Vectorflight Edge 540 build
04-16-2005 | 05:31 PM
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From: El Reno,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Wish they would send me my new belly pan. How are the custom built (balsa) ones holding up ? I remember that I put an order in to one of you to make me one. Your's just looked so pro.
04-16-2005 | 07:13 PM
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From: Macon,
GA
RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Struz,
My balsa belly pan has done fine, but I wasn't volunteering to make one for anyone else, that was Gary. You ought to go ahead and make one, if I can do it you'll have no problem.
My balsa belly pan has done fine, but I wasn't volunteering to make one for anyone else, that was Gary. You ought to go ahead and make one, if I can do it you'll have no problem.
04-16-2005 | 08:08 PM
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From: Johns Creek,
GA
RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Yippeeeeee...
Finally...My big box came!
I'll take my time with this one...
but I do have a question.... I want to put some stripes on the bottom of the wing....
any precautions I need to take? Can I just use Ultracote and iron it on? or will the heat be too much?
Curious what others have used... Sorry if it is already mentioned in the thread and I missed it... I haven't finished reading all 30 pages yet!!
Finally...My big box came!
I'll take my time with this one...
but I do have a question.... I want to put some stripes on the bottom of the wing....
any precautions I need to take? Can I just use Ultracote and iron it on? or will the heat be too much?
Curious what others have used... Sorry if it is already mentioned in the thread and I missed it... I haven't finished reading all 30 pages yet!!
04-16-2005 | 10:48 PM
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From: Manassas,
VA
RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Congrats on your new arrival. Buiding the edge was actually real fun. When it comes to hinging (pay attention, or your end up looking what my aileron did on the page before). When it also comes to gluing the joiners in take it slow and make sure everything is straight. When its says to dry fit, do it a couple times and double check that everything is straight.
You can go ahead and use ultrakote for some little designs on the plane. The lower heat setting of the ultracote will be fine with the covering on the model. Dont directly heat the stock covering or you risk damaging the stock covering. Make sure your heating the ultracote not the rest of the covering. I used clear ultracote to seal my hinges and it sticks fine with no troubles.
You can go ahead and use ultrakote for some little designs on the plane. The lower heat setting of the ultracote will be fine with the covering on the model. Dont directly heat the stock covering or you risk damaging the stock covering. Make sure your heating the ultracote not the rest of the covering. I used clear ultracote to seal my hinges and it sticks fine with no troubles.
04-17-2005 | 02:22 AM
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From: El Reno,
OK
RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
John from VF wrote me and said he'd send me a new belly pan right away. I could build one from balsa but the factory ones work fine . So no problem. Thanks anyway.
04-17-2005 | 02:24 PM
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From: Johns Creek,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Thanks for the heads up.....I just want to add some stripes to the underside of the wing......
I'll keep the heat as low as I can and still get the ultra to stick......
First I need to clean my shop, but hope to start the build this week!
I'll keep the heat as low as I can and still get the ultra to stick......
First I need to clean my shop, but hope to start the build this week!
04-20-2005 | 03:11 PM
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From: Johns Creek,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
ORIGINAL: ez2bgman
Jon, I too didn't have any 1/4" dowel so I used what I had. I believe I had 3/8" dowel and then I just drilled the holes out to accept it. The nylon bolts weren't even on my parts list. I think that is a new addition in response to my nylon bolt mod. For the center joiner, the right side should be epoxied together as explained and the left side slides on the smaller center joiner and bolts on with steel bolts, washers, lock washers, and wing nuts. As Luke stated, shoot them an e-mail an I guarantee that they will send the necessary hardware ASAP. Explain the hole that was in the box. I cannot remember if I had 2 bags of hardware.
Grelker, here are the instructions and pics (the first three) from my other post:
"I had no gap to start with. If you scroll back to one of my early posts on the first page, there is a pic there of the gapless wing/fuselage joint. You could take a 66" long straight edge and line up my leading edges. I just didn't want any gap to develop from the stresses these planes will be put through during hard aerobatics.
