Question first: for those flying this plane - What is your CG set at?

Well, I've been flying my two Caps for a while now. One with a Saito 1.80 (12.4 lbs, CG @ 5&3/4") and the other an MVVS 1.60 Gasser (13.4 lbs, CG @ 5&7/8" w/2oz in tail). The MVVS plane (engine mounted inverted) balances laterally exactly with no weight and has everything moved as far back as possible without major reconstruction. The Saito plane (engine mounted at 90 degrees) requires 1.5 oz on the wingtip opposite the engine.

Both these planes are a ball to fly. Clearly, there is no comparison of the available power. If you are into serious 3D stuff and hanging on the prop the MVVS is not the engine to get (at least not at my skill level). but if you love flying wild and all day long on $2 of gas the MVVS is great. There is just something about the Gasser that is a lot of fun.

Both these engines start on the first or second flip when warmed up. Both can be a little touchy getting them going the first start after sitting for several days.

My personal opinion is that the factory recommended CG of 5 & 5/8" is way to conservative. My present CG's of about 5 &7/8" inches still feel and act (in flight) like they could be farther back. but I have my 1600 Mah batteries mounted under the rear bulkhead behind the wing and running dual elevators in stock location. To move the CG back I need to relocated elevator servos or add weight (something these planes have plenty of already).

Anyway, enough for now.

I have the Saito 180 engine which I am planning on using in the Cap232 , would I be better off with an OS160 FX ..??

I can understand why the underside of my wing is not flush with the fuse...?? any idea

MG

Dub, the wing is suppose to stick out (about 1/2"). It is designed that way. DO NOT try to change it. Just put some covering on it and you will never notice it. I suspect it was necessary to design it that way to get the wing incidence correct.

Splais, there has been two of these at our area field. One is set up with a Saito 1.8, the other with a YS 1.4. The Saito ship CG is 5 3/4 and the YS ship was 6 1/4. I have one that I'll be mounting a Moki 1.8 into but haven't come to the balance issue yet. Let us know how you make out with a more aft CG.

Dub,

If your into get this plane to ROCK, go with the OS FX 1.60. Horsepower to weight is considerably better than the Saito. Both engines are nearly the same for weight but the 1.60 puts out 3.7hp and the Saito puts out 2.8hp. The OS will swing an 18x10 propr, the Saito is designed up to 17x8, with the 16x8 recommended.

I had the opportunity to see one of these flown with the OS FX 1.60 running a Zinger 18x6. It didn't have unlimited but this might be because the engine is still being broken in (< gallon of fuel). I think it would also have been better with the 18x10. It still rocked though.

I'm bitting at the bullet to get mine started -- Moki 1.80 (-w- Cline regulator) and digital servos all around.

Splais .
Did you do any mods to reduce the weight of your CAP? My CAP was built as per plans except for a 2nd elevator servo and pushrod and weighs roughly 13.5lbs with OS 1.60fx and bisson pitts. No added weight to balance at 5" 5/8. I didn't beef anything up. The only extra wood added was some 1/4" balsa to hold the fuel tank from shifting

My two planes were built stock, except for dual elevator servos in the stock position. Contrary to what a lot of people have stated, neither of my planes has required any nose weight. I have slopped a lot of epoxy around at critical joints and both of my landing gear have been ripped out and fiberglassed back in which also added a little weight. I haven't even tried to figure out were I could cut out any weight.

I mounted a saito 1.8 as far in the front of the mount as I could. Then I put the battery up front, then I put the receiver in the front on the plane and it balanced without adding any weight whatsoever.

I have one with a Fox 2.4 gasser on the nose. It turns a 21x8 at 7100rpm. With 21lbs. of thrust. My Cap loaded with fuel 16oz. comes in at 14 lbs. even. It flies great. My CG is at the recommended spot. I have elevator and rudder servos in the tail. Will hover with no problems at all.

