RE: U Can Do 3D
 

3dsky, that is one of the best looking UCD's I've seen.
What trailing edges did cut square?
Did you make any mods other than the engine to transform it to the UCD XL?

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

rtn9105, thanks for the comment. My UCD had a OC 70 Surpass and was recovered with H9 transparent LITE violet #968. The Monokote on the stock UCD 46 is heaver. I forgot how much I saved just switching to the LITE covering. Most of the extra weight on the covering was from the plane having double covering. I also wanted to keep an eye on the structure to look for cracks before it self destructed. Even with the LITE covering I have had no problems with the airframe.

The picture shows the aileron trailing edge that was cut back and a square piece of balsa was ZAPed on. This keeps the trailing edge from warping and the edge is left square IMO to reduce the chance of flutter. Round thick surfaces are prone to flutter. I can go WOT with a 6 pitch prop with no problems. I did the elevator also and left the rudder stock.

To improve the HANG I put in an OS 91 FX 2 cycle. 16 X 5 prop and it is now flying at 6 lbs + it was at 5 lbs with the 70. The 91 makes this plane ROCK even in the wind.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

Thanks for the reply and the info about the aileron trailing edge. I can't get over how much better your plane looks after your recover, it doesn't even look like the same plane in the picture with yours and the stock DO.
I will be giving your trailing edge mod a try over the winter. I've been flying my 46-DO with a Saito 100 and love the power but I did notice the last time I had the plane to the field that one of the ailerons is warped quite badly so hopefully your mod will help correct my problem.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

rtn9105, Just make sure the surface is flat, once you glue the square stock on with ZAP (CA) it will stay flat. Mine was done with no covering so I could wet it and dry it flat before gluing. It is still straight after 3 years.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

We had a great weekend of flying here in S. Jersey,weather does not get any better than this. I had a minor crash with the Do- again-was in a hover DOD and lost it when a little wind pushed it into an awkward attitude and I was not ready for it. I wasnt as pumped up as usual for the down low flying,maybe that was part of the problem,I need a lot of coffee and high energy level to keep up with the torque rolling. Lucky part was it only had a couple feet to go down, bent the gear and broke the prop,that was it,next day I did 2 tail touches,really good ones, didnt smack it like I sometimes do. A fellow member had a camera and took pictures of my tail touch and another flyer,Scott Fransicini(sorry for the spelling Scott)!, who tail touched with a 33% H-9 Cap,then our best flyer , Bob Austino,( alias:Mr. Smoothie) did a tail touch with a 35% Aeroworks Edge. We flew 3-D together at times,had 2 planes hovering side by side, it was one of the best "shows" ever for this club. I'm gonna have to lay low for a while,my wife is getting pretty pissed with me flying all weekend,every weekend.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

Great weather in Wisconsin also, flew 4 days in a row with winds less that 10 MPH. Haven't tail touched my DO yet. 3 days of no wind gave me the airtime to practice low hovering and torque rolls. It was like flying the DO indoors. What a week, may be the last for a while.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

:)Mixmaster...

Sounds like you had a great day. I flew on Wednesday and now I'm fearful that may have been the last flights for the year for me. It's snowing today and 35 MPH winds. I'm huddled inside working and dreaming. Dang. I didn't get enough flying this year. Maybe next year....

The last time I flew my 60 I broke the right elevator and rudder hinges loose....again. Man...this is the 5 or 6 times I've done that. I'm using the DuBro pinned hinges. I think the spar is just too small for that thick of hinge. It always breaks the spar in 1/2. It doesn't come unglued it just breaks the wood. I'm getting a bit tired of glueing the thing back together.

Congrats on your tail touches. I got carried away and almost did that with mine. But normally I keep it about 10-15' up. But this Do and my Fusion are easy to get low with. They are tempting me but it just doesn't seem worth it yet to me. But I did have the Do within 2' of the ground a couple of times before I came to my senses. So.....as I see it, everybody can tail touch but me.

Wow!...Seeing those big birds tail touch must really be a thrill.

Sorry you and your gasser aren't coming to terms yet. But, stay with it, you will. I'm really enjoying my two. In fact, I'm building a 3rd (GP Ultimate). My two with experience have a combined total of 44 flights. Not a monumental number by any means but getting to be trustworthy. The AirWild I was hovering on the first flight. The DA and the EVO have ran flawlessly. I had to get the vent line wrapped around the fuel tank properly and I'm going to install a carb plate on the DA. This helps when doing inverted flat spins and some rolling circles etc. The engine will surge sometimes if you don't have the vent line run properly. The carb plate helps with air pressure changes and makes the engine run smoother as well. But in those 44 flights I haven't had a single dead stick. And my power to weight ratio is as good as any plane I fly except one. (UCD 60 is the best raito but not by much) It's better than my Velox, UCD46, Ultra Stick, EF Yak, and Showtime. I'm super impressed with the gas planes. Only problem I have is transporting to the field. They are big.

