RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Semi, I believe you, I was just saying that is AWESOME!!! I know the original kits were coming in close to 10 pounds... heck my arf with a 1.25 weighed 8 lbs 1 oz empty... If she comes in at that weight you will absolutely love that plane!!!!

I don't know if any of you skybolt fans like electrics, but E-Flite's new Extra 260 3D 480 is now my favorite airplane lol, this little 43" monster is one sweet flying airplane!

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Well, i maidened my Skybolt today and made 4 successful flights. I took a gamble with the CofG slightly rearward of the suggested starting point (using my uncalibrated fingers) and it was fine. If anything, i could probably go back further.

Anyways, the Skybolt flys great. I'm wrapped with it.

The OS .75AX had plenty of power. I tached the APC 14x6 at 10,000rpm before the first flight. It's actually quite fast and i spent a lot of time less than half throttle except on the uplines where 3/4 worked well. Full power gave it pretty impressive vertical.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Something to keep in mind about CG is that two identical planes can fly very differently at the same CG.

So don't go by where someone else put theirs, go by what your plane flies best with.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

I have been following this thread as I have been working on my Super Skybolt over the last few months. Based on what has been said about firewall integrity, I decided to beef things up. So this is what I have done: I drilled and tapped the landing gear screw holes out for 4-40 bolts instead of using the supplied machine screws. I cut a temporary access hatch into the fuselage underside. I will permanently put it back later. This cutout has allowed access to the firewall and around the landing gear. I fiberglassed around the landing gear on the inside. I traced and cut an additional firewall laminate from 3/32" birch ply. I sanded the face of the existing light ply firewall to prepare for glue. I pounded out the blind nuts, put 1"square 3/32" birch ply pieces underneath them, then reinstalled the blind nuts. I glued the firewall together and pulled the blind nuts snug, using the engine mount as a handy "clamp".

V6

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Pictures of Super Skybolt ARF front end mods

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Looks good to me V6. What's your engine setup? Saito 91?

Have fun,

Jym.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Yes. Saito 91

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Vinnie6;

Mods look good. Looks like you "dowl pinned" the firewall to give it some bite into the fuselage edges and strong points? Is that correct? Can you elaborate on this if necessary?

Eric

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Eric, you are absolutely correct. I used 1/8" hardwood dowels, one inch long, around the edges to really make that firewall be a part of the fuselage. The reason being I couldn't really clamp it together when I glued it except for bolting on the engine mount, but obviously that didn't hold it tightly around the edges. Maybe it's overkill...

V6

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

V6.....great looking mods to the front end...........and a great addition to this thread.......i'm definately doing that to my next skybolt.
making an access just behind the FW makes perfect sense................the one i have now had to have the battery mounted just behind the FW, and it was a royal pain to get it in there and padded.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Excellent move.

Basically what I did, only you did it before instead of after. I wish I had known before the failure how weak the design is.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

now that i have my OS 91 running right, this bird has earned it's wings in my stable forever............this is without a doubt the smoothest flying plane i have flown in years.
landings are a joke..........what i thought was going to be a hot landing airplane turned out to be nothing more than a trainer with attitude......it's that easy.
the only niggle is the landing gear is a bit easy to bend on a good bounce.
lesson: do not bounce on landing.
i can't imagine not ever having one of these to fly.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

I couldnt take it anymore. I ordered one. It should be here next week. I won a complete DX7 system so I will try that out on it. I am going to use a saito 100 but, I have a question for all of those in the know about this planes CG. The 100 is really light and who wants to add dead weight, so should I go ahead and pay 75+ dollars for a side mount muffler to balance or can I get away with the factory muffler and battery location? The 100 and stock muffler are barely 21 ounces. I saw the interesting battery location on the motor mount in a previous post. It looks like those of you with the 91 OS (which I believe weighs 23 ounces by itself) are still adding weight to balance. Maybe I have to switch motors or get tricky with the battery location as well. One other question about the servos needed. The DS821's that come with the DX7 are rated at 72 ounces of torque. Will this be enough for the dual elevators and ailerons? I have Hitec 625MG 's sitting around if needed. Thanks in advance.
Stangevil29

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Hi Strangevil29

My motor/muffler weighs in at 720gm (25.4oz) and with the battery in the stock location my CG is about 3/8 behind the recommended point and the plane flies fine at that setting.

I'm using 5 of the the DS821's as supplied with the DX7 and they are working out fine for me on my skybolt.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

my Skybolt is balanced like CustomPC's.....right at 5"...........i did start out at 4 3/8", and new on the first flight it was nose heavy...........took a bunch of up trim and landings were a bit hot.
by the 3rd flight i had almost all of the up trim gone and landings are now trainer like, after removing the 2.5oz of lead off the nose.

the OS91 pulls it very nicely, but i have this urge to put a YS 110 on the nose...............maybe on the next one.

Strangevil29,

this airplane (and 2.4GHz radios) is what brought me back to RC flying after a 15 year layoff...........when i first saw it on Towers site i said "no-way".....the perfect (but hard to do) color scheme, and ove a 1lb lighter than the kit version (mine came out at 7lb 5oz), and it just tracks like a well behaved pattern plane.......you'll love this plane.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

do you guys think a zenoah g20 would fit in this plane?

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

never mind the question I found a thread on it. From what I read a g20 would work just have to deal with the weight. Humm.....

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Well, try this one for something different. Mind you, this is a kit version.:D MM

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

i was wondering about a posible saito 100 twin in this plane. aprox 29 0z. with no mufflers. i think the plane will take the weight and i think it should still have plenty of power.
not looking for crazy vertical i just thought it would be sweet to have a little twin engine in th skybolt arf. My other engine choices were o.s. .91 or saito .91, 100 or 125 singles. what do you guys think. and mainly, will the saito 100 twin fit in there?

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Hi,

I am starting to purchase all the stuff for my ARF Skybolt and wonder if any of you guys have some experience with Slimline' smoke pitts mufflers. I'll be using an OS 91 Surpass pumped engine and would really like some smoke coming out!

Thanks

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Look for Minnflyer's "Got Smoke" article.

The Slimline stuff works great.

By the time you are done adding the second battery, smoke tank ( the larger the better, you'll see! ), tubing, smoke muffler and/or heating coils, etc. you will be adding a fair amount of weight back on the plane.

I purposed ommitted the smoke system on the Skybolt to conserve it's weight, even though I had purchased a full setup for it.

The .91 works ok for producing smoke, but the biggest problem you'll have is that the muffler it comes with cannot retain heat once the smoke fluid hits the muffler.

That will lead you to try various mechanisms to keep it hot.... including wrapping it in different materials, etc. ( On my OS Surpass III 1.20 FS I put coils inside an oversized muffler which worked well... ).

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

an OS .91 + the weight of a smoke system will take the fun out of this plane IMO. I would go to a 1.20 if you are planning on smoke. But if you do decide to go that route, definitely check out minn's got smoke article here on RCU.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Will do that. Thank you guys!

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Uhmm...run it rich...plenty of smoke with no weight penalty!

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

And my engine will last much longer also! :D