RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

I have slowly been getting my 46 UCD

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

poptartcrust,

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

oops, just signed up today and am not really down with how to post, anyway, I have a Saito 72. Absolutely ROCKS! I know there has been a lot of smack about hanging Saito 100 on the front but with the 72, with only 3 tanks of fuel for break-in, has positively unlimited vertical.

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

I have been slowly getting my 46 UCD ready to fly. I have to say that the push rods included in the ARF are a true disappointment. For some reason, Great Planes chose to use VERY weak hardware.

Using the stock push rods ... turn on radio and plane ... apply force to ANY of the control surfaces using my hand ... push rods EASILY bend ... rod becomes bent and control surface becomes out of trim.

Just wanted to know if anyone has had the issue with the plane going out of trim in flight due to weak stock push rods?

Replies and comments welcome.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Rick,
Keep in mind that this is meant to be a slow and low bird. The enormous rudder and barn door ailerons are meant to give you control with little or no speed (ie vertical where all you have is propwash) the hardware may seem weak for jerking out of a full throttle dive, which they are, but that isn't the purpose of the plane.

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

I just got mine off the ground tonight, boy is that a fun plane to fly!!! I'm having some trouble with my ys engine, so I only got 2 decent flights, but it was so much fun while it lasted! Can't wait to go again.
If anyone is interested, I mounted hitec mighty mini servos in the tail for the elevator. I think I saved almost an ounce of weight in the tail. It balanced almost right on for me with this combo.
Just something to think about if you're worried about it being tail heavy.
I love this plane!!! (now I just need an engine to go with it)

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

dydo

thanx

I understand what you are saying and agree to a certain extent. If it were possible to "guarantee" any plane would stay slow and stable, then I would not be concerned. However, all pilots at one time or another will find their aircraft in an awkward attitude. Practicing 3D only increases the chances of this happening.

Having said that, I could see the potential for an in flight failure if the 46 UCD were to be put in an unintended dive at low altitude. It is a natural reaction, especially for new/less experienced pilots, to "jerk" on the stick in a "must-save-my-plane" situation.

Its not just new/less experienced pilots that this can happen to. Just a few weeks ago, I was doing a knife edge spin with my Morris TopCap. Came out of the maneuver WAY close to the ground and on a true 90 degree down-line. Pulled hard to miss Mother Earth. The entire plane fluttered wildly. I managed to chop the throttle and land, but I have been flying for quite a while. I would imagine a less experienced pilot would have lost the aircraft.

The TopCap is not designed for high speed flight either, but sometimes chit happens :)

Just to be safe, I will be upgrading to stiffer rods.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

strupp

Congrats on the flights!

Bummer on the YS!

How far off the leading edge are you on the CG? I am aiming for 5 - 5.5 inches on mine.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

The manual recommended 4.75 and I'm right about 5". It really flies great at this point. I plan on messing around with it to find where I'm comfortable.

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

At 5" there is very little coupling with the rudder and the rolls are very axial. At 4 3/4 " the plane feels nose heavy. At 6" it will do better waterfalls and flat spins but it will produce coupling issues

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

strupp

There is an addendum to the manual that Great Planes put out stating the the CG can be between 4" to 6". I have talked to a few folks that have flown the UCD 46 at 6" CG and they seem to like it there. One exception is it causes coupling on loops and other tight maneuvers. The upside is you achieve better performance on high alpha maneuvers like flat spins, harriers, knife edge loops, prop hangs and torque rolls.

Hope you find the CG that works best for you. Keep us posted.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Flow

Agreed ....

I had the same issues with my Kangke Super Kraft Fun 50. Speaking of the Fun 50...

I will be doing a head-to-head review of the UCD 46 vs the Fun 50 in the next few weeks.

Look for it in the proper forum ... I will put a link in this thread when it is done.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Well i have decided to go with my 50SX on this plane and use my 72 on my flip i am also building...has anyone flying this plane with the 50SX experimented with prop sizes if so which is working best, i would think it to be in the 12 to 13 diameter area perhaps making a 12.5 x 4 or 5 would be worth trying...