Here are some pics of the nylon bolt mod that I did to hold the trailing edge in tight. It didn't take much time and next to nothing in cost to do it. I used 1/2" dowel and cut 2 pieces an inch in length. I then drilled and tapped it for 1/4-20 nylon bolts. I then located an area about an inch behind the dowel for the wing and drilled it out to accept the 1/2" dowel. Before I drilled the 1/2" hole, I drilled a starter hole with a 1/8" bit. Stuck a small piece of toothpick in it and slid the wings into position. The toothpick marked the spot on the fuselage for the nylon bolt to pass through. This way there was no guessing or complicated measurements to make. After this step, I drilled the 1/2" hole in the root rib for the threaded dowel. I applied some Elmers Wood Glue and inserted the dowel flush with the root rib. The fit was just snug enough that I had to lightly tap it in. I then applied thin CA to the dowel face and threads. I drilled the holes in the fuselage for the 1/4-20 nylon bolts. I then made two plywood doublers and epoxied them inside the fuselage over the hole for the nylon bolts for added strength. I probably didn't need the doublers, but as they say "better to have and not need, than to need and not have..." Now there is nothing short of full contact with the ground that can cause my wings to develop a gap from the fuselage.
Here are a few pics of the belly pan mod that I did too. Actually, it is some pics of the blind nuts in the fuselage.
By the way, you can see an additional hole in the fuselage between the dowel and the nylon bolts. I had originally drill straight through the fuselage side and root rib and just threaded the nylon bolts in. I didn't think the root ribs would be able to handle the stresses. That is when I redid them using the current method.
Hope these tips are useful. "
Jon, the last pic is of the completed wing with the joiners epoxied in and bolted together.
Jon, I too didn't have any 1/4" dowel so I used what I had. I believe I had 3/8" dowel and then I just drilled the holes out to accept it. The nylon bolts weren't even on my parts list. I think that is a new addition in response to my nylon bolt mod. For the center joiner, the right side should be epoxied together as explained and the left side slides on the smaller center joiner and bolts on with steel bolts, washers, lock washers, and wing nuts. As Luke stated, shoot them an e-mail an I guarantee that they will send the necessary hardware ASAP. Explain the hole that was in the box. I cannot remember if I had 2 bags of hardware.
Grelker, here are the instructions and pics (the first three) from my other post:
"I had no gap to start with. If you scroll back to one of my early posts on the first page, there is a pic there of the gapless wing/fuselage joint. You could take a 66" long straight edge and line up my leading edges. I just didn't want any gap to develop from the stresses these planes will be put through during hard aerobatics.
Here are some pics of the nylon bolt mod that I did to hold the trailing edge in tight. It didn't take much time and next to nothing in cost to do it. I used 1/2" dowel and cut 2 pieces an inch in length. I then drilled and tapped it for 1/4-20 nylon bolts. I then located an area about an inch behind the dowel for the wing and drilled it out to accept the 1/2" dowel. Before I drilled the 1/2" hole, I drilled a starter hole with a 1/8" bit. Stuck a small piece of toothpick in it and slid the wings into position. The toothpick marked the spot on the fuselage for the nylon bolt to pass through. This way there was no guessing or complicated measurements to make. After this step, I drilled the 1/2" hole in the root rib for the threaded dowel. I applied some Elmers Wood Glue and inserted the dowel flush with the root rib. The fit was just snug enough that I had to lightly tap it in. I then applied thin CA to the dowel face and threads. I drilled the holes in the fuselage for the 1/4-20 nylon bolts. I then made two plywood doublers and epoxied them inside the fuselage over the hole for the nylon bolts for added strength. I probably didn't need the doublers, but as they say "better to have and not need, than to need and not have..." Now there is nothing short of full contact with the ground that can cause my wings to develop a gap from the fuselage.
Here are a few pics of the belly pan mod that I did too. Actually, it is some pics of the blind nuts in the fuselage.
