Hi,

I have what may seem like a silly question for those who have fitted the braces.

Should I tighten the braces so that I exert pressure on the Stabilizer down wards (ie holding it down ) or push the braces out so that I exert pressure up (pushing the stab up).
I do presume it's down unless the stab breaks in outside loop type moves but I'd like to check.

Thanks again,
Rob

Not a silly question at all!

I put braces on mine, and used the logic that they are there to provide support to the stab from more than just the middle. It's the fact that the strength is in the shape of an unsupported cantilever that might cause the breakages. Supporting at another point as well will dramatically increase the strength.

I would suggest you set it up with no tension in any direction, and let the strain provide the direction of the support when the stab tries to bend.

Just my 2c (or 2p) worth!

-David C.

Now why didn't I think of that !

Thanks David !

BTW how do you find it ?

A pleasure!



So far <fingers crossed> I haven't had anything at all go wrong with the tail end of the plane, in spite of doing some pretty stressful flying (to me, and the plane!).

I have had an aileron servos come adrift (the mounting plate broke, and has now been really well epoxied!) but that's another story.

A great plane to fly though. Very graceful.

-David C.

I recieved my Extra 300 several months ago and had it built within a week. Quality was excellent. Hobby Lobby sent me the tailplane bracing a week later.

My question is regarding the balance point for the CG. I measured in both inches and metric and still had to add over 12 ozs of lead to the nose in order to get a good balance.

Does anyone out there have some data as to where the exact balance point is and how much weight (if any) was required. I am using an OS 60H and a standard size radio mounted at the specified location.

I'm hesitant to fly the plane at this time until I get the CG question resolved.

Any advice would be of great help.

HAL

I thought I'd help ya out so I just put mine on my great planes balancer and got 103-104 mm or 4- 3/16" at this setting it should perform real well for you. the directions called for 98mm but I found this to be WAY to extreme-The first time I took mine out it was real sensitive to any tail input (rudder or elevator) so its best to start with it further back and with relativley small movement in the tail (low rates) to start, Especially with the elevator. I thought the elevator looked to be a little small before I flew this bird but found it to be just fine, And if anything kind of sensitive. So I rebalanced it a tiny bit foward and set my linkages to low rates and she handles real nice now! mabey I'll move it a bit back down the road after I become more familiar with this plane but for now this is the best point for balancing for easy going with her!!
I am flying with a O.S. .91fx and have tons of power and have'nt leaned the motor yet ( still breaking it in) I was able to pull off a 'very clean' knife edge with it on my last flight and greased the landings !! I think you'll like it. but just remember to keep it on low rates to begin with.--- Good luck!!
P.S. She tends to want to snap on high rates (with a little extra dialed in) Also all my balancing is done where the wing meets the fuslage. Hope this helps!!

Thanks for the input . My setup is about 1/4" farther forward than yours which would account for most of the extra weight required. I'll try your setup. As for the low rate suggestion on the elevator - I agree. I've set up my Xmitter for dual rates with low input settings.
Thanks again. I'll let you know how it turns out.

HAL

Has anyone else found the tank on this to be too small ?
I'm only getting 4mins, although the engine is new and I'm running it a bit rich.
I am ordering a DUBro 12oz tank that I will have to widen the opening for.
Thing is I'm worried the extra weight will mess up the balance ????
As for everything else it's fantastic !
My friend (An accomplished F3a pilot ) is so impressed he's talking of having one too!

Rob

Well on the third trip to the field gthe stab. broke off and we had the braces. went to my hobby store and hobby lobby is sending out a stab and rudder we where lucky came down in some corn so it did not hit as hard. Still love the plane lets see if this stab is different. May have to build one my self if not. Any one know how to strengthen it besides the flying wires. Our stab came off on a fly by.

hi everybody

silly but still question that hasn`t been asked here.

In this kit can be found also tiny aluminum plate with holes predrilled (seems that it can be broken apart. There is different one for stab). Couldn`t find a place to match it in.
Second question, there are plenty of the rubberbands. What for are these??

Crow

spare one for stabilizor

Second question, there are plenty of the rubberbands. What for are these??

if the stabilazor did not hold you can hold the pieces together
with the rubberbands to bring it to the BBQ

sorry could not help myself

Crow [/B][/QUOTE]

what i ment was that there are two al plates one with predrilled holes and second just a plate????

Crow,
I found these too.
I disgarded the pre-drilled one as I think it was the first version of an upgrade for the stab. that was in the kit.
(It's also more evidence that the kit is made by Seagull , but thats for another day !)

Sandor could be right about the rubber bands !

Rob

Does anyone else found that the screws for horns supplied with are too short to reach the backplate.

thanks all for your inputs
Crow

Yep,
I also found the same problem with another model from a totally different manufacturer ! (Seagull)
Replaced them with longer screws !

it is my first ARF,
as far as i understand the ARF means that you open the box and put a thing together not first go to buy screws.
Strange, the manufacturer does a great job, but on the same time he can`t put a right sized screws in the box, laugh or cry.

Don`t get me wrong, i`m not an grumbler, anyhow i like this plane a lot.

You like it now,
Wait till you fly it you'll love it!

How's the weather in Estonia for this hobby ?

It's been even wetter than usual here since I built my model and have had little or no flying time on it.

the weatherguy is on modelers side, has been 25 deg heat and no rain at all. Usually 2mph wind. Just perfect!!
Hopfully stays so to the end of summer.

Crow

Could you send him over here pls !
15 mph winds at least and we have to get out between the showers if at all. ( And this is height of summer !).

What engine you going to use on that bird !

Rob

61, some kind of chinese masterpiece . Too impatient to wait for three weeks to get better one.

Heard that 61 could have little less power than needed to do aerobatic manuvers?!

Still on question came up: how far is best place for a CG from wing leadingedge


Crow

Due to beautifull Irish summer I havn't had very much time flying mine to do to much acro stuff so I wouldn't know if yours is underpowered, sorry.

CG in mine is a little back 10 mm from recommended (98mm I think!)

My F3a flying friend reckons it's a bit forward for serious acrobatics at that.

Speaking of waiting for parts, where do you get yours from ?
Sorry if I'm being nosey

We have one hobby shop for hole country, but it is quite well equiped. There are also some planes and engines but mostly bigger stuff has to be ordered from graupner or robbe or simprop.


Crow

One shop wow!
Because it's German it was cheaper to buy the Extra there and ship.
I presume you'll be testing it out this weekend, have fun !!
(And send us some good weather )

Rob

going to fly today, let you know.
Weatherguy said, if you pay for tickets he`ll come!

Crow

ok, didn`t go that well. It is a quite fast plane. Ended up with crash. Don`t belive it was all my fault, engine stoped in the air. Tried to make a turn and land but plane went into spin, wasn`t much left to do.
It is repairable, takes two days to fix.
What amazed me was that the extra is so easy to go into spin. Could the problem be in CG, it was bit aft.

Funny was that when i removed the cover i found with regular pen written signature on piece between main spars. Have somebody else found something like this? Does the builder sign his work?

put pic soon.

Crow

one more thing. Someone had said the landing gear plate comes off easely not destroying the whole plane. It is true,but bad thing is that when the wheelpants bending back they actually hit the wing and leave remarkable holes in it. Save fuse, loose wing.
Also noticed that placeing the battery behind servos, up on the cockpit floor is not a good idea. Mine got loose and went through everything up to nose, breaking servo plat etc.