billd76

My Feedback: (3)

I have heard the same thing about my 40 size decathlon. Everybody says "go with a 55 AX or Saito 82! I've just finished breaking in the OS 46 LA that I plan on flying it with. I have read that the 46 will fly it more scale like and that is what I'm looking for. I hope to maiden it one night this week. From the initial break in on the engine, I think it will have enough power to do what I want it too do. Running an 11 X 7 prop on it.

airborneSGT

My Feedback: (15)

So in other words this flies like most any other planes? It has nearly the power requirements of a 1.60 sized glow model. From my experience I have power those models with gas for a long time and they flew just fine. Just because I have that sort of power on tap does not mean I need to use all of it.

rcnutstoo

My Feedback: (13)

I have a 22cc rcshowcase 140 on mine,it wieghts 2.8 all up and has plenty power. With XOAR 18-6 gets 8700 rpm. Goes vertical at 3/4 throttle, but thats not the way I fly it. If I had a bme44 I would go for the RCGUYS decathlon its bigger and heavier.and would be better suited to that kind of power. with a lightweight like the bme it would be awesome.

NorfolkSouthern

And most of the time, you won't use all that extra power because you won't be needing it. A 3D plane a Decathlon is not. But rather, they excel at stall turns, loops, slow rolls; the usual boring Cub stuff. If you want to hover, I'd make sure to have sufficient altitude first. A Decathlon will spin when the wing runs out of air, but it will also recover reasonably quick as long as you give it some rudder don't goose the elevator. Why not take a crack at flying on the wing? You just might like it!

NorfolkSouthern

airborneSGT

My Feedback: (15)

I used to hover my last Decathlon. It would also do what I could best describe as a knife edge hover. Just thinking it would be fun to shoehorn that engine in and fly the heck out of it...with smoke!

strongman65

I've been watching this thread to see if anyone has converted the 120 decathlon from seagull to electric? I have mine built and I'm trying to decide what motor to put in. I'm planning on going with either the rimfire 50-55-500 or the 50-65-450. I'm leaning towards the 50-65-450 so i have the option to swing a bigger prop if needed. Just curious if that is the right motor for the plane? I'm looking to fly it scale but, still have enough power to do some easy aerobatics and sport flying. Depending on the battery I should get 100 to 125 watts/lb with a 5 or 6 cell set-up and 4200mah to 5000mah. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

NorfolkSouthern

If it fits, then go for it. I'd like to see how it behaves. You can always downsize later as long as you don't have to cut up too much of the cowl.

NorfolkSouthern

strongman65

Well,
I flew my 120 decathlon today for two 10 minute flights. This plane is quite the step up from my PA biplane. Flying something that is 40 ounces is no comparison to a 10 pound high wing. I ended up getting the Power 90 from E-flight. I wanted to get the rimfire 50-65-480 but, they are not in stock and from what i've seen they've been pushing back the restocking dates regularly. I'm using the castle Ice 100 with a 6 cell 4350Mah battery. Noticed after a 10 minute scale flight at about half throttle I only used up about 2200 millamps! Didn't think the battery would last a possible 20 minutes.

So my question is for those that have this plane or have had a similar problem. After take off the plane wanted to go left quite a bit? I balanced the plane at 90 mm and down the fuselage (which the plane is a little heavy on the right). After trimming the rudder several clicks and ailerons it wasn't as bad but, still noticeable. She flew level at half throttle but, just had a tendency to go left. When i looked at the plane after landing, i noticed the rudder was a little warped but not that noticeable. The only thing that i can think of is that i might not have enough of an offset on the engine mount? The instruction don't go into any details if this is built into the firewall and when i stoop it up on the firewall it seemed to have some of an offset but maybe not enough. Just curious if that could be the problem as to why the plane wants to go left because of the torque from the motor? If not I'm open to any other ideas. If i can get that fixed i think it will be a very enjoyable plane to fly.

rcnutstoo

My Feedback: (13)

When you say it goes left you mean it yaws to the left it may need some right thrust on the motor. try about 1.5 to 2 degrees and see what happens. Mine is about 2 degrees.

