Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
#426
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
Sounds like a plan Kq4ra, another consideration would be to remove the wooden dowels and replace them with solid carbon rod. If the holes in the fuse sides has enlarged you could just use use a larger diameter rod, and also apply a doubling ring on the inside of the fuse with either ply or carbon sheet. By the way can you tell I love carbon.
#427
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
Thanks rooster. The carbon rod would be a more long term fix. It would be nice to have the rod and a carbon sleeve on fuse for it to slide into. That Saito creates alot of vibration and the plane the way it is resonates pretty bad.
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
Ya definately dont want those wings wiggleing themselves lose. Has anyone else been able to find a carbon wing tube that fits for our plane?
Thanks for the other link but I cant pay shipping from australia. lol
What diameter spinners are you guys using?
Thanks for the other link but I cant pay shipping from australia. lol
What diameter spinners are you guys using?
#431
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
The spinner mates up just as per a normal spinner, but it uses an adapter nut with a hex bolt down thru the centre. The same method used by Truturn spinners if you get my drift. My spinner came with the cut outs already in it but I had to adjust them to suit the profile of the prop with a dremel, but I am using a 15 x 7 E wooden prop so maybe a smaller glow prop will fit the original cutouts?
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
I PROMISE that his bum and back were inside the fusolage and he had a cloth under him... he couldnt roll out and wasnt uncomfortable....
There was more risk that I broke the plane than him hehe
There was more risk that I broke the plane than him hehe
#437
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
Finally found time to get started on my GP Extra...
One of my ailerons is slightly warped. It curves up starting at about two thirds length out from fuse. At the outer tip the aileron is about 2mm up from level.
For installing with CA hinges it looks like it will be no problem. Installation should still work easily and aileron should flex easily still on hinges. To some extent the outer CA hinge may reduce the warp a bit. The trailing tip of the aileron will still of course warp upwards a bit.
Should I bother trying to un-warp this at the risk of ending up in a back-and-forth if I end up making it worse or warp another way? Can't decide. I will only have between 1 and 2 mm of upwards warp at the tip.
Thanks
One of my ailerons is slightly warped. It curves up starting at about two thirds length out from fuse. At the outer tip the aileron is about 2mm up from level.
For installing with CA hinges it looks like it will be no problem. Installation should still work easily and aileron should flex easily still on hinges. To some extent the outer CA hinge may reduce the warp a bit. The trailing tip of the aileron will still of course warp upwards a bit.
Should I bother trying to un-warp this at the risk of ending up in a back-and-forth if I end up making it worse or warp another way? Can't decide. I will only have between 1 and 2 mm of upwards warp at the tip.
Thanks
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
ORIGINAL: kq4ra
Cloud, I guess you could try heating the covering on the opposite side of the warp. If don't work I wouldn't worry about 2mm.
Cloud, I guess you could try heating the covering on the opposite side of the warp. If don't work I wouldn't worry about 2mm.
I've never had to deal with a warp on a non-flat solid balsa control surface before. I've fixed warp on flat solid balsa. Seems to me like it would be barely possible to accurately get this warp out because of the shape of the piece.
OK. I'll just install it on the wing then. I'll double check for smooth pivoting before adding the CA.
Needed some help deciding from someone who has this plane. Thanks!
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
Cloud, I would not think that 2mm would make a big difference but at high speeds it could. Maybe the plane will need trim on that surface and the 2mm will correct it. Wishful thinking. The only trim mine needed was about two clicks of up elevator but mine is a little heavy on the nose. I like my planes to have down trim versus climbing all the time. Good luck. I love mine it flies like a much bigger plane and tracks like on a rail.
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
ORIGINAL: CloudSkipper
Thanks for advice. I tried doing some moderate heating (erring on side of caution, but heat probably was not enough come to think of it). I did heat on both sides, but heated twice as long on the convex side. I left it overnight under soft ankle weights. Made no difference AFAIK.
I've never had to deal with a warp on a non-flat solid balsa control surface before. I've fixed warp on flat solid balsa. Seems to me like it would be barely possible to accurately get this warp out because of the shape of the piece.
OK. I'll just install it on the wing then. I'll double check for smooth pivoting before adding the CA.
Needed some help deciding from someone who has this plane. Thanks!
ORIGINAL: kq4ra
Cloud, I guess you could try heating the covering on the opposite side of the warp. If don't work I wouldn't worry about 2mm.
Cloud, I guess you could try heating the covering on the opposite side of the warp. If don't work I wouldn't worry about 2mm.
I've never had to deal with a warp on a non-flat solid balsa control surface before. I've fixed warp on flat solid balsa. Seems to me like it would be barely possible to accurately get this warp out because of the shape of the piece.
