ORIGINAL: wind junkie
Great job Bdegan. Thanks for the info. You have a bit more snow than we do now.
I'd like to try to get away with not opening up the bottom because I want to drive the plane around when the snow is still fluffy, and I know it would stick to the ESC and freeze. Maybe for summer months, but I think (and hope) the cheek cowl holes will be enough to cool the motor and ESC in the winter months. What do you think about leaving the bottom closed?
The ESC and motor were barely warm to the touch, even when my fingers were a little cold.
The battery was just luke warm coming out of the plane. If I get a chance next time and remember
, I will put a temp gun on everything as soon as I land.
The hole in the fuse behind the wing could easily be covered with a piece of monocote or left closed until the spring when warmer weather comes.
The big opening at the front could be left smaller until the warmer weather rolls around. The opening on the bottom could be a bit smaller as well. But there should be some air flow through the cowl.
The motor and ESC staying cool is a good thing. But you do want the battery to warm up a bit, or it won't give you full power.
The temperature yesterday was around -2 C or 28 F at the first flight and about -7 C or 19 F by the 4 th flight 2 hrs later.