Top Flite Staggerwing
10-17-2011, 02:48 AM
#1601
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
CG and weight?
Finnaly ready, the model came up at 7500 grams with ASP 160 and empty tank.
the only think missing is the retractable tailgear. i also have an onboard Sullivan glower on 2S 950 mah LiPO.
Where do you measure the CG. At the bottom wing as I can read, but at the fuselage or at the front on one of the sides of centersection?
If I do 14cm from the centersection LE I am slightly tailheavy with empty tank and slightly noseheavy with full tank. Seems like a good match for me
Finnaly ready, the model came up at 7500 grams with ASP 160 and empty tank.
the only think missing is the retractable tailgear. i also have an onboard Sullivan glower on 2S 950 mah LiPO.
Where do you measure the CG. At the bottom wing as I can read, but at the fuselage or at the front on one of the sides of centersection?
If I do 14cm from the centersection LE I am slightly tailheavy with empty tank and slightly noseheavy with full tank. Seems like a good match for me
10-17-2011, 04:16 PM
#1603
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RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
affas,
Measure the cg position at the wing to fuse joint. Measure on the top of the bottom wing. And be sure to hang it upside down!!!!!!! Don't ask me how I know!
Measure the cg position at the wing to fuse joint. Measure on the top of the bottom wing. And be sure to hang it upside down!!!!!!! Don't ask me how I know!
10-17-2011, 09:52 PM
#1604
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
~16.5 lbs is correct. I am surprised that I was able to make it so light.
Robart retracts with the largest tank is installed. I used lighter Hitec servoes on flaps, ailerons and rudder, H 85bb on retract.
For batteries I used one 2S900mah on the Sullivan onboard glower and Hyperion LiFE 2S 2100 mah for rx.
Started the ASP 160 twin yesterday and it seems to work fine. Will do another breakin tank today and then maiden tomorrow.
Robart retracts with the largest tank is installed. I used lighter Hitec servoes on flaps, ailerons and rudder, H 85bb on retract.
For batteries I used one 2S900mah on the Sullivan onboard glower and Hyperion LiFE 2S 2100 mah for rx.
Started the ASP 160 twin yesterday and it seems to work fine. Will do another breakin tank today and then maiden tomorrow.
10-18-2011, 05:26 AM
#1606
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Will do!
I have run one more tank today. I am getting 7900 rpm with Xoar 16x8. I guess that is a little less than my OS 160 twin but should be more than enough for this bird.
It will be a photo and videoshoot tomorrow if the weather is good.
I have run one more tank today. I am getting 7900 rpm with Xoar 16x8. I guess that is a little less than my OS 160 twin but should be more than enough for this bird.
It will be a photo and videoshoot tomorrow if the weather is good.
10-19-2011, 08:19 AM
#1608
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
What a plane! The ASP 160 hauled the plane around with authority and justa very nice day here in Norway. Alot of pictures and video was taken, but need some time to finish the movie.
The plane balanced perfect without any weight upfront
The plane balanced perfect without any weight upfront
10-19-2011, 12:47 PM
#1611
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RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
ORIGINAL: affas
Got my model today. The frame was pretty heavy. I really don't know why they did use that lot wood inside the body on such a strong fiberglass body. I was thinking of assembly it quick now and then strip it through the winter and make it yellow, but I think I will start shedding of weight now and do it lighter from the very beginning...
Got my model today. The frame was pretty heavy. I really don't know why they did use that lot wood inside the body on such a strong fiberglass body. I was thinking of assembly it quick now and then strip it through the winter and make it yellow, but I think I will start shedding of weight now and do it lighter from the very beginning...
and it needs the extra support
ALL ARF companies use the exact same method....
1/fiberglass
2/high fill white primer (and it doesn't allways fill, but they try)
3. basecote
4. Clearcoat..
That HIGH fill primer is frail as a room full of anemic alzheimer patients...
If you pick up your Great planes Giant chipmunk even gently....it will sometimes causes a NEW hairline crack!... you then have to grind in down to the fiberglass to fix it...
But hay...They sure come out light weight!....[:-]
10-19-2011, 12:52 PM
#1612
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
I do have a 3,45 fiberglass AT6 and the only former inside is firewall and one small infront of the stab to srrw the tailwheelbracket into.
