RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

They have been there a while but they have always been dead for me too......

would love to see them!

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Thanks RCfury,

Guess I need to read more carefully...I found VF's mention of the joiner position in their directions....Got the wing together last night after ALOT of sanding to the styrofoam in the slots. Man, were they a tight fit. Now on to the ailersons.....

I noticed that if we line up the ailersons flush with the end of the wing, there is somewhat of a gap at the fuselage end. Can we ignore whatever gap there is as long as they are flush with the wing tips?

Thanks,

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

It won't make a bit of differance. Unless it's over 4mm.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

You may also want to seal the hinges on the ailerons. Since you have mount the ca hinges at an angle you may get a pretty good gap.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

i just ordered my edge this week. should be here in a month. my first plane of this type. I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, my eyes are crosseyed trying to read thru this thread. I just recieved an email regarding the delivery of the plane and they mentioned that mine will have some new updates. the recessed wing to eliminate gap that was talked about earlier. also, they said, quote, "Also the new wing joiners will have a central interlocking tab arrangement which will allow the wings to be installed with only one screw, not two. This is not only easier and quicker to accomplish at the field, it will also result in a weight reduction of about 1 oz." Sounds like it was worth waiting to order. I'm getting anxious already.

later, rob

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Thanks Kurt,

Turned out it wasn't as much as I thought initially. It wound up to be a little less than 2mm.

I haven't cut slots for hinges in probably 10 years, but I did the elevators last night and they turned out great. My hands are getting less shaky as I move along....LOL

Btw Nathan, when you say "seal the hinges", do you mean putting covering along the entire length of the top of the aileron where it meets the wing? I think my buddy (who's plane it is) said he read that somewhere. They turned out pretty tight, enough to where a T pin fits thru and allowing full movement up and down.

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Can you guys post some pics please ? I'd like to see how your coming along with the builds.
Sounds like your doing fine there BShin. I'm thinking of going with a 6volt RX battery to speed up the servos. Does anyone else use a 6volt on the Edge ?

New wing joiner ? Man I gotta see this. Takes 10 minutes to put my wing halves together. But I must admit it's getting easier everytime I assemble it.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Ok, here's the next question......Getting ready to attach the stablizer and fin assembly and I noticed VF's instructions say to install "triangular crossection fillets" above and below the horizontal stablizer. I haven't found any supplied, so I assume I need to look thru my supply of balsa, or should they have been supplied?

Also, will the plastic tail fairing (once cut out) extend below the bottom of the stablizer to cover the fillet put there? If not, won't there be some raw wood showing that needs to be covered? I've seen some articles where a fairing has been entirely of balsa to replace the plastic, sanded smooth and then covered.....sounds like some work, but would be very sturdy....

Pics are worth a thousand words....I'll break out my digital and start taking some.....

Thanks,

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Bshin,,, I just used some medium balsa tri-stick cut to size for the top and bottom . I removed the covering where the sticks were to be placed of course and epoxied. (30-min slow cure) I sanded just enough for smoothness. Use the extra covering material "supplied" to match the color and filled any bare spots with red "Monokote brand" fuel proof paint. I just kept dry fitting and trimming the tail fairing till it fit good.
After the fairing had cured "30-min epoxy" I used more of the supplied repair trim to make it look better. I have added more trim since these pics and covered all the seams around the fairing for looks and security.
When these babies come across the runway on a WOT low pass they are really moving . But very stable.
I think the one thing about these planes that reminds me of a warbird is the low pass. I fly my GSP Spitfire and really enjoy watching her fall out of a hammerhead and come down wide open across the deck in a low pass. I get a tingle. Edge tracks so much easier but still looks great doing simple moves like a low pass.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Hey Kurt,

We're going to try two different things. I'm going to have my buddy trim the plastic fairing VF supplied and I'm going to constuct one entirely of balsa (I saw it done on a different thread). Takes a little time, but it sounds like it will be rock solid, and doesn't add much weight.

