took it up for its first flight today!!!!!! It couldnt of gone any better!! I checked all my throws and made sure everything was operating ok..then I fired it up and slowly started to taxi down the runway. I then throttled up gently and she tracked nice and straight with almost no rudder input untill she left the ground at a nice rate of climb...It didnt need a lot of trim adjustments so I was real happy about that..I flew about 5 flights today and let me tell yah, that os .46 has more than enough power for the plane...

Hmmm, I think we have another addict on our hands!!!

Yeah, the OS 46 should pull that plane all over the sky. You should have a very sweet combo!!

Ken

I finally got my TH 40 up yesterday and was extremely happy with the way it flew.

I had to adjust the engine alignment and set it a bit to the right to overcome hard left hand pulls while taking off and flying.

Found air bubbles in the fuel which would eventually kill the engine in flight - think due to foaming and vibration. Added foam under and around the tank and it cleared up nicely.

I did solder a $2 carb spring to the landing gear from one leg to the other and that helped keep the tail from dragging.

Overall, I'm extremely happy with it now.

The only thing I would do differently is put something other than an OS 40 LA on it. Not much power at all.

r/hank

the twist is not even a tower, or a great planes, or a hobbico product, it is a horizon/hanger 9 product get your facts strait!

twist? Who said anything about a twist?

I like a twist of lemon in my Scotch and Soda.

Guys, hows it going? I'm new on this site but ive read the above articles about the tower trainer. I have also bought the tower hobbies trainer 40. Ive been in and out of the hobby for alot of years. My question is, I have an older O.S. 40 FP that i am going to install in my plane, and i am wondering if this old fp will give me more power than the newer L.A. motor. From all I can find this FP produces about 1/3 more horse power, than the newer L.A. version. Does anyone know for sure? I dont want a rocket but I dont want a slow flyer either.

RC/Ron, I'm not exactly familar with the OS 40FP, but I am familar with the 40FP controline version, a well loved engine. You will not have as you say a "rocket". But if it is in good condition, it's a good motor. Have you test run it lately? I think it would be a fine motor for the Tower Trainer 40, if in good condition. Just from what I can tell from flying mine and my experience with a similar sized plane the Avistar, I think a Thunder Tiger GP42 would be a fine motor, just from my experience. Many are going to tell you, go with a 46/47. I've got a GMS 47 in mine, and it has plenty of power. If you're strapped for cash, it'll work. If you're wondering what might you want sometime down the road in it, try to get a 46/47 in it. But if your 40FP is running good, it'll work. I loved how my Avistar flew on just a TT GP42, had a blast with it, even in windy conditions.

South Bend? My folks grew up there. Grandfather had a floral shop there on Washington Street. Interesting.

Good flying to you.

Tom Niezgodski (name before my folks changed it)

Tom, thanks for the reply. I have two of these fp's from the same era in my flying time, both run very well. I always run a lube through them before packing anythin away. I had checked into the Thunder tiger GP 42, and that does seem like a good motor both weight wise and output. Presently the money thing is an issue and I will start at least with this motor. I figure that it will be fine for re-learning the sport. I have one in a vintage, never flown Eagle 63 from goldberg, this is before they produced the eagle 2. From what Ive read it was a great trainer. Good to hear from someone familiar with South Bend. Great Football here to watch while flying is at a low.
Thanks and Good Flying to you also!

RC/Ron, from your description of how they run, those are going to be fine. I'd use them. Like I mentioned in an earlier post. I was pleased with my Avistar and it's TT GP42, and I'm familar that 40FP and know its a solid performer. You're lucky to have them. Won't be a "Rocket", but will fly just fine.

Curious. Where is the flying field in South Bend? I haven't been down there recently, but we use to visit South Bend when I was younger.

RC/Ron, go over that Tower Trainer with a magnifying glass, get the CG correct. Don't hesistate to ask a question.

Tom

Tom,
I just recieved the ARF kit on friday, suprisingly the covering looked very good. I had heard that not all of them look so good out of the box. I am looking forward to the job of finishing it. I will go over it very closely to get the C.G. and Linear C.G. correct also. I also have a set of 3.5 inch foamies to mount for mains, I dont want a tail dragger look to this bird.
Now about the flying feilds. There are 2 that I know of that are near South Bend, 1 is off of Kern Rd. about 1 mile out of the city, on the south end. The other is in Lakeville, a small town on 31 south about 11 miles south of South Bend, this is a very nice field. The feild belongs to the South Bend Flyers. This is the club that I'm interested in.
Thanks for the help, I will be sure to ask if I have problems!

Hi guys I just got my tower trainer on Friday as well and will also be installing an OS 40FP into it. The covering on mine looked great too, but I'm kinda new to the hobby so what looks good to me may not be to you pros. Anyway please let me know if their are any ticks or things I should watch out for while buliding this Kit. I just got done installing the fuel tank.

