Well I received my Edge 540 last night and I got it ready to go. I put a YS 120 on a Gator soft mount in it with JR 4131 on the elevator, 4721 on the rudder, 9021's on the ailerons, 547 on the throttle and a 1800 mah battery. The plane has an all up weight of just under 11lbs RTF. I am ready to fly this bird. I am hoping in the near future to replace the gear with Carbon Fiber gear as well as the wing and stab tubes with CF as well. I am hoping it wil bring the plane in at around just over 10lbs. Before everyone starts asking I built the plane stock and mounted the rudder and elevator servos mid ship and moved the throttle servo forward. The battery is mounted under the fuel tank and the rx is mounted above the gear.

Chris

Good grief, you work fast! I just ordered one today...for my YS140L. Your YS 120 is a relativelysmooth running 4 cycle... any reason for the soft mount? They can induce a different vibration harmomic in exchange for the one they are intended to cure....

Let us know how she flies!


Joe

The reason for a soft mount is because I had one. This entire airplane is because I had equipment and did not feel like building. If it does not fly like I want you will see it for sale. I will keep you posted after I get to fly it.

Chris

Did you use a "Y" rod for the elevator? I'm going to be building one soon..

I am using a elevator bell crank from World Models. about $12 with a carbon fiber pushrod and pull pull on rudder.

Chris

I was planning on 2 hitec 225's... What do ya think? Too much weight in the tail? I just bought a Saito 180 for it..

I am thinking that the motor weighs pretty close to a YS and I had to put the battery under the tank and the rx over the gear as well as moving the throttle servo forward about 4inches. I am at the rear of the CG point but I am OK with that.

Chris

This might sound stupid but, how do you put the clevis on the bellcrank after it's in the fuse? I guess I need to start thinking of something besides the 2 225's in the tail, huh? Was your setup pretty easy to do?


Thanks

I put a hatch in the bottom of the fuse right there

C

gotcha!! Thanks!! DUH I feel stupid... I was really thinking of a way to do it without a hatch... I guess it can't be done.

Do you think I would have to ad a lot of weight with mini's in the tail.. Did you check th ebalance before you decided to use the bellcrank?

Sorry for so many questions, I'm just trying to plan ahead...

What I did to compensate for it being tail heavy was

1. The 1/4 inch on top and bottom where the cowl rest when on the fuselage. I stripped the covering off of that strip and added 1 inch of balsa then recovered it.

2. I used a Great Planes engine mount, which allowed me to move the engine out 3/4 of an inch.

3. Replace the stock tail wheel assembly with a Sullivan assembly and I used a Dave Brown light tail wheel.

4. Used dual carbon fiber pushrods for the elevator halves.

5. Replaced all the hardware with Rocket City 4-40 (My preference, Was not impressed with stock hardware)

6. Replaced the stock Landing gear, it was very flimsy. I also used Dave Brown light wheels. (Saved a couple of ounces)

7: My instruction said to use a 3 1/2 in spinner. That is false. It takes a 3-inch spinner. Also when you are going to mount your engine, my instructions said I think it was measure up 3 1/2 or 3 3/4 (cant remember off the top of my head) That was wrong as well. You only use that measurement if you have the bottom of the engine box installed. Of course per the instructions they have you install the engine mount before you put the 1/4 plywood on the bottom of the engine box.

8. Mounted my battery to the back of the firewall.

All this got my plane to balance at the front of the CG range without adding any weight to it. With 5 JR 8411's, 1 standard server for throttle, and a YS120 the plane ended up at 11 pounds finished weight.

Hope this helps.

Michael

I mounted the motor and all of the surfaces. I then started positioning all the equipment. That is how I figured out where everything was going to go. I suggest you do the same. Balance the plane then put your servos on the horizontal stab and recheck. You might get away with it.

Chris

Thanks for the help guys!!