gjeffers, I used carbon fiber pushrods from Central Hobbies also. I really like them. They do make a difference. The only tip I can think of that you may not know about is on the CA hinges. I add one extra hinge per side on the ailerons. I mount it just outside the first hinge from the fuse. For some reason the inner most hinge seems to break more often than I like. When I mount the extra hinge, problem gone. Also, a little known help with CA hinges is to mark the center line on both sides with a crayon. This helps keep the hing point plyable as it doesn't allow the CA glue to adhere right on the crayon mark. Also, only use a maximum of 3-4 drops of CA glue per hinge per side. I know, I know...it's hard to use this little of glue. The manual says 6 drops but that is too many and can make the hinge brittle. I only use 3 drops. It is enough and helps keep the hinge more plyable and less breakage problems. One other thing, I use a 1/4" balsa strip on the inside of fuse to reinforce the landing gear area. I use 30 minute epoxy to glue it in and just beef up that area a little bit. If you do it on the initial build it will save your gear on a rough landing. Two more items and I'll stop. (sorry) I add a couple of thin balsa plates to the belly pan and remove the covering on the wing to alow more glue surface area when attaching the belly pan to the wing. And finally, I cut away the entire bottom of the cowl to match the natural tunnel in the fuse. This allows excellent air flow to keep the engine cool. It doesn't look as bad as it sounds and it really helps with performance and makes the engine so much easier to tune because the temp stays down.
Thanks,
Barry

thanks Barry, we will add the extra hinge but were gonna go with dubro pinned hinges. i will remember the crayon trick though! will beef up gear area, oh the 46 uses 2 servos on the ele dont they? because i did order a reverser for him. anyway thanks. storms are moving out so i might have to go fly today!

Yes UCD46 uses 2 servos on the elevator, just like it's bigger brother.
Thanks,
Barry

Barry and Gary... I'm slowly getting better at this flat spinning:-) I
got it to do it four times this morning, But only got three flights in
before it started raining...I had to go to the field to get this bad
DA_ UPS feeling out of me.... DA_ UPS......DA_ UPS................ Plus
I was a bit nervous since there were two big crashes before I went up

Anyway I did it twice by going vert. and twice flying level... Flying
level was alittle eaiser, since it stayed up longer... It took me a little
longer to transition the normal way, since i lost half my alititude before
it transitioned to the flat spin... But it was Purty!!!! I just need more
work on the sticks...... On one of the spins, I had it climbing:-))))))))
It was a blast... But I guess I had too much of a good thing and it rolled
out..... Hey thanks you guys for the tips!!!! Fun plane for sure!!!

UPS aka Universal Plane Smashers. I always try to use fedex for receiving my planes. Had several from towerhobbies and never had a problem with any of them. I Went to central hobbies and ordered some of the carbon fiber push rods.

saito-82................14-4w???

I'm putting together me second UCD 46 and have had the landing gear on my first one fold up too. It's fixed, but I'm wanting to reinforce the gear on my new one now, not after it folds up. I was wondering how/if anyone's reinforced it during the initial build. Thanks

Perkinsm, I didn't reinforce mine on the initial build but should have. It didn't take long before it folded. When it did break though it broke out the ramp shaped part in front of the gear. The one that is a tunnel out from the cowl. With that being out of there it was so easy to get to the gear block and beef up around it. The block is beefy enough but the way it attaches isn't too strong. I put Gorilla glue all around it and it's really stout now...............
Hockyrules99, An APC 14x4 works well with the Saito 82. Good combo.....

perkinsm, On my used UCD46, The person I got it from also
ripped out the landing gear block and just re-glued it.. When I
got the plane one of the landing blind nuts was loose.. So I cut
an opening on the side(see pic) to gain access and just
recovered with some white patch sticky covering, it's close but
slightly off in color.. Anyway since I had access I went ahead
and and added some triangle bulsa stock to the block on the
wing end.. I also added some lite ply at the front of the landing
block up along both sides... along with adding more epoxy...
On the side of the fuse there is lite ply to help strengthen the
sheeting... I luckly cut my opening between these strips:-)
Anyway my cut was as such... 1&1/4" in from the firewall,
1&3/8" from the wing opening, 5/8" from bottom of the fuse,
and another 2" from the bottom of the fuse.. I know I would
hate to make hole in a new plane... But..... You can make it
unseen if you take your time.. I'm not sure if you have to trim
off some covering off of the wing to glue the bottom pan, but
if so that would be enough to cover the hole in the fuse.. after
saving and than re-using your cut out piece from the firewall
area... When I re-glued mine back in I just glued some bulsa
strips inside the fuse as a backing to help hold the replaced
sheeting... Anyway hope this helps... Not sure if it's needed
but the previous owner also added wires to the hor. stab....

I started assembling my new UCD 3D .46 last weekend. Looks pretty cool, although the Monokote on the fuselage is a little rough in a few places. Some of the wrinkles wouldn't come out, probably because the Monokote has already been shrunk down about as far as it can go.

