First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Well, it's finally here. :) This is one nice looking ARF. This happens to be my first ARF, so the only comparison I have is to how I would have built it myself. In one word the quality is great. All the glue joints that I can see have plenty of glue on them. The covering is nice and tight. And the hardware package is complete. The paint job on the cowl is very good and the color match is pretty close. There is some orange-peel in the paint. But nothing a little TurtleWax polishing compound and a some elbow-grease won't fix. The cowl and wheel-pants are fiberglass.

Now on to the fuselage. The cabane struts come already mounted. But the screws are only partially tightened. The plans call for some CA in the screw holes before fully tightening. The fuse is built to be light. The turtle deck is the only part that has solid sheeting. The rest is just a Ultracote covered skeleton. The smoked canopy comes trimmed and attached. The canopy is so dark that I am not going to bother putting a pilot in. Plus there is no sheeting in the cockpit to mount a pilot to. The servo cutouts in the servo tray seem to be sized for mini servos(I could be wrong). The minimum servo ratings for all servos are 40 oz/in. And the manual recommends using mini servos. The tail feathers are solid planks with round lightening holes. Nothing extraordinary here.
Both the upper and lower wing are nice and straight. The aileron servos mount onto the servo bay covers. A string is provided to pull the servo wires thru. The ailerons as well as the rudder and elevator come already hinged with CA hinges. The only thing left to do here is to add the CA.

Anyway, I am pretty impressed with the quality of this ARF. :)

Now I am an anal perfectionist. So here are a few things that I will modify/replace. First I will get rid of the wussy looking engine mounting bolts. The mount itself looks good. But the 3X20mm screws look a little suspect to me. Second, I do not like the idea of running steel pull-pull cables thru the plastic servo arms to attach them. I think I will add a clevis and eye here. Third, while they look good, I will reinforce the landing gear block and firewall.

OK. That's it in a nutshell. Now I just have to find time to put this thing together. :)

Servos
 

Check out some Hitec HS225MG for this bird. Tom

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

My thoughts exactly. HS-225s all around. :)

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

LooneyToones,

I am still waiting for mine. Does this model require 4 servos for the ailerons or two? Is it mini or micro sized servos. I have been pondering the use of JR DS368's.

Jim

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

The Ultimate 40 uses 2 servos for the ailerons. The servos they recommend are minis. Not micros. But the instructions stress keeping the wight as low as possible throughout. I suppose micros would work. But I would be worried about stripping out the tiny gears. The photos in the manual show Futaba 9601s used. I am planning on using Hitec HS-225s. I am not familiar with JR equipment. But I am shure they have an equivalent.

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Thanks for the info. Now I can my order in for servos and be ahead of the game.

The JR DS368's micros have the following specs.

Torque......................................... 53oz/in
Speed...................................... .21sec/60°
Size...............................0.50 x 1.12 x 1.17
Motor............................................. .Cored
Gears.....................................Alloy Metal
Weight............................................ .80oz

Very impressive but I wish they were a little faster. I will look at the Hitec's.

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Another question.

What did the manual say about engines?

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

The engine specs call for .40 to .45 two stroke or .52 to .63 four stroke. I have a YS FZ63 ready to install.

I have been pretty happy with the Hitec HS-225s in other models sofar. Here are the specs(@4.8v). They come in two flavors. Nylon or metal geared.

Torque......................................... 54 oz
Speed...................................... 0.14
Size...............................1.3 x 0.7 x 1.3"
Motor............................................. .3 Pole Ferite
Weight............................................ Nylon 0.95 oz/Metal 1.1 oz

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Looney,

Have you put your bird in the air yet. I received mine the other day and have started the assembly process. I am waiting on some servos to finish the install.

Jim

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

would a saito 91 be too heavy you feel? I am safe with the throttle and i am not worried about ripping it apart as i would be careful. However even though the saito 91 is a very light engine would it be too much weight for this airplane? Many people get away with it on 40 aerobats such as great planes extra. I have daves extra and love it and owuld love to own the blue version of the bipe. Thanks

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Jim. I am in the same boat you are. I am waiting for my radio gear. All I did sofar is glue and hinge the tail surfaces and fuelproof the interior.

As far as using a Saito .91 goes. I don't think weight would be much of a problem. The Saito is only about 1 oz heavier than the FZ 63. I am not shure how the external dimensions compare. But if they are similar, the Saito would fit just fine. The FZ 63 pretty much fills up the engine compartment. You may need to use bigger wheels or longer landing gear to clear that huge prop you will be spinning. :)


P.S. The blue Ultimate 40s are not in yet. All you can get for now is a red one.