By the way, you can see an additional hole in the fuselage between the dowel and the nylon bolts. I had originally drill straight through the fuselage side and root rib and just threaded the nylon bolts in. I didn't think the root ribs would be able to handle the stresses. That is when I redid them using the current method.
Hope these tips are useful. "
Jon, the last pic is of the completed wing with the joiners epoxied in and bolted together.
I'll do this mod too... Started my Edge today!! (OK, fine...I just epoxied the joiners.....but it is a start!)
I noticed in one of your pictures that there is an extra screw on the epoxied side of the joiner.... was this just added for a little extra strength?
04-20-2005 | 03:44 PM
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From: Johns Creek,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Wow....Looks like you guys weild some power at VF...
I was just looking at my fuse and noticed a couple of pre-drilled holes just behind the dowel hole...
did they already start adding a pilot hole for the nylon bolt mod or is this something else....
notice the hole behind the dowel hole.....
I was just looking at my fuse and noticed a couple of pre-drilled holes just behind the dowel hole...
did they already start adding a pilot hole for the nylon bolt mod or is this something else....
notice the hole behind the dowel hole.....
04-20-2005 | 04:33 PM
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From: El Reno,
OK
RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Mine came like that too . What I did was a bit easier than the others and seems to work fine.
I took two 1/4 nylon screws and cut the heads off . Then I tapped them into the wing so they would fit nice and snug. You may need to open the pre-drilled holes up a bit . Set the nylon screws about half way into the wing using 30 min epoxy. Before it cures make sure you dry fit the wings so the screws line up perfectly and will fit into the fuse during field assembly. I use two nylon wingnuts to hold them in place against the fuse sides.
The secret to this VF wing is to get the joiner bolts locked down tight first. Then just snug up the rear bolts enough to remove the gap. You don't need to crank them down with a socket wrench like you do the joiner.
The tapped dowel system is still probably the strongest of the two. But I have had no problems using the (nylon screws only) after 10 flights so far.
I took two 1/4 nylon screws and cut the heads off . Then I tapped them into the wing so they would fit nice and snug. You may need to open the pre-drilled holes up a bit . Set the nylon screws about half way into the wing using 30 min epoxy. Before it cures make sure you dry fit the wings so the screws line up perfectly and will fit into the fuse during field assembly. I use two nylon wingnuts to hold them in place against the fuse sides.
The secret to this VF wing is to get the joiner bolts locked down tight first. Then just snug up the rear bolts enough to remove the gap. You don't need to crank them down with a socket wrench like you do the joiner.
The tapped dowel system is still probably the strongest of the two. But I have had no problems using the (nylon screws only) after 10 flights so far.
04-20-2005 | 04:42 PM
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From: Johns Creek,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Interesting.... so there is always a threaded nylon "rod" sticking out of the wing and it fits into a hole in the fuse?
That is a good idea;.....
I think both would work fine... as neither one is really a stress bearing (well a bit, but not a huge amount) but more a "snugging" function....
That is a good idea;.....
I think both would work fine... as neither one is really a stress bearing (well a bit, but not a huge amount) but more a "snugging" function....
04-23-2005 | 08:17 PM
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From: El Reno,
OK
RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Having a great time with my Edge 540. Still no wheel pants. But I don't miss cleaning the dirt and grass outta them when I fly certain grass airfields. Saito100 is running great after I got it back from Horizon's Saito Repair.
New cam, bearings and seals.
New cam, bearings and seals.
04-25-2005 | 05:34 PM
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From: Manassas,
VA
RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Kurt: Your edge is looking beautiful. I think you did a great job with the cowl. Doesn't look like you put a hole on the bottom of the cowl for a heat excape. Seems like your saito runs fine.
I may contact VF for a new belly pan but, im going to see how my current belly pan works. Since, I wont be maidening my bird for a bit and lucky me being a manager at a hobby shop my edge is looking pretty hanging from the celing of the store. Ill take a picture if i remember to bring my camera to work.
