pigman,

I have asked the same question twice and have not even gotten an acknowledgement that anyone saw my question regarding the Saito 72 so no one must be using that engine.

It is what is going into mine, just haven't gotten it together yet.

I will update once it is together.

Bill

Well, the weather finally cleared here in Massachusetts. We went directly from winter to summer this year, skipped spring completely. Today, 93 Deg at noontime.

My UCD 46 is put together per plans, using supplied hardware and an OS 61FX. Couldn't get the CG forward enough (4.75" BLE suggested), ...added a heavy hub and a huge battery behind the tank. Got the CG up to 5" BLE, close enough I hope. Gosh, 6 lbs 12 ounces dry!

I found myself out of stock on Funfly props, dug up a 12.5 X 6 Graupner that goes well with the engine, but would rather have a 13 X 5 or 13 X 4 for this plane.

Got to the field and things started to go wrong. My stuff is in the cool basement, and moving everything to 93 Deg heat and humidity showed up some problems. The elevator halves were 1/4 " out of alignment, apparently the reversing harness I used is affected by heat.

Once that was fixed I spent the better part of an hour trying to get the engine running. I had already run it in the backyard, what gives? Apparently I have a lot to learn about inverted engines that have the tank located a bit above the carb.

Finally sorted that out and got everything going pretty well, a little rich on idle, good smoke on full throttle. One of the problems with the UCD is that you have precious little to hold on to when you pick up the plane. Everything is so fragile you can't find two decent spots to grab. Since I was alone at the field there was no help to do a "nose up" check, so I assumed the smoke at full throttle meant I was rich enough. No fancy flying on the first flight anyway.

Off she went, the prettiest little takeoff you ever saw, nice and stable, a touch of right rudder, gentle turn to the left, climbing nicely, phbbbttttt - dead as a doornail. So much for that plan. Turn back to the field, too fast to land, sailed over the tall grass at the approach end, and pancaked into the dirt of a newly planted cornfield. Up and over, onto her back, slamming onto the rudder. Time to see how that tiny little landing gear plate and lightweight rudder held up to the strain.

Surprise! No damage at all. Ok, dust 'er off and try again. A bit more time adjusting and testing the engine, and off we go.

Now I'm a regular Sport pilot on the far side of 55, without special 3D skills. I love funfly planes because they are slow, but agile. I like being able to do all the loops, rolls, and stall turns I want and still land at 5 mph. I don't do Harriers, Waterfalls, Pogo Sticks, Frying Biscuits, or any of those other weird things that are the rage now (although I would like to!). I will do the occasional hover when conditions are right, I'll slip on landing if required, and I'll fly knifedge if the plane has no bad habits.

I have Morris's Su-Do-Khoi and TopCap. I've had Dazzlers, Uproars, and GeeBee profiles. My favorite of all time is the Somethin' Extra. Until today.

Gosh that UCD 46 is really something. Totally confidence inspiring. Smooth and stable with that long tail moment, big and easy to see, easy to orient with that covering pattern. No surprises until you make them happen. With the suggested high rate throws the UCD goes where no Somethin' Extra has ever gone. Thank you, RC Gods, for exponential control! I have 60% expo on high rates and the plane transforms from a DC3 to Patty Wagstaff's Extra at the flick of a stick. Within three flights I was doing all my old tricks with the plane, including long downwind knifedge flight just above the treetops. I added switch controlled "flaps" (50% aileron droop) and brought the (already slow) landings to a virtual standstill. Ooo, la, la, I'm gonna like this plane.

Compare it to the Somethin' Extra ARF for a minute. The UCD is bigger, better covering scheme, fiberglass cowl, and outperforms the SE in flight on all fronts. My 61FX for the UCD came out of my SE, so I know of what I speak. The UCD will actually climb in knifedge without mods. And the UCD is $50 bucks cheaper. Actually, I do want somethin' extra, namely another UCD 46!

