danamania

Sooo... what are the expected differences in flight characteristics between the Episode and the Nuance, given that there is good product differentiation between the two ARFs? Any design notes from Mr. Park that we can discuss yet? As flight reports look to be a week or two away, it will be interesting to see if the expectations come to fruition. Cheers!

rcpattern

My Feedback: (45)

Dana,

My gut feeling is the Episode is designed for the F type sequences. the DTFS wings help with snaps, although, with some work, I was able to get my Nuance to snap very well. I believe that with the lower wing area of the new shape wings that the canalyzer adds some of the wing area back, but it is closer to the center of the fuse, but also helps improve some of the yaw instability that the Nuance displays at certain speeds. I added tail fences to mine and it took care of that issue. From my experience with multiple Nuances and a large number of flights, my feelings are that the plane was designed to fly very slow and close in. It took some work to make it happy at higher speeds. I think that a lot of the design changes in the Episode will help with a wider speed range. I realize others may disagree with my observations, but that has been my personal experience with his planes. With some effort, I absolutely love how my Nuances fly, even though both FAI sequences.

Arch

rcpattern

My Feedback: (45)

Here are my Nuances with stab fences installed. 1/8" depron.

Arch

underdw

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the hints Arch.
I've got about 50 flights and one contest on mine now. I like it, but something that I can't quite put my finger on is bugging me.
I'd try your stab fences. Would you be willing and able to PM me the stab fence pattern?

Thanks, Dan

(and I'll try slowing the rudder servo speed down, John Gayer

smcharg

My Feedback: (1)

Arch is exactly correct (Steve would be able to chime in about this as well).  The Episode is designed particularly for the F sequence.  After quite a bit of communication with BJ, it is quite clear that he believes that the current F sequence type of maneuvers will become more and more predominant in FAI as we progress.  He was quite clear that anyone would be hard pressed to make the Episode fly the P sequence as well as the Nuance but the Episode was definitely designed to be the F sequence slayer.

Portlandflyer

So Arch, how are you attaching the stab fences?

rcpattern

My Feedback: (45)

I just used silicon rubber in a tube. Basically clear caulk. Works great, and its easy to remove if I ever want to play with different sizes and shapes, which I do plan to do. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Portlandflyer

Arch,

Thanks

jgg215

Dan,
Not just me. BJ put the servo speed issue in his technical notes. All I did was read them and try it out.
Considering the way you flew the Nuance this past weekend here in Albuquerque, I'm not sure you should be allowed to fix anything that might improve the airplane.
John

Thinn

Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the difference in characteristics between the Episode and the Arixtra?
I only fly the F3A P-schedule, and reading the last posts made me wonder. I really like the design of both planes, but favour the Episode as I don't have time to build!

Any thoughts are welcome!

Audun
(Considering going el.....)

shannah

My Feedback: (5)

B.J. Park has put some information regarding the stab fences and wing adjusters here:
http://rcone.kr/board/index.html?id=bjair1&no=103

Chris Moon

My Feedback: (8)

The "company Episode" is ready to fly and will probably go out tomorrow or Sun to get some flights on it. Just needs the arming plug assembly installed. More details shortly..

danamania

Spiffy! It sports an Advance? All the best for a great Maiden!

svrcp

My Feedback: (1)

Where does the LINE start's . Hold my place in line for Sunday, I be there tomorrow if I could to bad for honey do's. HAHA.
Look great

Jr
D2

nicepoz

Hello

Are you guys using the original hinges that comes with the plane?
Size of spinner?
Total weight?

Regards Roland

serious power

Hi Chris,
Do you know what the incidence of the cannaliser is relative to the wing.

Brian

shannah

My Feedback: (5)

I'm back home and will pick up where I left off.

As soon as I get the wing installed I'll measure incidence relative to the channelizer.

I've started on the wings and will set them up with the stock horns. On the Nuance I used MK style aluminum horns with the ball bearing cleavis's. That turned out to be unnecessary (and more work) in my opinion and I will use the stock FR4 horns that come with the kit. I'll still used ball bearing cleavis's however.

Now for a word of caution.

THESE WINGS ARE VERY LIGHT AND FRAGILE.

If you notice the weights I posted, these wings are much lighter than the stock Nuance wings. In fact, they are even lighter than the set of Nuance DTFS wings that I have (they appear to be the same size but I haven't had a chance to compare them in detail yet).

B.J. told me that he went very light on the balsa on these wings. The sheeting appears to be thinner than on the Nuance. So, they must be handled with great care. One of my wings had a slight indentation which may have been caused when DHL decided to add some air holes to the shipping crate (I was really worried when I saw the bottom of the crate). Or, it may have been caused during packaging or even by me during unpacking since it looks like about the size of a thumb print.

