A few more pics...

If you order from VF right now plan for a delay. I ordered an Edge 540 on Sept. 24th and still haven't gotten it. They keep sliding out the delivery estimate sighting parts and shipping backlogs. It seems like the sale and all the positive talk here are getting people interested and ordering. I was planning on not flying the Edge until next season here in snowy Chicago anyway so it isn't an issue that much for me except the changing of delivery estimates all the time. I have gotten quick replies to my emails though as people have said here. If I don't get the plane today they said to get back and they will get one to me ASAP. I just donated my SuperSportster to the plane gods this weekend so I hope the Edge comes to ease the pain. :-)

Mine took a while to arrive also, about 3 weeks. Break it down like this in my case....

1st week - mail check in to VF
2nd week - Wait for check to clear
3rd week - Ground shipping through customs

I actually thoguht it arrived fast

I just think they got overwhelmed. It shows the power of RCUniverse. I paid by credit card so there wasn't a check mail or clear delay. The invoice says it was shipped on the 27th but that isn't right. I think "shipped" in this case doesn't really mean shipped. That is the feedback I am going to give them.

Just know this, when you finally do get your hands on it, I think you'll agree it's the best bang for the buck in the "90" sized sport plane class. I call it "90" sized because the 66" is bigger than the usual 60 class and smaller than the usual 120 class planes. Either way, it's an awesome ARF and I hope that Vectorflight takes off and expands thier lines.

VectorFlight is not necessarily known for its speed in getting models out. But then again, quality does take time. Once you get your bird and look it over, you'll understand that it is/was well worth the wait. If you want an ARF fast, stick with the Chinese models where it looks like the whole plane was thrown together before lunch.

All good things (your VectorFlight bird) comes to those who wait.

Be patient and you'll be glad you did

From what I see written hear and the pics I see I am sure I will love the Edge. I think that knowing how much I will like it make the wait even harder even though I probably won't even fly it soon. I guess that is what makes this hobby so much fun for me. :-)

Hit my first snag on the Edge build. Throttle servo is giving me fits over mounting. Can't quite get the positioning settled. Anyone got a snapshot of thier solution? Any and all help is greatly appreciated.[8D]

Very nice work on the cowl! My throttle servo is clamped to the fuselage side just in front of the wing clamps, straight and simple. But not sure if it will work for an inverted engine. You might have to use a flexible link for throttle hookup. I think Dubro or Sullivan makes one of those flexible sleeves for routing throttle linkages.

Yeah Im not in a rush for the edge. I need to think how i can sell my other plane the tiger 2. I really love that plane but, i was just yearning for something much better. Hence the EDGE 540.
As we speak i just ordered the sullivan tail braces and a saito 120. Something i was pondering the other day. Reading from the site the motor mount is allready installed i believe. So is it mounted sideways? Can i rotate the motor mount without redrilling the the firewall? My plan was to mount it sideways and get the slimline pits for the saito. From the looks of the cowl that it should fit pretty good without hacking much of it off. Then again I could be wrong. Eveyone Ive talked to is having major issues with the motor mounted inverted. Oh well guess I could wait.

Calflyer,

Thanks for the tip. I used a technique from an old Hangar 9 Cub wing I have stored. The servos in that wing were mounted on plaes with blocks so they could be hidden in the wing. I used one of those plates as a template, and the blocks to mount the throttle servo nice and snug on the fuse side. A little grooving gave the linkage a perfect shot to the throttle arm with zero binding.

rcfury,

After using 30 min epoxy and triangle stock fillets on the tail, it stress tests pretty strong. However, like you, I don't want to take chances so I will be custom making my own struts for the tail. As for the Saito 120 fit, inverted should be fine. I was amazed at how easily the fuel tank and carb lined up in this position. If you choose to mount it sideways your going to end up with a butchered cowl. The 120 is larger than you might think and the cowl isn't. An onboard glow driver is essential if inverted. It would be unwise to try to reach around a 15" or 16" prop each time to connect and disconnect a glow stick. After a proper break-in, I have tested the 120 inverted and it starts easily and purrs like a Lion (kittens are weak, the Saito 120 is not!). turning the motor mount to inverted is simple as well. Although mine is not perfectly aligned straight down, it has the proper thrust angles with a couple of washers under the left side mount screws. I used two of the existing mount holes and redrilled the other two. Removing the blind nuts is fairly simple as well. Make sure that you beef up the firewall with traingle stock in areas that are not affected by the mounting screws. Also, initial CG tests show the battery heading for the tail...way out.

