i guess i did forget the battery, but it was too in the plane when i cheked it, a JR Extra 1800 Mah pack.. and ill send you a pic tomorow of the scale and how much it reads! i'm tellin ya, it weighs 9 pounds!!! i just triple checked it!

that's the setup i have on my edge, excpet i sed 10-32 hex head bolts

well, no its a professional scale. and i know its right. but i right-on with the above!^^

While I'm at it... my engine (ZDZ-50), Inv. Pitts Muffler, Ignition, Dave Brown spinner and 22x8 prop weigh at 4.25 lbs...

Add 12 oz for servos and 4 oz for extensions another lb.

Add 10 for the lion batteries, 2 for switches/regulator 3/4 lb

That SHOULD get me to around 16 lbs... add 8 oz for misc things like fiber optic kill switch, aileron horns, linkage, etc...

I'm thinking it's gonna end up at 16.5 lbs... I could drop 4 oz in a wingtube, but that's about as much as I can see dropped....

I already have the Graphtec small tailwheel.... and you can't get a stab tube for it.

I don't think it's gonna fly much different minus 4 oz so I'll stick with 16.5 lbs... Should be pretty nice at that weight... My Wild Hare was 17.25...

I found some 9/16 inch CF tubes, but they are the I/D measurement, not O/D.

TUR-09 Carbon Tubes / Roll Wrapped .5625"(9/16")ID x .033"WT x 29.5" $24.00

They do have this one though:
TUR-08 Carbon Tubes / Roll Wrapped .555 ID x .033" WT x 28.5" $25.00 So, what would the O/D be if the ID was .555" plus .033 wall thickness?

Found them from ACP Composites.
[link=http://www.acp-composites.com/acp-tube.htm]ACP Composites[/link]

Great sleuthing there DirtyPool...

First let me say that I didn't put a caliper to the tube so I can't be 100% on the exact size... but I laid the round over a rule and it's definitely bigger than .5" and less than .635"...

It's right at .5625 or 9/16"... it's POSSIBLE is could be as big as .588 and that last tube you mentioned would work... Calipers please....

I asked Max abot it and he said that the plans specified a 1/2" tube, but that the manufacturer may have substituted for what they could source easily. Then I mentioned how advantageous it would be if was 1/2" so CF stab tubes could save an oz in the tail and 4-5 in the nose...

he said he'd check to see what the shpeil is...

Thanks.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

(if you have enough time to spend on the web)

It would not be too difficult to install a 1/2 inch tube. The sleeve sold by Troybuilt probably would fit into the existing sleeve.. if not, I think it could easily be drilled out and reset... no hill for a climber.

I want to see some bona-fide weights.. no fish tales please!! I cannot see this pig weighing in at anything less than 16 pounds 12 oz with what everyone is equipping theirs with and most likely a lot more. Mine weighs 17.5 and I am a very experienced "light builder" ... My weight problem is in the tail.. it is very heavy. With the exception of going to a CF stab tube and perhaps some lighter weight control horns, there is not much I can to do get weight out. The last resort is to move the elevator servos.

Had I to do over, I would at least do the following..

CF stab tube -1 oz
CF main gear -4oz
Eliminate redundant batt pack/reg - 6oz

I move the rudder pull-pull 2" forward from where it is now and move both tail servos forward into a servo tray and use CF sleeved pushrods (similar to what pattern ships use) to acheive the weight reduction forward of the CG then there would be many options to remove weight forward of CG.


Without moving the elevator servos the best I could hope for is 16 pounds 8oz on single batteries.
I have used the lightest weight components available including a CF spinner, MenzS wood prop, titanium / CF pushrods and light alloy horns.


If I moved the servos and went with all CF gear, tubes, etc.. I could probably get it to a hair under 16.. which is where it really needs to be to fly unlimited 3D.

Oh well... I'll save the effort for the Velox if it ever gets here..

DP

I'm still debating on whether I will go ahead and assemble the Edge or not.

I have the Double Vision... which I love. A Vision which I will probably love and should come in at 15 lbs.

I have the EF 87" Yak coming which will hit about 15.5 lbs with tuned pipe.

I also have a backup DV and Vision in the boxes...

Though these Edge's are purported to fly great (both WH and BME) I can't take all these planes to the field...

I have mine with the surfaces hinged and firewall attached & pinned... nothing else...

I have a new ZDZ-50 sitting here for it and could easily just finish it out and fly it...

On the other hand I built a WH RTF and sold it without flying it, and don't want to do that again. Maybe I'll see what the market says...

What to do, what to do....