Maiden-ed mine this past Sunday. After spending some hours fiddling with the engine to get the mixture right, I took off, circled the field a few times and landed. The engine was too rich. I leaned it back about 1/3 turn and took off again. This time the engine went too lean and began to surge. I circled the field twice and landed - too slow; pancaked and broke the prop. That ended my day. The engine only has about six tanks of fuel run through it. In flight she ballooned when I advanced the throttle, but seemed to settle at half throttle. I don't know if it's a little tail heavy, the elevators need trimming or if the engine needs some down thrust. It's balanced per the plans. I really didn't have time to trim it out. But I could tell with just this little flight time that this is going to be one awesome setup.


This is my second H9 CAP. My first had the SAITO 150. Nice combo, but nothing like this.

This is my setup

160FX w/ ZPro 18x8
2 HS605mg - elevator , stock mount
1 HS645mg - rudder, stock mount
1 HS605mg - throttle, under cowl
2 HS605mg - ails
Sullivan 440 semi-flex rods to elevators

Dry weight 12# 10oz - includes 6oz lead in cowl to balance. Tank is pushed back as close as possible to CG. 1500mah 6v C-cell against firewall. Everything is stock except for throttle and elevator servo setup, and some beefing up of the landing gear blocks. I'll also try some different props, like 18x10 and 18x6 APCs

Mine is the lastest version with modes done to firewall, l.g. block and hollowed out turtle deck. I strengthened the area around the wing block holddowns and that was about it.

S.T.2300 w/Perry pump and carb 20% Ritches brew, Bisson muffler(sounds nice) 18X8 Simitar prop. 8300rpm
Fuel tank on C.G. 1100 milBattery behind firewall and throttle servo also. Balanced right on rec. C.G.

I will be relplacing stock L.G. with C.F. gear, will lighten about 3-4 oz and also move C.G. which it needs to be a little more aerobatic. With C.G. @recommended 5 5/8 is stable and predictable.

C.F.elevator rod supported by a bearing at back and forward formers.

FMA coreless servo's on 6volts 110 in oz.

I had the stock solder link come out of my ball clevis at the rudder servo wheel, happened on the ground when servo drove over hard with accidental receiver on trans on wrong airplane. So I went to 4-40 hookups. If it happened on the ground it could happen during a knife edge loop. And this plane is capable of it.

Mine however wants to fall off to the right when it does stall. perhaps at tad heavy on that wing or elevators out of sinc.

S.T. has enough power to do all the adavanced manuvers and will hover on about 1/2 throttle. Could use a t touch more power like a O.S. 1.6 or the larger 4-stroke. But I had the engine and the plane was cheap enough.

I am building the combo now with a Fuji 32 gasser. I have broke in the engine on the bench for an hour and it runs really nicely...(first gasser on a plane.) I have 4 JR digitals I plan on using with thoughts of a C/F split rod to the elevators. I was thinking of dual elev. servos but decided not to buy any servos at the time. I have to cut into the lower firewall to get the rear muffler to clear. Has anyone done this with a rear muffler?? I have a 24 oz tank that I plan on putting on the CG...is that too big?? I ran it for an hour on 16 oz at idle and mid throttle! I am thinking 16 oz will be plenty for a 15 minute flight or so! I cant' wait to get this plane done!! Do the gear rip out easily? Should I reinforce it now rather than rebuild later?

Thanks,

Caleb

I'm running dual elevator servos, one for each half. Using fiberglass pushrods & 4-40 rod.

If you get 15+ minutes from 16oz I would see no need to go bigger.

My gear mount is strong from the factory. I think some of the original versions had weak gear and weak mounts. The two front bolts on my gear go through a 1" hardwood block. Check yours.

ehfleming,

What RPM are you getting with the ZPro 18x8 on the 1.60?

:spinnyeye

My LG is a 4-bolt setup thru the big 1" block...are there any reported problems with this stock mounting?

Thanks,

Caleb

Sounds like what is on mine. It has 4 bolts. The front two are extra long and go through the large hardwood block. Seems plenty strong to me.

rcflier_gi,

Sorry, I didn't tach it. Anyway, I purposely ran it rich, so it didn't come close to its max potential. I'm waiting for my LHS to get in a replacement prop. Meanwhile, I'll be using the standard 18x8 Zinger; not as efficient, but it should get the job done. I'll be "out of pocket" for a few weeks so I won't be able to get be to the original setup until July. If you like, I'll shoot you an e-mail on the performance, then.