For what it's worth, Cootertwo has a Magnum 1.20 mounted in his Edge 540 and he was quite helpful in answering my questions when I put my first one together. If anyone is interested, check [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/mem-ratings.cfm?memid=57075]here[/link].

98% finished and squirming like a handcuffed kid in a toy store.[sm=spinnyeyes.gif] Being this close to flying such a beautiful work of art is cruel and unusual punishment. I am amazed at how each little "problem" that has reared it's ugly head has been squashed by the utter simplicity of this masterfully built ARF. Even my own stupidity hasn't been able to foul up the works! Anyone considering the Vectorflight line of models should stop considering immediately and go buy one! (or more!)

Premodus: Hey man youve been a great help and a good salesman (haha). Seeing that beautiful plane makes me want to build it now. But good things happen to people who wait.
In your pictures looks like it doesn't have a counter balance rudder. But i guess it was designed that way for a reason. But if I could bother you a little bit more. How big is the elevator / Rudder?
Cant wait to hear the flight report. Fill me in and others who read this thread for that matter. How beautiful the plane looks on the ground gotta look 2 times as better in the air. Cant speak for my avitar though...

Luke,
Looks awesome, I know the feeling! I just wanted to hang mine from the ceiling and admire it. But once I started flying, I havent given it a rest for over a year.

Suggest you put some dark stripes on the bottom of the wing. It spins fast and the stripes are a great help to know up from down! I also left the wheel pants off initially, until I mastered the landings and takeoffs.

Im working with the local sign shop and see if they could put in big black letters. "EDGE 540" that will help me with determining what side is up. And it looks cool.

Excellent Idea! I can take the wing halves to the sign shop here and get them custom fitted with a logo or design on the bottoms.[8D]

As for the rudder/elevator size I will have to get measurements tonight at home and will post them up then. I can tell you they look plenty big to me and if hinged properly can give huge throws.

This model is, for some, reason very pitch sensitive, so it's unlikely you will need even moderately large elevator throws. In fact, I would recommend your first flights should be rated down to about 60% so you can get used to the elevator!

Anything above what looks like very small elevator movement, and you have to keep a look out for snapping, although the loop radius is pretty small before you get to that stage!

Enjoy!

-David C.

I just ordered the VectorFlight Edge 540 66". I really hope it pans out to be as great as you fellow Universers say it is.
According to an earlier post there is some waiting time in getting one to your door, but if it is half as good as what people are saying it is, then I am sure it will be well worth the wait. It's nice to see someone besides Tower Hobbies getting a piece of my hard earned dollar. And it is also nice to hear that VectorFlights Customer Service is top notch which is also why I have spent money with Tower Hobbies. It is also nice to see an American/Canadian Co. that excercises smart business practice, and is able to compete against Overseas Manufactures.
Even though it might be awhile before I get to make my own descision about my 540 Edge, it really sounds like from what is posted on RC Universe that I am in for a good experience with my VectorFlight 540 66.

I can definatly agree with you on that one. You dont know how long i have been reading all the positve things about this company / model. Thats why i had to take the leap of faith. I think i did make a great purchace. Now if i can get my girlfriend to agree with me. Guess ill have to buy her another 300 dollar gift.
Im the assistant manager at hobby town USA here in VA and gosh sometimes i think i spend more money in there then my customers.

Primodus:
We told ya so . . . we told ya so

rcfury:
Elevator is about 24" long and 3.75" at the widest, 2-1/8" at the outboard tips.

Rudder is about 12" tall and 5-3/4" at the bootom, 2-1/2" at the top.



Hope this helps,

Installed the tail struts this morning on the top side only. (Should I put some on bottom also?) I used 2-56 metal pushrods, custom fitted and bolted thru both the horzontal and vertical stabs with 6-32/1" bolts. The tail needed the extra weight anyway to help move the CG in line. They are pretty stiff in both directions of flex so I opted not to add them to the bottom side at this time.

It would probably be a good idea to put wires on the bottom as well. I did that on mine and it made it pretty stiff.

I agree with Crash Master. Bottom struts will lock the tail to the fuselage. Very important to do so! I used short struts going only about half out to all surfaces and they added tremendous strength without putting on any serious weight. Definately an area where a stich in time saves many later![8D]

Here is an estimate of current VF Edge waiting time. I ordered on Sept. 24th and it arrived on Oct. 12th in Illinois. Not all that bad. I am away on business and can't wait to get back and see how nice it looks!