Due to the way dual aileron servos program together in my RD8000 radio system, I had to install the aileron servo arms pointing towards the wing tips to get proper control direction. I had already installed the aileron control horns so I had to remove them and reinstall them about inch or so further out so they would line up properly with the servo arms. Of course, this left some holes in the ailerons. So, if the Great Planes/Tower people happen to monitor this forum, I think it would be nice if a few scraps of Monokote of each color were included with the airplane for fixing small holes, etc. I'm sure they have plenty of scraps on the floor after each cover job

Kaos.

thanks cee gee...was just wanting to be double sure before order it...
thanks again
John

Kaos... I also use the RD8000..... and saw what the Airtronics booklet
says on how to use dual channels and how to install the servos in the
wing.... It's not so... I've done my 4*60 and the UCD and they both
are toward the fuse with no problems.. I use dual channels on the
ailerons my 4*60 and dual channels on ail. and elev. on the UCD 46
and they work just fine....


On the Monokote... I just have a heat gun.... And I really don't have
to much luck with it... So when the "Boss" is not watching I use her
Iron to tighten up the covering... Watch the heat tho..... The utra
stuff is far better than the mono stuff IMO... Anyway I had some
wrinkles.. But with the Iron I got them all out.... It would be nice
if they would include the scrap covering!! You sould write/email
them with your idea!!! You do have some covering left over if your
careful and save your trimming when puting a new ARF together...

Kaos, I have some extra monokote of the red, blue, and white that I could send you. Send me a PM if you are interested. Funny, I was just mentioning that same thought about extra coating to someone just last week when I was flying. Like you said, they must have lots of it extra as they are making the arfs. They could toss some of the extra in the box. Rob

Raideron - I'll give that a try, it seems pretty simple. I have read on here that alot of guys are putting wires on the stab. I may end up doing that, although, I havent had a failure yet. I have been attaching my "TailFeathers" with 30 Min Epoxy from Hanger 9, then wicking in a little thin CA into the joint, and that followed up with a thin "Bead" of Med CA. I waited 24 hours between each step. Thanks

CeeGee - The UCD 46 I'm flying now broke in what seems the same way. Your repair is about the same as mine was and I've had maybe ~ 50 to 60 flights from both grass and paved fields with no failures so far. I also added a bracket (Stanley), for additional reinforcement. I attached it in the front with a brass insert and a cut off nylon wing bolt. Not much additional weight, but really strong. See the attached pic.

Hockyrules99 - The Saito 82 and APC 14X4W should give you more than you need. It should pull straight up out of a hover. [img][/img]

they dont just throw extra pieces of covering in the box because they sell covering for $10.00 a roll, makes good business sense! i wouldnt either.

Hockyrules99, That looks like that would hold it. Good thinking!!

does any body have any pics of the tail wires that they have put on? Have two new projects to get underway! A kangke Monocoupe 1/5 scale and a 25% Kangke cap 232 120! I checked the landing gear on my U can do today, it looked strong, but I think that I am going to do what perkinsm did. Looks great. I have some 18 gauge aluminum that I think I will make the brace out of. Going out flying in the morning. Finally have the Magnum broke in! Time to start leaning it some.

Hey goldenclan, The person I bought my UCD from said he just use
a small fishing swivel and C.A.ed it in the vert stab. then drilled the
holes in the hori. stab and inserted a little brass tube he had and
C.A.ed that in, then he drilled three holes in a light piece of medal
he had which he screwed to the bottom of the fuse... Not the best,
but he said it was free and it works:-) hope you can see the pics..

Goldenclan - You actually have a better idea, using aluminum. Flying in the Morning !!! Wish I was, it's 17, windy and snowing here in West Virginia []....... Have fun !!!

Thanks for the pics! It will help out alot. I will make a few of these braces, and will post a pick of it. Then if any one wants one, let me know and I'll make a few more and mail them to who ever wants them.

Well finally got my cowl on... Now to see in the am if it helps with
my flat spins:-)

[b]Looks great Raideron,, here's mine. New one, still being put together, and one that has somewhere around 100 flights......Saito 72 W/ 14X4W APC..[/b

perkinsm.. Looks good... Guess you like the UCD... Got out to the
field, But too windy:-(... Will try again tomorrow:-)

Goldenclan, I could use some braces if you have extra. I could trade you something if you want.
Raideron, I did some inverted flat spins yesterday. Kind of hard to do. I would get it going just right and then move the sticks to far in the wrong direction and it just start doing weird stuff, like flip end for end. I'll get it though. Just takes more practice.

CeeGee.. Yes that's what it takes pratice and loads of fuel... I'm
getting ok at it, still moving the ail. to much.. But it'll work out..
The other day I went vert. then into the spin which transitioned
fast, but then I started to get it to climb back up in the spin, then
I lost it a bit, But got it back into the flat spin, But I lost a lot of
altitude, But it looked so good... I sort of lost track.. Then got
dumb thumbs as I powered out inverted but then "pulled" up...
She almost met it's demise.. But we got her back home:-)))