RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Nice job Ray,;) here's mine to start the next 1000!!!!:D

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Twenty flights on the VF Edge-540 and it just keeps getting better.

Wish I had a good digital video cam.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Twenty flights.....so cool....I've got a Sony digital camcorder, but I don't think the zoom would be good enough to capture them all the way from Alabama....LOL

Pic below of the belly pan on my buddy's VF Extra 300. Should the fit at the trailing edge be trimmed any more? Just seems kind of "bulky"....

Anybody tried dying the canopy? He's been soaking his in black Rit dye for 4 days and it's still not very dark....

Off the subject, I finished my new WM Ultimate 30 Bipe....thought I'd add a pic of that too.....

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

If ya really ZOOMED in maybe ??? LOL

Trailing Edge,,, naw,,, unless looks are importance on that Extra. As long as it fits snug and has no parasidic drag.
Say,,, I really like Ultimate Bipes. What would one of those WM bipes cost me ? Would a OS.46AX push one around pretty good ?

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

I own a VF Edge 540, does yours just drop out of the sky when landing? Well mine does, it flys great and I love the plane. Can anyone give me some suggestions to repairing the landing gear plate, when it did a hard landing it ripped out the landing gear and cracked the plate along the edges. Also I love the belly pan idea. To let you know about how well this plane flys, 1 of my elevator halfs came off in flight, and that plane landed without a hitch, just have to bring it in hot all of the time.

Ray

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

YEs,,,, they float till they drop. But after adding the extra weight of a beefed up gear block and the addition of a DuBro nylon landing gear..... plus.....CG'ing at 4"inches even. My Edge lands like a lady.
Here's where some info starts on the repair and changes made by myself and some of the guys here on this VF thread.
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2480377/mpage_29/key_/tm.htm]Edge540 Gear repairs[/link]

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

If you used the directions from this thread about 20 pages ago.... heat is the key....
I tried once using hot tap water.... having a small child in the house, our tap water is only at about 120 degrees.... really didn't get dark at all....

tried again, but used boiling water to bring the temp up to 140 degrees and it took the dye very quickly.....

try again with warm water(140f) and it should do fine......

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Well I was going to get a video of my maiden of my edge.. Well when ever that is going to happen. My brother has some panasonic digital hi-8 camera that I could upload a video to the computer. Works pretty good. Anyway.. Maybe just maybe if the weather works out and i get over this dang stomach virus i could probally finally maiden this bird.
I did find out its a very very tight fit on stuffing this plane in my civic. if the wing wasn't 2 piece it probally wouldn't fit. heheh. oh well ill let you know when during the weekend if i can get this bird in the air.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Yo Kurt,

WM Ultimate 30 was $149 plus $16.95 shipping.....it's a really small plane...they say a .32-.40 so a .46 should rip the wings off...lol

Exeter, thanks....we'll try heating up the mix....

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Pretty much finished mine up today. It was an experience tuning it inside the cowl. Magnum 91 FS, new. Had it all set on the stand but it was another story once on the plane. Had to open up the cowl some more as it acted like it was getting hot. And wouldn't adjust like it should. Ran into that very thing one other time. Then the heat issue seem to go away. I originally set the low needle by the pinch test. But every time I nosed it up it would die. Figuring it was going lean as they usually do then, I richened it up, then more, then more and it didn't get any better. So I tried leaning it, then more, then more and it still wouldn't run nose up. So I tried it with the glow driver on and it worked. Couldn't believe it could be that rich. Kept leaning it out more and more till it finally ran nose up, down was never a problem. Never seen an engine so touchy to tune. Finally got it though. It is doing 9100 peaked on 15% with a Dynathrust 14x6. Hoping it will gain some in the future. Has less than a gallon thru it. Maiden flight maybe this week.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Well, guess everyone was waiting for this very special day to happen...