Thanks
Barry

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

I say if you can hover down to 2',you can tail touch,theres not much difference except for "comfort level". The first few times I was down at 2' I just felt like it was not right to be that low,wasnt ready for it, but after many other times it just happens if you feel right about it and want it. Now I never plan for it ,mainly because whenever I try to I cant make it happen when I want. You are right in not forcing it,go with it when its right. I feel lucky living here,the winters have been increasingly milder,flying all year long is almost attainable,I still go crazy with it each fall,thinking this will be my last time out for a while,my wife is tired of that excuse too! I think she's on to me,have to find other excuses.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

Barry,how do I get to the Airwild threads where you posted the Extra 260? I tried here and in the Giant scale but couldnt find it.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

:)Mixmaster...

Here's the link...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_47...tm.htm#5044950

I also brought it forward so you can find it easier. It's in the Giant Scale Forum

Thanks
barry

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

:)Mixmaster...

My most recent flight reports are on page #5.

Hope this helps.

Barry

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

Good detailed info there,I'm 99.9% sure my next gasser will be AW Extra. The ad doesnt do the plane justice,it appears there is very little included with it,like you have to buy their hardware kit. Anyway,the 5 day forcast says it will be another flying weekend for the Do and X100.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

:)Mixmaster...

I hope you've seen there video. Here's the link. There flying is a lot better than mine. The plane really does fly that easy. I love the fast past, low, slow roll at the end just before he lands.

It really is a neat plane and worth the money. The hardware kit is absolutely first class stuff and includes everything, even servo extensions, etc. I'd buy the hardware kit again. You spend the $145 and you get absolutely everything you need. Titanium pushrods for the ailerons, carbon fiber rods for the elevators, pull/pull for the rudder and all the aluminum/anodized servo arms.

Man, I'm getting excited just thinking about it. And...at the end you have THEE lightest 50cc plane money can buy.

Thanks
Barry

http://www.airwildhobbies.com/MoreIn...&level=2&id=43

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

Awesome stuff,you dont see many planes/pilots that do inverted harriers that low. I want one right now!! Did you put a DA50 in it? If so,what throttle setting does it hang on,I've heard some say the DA50 will prop hang a 16# plane at near idle,a little unsettling for a new engine. Anyhoo,I'm thinking of a Velox when the Do goes and the AW Extra as my next projects.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

:)Mixmaster...

Yeah...I have a DA50 in mine. Their manual is amazing. It tells you exactly where to place everything if you use the recommended engine, servos etc. Anyways, I used a Slimline pitts muffler which added 4.5ozs but is a bit quieter and nicer looking than the stock muffler. But anyways, I put everything in the plane just as the manual states. I was just a bit nose heavy and had to move the radio battery back about 6 inches to balance. I loved the fact they show so many pictures and placements and measurements in the manual.

I'm running an NX 22x8 prop on the DA. Mine will hover at slightly under 1/2 throttle. The DA engine is amazing also. It starts right up and hasn't deadsticked even once. I'm getting 23lbs thrust on this engine. The plane weighs 14lbs 14ozs so I have amazing pull out. Transition is very good. This plane is easy to hover and very responsive.

It harriers with little to zero wing rock. I'm even doing inverted harriers but not as low as the video.

This plane is really hard to fault. At my elevation it simply is the BEST choice because it's 1.5lbs lighter than anything out there in this class. And they all make the weight if you build like the manual. And if you want to go lighter, you can replace the aluminum wing and stab tube and go to a carbon fiber landing gear and light weight wheels. But I'm happy where mine is.

The Velox is a very good flying plane also. The quality isn't as good as some on the construction and covering. But it's adequate. Mine weighs 8lbs 9ozs. It's rugged but some of the glue joints were a bit loose and some of the wood is a bit soft. But it's still tuffer than a Showtime or UCD, by far. It uses aluminum landing gear (which I like) and carbon fiber wing tube. The Velox flys "best in class" I feel for the 90 size plane. KE is absolutly perfect in either direction. It harriers with very little wing rock and hovers easy. Waterfalls are very snappy and nice. Rudder authority is amazing. and it does great flat spins but will not rise in flat spin. Just slightly too heavy for that, I think. I fly mine with the mighty 110, the perfect engine for this plane. As I gravitate to gas planes I will only keep a couple of glow planes. The Velox will be one and I think you can guess the other one.