On another note, thought I'd pass on what I do to CA hinges. I buy "allergy syringes" from our local drug store (be ready to explain what you're doing, cause they'll question you....and if they already know you, they know you're crazy anyway...), and pull the plunger out and put thin CA in it. I then inject the CA into the aileron/elevator/rudder hinge side first. Once those are secure, drill a small hole (1/16th or 3/32nd) at the centerline of the hinge slot on the wing/stab/fin for the needle to go into (this helps in getting a tight fit since you don't have to flex the joint so far in order to get the needle into it). You have to shoot a little out between each application in order to keep the needle hole from clogging up (I just keep a paper towel off to the side to soak it up). If you're very careful, and don't inject too much, you get a really tight fit with no mess. You can usually re-fill the needle if you push the plunger in and out when the CA is used up and make sure air is flowing thru it. I still wind up using about three needles per plane, one each for the ailerons, rudder and elevators.

Charging the camera batteries now, so I can add some pics.....

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Be sure to check out the past posts here on this thread about the gear support and CG. Many that first fly this plane have a hard time landing because of the natural tendencies of this bird to float. After I beefed up the gear block and added the nylon gear,,,plus changed the CG to (4" inches from the LE) she lands like a trainer everytime.
Also I set my high rates on 100% with -8% expo (Futaba radio) and low rates at 80% w/-10%expo. I use a third rate selection for takeoffs, landings and non-wild arse manuvers. This is setup at ailerons 90%, elev 83% and rudder 100% on all three rate settings.
The plane will fly where you point it , but gives you a wonderful feeling of stabillity and control. Your gonna love it.

Let's see those pics !!!![:-]

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

I hear ya on the landing gear and CG. I think my buddy printed up those suggestions from those threads.

That's not much expo you have. I have -15% set for my high rates on my 7CAP for my planes, but guys I fly with say that's not much....oh well, still learning to use it (my first computer radio, and I love it).

I was almost finished with the balsa fairing I was making it when my buddy came over and decided he wanted to use the supplied plastic one....oh well, it's his plane. So I just rough sanded it down more so it will fit inside of the plastic...still a nice tight fit so it's solid as a rock. Don't think it will add that much weight by leaving it that size....I took two pics (below) to show ya'll. Also took two pics of the syringe for the CA hinges. They might be too close up to tell much....let me know.

On another note, aren't you supposed to have the metal inserts on the top side of the rubber groumets (the screw side) of your servos, so the bottom side of the rubber groumets touches the servo tray? I always thought that would give it better vibration protection, but my buddy has his the opposite...any thoughts will be appreciated....

Thanks,

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Expo what is expo?!?! No just kidding.. Personally I dont like a whole lot of expo when i fly my planes. I like to "feel" what the plane is doing. Granted on some extreme rates it does make it kinda twichy so I do add a little but not much.

BShin: I really like the way you have done the rear of the plane. I was thinking of building it up for some extra support and strength but, didn't want to overload myself with building. I just did the standard route and used contact cement and glued it into place. And with some of the extra covering material i hid all the lines. Looks pretty good, and it quite sturdy also. We'll see..
With the metal gromets yes you put them on the top side of the servo. Yes it adds a little bit more protection also it adds something sturdy so under operation the screw has something to but up against instead of the rubber. If you know what im talking about... hehhe.. Sometimes i just wonder myself. hmmmmm...

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

>> With the metal gromets yes you put them on the top side of the servo. <<

All this time I've been doing them wrong......dang!

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Yo Rcjon, don't feel bad....I could swear I read somewhere to put them on the bottom side....could have even been from a flight pack I bought from Tower...but it just never made sense to me so I ignored it. My buddy had them that way on his previous plane, so I questioned him about it for the VF Extra 300 I'm helping him put together now. He had no clue, so he wanted me to ask in here.

Btw, he bought a used Saito 100 for this plane. We set it up on my test stand and crank it up with the 15" prop that came with it (not sure what pitch).....damn, what power.....it was bending the trees in my back yard.......