Stuffed, and i mean stuffed, my car today full of my airplane goodies and headed to the field. The day couldn't be any better than a day of flying. Un-stuffed my car... pulled out my tiger2, my combat plane, and of course the beautiful VF EDGE 540.. I did a little flying with the other planes to get my back in to the flying mood and make sure my thumbs are nimble again after a long break.
I put the Edge on my stand and bolted the wings on (after loosing those dang lock washers in the servo tray twice) and double checked all my connections with the Rx. I fill the plane up, after noticing the pump is running kinda sluggishly, hmmm thats odd.. Anyway, plugged the glow ignitor and attempt to start the motor. Electric starter spins verrrrry slow. My freshly charged field battery is dead.... No need to fear, pull the car battery out from under the hood just to give it a little juice... Its amazing what 450 cold cranking amps can do...
Fire up the Saito, and the motor sings... Tune it up a little bit (ok a lot bit) the low end was just a tad on the rich side. Take it off the tail trap and push it along to the runway. The wind couldn't be any better. Taxi out to the end and ready to put it through the test...
I ease on the thottle and the tail rises up as i add rudder to track it down straight. Then i just nail it and the plane lifts off with little effort.

!!!!!! IT FLYS!!!

Just about 3-4 clicks of right trim and some down elevator, the edge flys hands off. I do a few circuts around the field to check everything out, and to get a feel of the plane. This bird just tracks beautifullly. You put it at this spot and it stays on the spot. Definatly a plane you gotta point and shoot. Roll inverted to check the CG, almost on the SPOT. 4 inches from L.E. is where it needs to be. The tail did have a slight tendancy to dip so i have a feeling that its a tad off but, still ok.. Take the plane up a couple mistakes high to check the stall. At the break the nose just mushes down, this plane will slow down to a crawl. Since the Saito is still on the rich side run times is around 8 minutes so time to take it in..
Cut to 1/4 throttle at the base leg, turn to the final and slow it down a little bit. I fly the plane down (as per many people) just above the runway i chop the throttle. The mains just touchs the grass and the plane does a very soft rolling stop in like 10 feet. Perfect landing!!!

All i can say is this plane is a beaut to fly and I cant wait till I really release the beast the hides inside of it. I want to thank everyone on this thread on some the awsome hints and tips to this plane. VF really have done a great job on this plane and this is definatly a keeper for me. Now for a bigger car.... :(

Sorry didn't have the camera crew with me, my brother wouldn't relinquish the video camera this trip. I should have the camera with me when i really put the plane through its paces. Stay tuned....

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Yo Nathan.......Outstanding !! That's what I call a really great first flight. I can only hope my buddy does as well on his.

We got the canopy on (he gave up on dying it, says he likes it better clear), and I put on the stablizer, fin, and tail wheel on yesterday (he bought a Sullivan assembly to replace the one that came with the plane). He decided to try screwing the belly pan on and bought some 4-40 brass threaded "receiver nuts" which we tried screwing into the fuselage. Couldn't get blind nuts in because the plywood reinforcing inside got in the way. They turned out to be a pain in the butt...wouldn't thread straight and the hex bolts got cross threaded in two of them. I'm going to reinforce them with epoxy today and then re-tap them. If that doesn't work, it's back to "plan A", and epoxy the belly pan to the wing.

The plastic fairing over the stablizer turned out great. He used some of the extra material and covered it so it really matches the plane. I've got the radio gear, servos, control rods and horns to do on the rudder and elevator, but that shouldn't take long.

He's working on the cowling and engine installation (he's got a Saito 100). He bought a "Pitts style" muffler from Davis Diesel, but it won't work. They told him it would fit inside the cowling and would bolt right onto his engine....it doesn't do either. I looked at it yesterday and think if I turn the stock muffler to a certain angle, I can get the whole thing to fit in the cowling. He'll just need an extension to pass thru and out the bottom (He's mounting the Saito sideways and wants the exhaut to go out the bottom). I've got some 90 degree rubber type exhaust deflectors, but they're flimsy. I hope he can find one in metal....

Tell your brother to "give up" his damn camera!!

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Nathan,,, she point rolls like a dream huh ? The KE is very easy too. That 4"CG is the ticket to easy landings and straight flying.
Glad for you on your maiden. :D

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

All I can say is FINALLY!!!! ive been waiting for this maiden flight for the longest time now. No I havn't tried point rolls yet but, trust me next flight im gonna put her through her paces..