I may contact VF for a new belly pan but, im going to see how my current belly pan works. Since, I wont be maidening my bird for a bit and lucky me being a manager at a hobby shop my edge is looking pretty hanging from the celing of the store. Ill take a picture if i remember to bring my camera to work.
04-25-2005 | 07:54 PM
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From: Macon,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
RC,
>>Since, I wont be maidening my bird for a bit and lucky me being a manager at a hobby shop my edge is looking pretty hanging from the celing of the store.<<
That's not good for business is it? "I WANT ONE OF THOSE!"
>>Since, I wont be maidening my bird for a bit and lucky me being a manager at a hobby shop my edge is looking pretty hanging from the celing of the store.<<
That's not good for business is it? "I WANT ONE OF THOSE!"
04-25-2005 | 08:02 PM
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From: El Reno,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Plenty of air escapes through the underside of the cowl right in front of the gear mount.
A buddy of mine came over and did the cowl for me. He always does great work on his planes so I'm very thankful for his help.
He has shown me how to do them the right way several times but for this Edge and certain ARFs I ask him to do 'em.
Mine always have little flaws plus I'm a lunitic with a Dremal tool. LOL
TAKE SOME PHOTOS FURY !!! REMEMBER TO TAKE THAT CAMERA TOMORROW !!!
Here's a couple of my friends planes. Note the cowling placements. Nice work Billy !![8D]
A buddy of mine came over and did the cowl for me. He always does great work on his planes so I'm very thankful for his help.
He has shown me how to do them the right way several times but for this Edge and certain ARFs I ask him to do 'em.
Mine always have little flaws plus I'm a lunitic with a Dremal tool. LOL
TAKE SOME PHOTOS FURY !!! REMEMBER TO TAKE THAT CAMERA TOMORROW !!!
Here's a couple of my friends planes. Note the cowling placements. Nice work Billy !![8D]
04-25-2005 | 11:27 PM
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From: Manassas,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
sturtz: Yeah i wasn't thinking of the opening in the rear of the cowl where the landing gear is. I made a cutout on the bottom for extra cooling / access to the low speed needle on the motor. I think I did pretty good cutting my cowl, did get a little dremel crazy but it worked out pretty good. So how does your friend cut so beautiful cowls. Give us some hints.
Jon: I had some very nice complements on my plane and I probally did win a couple more VF customers. Bad thing is I probally lost those customers that need to buy our planes on the shelf. hehhe! The owner was a little earie about it but, seeing that beautiful plane through the front window will probally draw people in. Or steal it.. haha
Anyway crazy that i was i did bring my edge to my fathers photography studio. Granted he didn't take the pictures but, i used the back drop. My father was too busy with other stuff so i had to fend for myself. Not the best but, hey looks good!!!!
***Im going to try to get my father to take some pro shots of my plane since he knows how to operate everything plus a good digital camera... ****
Jon: I had some very nice complements on my plane and I probally did win a couple more VF customers. Bad thing is I probally lost those customers that need to buy our planes on the shelf. hehhe! The owner was a little earie about it but, seeing that beautiful plane through the front window will probally draw people in. Or steal it.. haha
Anyway crazy that i was i did bring my edge to my fathers photography studio. Granted he didn't take the pictures but, i used the back drop. My father was too busy with other stuff so i had to fend for myself. Not the best but, hey looks good!!!!
***Im going to try to get my father to take some pro shots of my plane since he knows how to operate everything plus a good digital camera... ****
04-26-2005 | 07:17 AM
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From: El Reno,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Simply Gorgeous !!!!!
And you cut the muffler tip out ? I opted to see what would happen naturally. It melts.[&o] LOL
Well,,, my friend takes his time and does all the homework before cutting & drilling. He showed me how to make a template and so on. If he were answering this post he'd probably say " Be prepared to mount and un-mount the motor several times till it's perfect. Most of us are in a hurry by this stage in the build. I know I am. Plus he'll look over something for days if need be.
Getting that flawless look between the back of the spinner and the cowl is a real art form in itself. I applaude those that find this easy to do everytime.