Snappy

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

I have a couple of old OS 91 Surpass engines sitting around. Has anyone tried one of these on the UCD 46? I think they weigh a couple of ounces more than the Saito 91.

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Snappy

I just mounted my 50SX on my UCD 46. I love that engine and own 5 of them. I have found the best prop for my 50SX and flying style to be an APC 12.25x3.75.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Just talked to a friend of mine. His UCD 46 stock 2/56 rods are all bent to hell after one day of flight. I will be upgrading to 4/40 before I maiden the plane.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

U-CAN-DO .46 tips? (post # 1)

i just bought the u-can-do .46. it is a great plane but there are some problems with there hardware. i have done alot of reading and i mean alot on the u-can-do. and it seems that if you use standard servos such as the futaba 3003 or 3004 you can get ALOT of flutter if you have any slop. but you can stop that if you up grade the hardware. i did not use their push pull rods. i upgraded them to 4-40s. then i put carbon fiber over the 4-40 rods. then instead of normal clamps i put ball links. dont use their control arms they flex way to much and cause a ton of slop. use something else. when you use and install your CA hinges. make sure that there is no gap in between the surfaces and the wings or stab. make sure the CG is in the right.

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

I run standard which have a bit of slop in them. Flutter is caused by two thing.

Not sealing your hinge gaps

Flying to fast.


This plane is made for 3d........not speed.


I've got 30+ flight on mine with NO problems.




Neo

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

I was on the Scratch and Dent Tower Hobbies web site today. They had a U-Can-Do-46 for $129.00. The reduced cost was due to the fact that the box the model comes in is damaged, but there is no damage to the model. I purchased the model! This is the frist time I bought a Scratch and Dent item.

Has anyone bought a Scratch and Dent product from Tower Hobbies? If so, was there any additonal damage to the product?


Regards,

Scooterpilot

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Tower is very good about the S&D items they sell. Just make sure you print off a copy of the items description just in case.

I have bought a motor and a plane from the S&D area of Tower. Both were listed as "box damage only". Both arrived as described ... water damage on the motor box and a torn corner on the Sig box ... both items were in perfect shape.

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

I just order one from tower,
paid $149. plus I ordered a few other things!
- $15. for spending over $150.
plus I got a $15. tower gift certificate
that = $119.
How did I do?

Dirk

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Scooter...

You did good. Made out like a bandit :)

You folks don't wanna know what my UCD 46 and Kangke Fun 50 cost me .... you would be tracking me down to order planes for you :)

Rick

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Hm... Scratch and Dent you say eh?
I once ordered a GP Giles 202 from their scratch and dent sale. Supposedly, it was only missing its belly pan... easy to make though. When the plane came in, the top part of the rudder was severely crushed, apparently not from shipping (at least shipping from them to me that is). The outside box looked fine but not the inside box... go figure. I requested $$ off the product and they refused, saying simply to send it back for a refund. As much as I wanted it (for $100 off too), I opted to keep it and fixed it myself; crashing it one month later!

I've returned a few GP UCD-46 kits the last few months due to damage which I did not want to mess with (I could wait). I hope you don't get one of these. I have heard that many of these kits come through (new) with broken wing ribs, some obvious, some not.
Wish ya luck!

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

well if any body is interested i got a slight damaged ucd 3d 46 the damage was to one side of the wing wile landing and did not saw the Little pole that holds the big pole for limbo i fix it and went flying and won 3rd place i will give it cheap since i want to try other plane for a review that i am doing.
but any way this plane if it was not for that i will say that is a great flying machine and dirk you did great buying it for 119.00
and you will not be disappointed i put a os 91 4s and flys great but and a fellow member got one too and he is more skillful than me and he can do some crazy stuff with a os70 on the nose is a real pleasure to fly well hope the beginning of the post don't offend no one thanks

RE: U-Can-Do 3d 46?
 

Rick,
What did your buddy hit when he bent his push rods?! Only kidding, honestly though, what engine was he using and what is his flying experience. Upgrade your push rods, your piece of mind will be worth it. Especially if it means you'll be thinking about flying and not the durability of your rods! I have had 10 flights and not a hint of flutter. Give GP some credit for knowing how to design a LIGHTWEIGHT plane that works.