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

I finally went thru the entire thread, WOW is this thing huge. I wanted to finish it before I started my build so I would have an idea of where I want to do mods.

I thought I'd check my fuse, since it seems a few have had warped ones. It's warped [:@] [:@]

I sent John at VF an email so now I'll wait to see what he says.

This on top of crashing my Chipmunk today; guess it does rain in sunny NV.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Boy do I feel like a newbie. [:-]

After jumping and yelling, no I didn't cry and I'm sticking to that story. I went back and looked at the tail section again. I forgot about the covering. I moved the extra covering out of the way and it was perfectly leveled. :D

Now I can start the build on schedule. Wish me luck, I'm going in. [8D]

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

BShin: You should of contacted me about the davis disiel exhaust. Have you gotten it yet? I bought it for my edge but it ended up I would ended up cutting more cowl off than the stock exhuast. It does look like a nice muffler but, i didn't like the way they wanted to attach it to the header.

Can i ask a quick question kinda off topic? Whats the best way to charge these field batteries. I think I overcharged my previous fieldbattery one to many times to lead to a bad battery. Only lasted a season, now it dont offer the current to drive all my accessories...

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Which battery do you have? The rectangle gel cell or something else. I've seen some with a lawnmower or motorcycle battery for their field battery. I have a 12V charger, looks like the charger for your radio gear with different leads. What charger are you using now?

If you have a gel cell it should last you more then one season, I've had mine now for about 5 yrs and it's still going. I use mine to power my starter, glow starter and field charger for my radio gear; haven't went to an electric pump yet.

I usually put mine on the charger for about 12-15 hours before I plan on going flying. I only charge it about once every 2-3 weeks, or something like that. I know I don't charge it every week, but I do at least once a month.

Just like anything else in this hobby, ask 10 people and get 12 answers.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Nathan,

That was the problem (attaching to the header), besides being too big. The thing looked like a black drum smoker you'd buy at Wal-Mart...lol. If you tried to use the screw clamp to attached it, it wouldn't tighten enough to secure it. I don't think I've ever seen a header big enough to fit it, at least not on a .91-.100 engine. Sounds like they mislead my buddy, so now it remains to be seen whether they'll give him a refund or not.....

As far as your field battery, I've been down that road many times, and finally figured out I was overcharging them (I'd been using a 2/6 amp car battery charger on 2 amps). I broke down and bought a decent charger from Auto Zone that goes to a trickle charge as soon as it's topped off. I think it cost twice as much as the little motorcycle batteries I usually use, but it's been working out great. And lately, I've seen the gel batteries Salty is talking about for even less money than I've spent on the lead/acid kind. The little charger he's talking about sounds like it's just a trickle charge only, so he's never fried his battery.

B

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

WEll the current battery i just used wad the the hobbico 12 7ah lead/acid. like I said it was awsome for like the first season. Lasted 2 weeks than i just let let simmer overnight. The charger is the standard wallwart that you can get from the LHS. 12v at 600mah or something like that.. I didn't know the car chargers would work on those sealed lead acid. hmm

I dont konw many times i was on the phone with the guy at davis diesel. He's a good man but, he will give you a hard time when to return it. After i said screw it on trying to send it back I was like ill keep it and put in the box of other junk i may use later on. I did figure out the header thing. You have to use like a thin aluminum sheet or something of that nature to wrap the header/muffler then you use the clamp tie. I cut up a coke can and used that. Worked pretty good. It was pretty tight but, you have to tie the muffler down to something.. The muffler will just vibrate loose. I decided to try out the exhaust when i had my SAItO 82 on the bench. It sounds pretty neat!!! Very quiet and i think i gained about 300-400 rpm with it.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

The gel battery I use is the one that most LHS sell to go with teh field boxes. I think the battery cost me 20 and the charger was another 10. It's a sealed battery so I don't have to worry about it tipping over in the back of the car and spilling acid on anything.