Maudib.. you need to live in AZ or FLA!! With all those planes you need to fly more! I can see why you have so many though.. more time to build than weather to fly.
I lived in the Midwest part of my life and while the area was nice, the weather was the worst in the country.

I'd still build the edge!! ... it does fly very nice.. I was out this AM before the wind kicked in.. MUCH BETTER now that I have it balanced. Vertical performance is surprisingly good for the weight, probably will only get better as the engine runs in. I have not wrung it out yet.. I want to make sure everything is secure before I start thrashing, but the few things I did do were quite nice (flat spin, harrier, TR)...

My guess is this plane flies just like the WH does... its about the same plane and built by the same company.. unfortunately.. same weight too.


I'm still not happy it weighs as much as it does, but I can't tear it apart (again) so I will enjoy it as is. I think its one of the nicest looking edges out there so that is a plus. Still- I can't wait for the Velox to get here.. I think that plane has a lot of potential..


My opinion - I think you should bash the BME and make it a 3D monster!
I would put good money that you could get to under 16 pounds.

DP

These planes are not built by the same manufacturer...

Wild Hare's are built in Korea (I think) and BME's in China.

As far as dropping weight...

You'd have to go with a CF wingtube, gear, spinner and tailwheel. The stab would have to be rebuilt to accept 1/2" stab tube and the fuse reworked accordingly.

I personally don't think 16.5 is that bad... and with just the wingtube & gear could be right at 16 lbs...

It's not an issue of the plane being great... it's the company it would have to keep and compete with.

And that list of planes was just the 50cc planes... I have a 100cc BME Ultimate almost done, a H9 33% Sukhoi with ZDZ 80, a 34% Chip Hyde Extra coming... and a couple of those Tunnel Visions.

Yeah I DO need to live in Texas, AZ or some such place...

Til that happens (probably never) I need to thin down the fleet to my very most favorite of favorites.

I guess I won't know about the Edge if I don't fly it... hmmmmm.

We'll see if there's a local buyer out there... if not I'll definitely finish it.

Chip is coming out with a new canister called the quiet pipe... I've got one on the way and it may enthuse me enough to install it in the Edge... there is just enough room for a standard can, and this Quiet Pipe is supposed to be the lightest and smallest available...

Ahhh well... we'll see....

Glad to hear you're liking the BME...

In actuality... 16-17 is average for a 50cc plane... the Vision is the first I've seen that will hit 15 and the EF Yak will be 15.5... and the Yak is VERY lightly built... you just can't get an arf any lighter than it and it uses composite gear and CF wingtube/stabtube to get there!. So 1 lb heavier for a studier built plane isn't to bad at all.

And you have to admit... it is well built.

Well, I just ordered the 1/2 inch stab tube.

It was .500" ID plus wall thickness of .032 which should equal .564 and the stock 9/16 inch tube is .5625

I will keep you posted on what shows up and if it fits.

Rob

well, my plane came out to 9 pounds with no motor and im planning on using iether a Moki 2.10(2.5 pounds) or a Zen G62(5 pounds), which would get me way under 16 pounds either way! so i wouldn't say that if i were you..

Heck use a Saito 1.00 on it... you'll have all the power your imagination can muster.

Dude, I'm sorry, but you need a new set of scales. There is no way yours is that much lighter than everyone else's. No matter, you will have a nice flying plane no matter how much your scales are lying to you.

TeamZen - Roll me one of those spliffs would you? Maybe I can watch my edge lose 2 pounds too!!
LMFAO!
DP

hey dude, i checked it on 3 scales.. each a different brand.. how about an explination for that?? look, i dont know how it is that weight but just face the facts it is!

Hey guys,

Subscribed!

I ordered mine last week from Max, and it should, hopefully, arrive next week. Teal scheme version.
Lots of great info in the thread and I plan on going with as much of the weight reducing items as I can.

DA50 for the power plant.
HS-645MG for wings
HS-5645MG for Elev
JR 8611 for rudder

Keep the info coming. Especially the wing tube and stab tube sizes. I will be ordering those soon.
I have a great digital scale and will weigh everything once it gets here.

Spar

All this talk about the weight of the kit made me curious. Unfortunately all I have is an old baby scale, but I am coming out with about 10 pounds for all the components in the kit. I weighed it two ways.

First the major components grouped together:
5# 9 oz for the fuse, hatch, firewall, hardware package, wing tubes, etc
4# for the wings, stab and rudder
9 oz for the cowl
-----
10# 2oz Total

I also weighed the individual components
9 oz cowl
46 oz wings
4 oz one stab
4 oz one stab
7 oz rudder
10 oz wing and stab tube
12 oz LG
58 oz fuse, firewall and hatch
8 oz HW package and wheel pants
------
158 oz Total or 9# 14 oz

I plan on swapping out the tail gear which weighs around 3 ounces.

