Got quite a bit of air time on this one now; time to re-visit it.

Big news is that the glue joints on the left aileron servo mount in the wing failed. Fortunately, this was caught during a preflight; the servo, mounts and all, was flopping around in there. I had reinforced the actual mounting pads (where the servo attaches) with quarter-inch square spruce, for the screws to bite into, but I didn't do anything with the mounts where they attach to the wing structure. I'll have to spend some time fixing that.

Cowl and wheel pants are all three showing fine cracks. I keep repairing these with thin CA as they appear, but in effect all I'm doing is moving them around...[]

The soft landing gear struts are a constant source of aggravation. I take special pains to kiss the ground every landing, but they still splay (develop toe-out) after five or so landings. I keep bending them back (by hand; no tools needed), but they won't take that indefinitely.

The stability of the model continues to amaze me. I was getting REAL ignorant with it the other day, and had to input full up elevator, on high rates, fairly low to the ground when it got away from me. Instead of snapping out, it did what I have since learned is a manuever referred to as "The Parachute" by the flip-flop types.

However, we cannot deny pride of ownership as a factor in our enjoyment of a particular model, and this one continues to elicit a very bland reaction in me. I have NO complaints regarding its flying qualities; but, all things considered, I wish I had my Contender back...[&o]

.

Well, I see there is even less interest in this model now than there was six months ago.

Gee, no big surprise there...

Hi Steve, I have followed your posts all along and my Matrix still sits in its box. I have other pressing projects anyhow. I think I will wait until the winter months and then pull off all the covering and get into the airframe for some improvements. I will hunt around and try to find a composite landing gear that I can adapt while I am at it. Based on what you have found and seeing a few in my area I think CG has missed the mark on quality with this one.
If you remember, I wasn't looking for a 3-D airplane but a nice pattern trainer. It sounds as if this airplane has that potential, but to get it up to standards you have to "fix" a lot of quality control issues. Unacceptable in todays ARF market and especially for the price that CG wants for this airplane.

nice report Steve

do you have pics of her? Would love to see how weat and tear has affected the plane

matt

Aside from the (barely visible) cracks in the fiberglass, the servo mount coming loose (in the process of repairing that as this is written) and the odd spot here and there where the covering is coming up, there has been no "wear and tear". I can photograph any specific part of the model that you might be interested in; but ask quick, because the wife is going to Dallas tomorrow for a week and she's taking the digital camera with her...

<<...sits in its box...>>

I hear you. Unless you've got a thing for the composite gear, the easiest thing would be to send the un-used (and therefore, un-bent[&o] kit gear to TNT and have them duplicate it in T-6 aluminum.

De-covering is probably a REAL good idea, in light of what just happened. I'm wondering now what other glue joints are getting ready to fail. While I will take the time to repair minor problems on this airplane, I will not spend another dime or any major effort on it, and intend to fly it until something claims it, or I get tired of it.

And no bets on what will occur first...

.

Anybody know what the CG is on the Matrix. I was given one by a friend that had minor damage on it and started flying it this past weekend (guessed at the CG). It snaps really bad so it must be a CG problem. I put a Kraft 61 on mine and flies it nice. I notice that if flies better inverted . Even lands upside rather well.....Blast you Wayne for saying LOWER.....

wagas, the book says 5.5" back from the LE at the wing root for starters. They say you can go back to 6.5" or more. Mine is at six and a brunette, and is still a bit nose-heavy. And I have two servos mounted where that miserable bell-crank assembly was.

Be warned that the alieron horns are screwed into the soft LE wood. Both of mine pulled loose and almost fluttered the plane to death at 35 flights. The wood is so chewed up now that I'm going to have to cut the entire section out and inset a piece of hardwood. If you catch it before the wood fails, you can inlay 1/64 ply scabs on both sides for the horn and screw plate to bear against.

Got to thinking about this, decided to fix it.

Here's a peek inside the aileron. Not much wood there for the horn screws; I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.