I usually plug up all my toys about 5 or 6 the night before I go flying, sometimes I plug em in at 4. I still pretty much use the chargers that came with all my radios for overnight charging. I have a field charger that I'll use when I'm at the field for a quick charge or if I don't plug in a plane the night before I'll use that field charger on the way to the field, does tha make it a road charger.

When I first started flying I was going to get a small lawnmower battery but a friend gave me a field box he didn't want, had to be built. So I built the thing and got the gel battery since it was designed to fit inside. Sealed the box up with it inside and haven't had to open it up yet.

Nathan your setup sound pretty close to mine; except I have a gel battery and you have a lead one.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

I thought I heard a starter gun so I got going. ;)

Got the hinges in the ailerons, this was the only that that worried me. I put in four Robarts on each wing, they look straight and pivot well. If the rest of this plane goes this good I'll be in the air in no time.

Question; looking at the info on beffing up the lg, would you suggest putting some ply on the bottom of the plane or inside the tank compartment? It looks like everyone who has repaired put the wood on the bottom, which make sense for a repair.

I'm getting a tingly feeling already. :D

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

My buddy called Davis Diesel today and told them their muffler didn't fit his Saito 100. They told him that Saito had different size headers and that he had the wrong one....so, my buddy then called Saito and they told him that they do indeed have two different headers....one curved and one straight...but they are the same diameter! He called Davis Diesel back and the guy got upset, said he was tired of the hassle, and for my buddy to just send it back and they would give him a refund.....oh well, he's on his way to Home Depot to look for some type of tube to extend the stock muffler....we shall see....

Plane's almost ready to go, except for the engine/muffler and cowl....

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

Way to go Nathan! Great to hear the maiden went well! That 10 ft landing roll must have felt good! Wait till you put her through the paces, its a totally awesome airplane.

Bshin and Salty, nice looking planes there! Bshin I ran into the same belly pan problem with my 300S, I later discovered it was due to the wing seating tape. Apparently the wing needs to be seated on the saddle without the tape, and that will close the gap under the belly pan.

Seems like some more maidens are due soon! Keep 'em coming![8D]

I almost never use the small hobby batteries. Bought a 12 v sealed lead acid motor bike battery from Wal Mart for about $30 a couple of years ago, and it goes about a month between charging. My engines start pretty good so I dont use a lot of battery power. Use a basic slow overnight charger for about 10 bucks! The setup has worked great so far.

RE: Vectorflight Edge 540 build
 

BShin: Yeah the guy at davis diesel is kinda of a meanie isn't he... When i tryed to get a refund from him he pretty much blew up. He then started to explain to me to make it fit within the cowl by trying to heat up the plastic on the cowl, so when you mount the cowl the muffler will hit that spot and make a buldge for it. Yeah well on some applications but this one was not it. Ill keep it around and use it on another plane when that time comes. It is a nice muffler if you can get it to work.

Salty: Well for me i put some lite ply on the inside of the tank area about a 1/4 inch bigger than the stock landing gear block. So it has extra support all the way around. People also had put the block on the outside of the plane for strength and to get the landing gear to sit lower for prop clearence. Use what ever way its easy for you. Also i went away from the blind nuts all together and drilled and tapped the wood themselves for the 1/4 x 20 wing bolts. Thats after you doubled up the wood that is. I was going to do 3 bolts but i messed up the third hole near the former. Thought i could re tap but ended up messing it all up. So i just epoxied a dowel in the hole which was cut flush with the landing gear itself so if there was a hard landing the LG wont try to twist apart. It worked for me. But the landing i did was just so smooth it wasn't funny. <---- very rare.. <lol>

Cal: Yeah that was my orginal plan on using a motorcycle battery but, when i built a [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_167247/anchors_167247/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#167247]Field Box from Hell[/link] I didn't have the room for a motorcycle battery to fit in the bottom of the fieldbox with my fuel jug. I did find a pretty good 12 charger that puts out a max of 2 amps and will basicly keep it from overcharging the battery and keeping a constant voltage at the end of the charge. May try that out this season...