I have just spent the evening checking out the C of G.
For it to go where I think it should be I have had to add 629g of lead. Thats 22.2 ozs.
I then weighed the model using scales for weighing suit cases and it seems to weigh in at 10.5 pounds or 4.76 kilograms.
Adding 22.2ounces of weight has not helped at all.
Hope it flies this time.
Maybe Sunday. We shall see.

Ray.

Let us know Ray and if possible snap some pics from the flying field !

Just a quick update.
I attempted to test fly the Texan. Got as far as getting it off the ground. Just.
It then rolled hard left, I aborted the take off but slightly damaged the undercarriage.
I will try again next weekend.

Ray

I certainly hope that things go better for you. Following your example, I checked the CG, and the book calls for 130 mm. I took measurements, and 25% of the MAC, mine turned up at 92.5 MM. The Seagull and the BH aren't exactly the same, just very similar construction. By the way, did your pilots turn out looking like twins? No big deal for me, this was the first time I have put figures in the aircraft. I have to return the spool valve to Hobby people so they can examine it, so I won't have the gear retract for a number of flights.

Hi, can you tell me what are the dimensions of the cowl and also the recommanded distance from the firewall to the prop hub.

Thank you

Hi all. Texan update.
It got into the sky today. After lots of discussion at the field it was time to bite the bullet.
I was very nervous about flying it so I offered it to anyone who was willing. (with in reason. The offer was to 2 people only)
The offer was taken up, so I did the video camera work.
Really strange watching my model take off and not me at the controls.
Any way, here is the link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6qHIf3PX1A


Ray.

Nothing wrong in the take-off part....plane seemed to be flying much sooner than the previous video (which did a left turn on take off).

Hi.
The diameter of the cowling is 200mm.
The prop hub is set 130mm from the fire wall.
Hope this helps.

Yes, thank you. All the specs of that plane are very similar with the World Models (Airborne distr.) AT-6. I had a RCGF 20cc in it and it fitted well except that at the second flight, at take off (60 feets in the air), the engine stop for no raison to be found. You have to know that the AT-6 fly like a rock with not enough air speed.

Yves

Well done Ray !

She looks awsome in the sky !

Let me ask,

how the retracts hold up ?

Are these air retr. any good ?

Hi.
First of all thanks for the comment on the video.
The retracts seem to be ok, but on the day they seem to loose air pressure so there must be a leak somewhere.
Thats why one side collapsed on landing. They wern't raised in flightbecause of the air leak. Ithought they were locked good enough for the test flight but obviously not.
I have decided after all I have been through with this model that I am going to sellthe airframewhile it is still in one bit.

Ray.

Did you sell it yet, or did you decide to find the leak and fix it? I just got my replacement spool valve back, I had to send mine in, as it leaked in any position, even running the airline from one outlet port to the other. They replaced it no extra charge.

The new valve ,

is it ok now ?

seems the model flies just fine.

A club mate has the BH- T28 Trojan in 60-91 size, with a similar retract system. That works just fine and the model went together easy peasy. Balanced right where the manual said it should too. same for My Extra 300s. I've not had an issue with Black Horse ARF's yet.
Ialso checked the cg location from leading edge through calculation and ended up with 98mm, two mm ahead of the 100mm recommended.

pity that you've decided to sell it. It looks like a great little flyer.

Oh btw, retracts are simply problematic items. We have all sorts of models from many many different manufacturers and all with retracts have problems with the system from time to time. The more complicated the model, the more the hassle.

I don't know yet, I have been working 2 shifts at a time at work, long days, but we had an unusual call load for a couple of weeks. Today I start a several day long installation at a location that is nearly 2 hrs drive time away. That chews up the day also. This is on top of all the normal work. Jobs, just getting in the way of normal life....[&:]

Hi. I put the Texan on Ebay as an airframe only sale for a fixed price.
I had no interest shown in it so it is going to stay with me and flown.
<div>I thought I would give you an update on the Texan.</div><div>I now have the lead right up as far forward as I can get it, mounted ona custom made bracket that fits on the engine mount.</div><div>What this has done is reduced the amount of weight by 357.4 g or 12.69 oz if you prefer.</div><div>I have moved the CofG back about 6 mm because when I watched the video back it looked very nose heavy on landing.</div><div>So now all I need to do is find out why the retracts are leaking air and she is ready for another flight.</div><div>I might raise the ailerons by about 3 mm to act as washout just to see how that helps.</div><div>I will get another videoof its next flight that Iwill post the link to on here.
</div><div>Ray.</div>

That's it, keep with it, and you will persevere.

Ok Then.
The latest update on the Texan. Over the last week I made some adjustments to the plane. I made a bracket that fitted ontop of the engine mount that allowed me to set the C of G and remove 12.7oz of lead. It bought the model into 10lb model.
I moved the C of G back by about 8mm as well. It was very nose heavy on its first flight. I had a very nice Stainless steel prop spinner turned at work. It looks good.
So today I took it out to the field for yet another test flight. Brian was there with me. I checked it all out, fueled it up, started the engine and carried it out to the strip.
First attempt at take off it nosed over. Re-start the engine and off we go again. She climbed out really really nice. Wheels up and off she went.
Smooth as silk. I was impressed with how she flies. Did some slow passes to see what she would do but she tracked perfectly.
Tried the flaps, she slowed down but still no problems. Very pleased with her indeed.
I then said to Brian "I reckon I should try a roll", Brian said "why not"
So I turned her into wind, opened the throttle a little more, a little right aileron and over she went, nice and smooth.
As she was inverted THE F**KING WINGS FELL OFF[/
I once again went home with a Black Horse AT-6 Texan peice of s**t in my car in a bin liner.
ARTF should be banned.
Ray

OOOOHHHHHH Man.............. I hang my head in sympathy with you. ( I bet you have a favorite beer nearby...) I haven't had a chance to get mine airborne yet. Between work and chores....

I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. The wing floated down with very little damage. The fuslage just dropped like it had just been released from a bomb bay. It landed in the next field. What a mess.

Do you have any idea why the wing came off? Did it pull off from the front, where it attaches to the fuse?

OMG.....i really feel sorry for you ...[][]

I am really curious to read an explanation of the wings-falling oof the airframe...

Bolts where tight enough ?

Stock bolts ?

A cracked area in the wing that resulted in full separation from the fuse ???

Not much to say really.
We all buy these ARTF models and hope they have been built properly.
It's not untill some thing goes wronge we question everything.
The wing bolts and the fixing plate are still at this moment attached to the wing.
The front dowel is missing. The is no evidence of any glue in the dowel hole and very little evidence of any glue on the wing bolt plate.
These factories churn out these models cheap. We all think we are getting a good deal but the people putting them together dont give a damn about how much glue they use.
Makes my blood boil.
Bring back builders kits. I would be more than happy to have one of these models as a box of laser cut wood and build it my self.

Ray.

You have my sympathy.[&o]
I'm greatful for your blog though as I have now cancelled my order for the harvard /at6 and will now buy the Kyosho Spitfire 90.
Best of luck with your next project.

Wheddo.

That's a bummer...sorry to hear about your experience.....