I have a Zlin EP - the website and the directions provide the following information but does NOT give the designed CG location. I have emailed multiple times and called, but no one has been able to provide me with the information. PLEASE HELP - I would rather not 'guess' as to the CG location.

Specifications:
Wing Span : 40 in / 1016 mm
Wing Area : 430 sq in / 28 sq.dm
Flying Weight : 45oz / 1300g
Fuselage Length : 31 in / 800 mm

Requirements:
Li - poly : 11.1V ; 1800-2200mah ; Propeller :9"x 6" ;
Out ranner Brushless Motor : 450T Speed ; Control:45AMP.

I'll get back to you on this one. It's not on the manual. Contacted the manufacturer.

John
Nitro Planes

CG is is 58mm/2.28in from leading edge.

John
Nitro Planes

Thanks for the information - I had attempted to figure out the appropriate CG using a couple of different CG Calculators/Formulas. What I came up with was close to that, though if I had used that CG I would have likely been a few mm nose heavy (not necessarily a bad thing).

While on the subject of the Zlin - the manual says that the flying weight is 45 OZ - that is WAY off. Mine, completed, is 21.2 oz (w/o battery) and 27.25 oz with a 3S 2250 mAh lipo.

You might want to consider updating the website and including a correction with the model. I would guess that most people would appreciate having the correct information as they plan for what power to install. I found it a little confusing as the motor mount restrict your brushless motor selection to no more than 29 mm in diameter - making it nearly impossible to have sufficient power if your figuring on a 45 oz plane. Even at 27.25 oz it is difficult to find sufficient power for the aerobatics the plane is capable of.

I had the same problem trying to get the servo wires throught he wing. Ultimately, it was a fairly easy fix to cut an access opening, run the wires and then glue back in position. While an easy fix, it is a really stupid design flaw. In addition, thy must know of it by now and coul quite easily give a headsup to buyers that they will encounter the problem and how to fix it. I spent an unreasonable amount of time trying to get teh wires through until I realized it was their error.

I was able to open the area immediately forward of the access hole, an area that stays hidden when the wing is installed.

I have a fleet which includes a number of Nitro Planes - I am learning there are no perfect manufacturers - every model presents it own challenges.

While I am on my soap box, the motor mount so seriously restrcits the size of the motor (no more than 28 or 29 mm diameter) that it is difficult to power it properly so that I can take advantage of its aerobatic potential.

I was able to get access with one rectangular access - then I glued backer blocks to the inside and glued the panel back over the opening - you canhardly tell that the hole was made.

Good luck with your model.

What did you put in it for motor?

That is exactly what I was planning to do - I had an Exceed RC Alpha 480 brushless in but it barely powers enough to make it a scale flyer - aerobatics would be out of the question. i think I will follow your lead and transform the motor mount.

Thanks for the photos.

This is hardly a problem with the plane, and more a problem with an inexperienced builder.

You can use a pin to temporarily remove the connector pin inserts, pass the cable through, then place the connector pins back into the socket.

This is trivial.

You could have also merely resized the circular cutout a bit to avoid having to cut a hole into the wing.

This is not a problem.

opjose - your solution did not occur to me - I have only built 8 planes so far and hadn't encountered that issue before.

Could'nt re-size without cutting an access - which is obviously what I ended up doing.

Thanks for the tip on the connector pin inserts.

GP and E-flite are irrelevant.

I've seen many smaller models with tiny holes where you need to run wires through this way.

This is something that you can encounter with many planes.

It is not a big problem.

The provided instructions are what they are.... bad.

Some instruction manuals are posted on the web site so you can see this for yourself.

But these are not beginners planes, so this should not be an issue to the builder.

If you cannot deal with this kind of thing I'd advise you to pay more for something from GP or E-Flite... then come back to these planes after you have gained experience building ARF's and have learned the tricks and tips.

You should attempt these models only when you reach the point that the only thing you need are the C.G. measurements, and even then you can figure this out yourself.

This is typical of all asian arfs.

The provided instructions are about equal to most other Asian ARF's.

I'm sorry but I have a hard time understanding what you are trying to say in your prior post.

I realize that you are not an english speaker, and unfortunately I do not know Russian.

I do not know what you mean by "corners".

Do you mean "wing incidence"?

Or are you referring to the "wing root"? ( where the wing joins the fuselage ).

Thank you the picture helps.

I wish I spoke Russian.

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The wings are glued together as it appears you have already done.

At the front of the wings are either woodend ( or metal ) rods sometimes called "dowels", or a piece of hard wood.

This gets inserted into the cutout at the bottom front where the wings go.


The proper angle of the wings to the fuselage is established by the "wing saddle" and the rear wing hold-down bolts.


The "wing saddle" is where the wings contact the length of the fuselage.

Drill the mount holes in the wing and put your bolts through this hole. This will PULL the wings torwards the fuselage and establish the proper wing incidence.

When you are done you will find that it will be less than what you have in the picture.


Please try to get help from someone a bit more experienced if you can.

This kind of thing is obvious to people that have put together many almost ready to fly airplanes, but it can be very confusing to someone just starting out.

Best of luck!

If you are having problems getting things to line up, use the "wing saddle" as a reference.

The "wing saddle" is where the wings contact the fuselage along it's length.

Try to get a good fit between the wing and this area. A small gap is OK.

If you can get the wing to line up with the saddle area ( the curved part of the fuselage where the wing contacts it ) the incidence will be correct.



When I finish the plane I will put "wing saddle tape" on this area to seal the gaps and prevent fuel from getting in.

I don't quite understand why you have the rod and balsa above the wing?

The wing should sit against the curve of the fuselage, which the rod and balsa is preventing.

This will get the wing to sit with it's leading edge higher than the rear of the wing, producing a positive angle of attack.

In the air the wing will fly more level due to the angle of the tail plane ( stabilizer ).

Please look at this thread:

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5541895/mpage_1/key_Zlin/tm.htm]Click me![/link] <--- CLICK ON THIS!

hello, I am about to order this bird, but The specs do not tell you if it comes with servos, or what type of servos do you need, and laso if you know if a Power 10 electric motor will be a good choice?