I included a pic of my UCANDO.46. Now that's one of my cowling jobs. See how wonderfully the blue stripe matches up at the cowl ?
How bout some pics of your Hobby Shop Fury ?
And you cut the muffler tip out ? I opted to see what would happen naturally. It melts.[&o] LOL
Well,,, my friend takes his time and does all the homework before cutting & drilling. He showed me how to make a template and so on. If he were answering this post he'd probably say " Be prepared to mount and un-mount the motor several times till it's perfect. Most of us are in a hurry by this stage in the build. I know I am. Plus he'll look over something for days if need be.
Getting that flawless look between the back of the spinner and the cowl is a real art form in itself. I applaude those that find this easy to do everytime.
I included a pic of my UCANDO.46. Now that's one of my cowling jobs. See how wonderfully the blue stripe matches up at the cowl ?
How bout some pics of your Hobby Shop Fury ?
04-26-2005 | 10:08 PM
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From: Manassas,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Well i orginally tried to go about and not cut the hole for the tip of the muffler so i can try a tip i recieved from the guys at davis diesel. Heat up the area and put on the cowl and the muffler will just bulge out the cowl a little since it was heated. It will then cool off and you would just see a little bulge and you wont see the muffler. Well i attempted it and failed as i accidently melted the hole instead of heating it up. So i just went ahead and cut it out. It dont look all that bad anyway.
When i mounted my cowl I took some manilla folders and cut them out and used that to make a template. Ended up being off a few centimeters as i rushed. Shame... For the constant install and uninstall the motor i used zip ties to hold the motor in place. I did have the holes allready drilled so it was easy to line up each time. If I needed to take it up just cut the zipties. Worked pretty good...
I have a few somewhat recient pictures of the hobbyshop on my other computer and im too lazy to fish them out right now. Ill post them tomorrow maybe after college. Its a pretty good shop as it has a lot of stuff I need. Plus i got a nice little discount the other day for my brand new JR 9303!!!! And gosh what a beautiful radio.
When i mounted my cowl I took some manilla folders and cut them out and used that to make a template. Ended up being off a few centimeters as i rushed. Shame... For the constant install and uninstall the motor i used zip ties to hold the motor in place. I did have the holes allready drilled so it was easy to line up each time. If I needed to take it up just cut the zipties. Worked pretty good...
I have a few somewhat recient pictures of the hobbyshop on my other computer and im too lazy to fish them out right now. Ill post them tomorrow maybe after college. Its a pretty good shop as it has a lot of stuff I need. Plus i got a nice little discount the other day for my brand new JR 9303!!!! And gosh what a beautiful radio.
04-27-2005 | 12:09 AM
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From: Anytown,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Kurt and Nathan, very nice shots! Kurt looks like you are havin a great time with your Edge in that big field.
Nathan that shine on the gear is awesome! Is that paint or just sand paper polishing![8D]
Nathan that shine on the gear is awesome! Is that paint or just sand paper polishing![8D]
04-27-2005 | 08:51 AM
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From: Manassas,
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RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
Cal: I polished the gear with the good ol old elbow grease and sand paper. Took me nearly 3 hours to get the right. After that i took it to the bench grider with a buffing pad and buffed and buffed and buffed a little bit more with differant grades of emeroy polish. The gear is so shiny you could shave in your reflection. The bottom of the gear has also been polished but a little bit. Just enough to get the oxidation off.
I had another spinner which i took to a metal finishing company which i had a few buddys who worked there. They were going to polish it up using this new technique which envolved plating etc. But, they messed up the spinner. They did refund me the money for polsing and the cost of the spinner. So im just using the orginal spinner i had that has been all kinds of torn up.
I had another spinner which i took to a metal finishing company which i had a few buddys who worked there. They were going to polish it up using this new technique which envolved plating etc. But, they messed up the spinner. They did refund me the money for polsing and the cost of the spinner. So im just using the orginal spinner i had that has been all kinds of torn up.
