my planes landing gear, until recently when they did what they were suppose to do as in the past but then the gear with wheels attached went right through the wing busting ribs..and hit the horizontal stab denting it up on it's way back....l wasn't flying very fast just a low touch and go pass.....so i will stay with the metal bolts and just reinforce as much as possible.....

This may have nothing to do with this thread ... but I think you will like it.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...75#post1256296]

OK ... I will be outfitting my 46 UCD as follows...

OS 50SX
MAC Mini Tune Pipe
Tru-Turn Alimnium Spinner
APC 12.25x3.75 prop
PowerfLite 7.2 Volt 2400mAh Lithium Ion Battery
4.8 Volt Regulator
(1) Hitec Supreme 7 Channel PPM RX
(2) Hitec 425BB Servos on Alerions (44 oz torque @ 4.8V)
(2) Hitec 425BB Pro Sevos on the Elevators (45 oz torque @4.8V)
(1) Hitec 645MG Metal Gear on Rudder (107 oz torque @ 4.8V)
(1) Futaba S3003 Standard on Throttle
Du-Bro Heavy Duty Arms & Horns

I will be beefing up the landing gear block along with the firewall. I plan to CG it at 5" back from leading edge and adjusting to 6" for maximum "peppy" performance.

I know a lot of you will be posting replies saying the 50SX will not be enough power. The way I see it, Great Planes made the plane to meet certain specs and I plan to follow them. If it will not do what the manufacturer claims it will with the maximum "suggested" engine size then they will all hear about it.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

Rick

Well I finally got my taste of flutter last nite. I was doing a very high speed pass ... there it was. Wings shook violently. One of the control arms completely ripped off, the other bent almost in half. I managed to land it without a problem with just elevator and rudder. Not a very good high speed plane .... I believe it was traveling at 90+ MPH when it happened. I haven't assessed all the damage yet, but I hear some little piece of balsa moving around in the wing. After all I have put this plane through, it still is the most forgiving plane I have ever flown. I think true-heartedly I was trying to find it's breaking point.

No wonder..........this plane was not designed for high speed!!!!!!!! It was desgined for 3d which is not performed at 90mph. Any plane with control surfaces that big will flutter at high speed, whether you sealed you hinge gaps or not. I just hope you didn't cause too much damage.




Neo

Heads_up,
Definately let us know how it performs with your set-up. I am curious as to what results you will see.

Heads_up,

You'll have a great performer there. I'm very new to 3D'ing, but my little UCD with my OS46FX flies great. No, I don't rocket out of a hover (I'm still working on that ) but I don't go 90 mph either. I used CF rods with Titanium ends, a 1450 nimh 6v pack and the same 12.25x3.75 prop. I've also used the m-k post style control horns. There is zero slop in my linkages.

Let me know how it goes as I'm thinking of upgrading to the 50SX when I feel the need for more power.

2 worries about the guys putting 100s and such in the nose of their planes - you can take it past it's VNE, plus, you're going to vibrate the daylights out of it - already seen several posts about vibration. But again, just my 2 cents - everyone has different flying needs. IMHO if you want to run the 100 or a 91 get the UCD 60...

Thanks maxim_jd,
My Brothers and I decided and odered and recieved 3 ea. .60 size U Can Do's. Thanks for the info. on engine size for the .60 size. My dealer knows nothing about rc planes but keeps right on selling them. He is learning and that's good but not when you order and have to rely on good people like yourself for this info. We just wanted these planes and got them. Have not started on them as of yet. They sure look pretty easy to build. Thanks again for the info.
Dan

Pig

I will post flight reports next week. By my calculations, it should be a nice 3D plane, but the weight is my main concern. The 50SX should hover it, just don't know how well it will climb out the top.

Rick

Max

I will tell you this ... since OS came out with the 50SX, I'll never own another 46FX. Sooooooooooooo much more power at less than an oz more weight. Buy one ... you won't regret it.

I agree ... the plane was not designed for anything bigger than a 72 four stroke. I have been guilty of overpowering planes in the past, but I want to see how the 46 UCD flies with the 50SX. I already had the motor from my Kangke Fun 50 and it needed a home.

The Fun 50 met an early death. You'd be surprised how bad things go when you run out of fuel right in the middle of a 10 ft high prop hang

Rick

Rick
How was the power of the 50SX on the Kangke Fun 50? I have a Kangke Cap 232 Sport, and I love their ARFs. Also how was the Fun 50. I know this isn't the thread for this, I hope noone minds.

I mind. This thread is for the discussion about the UCANDO 46 and how many sets of twin sisiters with photos that you have had in your life. Lets keep it that way!

Sorry, didn't mean to offend

Pig

My Fun 50 weighed in about 5.25 lbs ... 50 sx with 12x4 apc and mini tune pipe would hang it at about a tad over half throttle. knife edge was nice ... flat spins, blenders knife edge spins ... it did it all ... only thing it wont do is prop hang with no fuel

I will be getting another soon. Just wanted to give the ucd a shot.

Rick