shootnstarz

Where does yours balance at the ROOT? I assembled my wings by themselves, just wings and tube, flipped it upside down, made marks 2" back from the leading edge at the tips, stretched a string accross from tip mark to tip mark and then made marks at the roots for balance points. These marks are excatly 4" back from the leading edge at the root, 2" forward of the center of the tube. That's where I'm trying to balance mine.

Does anybody think the CG would change from tip to root along the line from tip mark to tip mark?


Rick

Bob Zar

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I'M READY TO FLYMY SECOND ONE AFTER A THREE YEAR HIATUS. I USED THE ADVISED CG PER MANUAL FOR THE FIRST WITH GOOD RESULTS...THE SECOND TOOK WEIGHT AT THE NOSE..BOTH PLANES USED AN OS 120 FS WITH GOOD POWER. I DON'T RECALL IF THE FIRST NEEDED WEIGHT. CHECK MY GALLERY FOR FIRST LASER.HERE'S A PIC OF THE BIG ONE...BOB ZAR

2robinhood

Yes, that is exactly where I balance mine.
2" back on the tips, 4" back at the root, 2" ahead of center of wing tube.

But, I have been flying mine @ minus 9.2 oz. of nose weight a at the above CG without any problems. When I put the balancer right on the wing tube, I am way nose heavy and that is without the cowl and spinner.

I have flown it with the above CG and perfectly balanced.
But as you can see I am definately tail heavy flying without the cowl and spinner.

I would balance it at 2" back on the tips = 4" back at the root.

Bob Zar

My Feedback: (5)

ORIGINAL: Bob Zar

I'M READY TO FLY
MY SECOND ONE AFTER A THREE YEAR HIATUS. I USED THE ADVISED CG PER MANUAL FOR THE FIRST WITH GOOD RESULTS...THE SECOND TOOK WEIGHT AT THE NOSE..BOTH PLANES USED AN OS 120 FS WITH GOOD POWER. I DON'T RECALL IF THE FIRST NEEDED WEIGHT. CHECK MY GALLERY FOR FIRST LASER....BOB ZAR

shootnstarz

OK, 4" back from the root it is. Glad to hear it's not real critical. TEST FLIGHT !!!!

Rick

cloudancer03

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I am 99 percent finished with my laser.I am using a satio 150 and havent balanced it yet but am concerned about the weight issue based on what I am seeing posted.I did weigh it last nite and it comes out just a tad over 10 pounds.I am going to use with the 150 a apc 17x6 prop.I am looking for a spinner and would appreciate suggestions for one as it looks like I will have to cut the slot bigger on most cones?I am going to seal gap the hinges just to ensure no flutter and better aerobatics.the servos are hitec 645's .

I see most used the stock material for stab struts.they seem flimsy but at this stage I want to fly it and dont anticipate any issues..yes the stars were a pain lol.but I love the color and design of this plane and hope to fly later this week.

ifly2

That makes me feel better. I guess I should have read the manual.. I just lifted it by the wing tube. I hope to get it finished this weekend. It is interesting that it flys better with the cowl off. I'll have to try that.

Thanks, I'll let everyone know how it goes as I get it in the air.

Les

cloudancer03

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let us know how she goes .I am hoping to maiden mine this weekend..

shootnstarz

Mine flew like a pig. Way, way underpowered with the 120 4c. Doesn't even have enough umph to get through a loop. No vertical preformance at all. I was using a 16/6 master airscrew woody. I'm going out today to try some different props but I don't hold out much hope. I'm looking very hard at the OS 200. It weighs about the same as the 120.

I am very disappointed in this plane, I thought for sure the 120 would haul it around just fine. I did put 6.5 ozs of nose weight in but that shouldn't make it so underpowered.

Anybody else got an OS 120 4c on there's? How does it preform?

Rick

cloudancer03

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werll I hope mine is better as I am using a satio 150..I see videos where guys are using spe26's maybe they know something we didn't?

Bob Zar

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I USED AN OS 120FS WITH VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE...BOB ZAR

cloudancer03

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thank you .I love the looks of this plane and was thinking of getting a yak or extra next.I am sure my power set up will make aerobatics fun .

shootnstarz

Hey Bob, what kind of RPM with what prop are you getting? Mine only turned up 7800 with a Master Airscrew 16/6 woody. Book says it should turn 11K but that seems awful fast. It's a used engine, I have no knowledge of it's history so it may be worn out.

Rick

cloudancer03

My Feedback: (22)

I will say that using a master airscrew is not the prop of choice.try APC.7800 is a low number.

2robinhood

I started with a OS 1.60FX two stroke and a APC 18 X 6W and it was an animal.
You could be holding it nose up, let go of the tail and it would accelerate fast out of site.
I now have a CRRC Pro GF26I in it and it is still great. Not what the OS 1.60FX was, but still a great performer.
I have noticed that the plane with the 26cc gasser in it, performance is about half with the engine cowl on, to when it is off.
Cowling on the verticle is really down.
I need to take some video of the flight performance without the cowl on.
With the 26cc gasser I am turning an APC 17 X 6 @ 9500 rpm.
Compare the verticle take off between the 1.60FX and the 26cc gasser.
The gasser without the cowl and with the APC 17 X 6 it is much, much better the the video below.
Try flying yours without the cowling, that may be helpful to see what your problem may be.
When I had the 1.60FX in it, I always left the cowling on.
That motor had some much balls that it didn't matter.