I pressed the indentation out and dripped some thin CA in the area. It looks OK and doesn't appear to have any weakened structural issue. I think I may drip some more thin CA around the area and also do that on the other wing. I am already thinking about how I must tell my caller at a contest not to touch the wing when picking up the plane.

Treat these like you would a honeycombed foam wing.

I noticed a very slight bow in the TE of the right aileron. The TE is thinner on this wing than on either of the Nuance wing styles. Most likely due to the thinner sheeting. So, a quick pass of the monokote heat iron straightened it right out.

The servo installation is the same as on the Nuance. In fact, the pushrod lengths appear to be identical. If I were lazy, I could probably just remove my servos and pushrods from the Nuance and transplant them into these wings. But, I don't want to disturb the Nuance.

As a reference, I am posting the link to the Nuance build instructions from B.J.'s site. These also apply to the Episode. But, a few things such as battery tray placement, are different. Battery tray will be positioned for the proper CG.

http://rcone.kr/board/index.html?id=bjreference1&no=11

rcpattern

My Feedback: (45)

Had the chance to fly this plane today. VERY impressive. Flies everything well. They took the best parts of the Nuance and Prolog, kept them and then made it do integrated rolling stuff even better. I was stunned at how solid it was even through the lower class maneuvers. Definitely a phenomenal plane and one I will have in my garage very soon.

Thanks for the flights Chris!

Arch

shannah

My Feedback: (5)

Can't wait to get mine done..

Here are a few updates. I noticed some extra bracing in the fuse so I included a couple pics of that. The bulkhead behind the canopy is reinforced, most likely due to the channelizer. There is also a horizontal bulkhead in the tail. That should stiffen up the tail.

The aileron cutouts and mounting plate are the same great fit as teh nuance.

I decided to change the rudder installation. I had no issues with the side mounted servo in the Nuance but I decided to mount it in a more traditional fashion. Similar to what Chris Fitzsimmons did on his Nuance. I fabricated a mounting plate and then installed the servo into the plate. I am using a 1.25" MLP arm from AirWild (had it left over from my IMAC days). The arm extends out through a slot in the side of the fuse.

In order to make the plate I first made a trial version from Depron then made the final out or Glass/Nomex plate with some plywood reinforcement on the bottom for the servo screws.

The stabs are mounted in the same way as the Nuance. I installed the BLS153 servos in the pre-existing mounts in the stab.

By the way, someone asked about the hinge type being used. I don't use the supplied hinges. Instead, I always use the Great Planes CA hinges. They are thicker and more "hairy" than the stock ones and most others on the market. I have always had great luck with these hinges.

pippy

Hi shannah,I like the method of installing the rudder servo you have done. But how do you get at the screws?

nonstoprc

My Feedback: (90)

I like the method too and can use it on my passport if I want to turn the split rudder to single rudder.

The color scheme on the Episode resembles the alien characters in the movie Transformer. Cool.

shannah

My Feedback: (5)

It is pretty accessible. But, to be sure, I tested it before I glued in the tray...

I put the servo in the tray before installation and screwed it in. Then removed the screws and the servo. This makes it easier to screw it in once installed since the holes already have been threaded.

I use socket head servo screws from Microfasteners.com http://www.microfasteners.com/catalo...ategory=SHWHMS

Then, I use a ball head hex driver so that you can be at a slight angle. Once I get the screws pretty well driven in I use one of those simple hex drivers with the 90 degree bend to torque completely.

You can use a phillips head screw and drive in the screws with a phillips head driver bit from a socket driver. Just twist the bit with your fingers. Or, use one of those flexi shaft socket driver things you can get at Harbor Freight.

Keep in mind that there is a big access hatch in the side of the fuse on the Nuance and Episode and there is also a large cutout in the stab mounting area. That makes it easy. If you are going to do this on a plane which has no access hatch (i.e. Passport) you'll either need to cut a hatch in the side or put one in the bottom and go in from underneath.

Chris Moon

My Feedback: (8)

Some pics from 9/30 at the "Come fly the company Eposide day" Archie Stafford flying the Episode -note how little rudder it needs to fly knife edge. Line up of the current BJ Craft 2 meter F3A line

AmericanSpectre505

Very Kool,..can't wait to see one in person, maybe fly one.


bholsten

Chris Moon

My Feedback: (8)

The Episode will be at Winston - Salem and at Green Sea contests in Oct. Check it out and take a test spin.

We have been working with the factory and are pleased to announce that the US retail price for the Episode ARF is now LOWERED to $2000 from $2200.