RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

damifino, having the pump above the tank SHOULDN'T cause a problem. Once the pump is primed (Which can be done before the engine has been started) the check valve SHOULD keep the fluid from running back up the line.

Of course, that's all theoretical. I have found many times where my pump will lose it's prime in flight. But I also find that if I start high, turn on the pump, and go to idle, that the pump will usually re-prime just before the plane lands. So I'll abort the landing and keep flying.

Jerry, I wouldn't change the throttle pushrod, but that's just me. I guess I'm just used to having to snake a throttle pushrod all over hell and back. Although you could easily switch to a cable pushrod if you want to.

As for the elevator, I flew my original Skybolt (Kit) with a standard servo (and I mean the cheapies that come with the radio) for 11 years without a hitch. I really don't see a lot of the hub-bub over big expensive servos.

As for the wheel collars holding the pushrods together, well... A lot of the manufacturers nowadays are trying to make things as simple as possible so that anyone can get in on the act. When I do a review, I try to use everything supplied so that I can see how the plane will fly when a rookie sets it up accordingly.

Personally, I would wrap a little coper wire around them and add a little solder. If you don't do soldering, the collars will hold up just fine (as long as they're tight)

Mr.Flyby, You locate the tank wherever you can get one to fit. Space will also determine size. 8 - 10oz is good, but if you can only fit a 6oz tank, guess which size you're gonna use? :)

Try placing the Rx somewhere other than where they tell you to put it and squeeze a tank in there.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

I once lost a WM Midget Mustang because I used a standard servo for the elevator and it failed on its last final approach. Ever since then I've spent a little more on a good elevator servo for all my planes. It's good insurance.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Thanks for your reply bgold - can you post a pic or 2?

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Thanks MinnFlyer i'll give that a try. I REALLY LIKE this plane it could become my new Favorite depending on how she flies.
Thanks again.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

If it depends on how it flies, it WILL be your new favorite :D

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

There is a lot of room behind the firewall that can be accessed by cutting a hatch into the recessed area just behind the firewall. Installing a hatch there also allows you to epoxy the firewall joints very easily, and mine really needed it. I've fitted my 6 oz. smoke and the pump in there. I also moved the fuel tank rearward to within 1/2" of the servos and the smoke battery is beside the fuel tank. This arrangement keeps the Cg more constant through a flight by minimizing the effect of the fuel load. My reciever battery is velcro strapped to the bottom of the fuel tank. I'll try to post some pictures this weekend.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

damifino Pictures of where you are going to locate youre smoke tank and pump would really help this first time smoker ( LOL ):D
How did you cut out the hatch area ? I wouldnt want to weaken the firewall area it would be nice to see how someone who knows what there doing does it before i try it myself.

P.S. How do i make my pictures as small thumb nails that can be inlarged by Clicking on them instead of the Giant pictures that i downLoaded ?

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Jazzbone, this is my first attempt at pictures.
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...1200710481.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...1200710271.jpg

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

It looks like the pictures showed up, with a lot of help from my grand daughter, but I obviously did something wrong because they're gigantic. What is the proper way to post a picture.

Bill

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Hey Bill,

The last few times I uploaded pics, the RCU system automatically resized them to clickable thumbnails. At least that's what I THINK I remember happening - I'll try right now with my SSB (hatch in the bottom of the fuse) and see what happens. Anyone who knows the drill here is encouraged to educate us:)

Jerry

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Yep - the system auto resizes - not sure why your post didn't but thanks for the photos Bill.

Jerry

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

There are two ways to post pics.
Read this thread to find out how:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5218588/tm.htm

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Okay, here are some pictures of my smoke stuff and the radio compartment. I've never 'smoked ' either but it seems this worked pretty good. The Cg is still right on with no ballast.

The 2 yellow hoses are fill and vent for the smoke oil tank. The fill line goes to a fuel dot at the top of the cowling and the vent goes out the bottom of the cowling through the air exit. I ran the lines so the filter and check valve connections are in front of the firewall for two reasons: 1- To eliminate some hose connections behind the firewall. And 2- So the filter and check valve can be serviced easily if needed.

The pink tube is the fuel tank vent tee'd downstream of the check valve in the engine pump's pressure line. It hangs through the cowling's air exit. The blue tube is the fuel tank fill/defuel line which runs to a fuel dot on the cowling top. I always make my vents pink and the supply line blue. On a non-pumped engine the vent/pressure is usually coming from the muffler so 'hot' equals red or pink. The blue represents 'cool' fuel thus the blue tube is for the supply side. Makes it easy to remember what's what.

I enlarged the hole through former F-3 so a 20 oz. fuel tank would fit. It only required about 3-16" removed from each side. I then epoxied a piece of plywood to the back of F-2 to prevent the tank from sliding forward. Moving the tank rearward minizes the effect of the changing fuel load on Cg. The YS 110 is a pumped engine so the long fuel lines are not a worry. The rear of the tank sits on a saddle made of basswood that includes anchors for a rubber band to secure the tank.