This fisrts video is with the OS 1.60FX in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHodQ45NuGY

This second video is with the CRRC Pro GF26I in it, but this is with an SY 16 X 8 turning about 9000rpm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK7VSdUZf6U

Third video with the APC 17 X 6 @ about 9450rpm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IQpg_DxpX4

Bob Zar

My Feedback: (5)

I MAIDENED MY NEW ONE YESTERDAY...USING A 15/10...REGARDS..BOB

Harc

Clouddancer - For a spinner, try J&R Hobby Hardware. Have dealt with these folks: service is superb, prices are very reasonable, i.e., 3.5" aluminum spinner for $17.50 that I have on my P40. Their web site is jrhobbyhardware.com.

Good Luck,

Harc

cloudancer03

My Feedback: (22)

thanks will do just that. Bob how did the maiden flight go.I am concerned my plane weighs just under 11 pounds although I have a satio 150.and the tail wheel is very weak did anyone change that.

shootnstarz

Well, I'm sure my 120 has some kind of issue that won't let it turn up properly so today I ordered a new 200. Man will I be walking with a limp for a while! The cost of the 200 is actually less than I could have gotten a new Saito 150 with Tower's discounts. The 200 will probably be overkill but the weight is only 1.5 oz more than the 120 and you don't have to use all the power.

With three flights so far with the weak engine I think the plane will fly good once I get some power to it. It stalls very easily when landing but it has no tendenices to snap. Just keep a little power on until touchdown. The 3/16" aileron set up is quite slow, even the 3/8" high rate isn't very responsive. Had to put blue locktite on the canopy screws so they wouldn't back out. Also reinforced the wheel pants with a 1.5" x 3" piece of 1/8 ply epoxied and clamped inside. Had a hell of a time getting the axles back in afterward though.

The Laser is such a beautiful plane I can't see myself flying it cowlless no matter the preformance difference. Everybody at the field comments on how nice it looks. Guess they're getting burned out on Extras too.

I'll chime back in when I've broken in and flown the 200. Anybody know where I can send the tired, old OS1204S for some TLC?

Rick

Bob Zar

My Feedback: (5)

HAVING EXCHANGED THE TAIL WHEEL ON THE FIRST ONE,I DID IT FOR THE NEW ONE...GOOD LUCK WITH THE 200...TRY TO BEEF UP THE FRONT END IF POSSIBLE AS IT IS FAIRLY FLIMSY..REGARDS BOB ZAR.

shootnstarz

Well, I have two flights with the 200 so far. It's still running very rich so I don't have any preformance info yet but I did have an issue with the aileron servo mount. Sometime during the second flight two of the sheet metal screws that hold the aileron servo panel to the wing stripped out and the servo was hanging by the other two, both of them ready to strip out. I wasn't even doing any violent manevuers, the engine is still being broken in.

Those screws are in thin, soft, light ply and strip out very easily. I epoxied another piece of heavy 1/8 ply under the original light ply and reinstalled the panels with 2/56 blind nuts and machine screws with blue locktite on them. I would also keep a close eye on the elevator servo screws.

I'll be back with info on how the 200 does hauling the plane around as soon as the breakin is complete.

Hey Bob, I already did reinforcing before the 200 was installed, as I do on most ARFs. I did also add 6 #6 X 3/4 sheetmetal screws from the fuselage sides into the front firewall, 3 on each side.

BTW, the OS started on the first flip and purrs like a kitten. Even at rich setting it idles so slow it's hard to believe it's still running. I guess that big old 18" prop is a great flywheel. Hard to beat an OS.

Rick

2robinhood

I flew mine for five , 15 minute flights today.
I have been flying without the cowl, because it performed so much better with the cowl off.
Last night I completely filled the front of the engine cowl with a peice of balsa.
My CRRC GF26I's head sticks out the bottom of the cowl, so it keeps plenty cool.
I will say that with the cowl blocked off, it is up to about 80% of the performance as with the cowl off.
Verticle is still affected, but nowhere near as bad, knife edge is a ton better.
This is probally the best I can get it with the cowl on.
I want the cowl on, because the plane looks so much better.
With the cowl off, it is just awsome in performance.

Zippi

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2robinhood,

Sounds like you are having an air flow problem. Are you running a static line from the carb back into the fuse to pick up clean air ? I had a GSP Giles 202 with a 26cc that would run great on the ground and just as soon as it got airborne it would go flat. I ended up running a 90 degree fitting out of the carb facing forward to pick up more air. Cured all my problems and ran great.

2robinhood

No, I have no running issues at all. The CRRC runs great all the time.
The cowl was catching / blocking air and making affecting the over all flying performance of the plane.
I even have the whole bottom cut out of it.
With the cowl off, verticle was unlimited, knife edge was perfectly straight.
With the cowl on ( before I blocked it off ) verticle was about half, and knife edge coupled real bad to the wheels.
With the cowl covered the aerodynamics of the plane inproved greatly.
Almost up to how it flys without the cowl, but not quite.
I want the cowl on because it completes the look of the plane.
As far as the engine goes, shes a screamer with all kinds of power.
I guess I should have explained myself better,that it was an aerodynamic issue and not an engine issue.

Zippi

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2robinhood,

I had the same plane running an OS 120AX with a pitts style muffler and never had an issue with it flying poorly with the cowl on. That is something new for me, just never heard that one before. How much of the cowl is cut out on the buttom around the engine? Do you have a pic?