Anyone out there considered mounting the rudder servo in the upper part of the fuse....just before the vertical fin...on the Modeltech Magic?

Id like to try this but not sure if it was a good idea or not....to help me balance this thing better.

any input appreciated.........thanks!!

Brad Lorance
Harrisburg, PA

I think if you look at the magic thread with all the posts that some guys have at least put the elevator servo in the aft side of the fuse. Don't try to overpower this plane. I am running a webra .32 and find the power adaquate for hovering and balance is just right.
Sparky

I mounted all my servos as described in the instructions, but with an OS46FX, I had to add weight to the tail. I cut a piece of balsa that slid along the rails inside the rear of the fuse' and mounted the weights to that. A little epoxy to hold it all in, and it balances good.

Mike

Why do you want to mount the servo aft? I built my per the directions using standard servos/batt and a royal .46. The plane balances per directions. I tried adding some tail weight to see what would happen and it just made the plane hard to fly inverted (kept wanting to climb) so I removed the weight and left the CG per plans. The magic is one fun plane to fly!! I wish I could get another as a backup but no one has them.

George

My LHS has about 3 or 4 of these things if you want one......Im sure he would ship it to you, if you like...make a post and Ill give you their phone number..

The more I look at this fuse....I think maybe I can mount the battery in the foremost part of the fuse before I glue in the servo tray, maybe using some velcro to hold it in.....then if I need more tail weight, Ill add from there..

a guy at our club has one, and he had to add almost 2oz to the tail with a 46LA....Im sure using an FX, I would need even more....I have a square NiMH battery coming from Radical RC which would fit nicely in the fuse (I hope) so maybe my problems are solved........will let you all know!!

Brad Lorance
Harrisburg, PA

I've had two of these things. They are fun.
On the second one I used a OS46LA and put the tail servos as far back as I could mounted on the outside. The throttle servo was in the rear of the compartment under the wing.
I didn't bother with the servo tray.
Also, I used a composite landing gear because the with gear that it come with is just too wimpy.
It balanced perfectly WITHOUT additional weight and works great.

The best picture I have of the details is AFTER the last "landing".

Ken

Anther picture

I mounted the servos where the directions specified and the battery and receiver between the servos and the tank. My balance is dead on. Maybe some people are replacing the gear with heavier gear and wheels ( I used the stock stuff) and that is causing the plane to be nose heavy. Also, I mounted the engine as far back on the mounts as I could and still run the fuel line through the firewall.

Thanks for the offer Lorance66 but I just got a Morris Knife ARF and I am anxious to get it in the air (this weekend?). If you would send me the phone# just in case that would be great.

Off to fly my magic this afternoon. Can't wait.

George

The first was for a friend. He has an OLD (but NIB) OS .45 with a pipe on it. The pipe helped the balance some. I am putting an OLD (WAY OLD, just rebuilt) OS .40 FSR in mine. I am thinking that I will mount the servos per plan and mount my battery pack behind them. Another friend has on with a TT .46 on it and it balances nose down.

I originally had an old (20 years) .40 OS FSR on my magic. With standard servos/batt it came in at 4.1lbs. It did have unlimited vertical but barely. I crashed when the plane fell out of a hover, the .40 didn't have the umph to save it. After rebuilding it, I put a Royal .46 in it with a 12.25x3.75 prop and it is much more fun to fly. I am still learning to hover but when I get in trouble full throttle yanks the plane vertical. The .40 is fine but for me (still learning to hover) the .46 gets me out of trouble.

George

With a Rossi .45 in front (mistake) I had to do some creative thinking. I opened up the center former hole, and cut the throttle portion of the servo tray off slid a new 200cc fuel tank back to the fwd servo (at the CG!). Glued a Hitech 55 micro throttle servo to the fues side, fwd of the tank. Glued the switch to the aft former and servo tray with a rod exiting the bottom. Mounted the battery (4 cell Nmhi flat pack) to the bottom of the wing with servo tape and a rubberband mount I fab'd. It rides about a 1/4 inch above the push rods. It was still nose heavy, had to add about 2oz to the tail. Got a OS 32sx on the way I'm pulling the Rossi for my new Aresti.
Buy the way RCONTROLFREAK, my first Magic fues snapped right behind the wing in flight the second time out. The 4 pull-pull rods held it together long enough for me to land it. Hobby People replaced it. I'll try and attach pics

Here's a pic of radio installation