RE: BME Edge?
 

Here are some pictures of the Edge prior to the recover. First picture is out of the box, second picture is 30 minutes later after pulling the covering. Third and forth picture is after the final sand and ready to recover.

Ken

RE: BME Edge?
 

Hi Max,
I appreciate the update on the parts. I should be in top shape for the 29 - 31 July. This is a great flying plane and I can only imagine what the new version flies like, having it 2# lighter out of the box! Even the YAK looks enticing....

What other products are in the pipeline for BME Aircraft?

Ken - 24x8? Wow, that's pretty good. I have my Mezlik 22x10 waiting in the wings for when the engine gets to the 10gal mark.

Dan

RE: BME Edge?
 

Thanks Ken, that looks very well built, don't see any fillers on the joints like some other ARFs.

RE: BME Edge?
 

Hi Dan
There're a few little items we are bringing in soon, like baseball cap with BME Aircraft logo, CF push rods with 4-40 threaded tips , wing bags, gas tank with pump etc. We are also deveploping our next years model, but I'm not going to reveal it now.


Ken
You sure did a excellent job on you Edge. I'm sure that you will do another great job on your Yak ARC. Can't wait to see.

Aeromax

RE: BME Edge?
 

Thanks Max!
I have been selling off some of my unwanted RC stuff to finance the rest of my Edge parts. I will be contacting you soon for more goodies!

Dan Clemens
Summerville, Oregon

PS Know anybody that wants a nice 60 size helicopter and radio? hehe!

RE: BME Edge?
 

Thanks Max, it is a top-notch aircraft. I would not have put this kind of effort into it if it were not one fantastic built/flying airplane. As a matter of fact, I just got back from the field with a lot less gas.[8D] I am considering getting another Edge from you as a back up. I am starting to get pretty low with this one and it will only take a slip of the fingers. Really like the way the new Edge looks, great job on the Scheme.

I am really excited about getting the Yak in. Already started collecting the hardware for it. I will be doing another scale scheme on the Yak. Still undecided which one to do but it will be colorful. It’s going to be nice to have two or three 50cc size planes that are this much fun.

Ken

RE: BME Edge?
 

ahh, wish I could have stayed long enough to get another flight on that baby, probably for the better, then I would have to get a couple;)

RE: BME Edge?
 

John,

You should have stuck around, you would have seen a bonehead move with that 3D foamy…lol. Anyway, it’s all fixed now and back in the air, will need another when you start shipping. I think I’ll spend the rest of this beautiful evening with it.

Ken

RE: BME Edge?
 

HAHA, that is what they are for:) Keep the big one higher;)

RE: BME Edge?
 

Ok so it seems I have backed myself into a corner. I have mounted a pair of Chip Hyde control horns, one on each aileron. Got my 8611 in there with the AirWild servo arm and a nice ball link on the arm. Hmmmm.....the Chip Hyde does not have much side to side movement available. Normally this would not be a problem on a smaller plane with nylon horns and the servo farther away but on my new Edge I can see that as the servo rotates the arm I am going to have more side to side motion than I feel comfortable with acting on the clevis. Seems a ball link shoud go there but that defeats the bearing mounted in Chips horn and I don't think I can get a size four screw to go through the hole in the bearing any way. I sure do not want to take off the horns (epoxied them on per instructions). How is it supposed to be done and do you guys have any ideas on how to get out of this mess! Pictures? Pretty Please!

Dan Clemens

RE: BME Edge?
 

8611's on the ailerons? WOW. I think it's a bit overkill, but that's just me.

About the problem. Turn the servo around. Flip the servo arm. End of problem.

Spar

RE: BME Edge?
 

8611's do seem to be overkill but better too much than too little I guess.

Spar - how will that solve his problem? I think the issue is the fact that the servo arm travel is not linear and as he gets off center it causes too much deflection on the horn/clevis (at max throw)

Maybe I dont understand.

Rob

RE: BME Edge?
 

