Caelus New F3A design by Top RC Model
#202

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA
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Hi,
Agree with you 100% OXAI are far too expensive for what they are and yes they don't fly any better ........I have one and comparing it to my own build XIGRIS I can't see where the price difference of $ 4000 comes from.
regards
Agree with you 100% OXAI are far too expensive for what they are and yes they don't fly any better ........I have one and comparing it to my own build XIGRIS I can't see where the price difference of $ 4000 comes from.
regards
#203

My Feedback: (41)

Oxai planes are for those who seek perfection and have the resources to make it happen. Much like a Chevy versus a Mercedes.
The Caelus has proven that we can have a great plane for a really decent price. Thanks to TopRCModels.
They are fast turning heads with some beautifully produced models for an attainable price.
Mike Mueller
The Caelus has proven that we can have a great plane for a really decent price. Thanks to TopRCModels.
They are fast turning heads with some beautifully produced models for an attainable price.
Mike Mueller
#204

My Feedback: (10)

Oxai planes are for those who seek perfection and have the resources to make it happen. Much like a Chevy versus a Mercedes.
The Caelus has proven that we can have a great plane for a really decent price. Thanks to TopRCModels.
They are fast turning heads with some beautifully produced models for an attainable price.
Mike Mueller
The Caelus has proven that we can have a great plane for a really decent price. Thanks to TopRCModels.
They are fast turning heads with some beautifully produced models for an attainable price.
Mike Mueller
#205

My Feedback: (41)

Nice planes Zippy. The Focus sport is a plane I always thought highly of. I think it feel into the category of forgotten planes too quickly.
FWIW The Caelus is proving to be a good choice for many fliers not just budget minded.
There's no compromise in how it performs. I consider mine one of the best planes I've ever flown. I just love it. It just needed some trimming and it's been solid ever since.
We have let many top fliers test the plane and had nothing but praise for it's aerobatic prowess.
Mike
FWIW The Caelus is proving to be a good choice for many fliers not just budget minded.
There's no compromise in how it performs. I consider mine one of the best planes I've ever flown. I just love it. It just needed some trimming and it's been solid ever since.
We have let many top fliers test the plane and had nothing but praise for it's aerobatic prowess.
Mike
#206

My Feedback: (41)

Many of you know that TopRCModel has a new line of Warbirds that we import.
On many of the orders I've shipped out I've included a flier on the 3 models.
They are the 81" Spitfire:
The 93" Zero and the 89" P-51D.
All are composite and sold thru our sister company Gator-RC.com
You can take a look at the TopRCModel lineup at this site:
http://toprcmodel.com/
Here are our listings:
http://www.gator-rc.com/airplanes/warbird-rc-planes
The container arrives today.
Thanks for all your support.
Mike Mueller
On many of the orders I've shipped out I've included a flier on the 3 models.
They are the 81" Spitfire:
The 93" Zero and the 89" P-51D.
All are composite and sold thru our sister company Gator-RC.com
You can take a look at the TopRCModel lineup at this site:
http://toprcmodel.com/
Here are our listings:
http://www.gator-rc.com/airplanes/warbird-rc-planes
The container arrives today.
Thanks for all your support.
Mike Mueller
#209

I got maybe 7 or 8 flights on the Caelus today. Still moving the CG back. Now have it at the back of the canopy latch buttons. Rolling maneuvers much better, but still have a slight pull to the canopy on KE flight on right rudder, almost none on left. No loss of tracking/heading stability. Still carrying a touch of up trim on elevator. Looks like 3 things can get me to the finish line on this: Raise the wing incidence to maybe .9 degrees...at .7 now or keep moving the CG aft or the last method I don't know about...dropping both ailerons a bit. What worked for you?...TIA
Gary
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zyjLyBp64...Mike?...
Gary
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zyjLyBp64...Mike?...
Last edited by big_G; 11-16-2015 at 08:30 AM.
#210

My Feedback: (41)

Guys the new shipment of the Caelus V2 Lite's are scheduled to leave the factory in 3 weeks.
That puts us at a February 1st date for shipping to customers.
I'll be opening up sales in the way of taking a $550 50% deposit on the limited amount we are getting. Normally we ship via container along with the Warbirds.
On this shipment it will be via a smaller pallet on a container share bases.
http://www.f3aunlimited.com/50-depos...e-feb-1st-2016
If interested this is the link to the pre sale deposit.
Thanks, Mike Mueller
800 591 2875
That puts us at a February 1st date for shipping to customers.
I'll be opening up sales in the way of taking a $550 50% deposit on the limited amount we are getting. Normally we ship via container along with the Warbirds.
On this shipment it will be via a smaller pallet on a container share bases.
http://www.f3aunlimited.com/50-depos...e-feb-1st-2016
If interested this is the link to the pre sale deposit.
Thanks, Mike Mueller
800 591 2875
#211

My Feedback: (10)