My BME 50 and ignition is 3# 12 oz.

Of course, I'll still need:
switches
servos + linkage (JR 8611 for rudder and Hitec 5945's for ailerons/elevator)
batteries
fuel tank
H9 motor mount
1 1/2 aluminum motor mount extensions from RC Showcase
Spinner
Prop

It just keeps adding up. What else did I forget?

Nothing... built as we all have been building it we are all looking at 17.5 pound planes...

DP

Ed, mine was about that too... that's where it should be. (Don't give another thought to someones claim about a 9 lb plane wiht everything but engine it ain't so)

If you stick to single battery I think you should get it under 17 lbs... I still think mine would end up at 16.5...

I measured and found that you can get the cowl out to 7" away from the firewall... this gives about 1/16" overlap so you don;t see the F1 former. The cowl mounting blindnuts on the side will have to be pulled and moved to in front of former F1... And if you haven't poked the holes through it yet, you won't even know it was done.

This is a MUST do based upon reports of taiheavy planes.

Then install the ignition & battery on the firewall.

I'd also recommend drilling some material out of the landing gear block... there's a lot there just make sure you leave some meat where the screws for your tailwheel goes... which... BTW... toss the stock tailwheel and get another... superstar or as I did the Graphtec CF tailwheel.

Last thing to do is make sure you install the rudder servo as far forward as possible... yo should have no probelms achieving and adjusting CG with battery position from that point.

The stock wheels are fine and extremely light (tho DP has been TOLD that they don't hold up on asphalt)

Try them and replace them if they wear with harder ones.

Control horns... if you don;t already have them, look for lighter ones... maybe Chip Hyde's ball bearing control horns... very light and they come with clevises...

Just add a ball link to the servo horn and you're good to go.

-David

I wanted to add that while I am very disappointed that it will never come down to 15.5, 16.5-17.5 is about average for a 50CC plane... so it's not pig or heavy plane at all. It just isn't living up to (yet again) manufacturers pie in the sky estimates.

I had my "pig" out today.. .it does fly very well and you don't really feel the weight. Man that DA50 is a strong engine...
My description of this plane as a tail heavy pig was probably a little harsh!

If yours comes out to 17.5 I probably would not sweat it.. do what Maudib suggests.. I would have to tear mine apart so Im going to keep as is. I am sure you could shave 8oz easy.

The only area I notice the weight is harriers.. I get wing rock, but other than that... it is pretty rock solid. Slow flight is a lot better now that I have found the CG sweet spot.

I put the light foam wheels back on.. total flying weight less fuel (measured with my 3 point super-accurate scale) 17 pounds 5 ounces. The wheels do make a diff.

CG is at 5.45 inches from LE at the fuse, which translates to about 34% MAC.. .pretty agressive, but all the elevator hunting and wing drops are GONE which is what I was trying to achieve.


Did some agressive stuf today... I LIKE IT!!

3 landings and the stock wheels still look like new.. maybe they are different than the "other"ones out there....

I do notice they flat spot when they sit... but it does not effect ground handling..

DP

Maudib, I see yours is up for sale now.

Guess you made your decision.

Not really...

If someone local will pick it up, then yes I'll let it go...

BUT... if a buyer can't meet my price or pick it up... then it will get built... and flown the heck out of...

I'll just limit myself to TWO favorite planes at the field any given day...

Without a doubt the Edge is a great flying design, and BME's rendition is as good a 50cc Edge as any other... and perhaps a little better. I really do think it has excellent material and build quality. And seems to be at least 1/4 lb less than the others out there.

SO who knows... for now I've got some other projects going and the Vision and EF Yak ditched in line. I'm very close to finishing BME's 100cc Ultimate... again a really nicely built airframe.

On the subject of Pigs...

I got excited over the Patty Wagstaff and built one with a ZDZ 50... 16.5 lbs! Everyone loves the way it flies... but it felt heavy to me in the air and a little fast on landing... but with a lower pitch prop slowed down better.

Still it weighed as much as I think this Edge will end up and it only has 1157 sq. in. while the Edge has about 200 more inches... that's a lot!

Anywho... Real glad you've got that sweet spot thing going with your Edge DesertPig... if it's like most... you'll love it more and more each time out. And the engine... well if youthink it's a hauler now... wait til you have 4-5 gallons through it... You should see a noticable difference each visit at the field... stronger and stronger.