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

actually most people put the gromments on the metal bottom of the rubber...
gives a flat spot on the balsa...

if you put the grommet on the top there is a sharp edge being tightened down into the wood and it "could" cut the wood...

but I think it really doesn't matter too much

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Since there are TWO sets of rubber "cushions" for each servo, one for the top and one for the bottom, if you insert the metal groumets in the top rubber "cushion", they shouldn't be able to touch the servo tray. Unless you tighten the screws so much that the whole thing compresses to that point, in which case, you are defeating the dampening effect for vibration....IMO

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Morning everyone,

The VF Extra 300 I'm helping a friend with is coming along, although slowly. He cut out the canopy and bellypan this past weekend, and played a little with the wheel pants (they should be interesting). Couple of questions came up, so here goes:

First, he wants to secure the belly pan permenantly to the wing and we couldn't find any reference to "seal, tape, or cover" the leading edge of it where it laps the fuselage (two pics below). Our concern is "airflow" and whether or not it will trap air there. Any thoughts?

Second, it appears there will be a gap between the wing and the plywood panel the wing bolts will screw into (pic below). Has anyone put any extra support or "filler" there, like maybe a piece of 1/4" ply on the underside of the wing? There will also be a major gap between the wing and the bellypan where the bolts go thru. Are you just supposed to drill access holes in the bellypan for the bolts and use a socket head extention to tighten them? Doing this will also leave two "open" holes in the bellypan.....

Lastly, there is a large round "cut out" area (pics below) that just has covering over it. The top side of it is in the cockpit area which will be covered by the canopy, but why is it there? Should it be cut out or left in place? I didn't take a pic of it, but there is also a "cut out" covered area under the stablizer fin at the bottom of the fuselage. The bottom of the fin doesn't protrude thru it, and it's not for control rods for the rudder or elevator, so we can't figure out the purpose for it.

Thanks for any help,

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

I'm not sure about the belly pan questions Bshin. But I do know the trademark rounded hole with covering is there for your option.
Either cut it out and use the cockpit area for radio gear, etc. Or leave it to seat a pilot in like I did. The flex of the covering gives my pilot a cool sense of motion while the plane spools up .:)

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Bshin, I epoxied the belly pan where it sits on the wing. Make sure you peel the plastic covering first carefully. I also used some 1 inch long screws on both sides to anchor the belly pan to the cores, and epoxied the screws also into the cores. Drilled two holes for access to the wing mounting screws through the belly pan, so I can reach in with a socket head adapter on a screwdriver to turn the screws. The small holes do not seem to cause any problems. Make sure you do the permanent installation with the wing fully installed on the fuselage so that the belly pan is installed with correct alignment. My belly pan front lip seats very tightly on the fuselage and just behind the landing gear so there is no chance of any air knocking it off.

The lowermost part of the fin barely passes through the bottom slot for added strength. Are you sure you are seating the fin fully? It will only be flush with this lower slot, so when it does go thru the upper and lower slots, the fin will be locked from moving side to side. If it is a little too short, extend it using some scrap balsa glued under it to make sure it reaches the lower slot. I love this feature as it seems to give the fin a lot of extra strength.

Good luck!!;)

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Ah,,, the Extra is a one piece wing ?

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Yes Kurt, the Extra is a one piece wing....well, after we epoxied it together....I forgot you guys talking about taking the wing apart on the Edge...Did you put Elvis in the cockpit so he can Rock n Roll.....lol

Calflyer...thanks for the tips. I forgot about the landing gear in front, but I think we'll have a pretty tight fit anyway. And yes, I see where the fin fits in that cutout in the bottom. Makes sense that there would be covering over the cut out....Duh is me.....

Thanks again,

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

YYYYYYYYYIIIIIPPPPPPPEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

HOORRRAAAYYYY!!!!!!!

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

I had to burn up a couple spaces, but just had to see this great thread to post 1000! Look forward to reading another 1000 post on the VF Edge!