Oh, by the way, can a 7 pound UCD hover on an old 61FX running the wrong prop on a 93 Deg day? Yes it can! (but just barely). Gotta go, FedEx delivered a better assortment of props while I was out having a great time at the field.

You guys are gonna love this plane! :sunsmiley

still waiting for mine to ship from tower, but it seems everyone is having weight issues. Is it at all possible to move the rear servo's up any? I'm really against adding any weight at all when there might exist another solution to the problem...

The best idea I've heard is to cut the rudder servo (more than likely a high torque, heavy servo) into the bottom of the fuse, toward the wing, and use a pull-pull connection to the rudder.

I am still curious as to why this plane continues to finish out so tail heavy. I have had mine now for a couple of weeks just haven't had time to build it yet. Planning on a ys63 and the recomended servos. My concern is that after reading the previous posts is that I'm going to have to add a uncalled for amount of dead weight to just balance this machine. I'm not one for adding lead to a plane but going to a larger engine with the addition of more $$$$$$ is not a option either.

Another concern is weight. It seems the plane is finishing out on the average(in this thread) between 6.25 to almost 7 pounds. Thats too much for this plane isn't it?

These are just some observations and I was curious. I hope to build mine up next week and see the #'s for myself. If it flys like all of you say I'm sure I wont be dissappointed.

Later, Ken

If I had it to do over again (and I will, cause once is not enough with this plane) I would investigate the space under or over the tank for the battery location. Plenty of room there, just a bit of a pain to get at. Maybe a hatch could be cut into the bottom.

The rudder servo is the next candidate for weight shifting.

I suppose the YS 63 and the OS 61FX are about the same weight, so you should be ok.

I can also tell you that a CG of 5" BLE is very comfortable.

Mine ended up with 6.5 0z in the nose. This was completely unexceptable. Called GP and complained. They said they had not heard of any problems with the weigt in the tail.

Please guys call them and complain!

Well I set out to fix the problem myself, and seems after some trimming, moving the rudder servo, new battery, I got it to balance. Here's what I did.

1>Removed monocote on bottom of fuse.
2>Removed ply on the bottom of fuel tank area and lowered tank about 3/4". (another proplem I complained about, tank to mounted for inverted saito .72)
3>Reinstall ply on the bottom of fuse.
4> Installed 1200 mh battery over fuel tank (lots of room since I lowered tank.
5>Moved rudder servo next to throttle servo. Had to shim up the servo so it won't hit throttle servo horn. (pull-pull to rudder)
6>This is an interesting one, after I got the monocote removed I noticed that there are 5 holes for lightening in the tail by the stab. they where sheeted over completely. So I opened them up and took a little off the rest of the fuse.
7>Reinstalled monocote.

It weights 5 lbs 7 oz

Now I know I should not have to do all this work to a new ARF, but I got to tell you that it was worth every effort. This thing fly like a dream.

rljumps

Check my email, always something on this plane. Tempted to delete, but have one coming soon as promised by the Tower Gods. Am really looking forward to trying this plane out. I intend on using the MVVS 45 w/ pipe, hope it is enough weight .

Mine balanced at 5 1/4 inches from the leading edge with the battery under the tank and a saito 91 in front. I used 3 metal gear Hitec servos in the rear. I didn't have to install any lead in the nose. It weighs 5 lbs, 3 oz. without fuel.

RCU:

I'm going to be using the same combo. Which metal gear Hitec servos did you go with? Also which prop are you going to use?

Rick

I built a friends(funfly2005)with a Saito 100,used a 650 nimh and reciever under the canopy,and the servos in the tail,hs625's on elevators,hs645 on rudder,APC 15x4W and no spinner.We didn't check the cg,but it flies great,probablly a little tail heavy,but very flyable.I wouldn't want it any other way,the Saito 100 is definitely the right engine,and it does everything great.The plane is an absoult blast to fly!!Flip and spins are awesome,never seen a waterfall so axial.Final weight is 6.2

I have a YS 63 in mine battery up front in the fuel tank compartment. CG is about 5 1/2" back from leading edge. Airplane flies great. To me it does not fly tail heavy, no bad habits.I am thinking about moving the cg further back because I can not get it to flat spin.

