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Roberto,

I was asked by Mike Hester the owner of Custom Airframes to take the site down. Mike has health issues and was not able to take any more orders. If and when this passes and the kits become available again I will be sure to contact you if you would be kind enough to PM me your contact info.

Thanks.
Pete

I'm very sorry for Mike's health.
I wish all the best for him and his family. Thank for the info.

Hi Pete,

Is the forum still running?

There is a lot of valuable info there that would be a shame to lose. I would be happy to host the bulletin board if you/Mike are prepared to make it available.

Regards
Grant

The forum is down too and it looks like the hosting account is deactivated. The good news is that there are still quite a few of us around to answer questions.

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So this past Spring I ejected a 10S pack from my VF3E due to not being able to get my straps secured well enough. I got the plane back in one piece, well there was that hole between the firewall and F1. Here is my modification, I opened the plane up from the firewall to the turtledeck an made a plug and mold for a new canopy. New canopy came out of the mold at 70 grams.

now with pictures.

Hi Petec.  I understand that Mike Hester is not operating Custom Airframes anymore.  Do you know if plans are still available anywhere either for the Black Magic V2 or V3 as I am pretty keen to do a scratch build? 

Thanks

Dan

Here is another Black Magic kit producer.
<a target="_blank" href="http://midatlanticairframes.com/prestashop/">
midatlanticairframes.com/prestashop/</a><br type="_moz" />

Anybody know how far forward the battery tray needs to be?

I believe i would try and place the tray as far forward as possible.

best thing to do is to place your equipment in the airframe and "dry balance" before you attach a tray permanently

Chuck

You will need well in front of the wing tube.

Arch

The battery tray typically is the fuse floor between the landing gear plate and the firewall. On my one VF3 that was converted from glow, the firewall needed to be opened up to allow moving the batteries forward due to weight behind the CG. I can only attribute that to the weight of the balsa used as the electric only version is less forgiving at the scales than the glow version if you don't mind your grams.

Excuse me for being a dummy; but if the batteries go up aganist the firewall; how do I get a strap around them and the tray? Mine is a V3e.

Bring a small child to fly with you.

or... have the strap attach in the chin cowl area.

Good luck

Chuck

Hence the "ejected my pack" which made me mod the thing. I would use a threaded rod coming up between the packs with a cross bar and a wing nut with velcro on the floor and the packs.

Me thinks its time to put the whole thing together and see where its at CG wise. I used very light wood in the tail.

I like the wing nut idea. I'm also thinking of making the fore deck removable.

I made a new canopy mold for mine and if you look up a few posts you'll see the pics.

Pete, how and from what material did you make the plug? From the original canopy?

Is the new canopy made from 3-oz fiberglass cloth?

The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of making a new canopy for the Spark, what with the original weighing more than 200 grams. MattK has given me some pointers re: FG cloth and laminating epoxy.

Yours should look great after you frame it and paint it! Good work!!

The plug was made from the original canopy and front section of the fuse and a lot of filling and sanding. I used 1oz cloth and laminating resin for the new canopy and it came out light. 70 grams without framing and I'll get you a weight in primer with framing tonight. If you want just email me number to reach you at and we can chat about it.

Ok,...

How many of you have converted a VF3 from glow to EP? I have one that is EP already and my primary plane is still YS 170 powered?

What I am asking for specifically is the firewall and the mounting of the stock VF3 EP mount extension (which I need), unless someone makes a great light weight mount like a Hyde mount EP for a Pletty 30-10 or the new pletty. One that will match the firewall for the current YS mounts?

I know what I need to do to convert the rest of the plane.,..it weights 10lbs 2 onces dry. Any ideas, suggestions would be appreciated.


Thank's

Bill Holsten

Bill how does the Pletty mount? My VF3E didn't come with a mount so I made a CF mount for the Hacker A60 and the converted VF3 has an AXI that is on a plywood mount tied into the cowl. If the Pletty mounts from the back like a lot of outrunners I'd probably go with a plywood box mount like what is in Jason's pics. If it were me and I was going to build a mount it would be a lightweight plywood box mount and I would go wide at the firewall for the sides and top to create a trapezoid. This will give you a better resistance to side to side na rotational loads and well as allowing you to open up the center of the firewall.

Hope that makes sense.

Pete

Hey Pete,

Yeah the pletty mounts from the back. I was just wondering, if their was anything new out there for converting without all the hassel. My VF3 I bought from Joey Hayse in 09 was already converted. I will see if I can locate the EP firewall mounting kit somewhere? The EP version I have now had lenghty slits cut into the firewall ( vertically on each side) and the box slides into those slits and is re-enforced with triangle stock around the box.

Thanks for the information,..if anyone has the exact size tempelate on cadd or paper drawing I would greatly appreciate some help.


Thanks,


Bill

Bill,

Look at the link below. I used one of these with an AXI and a HXT outrunner on my glow conversion with good results.

http://www.espritmodel.com/universal...num-mount.aspx

I'm not sure if they have one for the Pletty, but you can get a generic plate and drill your own holes.

Rick