Selftaught

Hi, I'm new so I hope I get this right.
For those who have built the Arrow, did you leave the thick leading edge as per plan or did you add a piece of half round leading edge stock to make it look and fly better.

Thank you,
Selftaught

hooaa

My Feedback: (1)

Hi,
I sanded the leading edges round except near the engine mounts where it was not possible to get them perfectly round. After the sanding process slight air gaps existedetween the sheeting and the nose strips. I then layed fiberglass cloth over the entire leading edge, including the sheeting and the tips. Now the edges are strong and will not likely dent easily during landing. It handles really well and its fun!

hooaa

My Feedback: (1)

SelTaught,
I forgot to mention that I also fiberglassed the balsa fins. I felt that if it tipped over during landing one of them might snap. It would be tough replacing one. While you are waiting for the epoxy resin to set up on the leading edges you can work on these.

Selftaught

Do you think my idea to add the atypical leading edge has merit?
Do you think it may fly better? I'm hoping that if the LE is thinner I may pick up some additional speed. I'll be using a YS 45 RE & pipe so I'll need every bit of efficient airfoil I can get as the Arrow is pretty thick. As this is my first speed plane I expect to follow up with a diamond dust eventually.
I like your idea of the fglass as dings would be a bad thing pretty quick.
And to add thin fglass to the LE & top of the fin is a good idea, too.
I would like to keep the additional weight down as much as possible though.
Thanks for your response.

Selftaught.

hooaa

My Feedback: (1)

I don't think that adding a half-round nose strip will produce a better significantly better airfoil. Only about 3 inches of the edge is less than round, but nearly so. When I get it out of the 'hanger' for flying this weekend I can take a closeup picture of that portion of the edge. Frankly, with a YS45RE you will have sufficient speed to train for your move up to a DD or Whiplash.
I use a K&B 6.5 FIRE with full pipe. I estimate the speed to be in the 130 mph range. If you are presently flying sport it will awake all of your senses real quick.

hooaa

My Feedback: (1)

I found pictures of the leading edge near the engine and an overall shot.

hooaa

My Feedback: (1)

and completed....

cabanestrut2002

the additional leading edge timber will not make any noticeable difference.
the laser arrow is a comparitively slow model against things like the magnum and diamond dust.
its just too fat and draggy to go really fast, probably 130 mph tops.
they build superbly well, i built mine stock, fantastic model to fly.

your name is self taught and these are your first few posts here, you dont have any trainers in your profile, i cant help but wonder if this is your first plane. if it is then dont try and fly it alone.
find a club and get a proper trainer, there is no way you will be able to teach youself with this plane!

Selftaught

Thanks for your concern Cabane, actually this is model number 10 or 12. I just found this site a few days ago after I did a search.
Never been to a website like this before so I don't know what profile your talking about.
I have several low and slow funfly types and a patternesque type or two but felt the need...for speed. I got this from a guy at the hobby shop I went to who wanted to sell it privately.
Went together easy as pie in two eves.
So just so I'm clear, some fglass on the le and bottom, and on the rudders.
I was hoping for more than 130 but it will be what it is.
Thank you for your response,
Selftaught.
Hmmf, I see the profile button is that the one your talking about?

cabanestrut2002

sorry if it was patronising, i see now that you know what you are doing, i had to check!

i didnt bother with any fibreglass, i tried 3 different high performance engines and the fastest i got was 130.
if i was to build another i would thin the wing section a bit, its so damned draggy!

have fun

Selftaught

No apoligy necessary, you were only looking out for my best interests (or your safety!)
What were the engines you used and on what nitro?

cabanestrut2002

first engine i tried was a irvine 46 with a mini pipe- very fast

then it was a os 45 fsr and full pipe-very fast

then a os 50 fsr and full pipe-very fast

all of these on 5 percent nitro.

remember that a certain aircraft can only fly so fastue to drag and this is a very draggy design, think of it as terminal velocity, like when you drop a stone from a building, it will speed up to a certain point and then carry on that same speed all the way to the ground.

i believe 130 is all you will get out of this model-thats still fast though

Selftaught

Thanks, that helps.
Did you always mount the engine on the top of the rails?
I have a rear intake that I'm considering but I'll have to raise it 1/4 inch to get it to clear the carb. The more I look at it the more I'm considering fglassing the firewall and mount. Looks like one good doink on the spinner will take it out, or crack it.
Your thoughts?
Thanks again,
Eldon.

cabanestrut2002

i was very lucky with this plane, never took a knock and i never had any trouble, if you make all you landings fairly good you will have no trouble. face the first former with 1/16th ply.

i built mine as stock with the engines on the rails, if you raise the engine there will not be any noticeable difference in thrustline.

one review in a british model mag had to cut into the sheeting to clear the silencer on a mds engine, i would rather raise the engine.

VoodooRay

I'm running my Arrow on an Irvine 53 and stock silencer. One little trick to get a bit more speed was to 1/4 inch triangled section balsa strip to the leading edge and sand it to a point (not rounded at all). Also, the 'launch grip' underneath was pivoted so that it self-retracted into the body. Didn't use any glass anywhere, all I ever seem to do is punchure the covering on the underneath.
Had a Rapier before this, no difference in flight characteristics or speed, could only get about 100+ from a power dive.


Had to test fly a Magnum, changed underpants twice and now trying to get hold of one...