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Looney,

Check out the CF landing gear from Moose's. It weighs less than the gear provided in the kit. In additon, it is stiffer and provides a 14 inch base rather than 11. It fits the bottom of the Ultimate perfectly.

Jim

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Wow! That is some slick looking landing gear. I'll have to check it out. :D

Right now I am struggling with all the fuel plumbing. There aren't many spots with solid wood underneath to stick some fuel dots. I would like to keep all the fueling lines on the engine side of the firewall. This will take some creativity. Another area I haven't figured out is the muffler. I don't know where I am going to put it yet. Any ideas?

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

You are right about not having any wood in the frame.

As far as fueling, I am going to use a Dubro fueling valve. I am going to mount it using Harry Higley's idea. He has a line of books with some good tips.

Anyway, his idea is to make a right angle bracket using 1/32 brass. Two holes in one leg (to mount it to the outside of the firewall) and one hole for the fuel valve or fuel dot. Then cut the hole in the cowl for access. I have some right angle plastic bar I can use if I can find it.

As far as mufflers, I ordered a slimline pitts muffler along with an OS 50 SX. I am hoping that it will fit properly. It should be here on Monday and then I will know.

HS 225 with nylon gears ok?
 

Received mine a short time ago - I like! It'll be powered by a YS 63. I'm installing a pair of JR 9011 "mid size" coreless servos for the pull pull system. I plan on using a pair of Hitec HS 225 nylon gear servos for the ailerons. Metal gears develop slop and since there's not a huge amount of aileron area I feel the nylon gears should hold up, however I've never used the 225's so I'm open to opinions. I'd hate to strip a gear at an inappropriate time. Your thoughts?

Also, consider substituting a 2-1/4" "ultimate" style aluminum spinner for the plastic one that comes with the kit. What a difference!!!

No Pun Intended
 

biting my tongue http://home.earthlink.net/~dojbofh/i...smile/uhoh.gif

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

do you have a link to Moose's landing gear?

Thanks

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

raintown - just IMHO, I'd get the metal geared 225's. I had 4 225 nylons all strip at the same time the other day. I had to streach a dead stick last week to make the field (w/my Doghouse eXtreme), and I hit a little hard. Didn't hurt the plane one bit - not a single ding, scratch, etc. but both ailerons and both elevator halves were stripped clean! They were only a few weeks old too. I've been flying for a little over ten years and these were the first servos I've had strip on anything. I wouldn't worry about the metal gears developing slop either, b/c these servos aren't very precise and don't center well anyway. Of course others have had good success with them, but personally I'd get the metal geared ones or even better go with the JR's.

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

I decided to put JR DS3421 servos on the control surfaces and a JR DS368 on the throttle.

I didn't like the fit and quality of the aileron hardware and decided to replace it. In addition, the rod provided in the kit for connecting the upper and lower ailerons is not very stiff. I am waffling between a 2-56 push rod or using 2-56 CF rod as a replacement.

In addition, the slimline pitts muffler is going to fit in the cowl just fine.

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

jwatwood,
have you thought about going ahead and putting the 4-40 rods.

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

RCJones,

Nope, but I will take that under advisement. I just don't have any 4-40 rod in the workshop.

Jim

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

My goldberg ultimate came with 2-56 and I went to the 4-40. Eliminates a lot of the shake, gives piece of mind. I also used the du-bro clevis with the built in clip

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

matlok

Thanks for the tip. I'll save the 225's for another project. Suppose I'll pony up $$ for another pair of JR 9011's for the wings. Though nylon geared, I've heard only good things about this servo.

Good to hear your "Dog" made it home unscathed.

jwatwood

Nice choice of servo (DS 3421). At ~ $85.00 I'd hope they would remain precise, but doesn't the all metal gear/slop issue concern you :confused:

What was the deciding factor in choosing this servo?

First look. DPM Ultimate 40.
 

Raintown,

These servos are $71 a piece for 4 or more from Chief Aircraft.

I have never had the bucks/need for running metal gear digital servos before. This was a splurge for me. I intend on using the DP ultimate 40 to practice for IMAC competition. I didn't want to spend big bucks on a big plane until I was sure about being serious. I took DP's advice on getting the best servos I could afford. Therefore, I was looking for the fastest, most dependable, high torque, mini-servo I could find. Then figure out how to sneak them into the house and past the budget hawk.

I don't know about the slop over time. I will just have to experience it for myself before making a judgement call. I will tell you one thing these servos are smooth, non-noisy and very sensitive. There is a big difference between them and the JR DS 368's.