Yes, a technical shortcoming in the kit's geometry. I don't like linkages where servo arm is angular and 90degrees in the rotation from the control horn's throw direction.

Given the existing setup, his only solution is to turn the servo around to "minimize" the stress on the horn. See a pic of mine. Only at full down deflection is there side forces exerted on the clevis and CH horn.

Spar

Note that this was an early setup where the ball link was not at the end of the horn, where the linkage would be closer to being a straight run to the CH horn.

RE: BME Edge?
 

I see.

Yeah, it would be better if you could lay the servo on its side.

Perhaps someday someone will invent a true linear servo.

RE: BME Edge?
 

Yes you are both right! 8611 is over kill but in the words of Mad Max from the Flying Cirkus. "All planes have a limited life. When you harvest the remains of your latest "Aunt Jemima" you will probably build a bigger model so you might as well bite the bullet now." I had no servos in this class and even 170 oz servos were close to $100 so a bit more and I got the top dog!

SparHawk. Thank you for the reply, but it seems to me that moving the point of rotation closer to the horn would exaggerate the problem, not alleviate it. Did I miss something?

DirtyPool: You did not miss anything! You got it by George! I did consider lying the servo on it's side. Have not figured out the best way to do that yet as I came up with another idea. I have access to a CNC milling machining and I could make a "universal joint" to fit the CH horn. Kind of a little clevis over the horn with a 90' flat spot for a ball end. I know the description is weak with out a picture but I don't know how else to describe it. I was just hoping there was a way to do this with off the shelf goodies.

The Ideal thing would be if Chip had a version of this horn available with a ball swivel like the Robart horns.

Dan

RE: BME Edge?
 

Actually the horn should be placed closer to being inline with the servo shaft, but not perfectly inline if you want the best mechanical advantage at full throws (both up and down). If anyone has a bigger picture than mine please post it. Mine is hard to see. Having the control rod at 90 degrees when the surface is at center gives you the most force only at center. At full deflection it is minimum and that's where you need it especially for 3D.

The other thing is that it's impossible to have no side load on the horn with that setup (or any setup for that matter). If that's a big concern go with the Dubro adjustable control horns that use threaded bolts for the horns. They can handle any side force you can generate. Actually those Chip Hyde ones look like they will be fine too. They are designed to handle some side force.

RE: BME Edge?
 

Well, I look at it this way when the servo/control horn geometry is such. Either you rig for max mechanical advantage at full deflection, or it is there at the neutral point. I look at where my ailerons are going to be for the majority of the time, then arrange to suit.

Darcy - the way mine are arranged, there is perfect alignment at neutral. Only when the arms are at full deflection is there the side force you mentioned. I minimized this by arranging my setup as depicted, and only see this 'momentary' side force at full aileron deflection. Again, where you operate these the most should dictate how you set them up. Since I fly more IMAC stuff then all out 3D, mine typical are at neutral for the majority of the time. Hence you see my arrangement. The servo arm and control horn are in direct alignment and are at max mechanical advantage (for me) at neutral.

Ideally, the servo should be on its side to avoid all of this.

Spar

RE: BME Edge?
 

WOW, is this forum dead. Any more info on this plane? I just ordered mine since it was down to $379. I am new to giant planes and gas. Any suggestions on websites to help a newbie out? I haven't decided on an engine yet, but am leaning towards a DA50 or BME50. Is anyone still flying this plane? Any more videos?

RE: BME Edge?
 

I have a DA in mine, but a lot of people are happy with the BME's too. Rear carbs can be a bit tricky.
I saw that price drop and almost ordered another one "just in case".

My suggestion: Read all 24 pages of this forum.

Mine came out pretty tail heavy. I probably have close to a pound of lead behind the firewall. I just bought an Ohio tailwheel to see if that will help. If it saves me an ounce back there I will be happy.

I wonder if I could have some barstock machined to replace the "prop washer" that DA uses to get some more weight forward. Replace the stock one with a steel one to add some nose weight. Shouldnt add too much to the rotating mass.

