RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Keep us informed Mike. I started building a new wing out of a kit for my ARF Telemaster and I intend to finish it with no dihedral and some reinforcement in the center section and in one piece, to make the plane a little more aerobatic. Will post pictures when finished.
Calixto

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

I recently bought a telemaster 40 that came with two wings. The one wing coverd in monokote has had the center section fiberglassed the other looks like it might be silk span and dope covering so I am not sure how old it is. I purchased it from a gentleman who buys stuff at estate sales so I have no history on it. The monokote wing has flaps and ailerons the other wing just ailerons. It came with everything but a receiver and battery in it. The engine is a os 46 si with great compression and looks new. I put a futaba 128 receiver and 1100 mah batt and I think its ready. My question is should I go back and fiberglass the other wing? I dont know how strong the wings were origanily built or how old this thing is.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

The wing of the Telemaster 40, if built per plans, is strong enough but it is good practice to fiberglass about 4" of the center section to reinforce it, that way you never will have the wings fold on you.
Calixto

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Well it looks like the maden flight will finally happen this weekend. I have been waiting to get the money together and for TrueR/C to get packs back in stock. My pack should be here by the end of the week. I will be flying at the Watt Flyer fun fly in San Diego. I really hope everything goes well. I also got a new all electric field box for my birthday so I can move all my tools and gear from my slime box.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Will be looking forward to your report.
Calixto

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Hi All,
I need your advice about the location of CG.
Just bought a Sn. Telemaster ARF, with OS .61, and 4ch radio (installed), My model looks just like Mike’s model, there is no documentation and the seller gave me about 1lb. of extra weight to put in the nose to get the CG under the main spar

Now the plane is ARF with no visible repairs, with the recommended size engine, then why is it so much tail heavy? Or the correct location of CG is not under main spar.
I guess the question is that what is the correct location of CG on the ARF Sn. telemaster?
Can someone please tell me the correct CG location measured from the leading edge.


Thanks in advance for you feedback.

Regards,
Ajmal

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

The cg on the Telemaster has a very wide margin, it will fly well with the cg as far back as 7" from the leading edge, if you put it at the main spar it will fly like a trainer should fly, extremely forgiving, I would start there and move it back untill you find it flies the way you like.
Calixto

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

My Senior Telemaster ARF manual states the c.g. range to be 5-3/4" - 6-1/4" from the leading edge with empty fuel tank.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

I finally got to maden my bird this past weekend at the Southern California Watt Flyer Fly In. My son and I had a blast and walked away with about 250 bucks worth of goodies. The Tele flies like a trainer with the CG set to about 5 1/4 inches back from the leading edge. I need to fix my battery tray to allow me to slide the pack back further. The bomb bay worked well enough for my son Nick to wing 2nd place in the contest. He dosen't know how to fly quite yet so I let him control the bomb bay via the buddy box. My new TrueR/C 5S2P 8000 mah worked perfect and allowed me 45 min of flight time on one charge. You just can't beat the value of this pack at 180 bucks delivered to my door with a balance tab! For those who aren't members of the Watt Flyer site here are some pictures. Check this monster of a motor out from Vision who also sponcered the event.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Hi Mike.

To what size of glow engine is that motor equivalent? and what size prop can you turn with it?
Warning. The cover on the Telemaster ARF, splits very easily after being in the sun for long periods.
Calixto.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

How would this plane handle a small gasser and fuse filled with smoke tank?

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

No problem with gas engines, you probably would have to install the rudder and elevator servos in the tail and move the battery back to balance it properly. The fuse has a lot of space for a smoke tank I believe you have about 7"x4" by 4"deep empty space below the wing. I know some people have used 25cc to 30cc gas engines on the Sr. Telemaster. Do install the wing struts even tough there are no instructions for them in the manual. There are a couple of ideas by Mike Freas and me on the "Telemaster modifications thread.
Allso enlarge the rudder at least 50% if you like to do some aerobatics and don`t want to loose yaw control at low speeds.
Calixto

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

The motor is an AXI 4120/18 which turns a 14X10 E prop. I'd say it's close to a .60 with the 5S pack pushing it. I have plenty of power but it will not climb vertical or anything like that. I fly at about 1/4 throttle.

Check the other threads on the STM for the wing mods. I have a huge bomb bay in mine. There are many ways to skin a cat I guess and that's one of the best things about this bird.

I would suggest enlarging the runnder by 2X or more. I made mine over 2X bigger and it really helps in the wind. It's also fun to do rudder turns.

I started this thread to say thanks because this ARF was a gift after my 1st STM crashed.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

I forgot to mention the one thing I don't like about the ARF version is the covering. I'm sure it's less expensive then the good stuff so I don't mind they use it to keep the cost of the kit down. At some point I will recover it but being E powered that may be a while!

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

The covering looks good, but it breacks very easily, I started construction of my SR.Telemaster kit and will install 3 .19 nitro engines on it and modify it to look like a Ford trimotor, will post pictures as the construction advances, allso recovered my .40 Telemaster and flew it last week, flies nice and it is more aerobatic, but nothing flies like the Sr. Tele.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Everyone, thanks a lot for the CG info. I will try it this Sunday.

Thanks & regards,
Ajmal

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

http://image.rcuniverse.com/gallery/...9/lg-63198.jpg

Building one with a converted 25cc blower motor...I already have a Telemaster 66 that I first flew when I was 13.....still is a great flyer!!

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Somewhere along the way one of the guys in the forum on Senior Telemaster recommended installing the wing struts, especially if you want to do some aerobatics. Well, I had an interesting experience this past weekend. I used my Senior Tele ARF as a trainer for our club's "Kids Fly" event. We used buddy boxes, with a command pilot and and instructor to help the kids. We did a lot of loops, rolls, inverted flight, and unusual attitudes with lots of G's. with my Tele. The bad news is that by the end of the day one of the wing struts tore loose from the wing; the hard point in the wing just came off, and we never knew it, and kept on flying. The covering material actually held the strut in place! The good news is that the one-piece bolt down wing I made held togeher the whole time. So I would recommend beefing up the hard points in the wings where the struts attach.

By the way, if anyone wants to see my modification for a one-piece wing for the Tele I can post or e-mail you some photos and explanations of what I did. It's alot nicer, and stronger, than those stupid rubber bands!

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Definitely a one piece wing is a lot stronger and if you reinforce the center section with fiberglass or carbon fibers, you don`t need the struts, but the big inconvenience is carrying that 92" wing in a small car. I will reinforce the hard blocks where the struts attach to the wing, always afraid they would tear loose.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

I kept mine a two piece and I too found the struts endure tremendous pull. I installed hard plywood plates with blind nuts spanning between the spars and it's rock solid now.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Will do the same, thank you.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

Mike: My other hobby is Fly Fishing and I build Fly Rods. I am sending you photos of some of the fiberglass scraps. If you would like me to mail some samples to you, you can send me your home address to my eMail address. [email protected] The fly rod has give to it but will not break and is lighter than any wood.

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

hi I am in process of a complete mod.program on an arf Telemaster,I found it to be very weak in the tail area.I would like to see pics of any mods that you would recomend.many thanks donn noble

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

I'm not sure the extent your going to mod your STM but I bashed mine a bit.

When I installed the servos in the tail I beefed it up while I was in there. After my crash the tail cracked so while the covering was off I filled the lightning holes with balsa sheet, 1/8 inch I think it was. The tail is much stronger now. Have you installed the tail yet? Plan to recover it?

RE: Senior Telemaster ARF modifications
 

I'm a little lite with this but why not make the tail ,wider like 2W x 2.125H this gives more surface to support the tail area. As in twin tails?