Let me know how things progress, as I will you. I just got done comparing it to my eagle 63 vintage and found it to be very similiar. keep me informed of your build, as I will you of mine. RC/RON

im thinking of putting my eagle up for sale let me know if anyone is interested, RC/RON

Kenny,
Hows the TH 40 going? Ive been doing well so far on mine with the time Ive had. Let me know. Ron

Ron, I've been busy at work so I hadn't had time to do any thing else until today and I just came up from working on it when I seen this message. Things are coming along real nice, I just got done putting in and hooking up the servos. Not much left and then I'll be done. I think if I can get the time all I need is one or two hours and I'll have her finished and ready to fly. Where do you stand, what step are you on?

Kenny,
I havent had much time either. Presently Im on the mounting of the motor. So far its been an above average kit to me, very nice quality. I took some extra time to seal the forward compartments with additional paint, and I sealed the covering to the fuse a bit better near and around the motor area. I did this to prevent fuel from getting under the covering in the engine compartment and for any leaks or blow by behind the fuel tank. Keep me informed on your build and make sure to get a experienced pilot to help with her maiden voyage. Ron

Well I am almost done with my plane. All I have left to do is balance and adjust the throws and she will be ready to fly. I must say the hardest part of for me was getting the battery and Rx into the spot is was suppose to sit. I hope you have small fingers! Although I think it was a little more cramped for me becuase I installed a great planes charge/switch. The switch made it harder to get everything into place. I got it all in and tie wraped up nice and neat though



My RX antenna would not quit reach to the top of the fin so I had to mount it on the side with a screw.

Looks good Kenny! [8D] Just as a note for future reference, you can glue a T-Pin to the top of your rudder, and attach a rubber band to it, then attach the rubber band to your antenna......at least 3 or so inches from the end of the antenna......it looks good and gives the antenna some room to move. Ernst products also sells a little kit for about a buck or two that has a plastic pin to glue to the rudder and a hook to attach to the antenna.

Glowplug, the T-Pin method is what they called for in the instructions. I don't have any T-pins and thought the screw would hold better. If you think the T-Pin and rubber band is better then I will change it right away.

Also I have a question about the CG. I measured back 3.5" and placed a peice of tape on each side at this spot. I then put my fingers on the tape and lifted up the plane. To my surprize the plane seemed to be perfectly balanced. It did not drop forward or back one bit. Is this possible, could I have magicly got the CG correct without having to move anything around or add weights?

Fingertips are not particularly accurate. I'm guessing you might be in the ballpark for the CG. For real accuracy try a Great Planes CG machine or get some wood and pencils with those replaceable push on erasers (they taper at the tip) and make CG balance tool. I used to use the fingertip method but when I started questioning performance and wanted an accurate read, I bought the CG machine. I was surprised just how much it was off. Remember, when you put it on the CG tool, you want the horizontal stabilizer level. Great Planes CG machines come with a little bubble level. Just picking it up can be deceiving. I like to get my CG right on the suggested mark, a little nose heavy is ok, but tail heavy (nose up) is flirting with disaster. Also with the suggested manufacturers CG, the plane should takeoff fine and land slow. So it's good you are paying attention to the CG location. It's important.

My Tower trainer with a GMS 47, needed the battery pack moved aft of the rear wing holdown former and I had to add weight to the tail. Maybe your engine is lighter. Also, check CG with the tank empty.

Good flying to you,

Tom

It is possible that the CG is spot on.....trainers are often blanced perfectly with no weight....but Tom is correct, for an accurate CG reading, get the Great Planes CG Machine....it's a great investment in the hobby.....you'll use it for all of your planes. (except giant scale, which won't fit on it!)

The screw in your vertical stab will work just fine, but you might want to add a rubber band between the screw and the antenna....just to give the antenna some flexing room when the plane is flying.

kenny.
nice job on the trainer. I started back to school this last week and havent had any time to work on mine. let me know when you fly and how it goes. I hope mine goes together as nicely as yours. hey dont forget to put a relief device on that antenna. ron

Kenny,
I just finished installing the servos and the like in mine. I had to remove the fuel tank to install the pushrod outers, couldnt get them around the corners to well with the tank installed. Have you flown yours yet?

I had a hard time getting the pushrod tube in with the tank installed as well. At first I was trying to push them in from in from in front of the tank, but then I decided to push from the rear and was able to get it done that way. I have not flown mine, because I took the advice of others above and bought a Great Planes CG & AccuThrow to make sure that it is balanced and trimed correctly. They are due to arrive Monday from Tower Hobbies. So I hope by next weekend I get to take my first flight.

Kenny,
Let us know how the first flight goes, I could use all the help I can get when I get to that point. Good Luck