Just pre-ordered the Caelus V2 Lite. Haven't had a Pattern plane in quite a few years. This should get the juices flowing again. Also bought the Himax 6330-210 motor for the business end. I bugged Mike a lot about this plane and he has answered all my question. Great guy to work with. Here is another plane from a few years back running an OS 120 AX. Just can't get over how great Pattern planes look now a days.
Last edited by Zippi; 01-17-2016 at 06:42 AM.
#212

Ok...a couple of questions for those that have some flight time on their Caelus: Flying the Intermediate schedule, I am coming down with 15-20% left in my Zippy compact 5,000 packs. (New packs and old, same performance). Vertical performance in 15-20 mph wind is marginal. Running a Hacker 28 pole motor, pulling 77 amps, (around 2,800 watts logged on a Castle HV80esc.) 22X12 PT carbon prop. Prior to this I ran a Jeti esc. Same marginal vertical performance. What set-up are you running that gives good performance and flight times? Are you running 5,000 ma. packs?.If running a 28 pole motor like my Hacker, what timing did you find was the best for flight time and performance?. Hacker wants 25*, but the Castle only allows 20* max. Flew today with 10*.
For comparison, my Vanquish with an old 14 pole Hi-max motor, same kv and prop, has much better performance and flight time. Does the Caelus have that much more drag that hurts performance?
For comparison, my Vanquish with an old 14 pole Hi-max motor, same kv and prop, has much better performance and flight time. Does the Caelus have that much more drag that hurts performance?
#213


Ok...a couple of questions for those that have some flight time on their Caelus: Flying the Intermediate schedule, I am coming down with 15-20% left in my Zippy compact 5,000 packs. (New packs and old, same performance). Vertical performance in 15-20 mph wind is marginal. Running a Hacker 28 pole motor, pulling 77 amps, (around 2,800 watts logged on a Castle HV80esc.) 22X12 PT carbon prop. Prior to this I ran a Jeti esc. Same marginal vertical performance. What set-up are you running that gives good performance and flight times? Are you running 5,000 ma. packs?.If running a 28 pole motor like my Hacker, what timing did you find was the best for flight time and performance?. Hacker wants 25*, but the Castle only allows 20* max. Flew today with 10*.
For comparison, my Vanquish with an old 14 pole Hi-max motor, same kv and prop, has much better performance and flight time. Does the Caelus have that much more drag that hurts performance?
For comparison, my Vanquish with an old 14 pole Hi-max motor, same kv and prop, has much better performance and flight time. Does the Caelus have that much more drag that hurts performance?
I am flying an Essence which is a larger airplane and have the same prop.(22x12 PT) It flys very well and the uplines are not fast but steady and constant speed.
I am using a Plettenberg Advance motor and Futaba MC9100A ESC. (OS 1100HV clone) This motor likes 15 degrees of timing which is less than I had originally. I ran the motor on the ground advancing the throttle slowly through medium throttle and there was some slight knocking so I reduced the timing until it stopped making that noise.
Two of us in the Tulsa area use the same setup and airplane and we are well satisfied with it using 5000mah Power Unlimited (F3A/U) packs. I fly Masters and the other guy flys FAI. We land with between 22 to 30% left in the battery.
The Vanquish is a completely different airplane and I don't think that is a good comparison with the Caelus.
I cannot tell a difference in performance due to the timing change but previously I had noticed some noise in the air under certain conditions.....doesn't do that anymore.
#216

My Feedback: (10)

While I'm waiting for the Caelus V2 Lite to come in I've been looking at threads about the braking issues with the Himax 6330-210 and Castle 80HV. This is the motor and ESC I have waiting to go into my Caelus. Are there still issues with this pair up and can someone share their ESC settings and prop size that works without issue. Thanks guys.
#222


I have used the Falcon 3 blade 20 x 12.5 too but the blade profile is quite a bit thinner in chord than the Mejlic.
I prefer the performance of the Mejzlik.
There is no problem with battery power or getting through the sequence with either of these props. As I said above....with 25 to 30% of battery remaining.
Of course if you just fly around not doing the sequence....it is easy to overfly the battery using almost any prop.
If the OP does not like the PT 22 x 12 he is really gonna hate any 3 blade.
As far as the Castle 80HV ESC in a Pattern application is concerned...my experience has been that.....I flew the first one for exactly 100 flights.
As mentioned...the braking was not adequate and at 30 or more braking it squealed or worse happened.
I had 3 of these....the first one was recalled...the second one failed when using 30 brake and I sold the third one NIB.
I changed to the OS 1100HV/Futaba MC9100A which are clone to each other available at RC Japan.
These units work great with no breaking issues or any other issues.
No dead spot just off of idle...no computer hassle to set up....I use 80 to 90 braking....these have made the ESC a non-issue.
Try either of these for Pattern and you'll never go back.
#223

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Join Date: Jan 2002
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22 x 12 is probably a little low on pitch and you will probably be happier with a 21 x 14. My favorite is the 21.5 x 13 but that is on a Neu which is a little stronger.
Lots of guys running that same motor and esc combo without issue.
Lots of guys running that same motor and esc combo without issue.