I have the 73" Cap 232 and am almost ready to fly. I just mounted the engine (OS160) last night and all I lack is balancing. I checked the balance with the plane inverted and it balances about 3/4 or so behind the 5 5/8 recommended balance point. This is without any added weight.

How sensitive is the blance point on a plane of this size. (This is my 1st plane bigger than a 40 size.) Will this make a big difference or make it hard to fly or should I add the weight to bring it forward. I did try some experimenting and had to put a bunch of weight on the nose to gain the 3/4 to the recommended balance point.

Thanks,

Steve

Your way to far back for the initial flight. At 5 5/8 point it grooves real well. Take it back a 1/8 to 1/4 at a time till you feel comfortable from there. I am at 5 3/4 now and it snaps well enough not to get in any trouble.

Enjoy...

This airplane will snap very easy with up elevator, esp if it is a little tailheavy..... be careful!!

Thanks for the info. I appreciate the advice.

When you say the plane will snap very easily is this with the plane balanced at the recommended setting and using the recommended throws? If so is this a problem on low rates or mostly on high rates?

Should I set the controls lower than the recommended throws?
I know on most of the planes I have flown, I have found using the recommended throws for the first flights to be a bit more that was comfortable. Of course after the nerves settle and I have a few flights down the rates recommended are good or may even seem mild but those first flights always tear me up.

Lately I have began to shoot for something in between. I set my high rates about 1/2 way between the recommended low rates and high rates. I then set my low rates a ways below the recommended low rate settings.

With a plane like this I just dont know where to start. I would hate to do this and get it up to find I have too little control but don't want to go up and find it is a handfull.

I guess realizing I am putting about $800 or so up in the air don't help much either.

If you pull to much on the elevator it will try to roll out in loops or like on a pull into an up or down vertical. If you have a computer radio use plenty of expo 50-70% depending on your taste.
Mine will rock the wings when pulling into an elevator then as I have full up into it the wings will stay stable. Be about 2 mistakes high when trying it and if it does fall off or spin out be easy on the stick to recover.

Use the setting the book says, CG and throws you will be ok.

I just flew mine for the first time today with a saito 1.80,balanced right at 5 5/8,control throws set exactley as the manual states.Although the manual doesnt say anything about expo anywhere besides the 3-D setting on the elevator,I would reccomend using 50% on low and high rate,65% on 3-D rate.I couldnt really wring mine out due to some engine issues,I thought the saito wasnt running right,but turns out the exhaust deflector came off and was caught between the cowl and the muffler,causing some blockage.This bird is super easy to land,just keep a little speed up and it will almost land itself.Watch those big elevators,they dont need to move much to be effective.Overall I really like this airplane.Snaps stop on a dime,I dont think I've flown anything that point rolls so easy,no coupling at all needed.Again,couldnt do any hard 3-D type stuff due to the motor issues,but cant wait to try it again.

Well I ended up adding 12 oz. of lead to the nose and it was still about 1/4 inch or so tail heavy but I couldn't bear adding more lead. I took it to the field today and ran the breakin on the engine.

I had a guy who has one like it take it up for the first flight. It flew straight and level without any trim changes and did not seem too tail heavy to him. He handed it over to me and I flew it around up high and then let him land it. I had to do it sooner or later so I took it off. I made a few passes around the field and when the nervous shaking stopped I landed. My only problem was I came in a bit slow and ended up stalling at about 2 feet off the runway. Luckily it only dropped lightly and rolled on in with no damage.

I was really surprised at how gently the plane flew. I have an Ultra Stick that is set up pretty extreme and this was much tamer than it. I realize it will go very extreme if set up to do so but I agree the recommended throws were right on for first flights.

Thanks for the advice, it really seems to have paid off.

Can those of you who use the OS 160 on this plane advise me of what would be the best prop type and size to use. I started off today with a 16 x 10 wood prop to break in. It seemed to do well but I did not really do much more that circles around the field. I want a prop to hopefully to hovering and such.

Before I converted my Cap to a ZDZ40 gas, I used the OS 1.60 with a Slimline Pitts muffler, 15% nitro, and ProZinger 18x8, turned around 7700 or so. PLENTY of poop, there! (I went with the ZDZ to run gas, and take out the nose weight I had to add....works like a charm, but I chose a much more forward CG)

Hey Aerobob, I have the H9 Cap 232 and bought a ZDZ40 to put in it also. You have any pictures of how you mounted the engine on yours or any advise? Seems to me it will be one sweet setup.
If you have any pictures email me [email protected] Thanks

aerobob, can you tell alot of power difference between the two motors. and does it fly just as good with the zdz.

The main difference is extraordinary power "authority"...any attitude, condition, throttle up and fly out...slightly "heavier" on the sticks, but I have a nose heavy CG by my choosing. It is still agile, VERY snappy, and will TR far better than I.
Mainly, I can fly ALL day for about 50 cents, as it doesn't need full throttle.
The ZDZ is very smooth...you may look at my web site for more info http://www.rcaerobats.net/H9Cap232/CapZDZMod.htm

I too wanted to go gas but by far most of the posts I read said they were too heavy for this plane if you went with one that had enough power to pull it for the aerobatic stuff.

I may rethink it after I have played with it a while using the 160.

What would you estimate the total cost to convert to the gas engine
would run?

os 1.60, h9 cap 232 and a scimitar 18 x 8 prop....thats what the big guy uses at our field.