Has anyone thought about using the elevator bellcrank from central hobbies to keep the weight down to a minimum. Check outb the site below. For those who want to be able to use each elevator half differently this won't work, but for the rest of us?

Rick


http://www.centralhobbies.com/contro.../Bellcrnk.html

It's good to know that a few planes came out the way they should. I should be able to get to mine soon.....I really think the YS will be the enging for this plane....I hope so anyway...
later, Ken

After reading the monster UCANDO.60 thread, I am wondering if the UCANDO.46 needs:

1. A remote glow igniter setup for the engine (4cycle)?
2. "real" hinges such as Dubro's to avoid CA hinge breakage?
3. Tail reinforcement wires
4. The firewall pinned

Thanks.....I'll think of more questions later.

use the blue ca hinges my firewall is holding stong with a rcs 1.4 gasser on the u can 60 size. of course no remote glow needed....i hope the tail hangs on as i am not running flying wire either hope i did cut to deep into the covering to glue the tail on

FWIW,
I've installed a Dubro remote glow connector with no problem. If you are breaking CA hinges on either UCD, you are either installing them wrong (too much CA on the hinge joint) or you have an extremely unbalanced powerplant (possibly an unbalanced engine/blade/spinner). I've used CA hinges on # of planes and had no problem. Tail flying wires are optional but preferred, especially if you plan to put the UCD into some radical 3D stuff (i.e. Walls, KE loops, etc..). Firewall pinning? I never heard of this one but I have heard about landing gear block pinning. GP must have heard us all complain about the flimshy landing gear block on the UCD60 and decided to "pin it" on the UCD40. I would also add a few feet of balsa tri-stock to weak areas such as behind the firewall that hosts the wing dowel hole. Add a few pcs behind this as there is very little support (I've done this on the UCD60 also). I'm also using 4-40 hardware since the distances between the servos and surface control horns are fairly long (actually, I think these distances are greater than that on the UCD60).

so after reading all these reviews with the saito 100 on there, how do you think a 60 size 2 strke would do. weight wise also?

I just finish mine and i put a os 91 4stroke and the cg is on its mark no tail heavy or nose heavy i will fly it this weekend and we will see how it flys with the 91 in the nose i dont have a Scale but my guess it weights 6lbs the 61 will do fine on this plane but that is my opinion thanks

thanks for your opinion!

im kinda worried about it fitting in the nose however.

by your name im wondering if your a tattooist? mainly because i am.

yes i am i got a combination of tattoo artist and us bail enforcement agent (bounty hunter)

oh and yes it will fit on the cowl

mrctattoo
I am also using a .91 OS 4stroke. I will want a full report when you get back!

is a great flyer it flew better that his big brother it tracks good on the nife edge not like the 60 size that always was tucking to he's belly and the hover was great too i think ill change the cg a bit since i had to put 4 clicks of up elevator but i was amaze how good it flys better that the 60 size but with the 91 in front just pull out of the hover with autority i think is a good engine for this plane and landings are way more slower and with the flaps settings the hariers are great with no rocking that i can see it was great and the inverted flight require litle down elev. it just great plane and easy to transport

I put a Saito 65 in my UCANDO 46. I added nose weight, put in a bigger tank, used a bigger battery for needed nose weight, did not reinforce anything and did not add wires to the tail. Used a Hitec 645 on rudder and the standard JR digitals that came with the 8103 transmitter package. I am using a 12.something X 3.something prop and the plane is alot of fun. Plenty of pull and power for most anything. Need more elevator throw for more serious 3D. Have about ten flights on it. No problems so far except hard starting inverted Saito so I just flip the plane upside down to start.
This is a fun plane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!