The receiver is secured with a velcro strap to a simple basswood and 1/16 ply stand-off epoxied to the fuselage side. Receiver battery is strapped to the fuel tank and the smoke pump's battery sits next to the fuel tank in a wrap of foam rubber. In the radio compartment picture you can see the servo mount for the failed attempt at smokin' via tank pressure. By pure coincidence my smoker battery pack is a perfect fit between those mounts so they will stay in there.

I made the header from 3/8" OD X .049 wall steel tubing and the threaded ends of the stock, straight header. The muffler is stock YS with a smoke oil pre-heater made of soft brass wrapped around and wired in place. I like the bottom exit exhaust because the mess on the plane was minimal after its maiden flight. Plus, the exhaust exits in a scale manner and the muffler is hidden.. I've put an extension on it because the smoke will be more of a mess.

A friggin' delay to smokin' because I plugged up the smoke batttery backwards and fried the pump or something. My bad, a bummer to be sure. Was gonna fly it today but the sleet and rain came in earlier than expected.

JAZZBONE- Where is Ashburn?

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

I got a couple of questions, is there any vibration or noise generated by the brass coil wrapped around the muffler. Did you wire the coil at every boss on the muffler. Where and how does the smoke oil enter the muffler. How big is the smoke tank. Have you flown the plane with all tanks full, is it heavy, does it cut the performance compared to no smoke system. Did you cut the ends off a stock header and weld them to a longer pipe to make the header you're using.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Vibration or noise? Not that I can discern. The coil is very tight on the muffler and is wired at all 3 bosses. The smoke oil comes from the pump, through the pre-heater coil, through a black neoprene hose to a nipple in the header close to the exhaust port on the engine, the hottest place on the exhaust.

The smoke tank holds 6 oz. I have not flown the plane with the smoke tank full but everything else was in place. I do not anticipate any noticable loss in flight performance because with everthing full, ready to fly, this ARF version of the Skybolt is still lighter than most of it's kit-built brothers, or would they be cousins?

Yes, as I described in my previous post, the header was made from the stock YS header ends.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

That's a good setup now!
Let me ask.
Where does the end of the brass coil goes?
I cann't find it in your pics!
Also,
this is a YS 110FZ?

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Thank you! Now, so my fingers don't get tired, please read my last 2 posts. YS110FZ, yes...

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Great customer service so far from Sullivan Products. Called them this morning about sending my Smokewriter in for repair, got an answering machine. Left a message about having a problem with a pump. Less than 2 hrs later a nice lady called me from Sullivan and told me to send it in. They'll take look at it and let me know how much $$. When I got home this evening there was a reply to the e-mail I sent them on Sunday concerning the same issue. So far they are scoring high on customer service........

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Hey Great pictures this will help alot that looks like a very nice set up i havent been able to work on mine lately but i cant wait to start again.:D
One note and i am in ( NO WAY ) an expert on this subject but i found this info in a search i had done on smoke systems the system i am refering to was on this Guys Cap after the copper tube was wraped around the muffler he then wraped the tubes with what looks like fiberglass tape like the kind used around a door on a wood burner then covered the fiberglass insulation with alluminum ductwork tape i guess to keep the insulation from getting fuel soaked or something plus the insulation helps hold the heat in the exaust.
Like i said this is not my info just something i found in a search and BOY DID THAT CAP PUT OUT THE SMOKE !!!!!
Here is the link if i did i right ?? http://rcdon.com/html/cap_232_project.html

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

I've thought about insulating the pre-heater. We use some stuff that we call fire sleeve on the race cars at work. It's a white, fire-proof woven fiber covered with aluminum foil on one side and sewn into a tubular shape. It comes in different sizes and should do the trick. Anything to keep the temp. up should help. I'm sending my smoke pump to Sullivan for repair tomorrow, can't wait to try it out.

That web site is really good. Liked the Super Cub's on-board footage.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

That was pretty Cool [8D] the way they videoed the Cap from another plane flying with the onboard camera . I have never seen it done that way before . He has alot of good information on his site.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Anyone here running the Skybolt ARF with the recommended 2 stroker size of .75?

I'm curious as to how it flies with a .75.

Thanks.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Maiden flight today, I could not believe how good this plane flys. It took off perfectly, straight down the runway. I climbed out a bit and turned back and told my buddy that I didn't think the plane needed much trim. I went hands off and there was a slight tendancy to sink, one click of up elevetor and it was hands off straight and level. I didn't know what to do next so I flew a couple of IMAC basic sequences. The plane has tremendous power with the YS-110 and it flew big straight manuvers and tracted perfectly, it may fly better than my 28% Extra with a DA-50. The only thing I had trouble with was Knife Edge, it took a lot of aileron to keep from rolling right out of KE. Landing was just fun and after flying this plane 7 or 8 minutes I had total confidence and no concern over bringing the plane in and it lands very slow and stable. Was only able to fly it twice and the second flight was more fun than the first. Can't wait for a weekend with decent weather so I can fly the Skybolt all day long.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Please,
post some pics to see it!

RE: Super Skybolt ARF
 

Bgold- Did you notice that the plane has a lot of airframe noise? My prop is properly balanced, everything is as it should be. Seems mine and another one at the field are 'noisy'. Just wondering...