The epoxy/fiberglass on the Staggerwing seems very hardy and tough. The ASP does not vibrate much at all and I think the original was way to much reinforced...
Time will show
And if I get cracks, that can easyli be fixed when I will repaint mine in yellow version :-)
The epoxy/fiberglass on the Staggerwing seems very hardy and tough. The ASP does not vibrate much at all and I think the original was way to much reinforced...
Time will show
And if I get cracks, that can easyli be fixed when I will repaint mine in yellow version :-)
10-19-2011, 12:54 PM
#1613
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RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
why do I get the feeling that Alf is NOT a novice pilot Haaa
Denis
p.s. my first flight did NOT look like that. I had so much elevator dialed in that it porpoised up and down like it was tailheavy. once I went to low rates it settled down quite nicely
Denis
p.s. my first flight did NOT look like that. I had so much elevator dialed in that it porpoised up and down like it was tailheavy. once I went to low rates it settled down quite nicely
10-19-2011, 01:07 PM
#1614
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RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
I think the fiberglass planes hold up great if done right....
Bryan originals for example....
There fiberglass planes have the correct type of epoxy (as evidence by the GREEN color, and not the YELLOW that all others use)
and the resin goes all the way through the fiberglass, and fills the weave at the same time....
I think that most of the ARF manufactures use a thined out polyester resin that has JUST enough to hold the shape....
Not knocking them.... just saying...
Bryan originals for example....
There fiberglass planes have the correct type of epoxy (as evidence by the GREEN color, and not the YELLOW that all others use)
and the resin goes all the way through the fiberglass, and fills the weave at the same time....
I think that most of the ARF manufactures use a thined out polyester resin that has JUST enough to hold the shape....
Not knocking them.... just saying...
10-21-2011, 05:58 AM
#1618
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
I did nothing else than removed all internal wood, indluded in front and aft of upper wing. used the Dremel and removed alot of resin in the tailarea. Used 40 grams servoes on wings and rudder, light throttle, gear servoes. Both batteries upfront and that made the CG exactly match and I have no lead at all in the nose. I think my gain is there.....
10-23-2011, 08:41 AM
#1619
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
ORIGINAL: kochj
? I didn't see it any different built than anyone elses?
ORIGINAL: rowdog_14
great flight and landings! I know see how you managed 16.8 lbs.
great flight and landings! I know see how you managed 16.8 lbs.
From youtube
I removed all internal frame structures, plastic tubes and servotrays. That saved me almost 400 gram. And all this internal structure was aft of CG.
I removed all internal frame structures, plastic tubes and servotrays. That saved me almost 400 gram. And all this internal structure was aft of CG.
AFFAS what you did may seem minor but that is a lot of weight saving, you did a good job taking off the weight!
10-23-2011, 09:25 AM
#1620
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
My main goal is not to get the lightest model, but on typical tailheavy models I like to remove as much deadweight aft of CG. This case made me a model with no lead upfront even with a light motor. Obvious I could installed a heavier engine but the total load would be higher and the plane would be more critical.
I am in the middle of mounting my ESM Swordfish now. this is also a tailheavy plane. As I can see, almost all people are adding 2-3 lbs lead upfront. Same procedure here. Removing as much as possible aft of CG. I will make a update in this thread soon: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_90...17/key_/tm.htm
I am in the middle of mounting my ESM Swordfish now. this is also a tailheavy plane. As I can see, almost all people are adding 2-3 lbs lead upfront. Same procedure here. Removing as much as possible aft of CG. I will make a update in this thread soon: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_90...17/key_/tm.htm
10-28-2011, 06:25 AM
#1623
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
The first I did with this ARF was to reduce the weight as much as possible sinca all other Staggerwing pilots uses a lot of lead up front.
I removed all internal frame structures, plastic tubes and servotrays. That saved me almost 400 gram. And all this internal structure was aft of CG.
I removed all internal frame structures, plastic tubes and servotrays. That saved me almost 400 gram. And all this internal structure was aft of CG.
10-29-2011, 03:12 PM
#1624
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RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
I'm glad to hear that my Staggerwing isn't the only one that sounds like a pickup truck full of garbage can lids when it's taxiing. The Robart gear is amazingly noisy! Great flying!