Thanks
Barry

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

Hi Barry :),
Make it three, cause you'll always have a YS 110 powered DO :D.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

In the Velox video,it looks like it matches the Do in slow HA KE without the coupling I bet. Maybe thats why the Do does it so slow,all the elev & ail needed for correction is adding drag! You would think some day we will get tired of the Do with all the other choices available,not yet though.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

:)You are right...that's the 2nd one I'll always have. Certainly not as precise as the Velox but it is the most "fun" plane I have to fly. I love the UCDs.

Thansk
Barry

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

:)Mixmaster...

My Velox flys High Alpha Knife Edge with zero coupling in either direction. It's amazing how stable it feels in this maneuver. I always do a lot of Knife Edges when I fly this plane. Fun to see how low you can go. Routinely I get it under 5' with KE. It's a fun plane to fly and has zero bad tendencies. Not the best ARF in the world but probably the best flyer. And it's quality isn't bad, just not like the Hanger 9 stuff. Especially the covering. I'd rate the overall quality as B.

Thanks
Barry

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

They all have issues it seems,some more than others. If the Velox flys that good I have to have one,probably a replacement for the Do some day,got to have at least one glow and it has to be a good one. I noticed they are cheaper at the moment,$219 if I remember correctly. I also have a shot at a 50cc Velox NIB if the owner doesnt want it.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

hey guy it i just read this whole post [&:] it took about three weeks! i have a well broke in (about a year old maybe 100 flights or so maybe more) magnum 120xl that needs a home been flying a long while but never any 3d I'm planing on putting it on a 60 size do most of the mods but probably going to leave the rudder stock for now my mane concern is that i want to learn to hover so i wanted to know if i should move the tank to the cg or that will benefit me much being new to 3d and how you think the magnum will perform for this i think it may be a little heavy for the power it has it weighs in at 31.08oz and what prop size would best suit for hovering.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

If you have never flown 3D IMO (if I could do it again) I would not pick a UCD for my first plane. I like the UCD 46 now. This is only after flying a Shock flyer and flying a 46 size profile. If I had a Mag 120 4C or 2C I would look at a larger profile. Like a Katana 70 ARF or something up to a 65 inch wing. Check out OMP’s web site Ohio Model Products. www.ohiomodelplanes.com

Look at the Fusion ARF. (long tail moment like the UCD) Why a profile? More than a 1 lb weight saving over fatties. This makes the plane better at hovering. I had to over power my UCD 46 to a OS 91 2C to get it to fee like a profile. How I can hover it. IMO……….. I wish I would have started with a profile. the planes may cost more than a UCD but it may make you a better 3D pilot faster.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

I'm pretty sure the engine will fit,inverted fits best but I had a Moki 1.35 side mounted ,really a tight fit but it worked. I would think you will have enough thrust to hold a hover even if the weight will be a little high,you might want to skip pants,spinners,pilot & any other extra weight thats possible. While the 60 Do is not a must have as first 3-D plane, it is one of the good ones to start with,specially if you are on a budget. I would definately beef up firewall and LG mounts with that engine. If you stick with it & dont give up, you will be 3-D'ing this bird,took me 3 years with out sim or foamies to get there,was flying 15 years before that.

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

thanks a lot for your input guys i love the site so much info. It is a 4c mag 120xl, been flying for about 9 or 10 years do have the reflex xtr sim and its awesome :D the flight characteristics seem to be very close to right on so i have been working a lot on the 3d stuff

RE: U Can Do 3D
 

I would look at the total weight, with the 120 4C, IMO you should be about 7.5 lbs of less. You will get a solid hover and be able to learn to toque roll. The UCD 60 has the wing area to fly well at this weight. APC Prop 15 x 4 or 16 x 4 wide is a good place to start. You should have about 13 to 15 lbs of thrust. If you need to make changes to the stock kit I would not recommend going that route for your first 3D plane. IMO grab a 70 size profile like the Katana 70 or build a Mojo 60 if you want to save money. You get a great flying plane and you will not have to modify anything. I am on my second Katana and it was flying in less than 10 hours and very easy to fly. I love my UCD now only after learning to fly on the profiles. Save the UCD for your 2nd 3Der. I will always have a profile to fly 3D. I also will not give up my DO.