OK. I'll just install it on the wing then. I'll double check for smooth pivoting before adding the CA.
Needed some help deciding from someone who has this plane. Thanks!
#442
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
ORIGINAL: obriendigital
I was surprised how fast this plane flies, especially with my saito .82 in it. So, flutter could be an issue. I would see if GP would give you a new one....
I was surprised how fast this plane flies, especially with my saito .82 in it. So, flutter could be an issue. I would see if GP would give you a new one....
Edit: They are sending me a new aileron They just needed my Tower invoice number. I must say that the GP customer service is very good.
#444
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
Ok I know this is a dumb question.... but setting the c/g in this plane..
from the manual:
"At this stage the model should be in ready-to-fl y condition
with all of the systems in place including the engine, propeller
and spinner, landing gear, and the complete radio system.
Electric-powered models should balanced with the fl ight
batteries installed, but not connected."
Would you fill the fuel tank? or leave it dry? or half fill before setting c/g.
Clearly it is hugely altering the balance point weather it is dry or full.
Plane had been balanced to the 95mm mark dry... Currently balencing mine at the "starter" 95mm with the tank at about 70% full (will test it tomorrow)... I´m thinking of moving it back though as i´m not getting any hint of a flat spin out of the plane!! To do this i´ll need to add lead to the tail though......
from the manual:
"At this stage the model should be in ready-to-fl y condition
with all of the systems in place including the engine, propeller
and spinner, landing gear, and the complete radio system.
Electric-powered models should balanced with the fl ight
batteries installed, but not connected."
Would you fill the fuel tank? or leave it dry? or half fill before setting c/g.
Clearly it is hugely altering the balance point weather it is dry or full.
Plane had been balanced to the 95mm mark dry... Currently balencing mine at the "starter" 95mm with the tank at about 70% full (will test it tomorrow)... I´m thinking of moving it back though as i´m not getting any hint of a flat spin out of the plane!! To do this i´ll need to add lead to the tail though......
#445
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
Always balance with the tank completely dry. If you balance with the tank full you will have to land tail heavy. Not really a good idea. Good luck!
By the way I just maidened miine today with the cg at 4 inches and it did pretty decent flat spin. Flies really well.
By the way I just maidened miine today with the cg at 4 inches and it did pretty decent flat spin. Flies really well.
#446
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
I ask because this time i´m not so sure, but more because of the way the manual is written.
I am looking to move the c/g further back anyway.. i´m currently landing after a 10min flight with about a 70% FULL tank.. I just cant get the thing empty haha so in my case i´m always landing nose heavy... and so it come in more like an F3A plane.. fast and smooth..... i´m also not getting any hint of a flat spin.. which this plane SHOULD do easly!
I was getting all this with the plane ballancing at the manuals stated 95mm with the tank empty.
Normally I totaly agree, a plance is ballanced dry and the manual would say so..
HERE however, in THIS case.. its giving measurements for the electric version.... which would be in that exact state... so surely it would be a better idea to say ballance at 50% tank so you start and finnish closer to c/g during a flight??
(honestly with my 55ax yesterday i clocked up a 15min flight and had only used about 60-70% of the fuel.....)
I am looking to move the c/g further back anyway.. i´m currently landing after a 10min flight with about a 70% FULL tank.. I just cant get the thing empty haha so in my case i´m always landing nose heavy... and so it come in more like an F3A plane.. fast and smooth..... i´m also not getting any hint of a flat spin.. which this plane SHOULD do easly!
I was getting all this with the plane ballancing at the manuals stated 95mm with the tank empty.
Normally I totaly agree, a plance is ballanced dry and the manual would say so..
HERE however, in THIS case.. its giving measurements for the electric version.... which would be in that exact state... so surely it would be a better idea to say ballance at 50% tank so you start and finnish closer to c/g during a flight??
(honestly with my 55ax yesterday i clocked up a 15min flight and had only used about 60-70% of the fuel.....)
#449
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
I had a look at this thread and noticed all the different choices in motors but you guys don't have any 3D videos. The Extra might pull out of a hover with the OS .55 (18.52oz w/ muffler) and I'm sure the Saito 82 will be like a beast so will the Magnum 91, but it might be an overkill and just to heavy. I have an OS .61 (23.6oz w/muffler) collecting dust in my hangar and I also thought about using my OS 70 on the Extra. Question, would I be able to do 3D with either one of these motors?
#450
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RE: Great Planes Extra 300 GP/EP
ORIGINAL: PMAXX
Oh, you should probably take the little guy out of the plane, he looks a little heavy for a 55
Oh, you should probably take the little guy out of the plane, he looks a little heavy for a 55