Even with the added weight it flies fine to me, but I am no 3d pilot by any definition....


Dont forget to range test the radio with motor on and off.

Have fun.

Rob

RE: BME Edge?
 

I also am flying mine with a DA-50. The engine starts sooooo easy and runs very strong. No problem punching out of a hover. The plane flies wonderfully. It slows down like a trainer for landing with no tendency to tip stall. I have had some trouble with the covering on hot summer days and I have had to re shrink it several times. Be careful as it scratches with just a touch of the Teflon covered sealing iron and I damaged my canopy when I got the heat gun too close on the hatch. My Graph Tech landing gear was gone on the third flight when I rolled off the end of the runway into the tall grass. I did not feel that they should have failed. Gene at Troy Built says this is common. I expected "CF=stronger than steel", no way! If that were the case it should have ripped the bottom of the Edge off (no dammage). My opinion is too much resin and not enough CF. I did not order a replacement set and will be laying up my own. The foam tires were shot after about ten flights. I love how little they weigh but they are not tough enough for a plane of this size.

I did not have to add any weight to my plane to balance it thanks to the info in this thread. I spent all the money I could on CF goodies and tried to make the plane as light as possible but the fuse came out at 13.12 lbs and the wings weigh about 1.75. The flying weight is 17.25 lbs. I don't see any way to get another pound and a half off this plane. I did not "hog" out the tail section as I felt the weight gain vs. strength not worth the effort. I have found that scales in this range are by and large not very accurate. I ended up taking my plane to the local UPS office and weighing it on there scales. I would love to see this plane fly at under 16 lbs but I am skeptical it can reach that weight.

When the last days come and the earth rises up and smites thy aircraft I shall purchase another from BME. I love this plane and I will not be going back to smaller glow. I can't stress enough the convenience of a large scale GAS plane. No SLIME! No flight box, just me, my radio, gas jug and a smile!

RE: BME Edge?
 

Finished pic

RE: BME Edge?
 

Here, here!! :D
Ditto!

Spar

RE: BME Edge?
 

guts!

RE: BME Edge?
 

Can some of you post more detailed info of what you used in your plane, engine, electronics, control connectors, etc. I know there are some in previous posts, I just want to make sure I get the right stuff for it. Also the DA50 guys, did you all use 3" standoffs or anyone use longer ones? My plane will be here Wed, but I don't plan on having it ready until next year. New house built, new baby girl, no time and little money, but I just had to have one of these planes. I need to sell some of my glow planes to pay for the stuff for this plane.

RE: BME Edge?
 

read the prior 23 pages....
Its all there.

I think there was another thread from desertpig that had more info too.

RE: BME Edge?
 

I just received the Teal version. Last one they had.:D

Unfortunately, I don't care for the color. I want to strip the graphics off.

Can I get the colored graphics off the wings without ripping the white covering up too?

I don't mind stripping the tail surfaces and re-covering the hatch/cockpit area. I'll need to paint the cowl too. All this isn't really a big deal.

But, I don't want to re-cover the wings if I can get away with it. The bottom of the wings looks fine. And, it's a LOT of covering--if I have to strip the entire wing.

Can anyone help me out.

BTW--HUGE BUMP on this thread.;)

RE: BME Edge?
 

Good luck on ripping the covering off! You are more energetic than I. The black and white striped areas do not have white coating under the black so you will have to strip the whole thing.

RE: BME Edge?
 

It's the TOP of the wings, turtledeck, and hatch that I'm not to crazy about.

RE: BME Edge?
 

I guess I should have been more specific--sorry I wasn't clear on this:

I LIKE the black stripes on the bottom of the wings and tail. Thats probably the same way I'd have covered it. I generally like the stripes on the bottom of an aerobat.

It's all the girly lookin' purple, red, violet and teal on top of the wings and turtledeck that is killin' me.

It looks like I can strip them off. But, I'm worried about ripping or tearing the white covering underneath.

I can repaint the cowl and recover the hatch. No problem.