strongman65

rcnutstoo,
I did some research after I posted and found out that not having enough right thrust would cause the plane to yaw left. My plane was probably doing so but would yaw and then bank to the left since the top wing is symmetrical. I ended up adding two washers to the left hand side of the mount and it gave me a few degrees right thrust. Took it up yesterday for two flights and I would say it reduced the effect by 70 percent. still needed a little trim on the rudder to fly straight but that might be from my rudder having a slight twist. Flying with the corrected thrust angle felt alot better. still getting used to the bigger plane. I will hopefully get to take it up this coming weekend and find out what the stall speed is at high altitude so i can land at a slower speed. I was amazed at how well the landing gear held up on the few bounces i had, didn't bend at all. The plane flies great at half throttle with the power 90 and 6 cell 4350 battery. I'm swinging a 16x8 prop and just ordered a 17x7 and 18x6. Will check RPM's and amps to see what prop works best.

rcnutstoo

My Feedback: (13)

Glad you got that sorted out.If you're ailerons are straight with the wing you might want to check the wing incedence at the tips vs. the root and make sure you're wing is not warped causing an unwanted bank.
sounds like great performance from you're power system.I'm not sure about you're motor, but my gasser loves an xoar 18x6 it's a great match for the plane

Kostas1

Guys,

any experience with the smaller 75-91 size Seagull Decathlon?

I have an OS 91FX spare....

mimoore67

My Feedback: (51)

Well, since I started this thread, I thought it was time to buy one! So thanks to my tax refund, I started my Decathlon last night! I've already started modifing things that bug me!

1. Removed the front windshield. Will paint the edge for the windshield with red spray paint. (Side note, I was unaware that the manufactures of all the covering companies have stop making matching paint.)

2. Removed the "Scale" tubular bracing and angled froward, so it is a "scale" location, running along the angled side frame of the windshield. Doing this will require you to put the bottom section of the simulated bracing structure, in a vice and bending and angle similar to that of the side pillar on the windshield. This required me to use my Dremel tool and a drill bit to drill through the vertical former of the fuselage located at the rear of the fuselage. I am going to paint this black and reinstall after I paint the interior of the cockpit, with a Spackle type spary paint used in crafting and outdoor furniture.

Kostas1

Ah yes,
some pics will help !

What version do you build ?

The 40 , 90 or 120 ?

Kostas1

Ah yes,
some pics will help !

What version do you build ?

The 40 , 90 or 120 ?

mimoore67

My Feedback: (51)

Okay, Look at my previous post! I added pictures of my progress on detailing the cockpit area. This is the 120 size Decathlon. Going to use one of my OS 120 pumpers.


Picture 1 and 2 - I just reinstalled the metal bracing and moved the bottom of it, forward to achieve a more "scale" look and location.

As far as painting the interior? Don't do it! I have about 8 hours in just building the false floor, masking the windows and I haven't still painted the top of the instrument panel and trimed out the front wind screen.
Michael

Picture 3 - This shows the false floore and the cut out around the fuel tank. Notice I painted the top and rear portion of the tank to try to have it blend in a bit. I'll be putting in an instrument panel and a pilot. I'll just use a 1/5 Civilian Pilot bust, since this plane is about is about is just under 1/5 sclae.

ziggy-RCU

I AM BUILDING THE 71-90 DECTHELON...HAS ANY ONE GOT A GOOD WAY TO MOUNT THE SERVOS?? HOW CAN I GET A PILOT HOLE FOR THE SREVOS WHEN YOU CAN NOT WORK FORM THE TOPP LIKE WE ARE USED TO............THANKS...SIGGY

Gabrielsande

Hey guys ,check this out!! who said it can'r hover!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfpMCdF7zZI

repirazz

Mimoore67-just curious to know how your decathlon is progressing. I've had my eye on the 120 size decathlon for some time & have been following this thread as well. The only complaint i have about this plane is all the bare wood in the intereior & was looking foreward to seeing yours completed with the interior mods.

swixtt

Anyone planning a Saito 150 by chance?

subscribed!

CAT POwer

My Feedback: (61)

Hi, is anybody still flying this plane?

swixtt

i just put one together but haven't got a flight in yet.

there was some hardware that i swapped out but i used a fair bit of what was supplied surprisingly.

CAT POwer

My Feedback: (61)

Are using the wing hold down screws through the wings ?
I'm going put on a CRRC26 or a DLE30.
What servos are you using?
 

mimoore67

My Feedback: (51)

I'm on hold due to my family commitments! However, I should be getting back to my project in a few weeks, once school is done for the summer. I discovered that I will have to machine a bushing for my O.S. 120, so I can invert the engine. The bushing will allow me to extent the prop shaft about 3/8", which will allow the cylinder of the engine to stay cowled and not cut open the front portion of the cowling!

swixtt

those bolts that go through the tube? no i didn't put them in.
a mix of just standard servos from hitec and spektrum. what i had kicking around. a small on for the throttle.