scudrunner77

I was thinking about giving my friend a speed 400 with a 6x3 CAM folding prop to try on his Gentle Lady. I know most 2m gliders us a 600 motor but I thought maybe this would be worth a try... Has anyone tried this set up?

Thanks

slopemeno

My Feedback: (2)

Maybe the worlds hottest speed 400....

Seriously, a gearbox and a 13"-somenthing prop will work, and the overall weight wont be much more than a stock GL, but the gearbox is key.

soarrich

My Feedback: (98)

I have a GL that had a cobalt speed 400 like motor, (ProMax?), with a 3.3 gearbox, it powered it ok. A 6v speed 400 with a 3.3 gearbox would work, but it wouldn't be a rocket. I have a 1.5m sailplane with a 3v speed 400, 6 to 1 gearbox, and a 14.5x9 prop for a LMR event that goes almost vertical, so like slopemeno said the gearbox IS the key.

My feeling is that the motor that can lift a sailplane as fast as a gentle thermal is fine. I don't understand why a sailplaner would even want a motor that will make a sailplane climb at a 30* angle. I have a 2m arf sailplane with a blown molded plastic fuse that has a can 550 motor, which I think is over powered, that I regularly get over one hour flights with, I usually land because I tired, not out of battery.

SquirlNutZipper

My Feedback: (9)

We'll if the GL's, Spirits and the like have been launching themselves for the last 20 years with only the help of a .049 surestart I don't see why a sp400 w/6x3 wouldn't do the job. A bit of extra weight with the 400 and required batteries though.

Smaller motors geared down and utilizing a slower, larger prop work best as we're going for thrust not speed. However, I could launch my Aspire with the stock setup just fine, 550 motor, 8x6 prop, 6c 1700mah batteries. You'd have to have some speed for launching but once up in the air I could hang for a very long time even with all that heavy gear.

Cheers,

Alex

scudrunner77

Thanks for the replies!

Hobby Lobby shows that most of their Speed 400 class motors with haul a 45oz glider around with a gearbox. So I guess that's the best way to go...

SquirlNutZipper- I'm more of a 1/2a guy and I was kind of wondering the same thing....If and 049 can do it I think this set up could. I'm not looking for stellar performance just want to get it up in the air. Maybe I would have a better chance of making it work with 9.6v or more??

SquirlNutZipper

My Feedback: (9)

Well I'm still 1/2a too, just the electric powered side of it now

GWS makes some very low cost gearboxes.

Yeah you'll need some volts to give the 400 enough rpm's to pull the bird with the smaller prop. If you want to keep this on the cheap I don't see why a sub-c 6-cell 9.6v pack with 15a speed controler wouldn't work just fine. If not I have the stock 550 can from my Omei you can pick up from me next week. I'm going to take a week or two off after the move so I'd be able meet you in town or drop it off at the hobby store if you like.

Are you going to be mounting this in the nose or on a pod?

I'm toying with the idea of using a 4:1 geared 200, 8x4 prop and a 7.2v/350mAh pack on my GP Spirit.

BMatthews

Watch out for the current on the S400's if you run higher voltages. They melt down quick if run at more than 9 to 10 amps for long.

Some big 2 cell lipo packs would keep the weight down nicely. Something like 1200 to 1800 mah?

Ralpho

I have an E-flite 400 Outrunner 720kv in a HEAVY Sig Riser and a folding Graupner 11X8 prop. I get 9 minute full throttle runs with 1500 3 cell Li-Poly Kokam Pack at about 9 amps. Good combo. Not great but adequate for most days.

Tall Paul

A 370-400 outrunner brushless with a 9x4.7 prop on a pod, 3C910 Lipo will haul a GL type all over the sky!
Easest way to not screw up the glider qualities of the plane.

scudrunner77

Tall Paul it's hard to see your gliders... can you brighted them up for me!

Seriously though... nice power pods. You do them yourself?

scudrunner77

SNZ- Thanks fot the offer! I might have a 550 laying around here somewhere too. The whole point about the 400 was that I have a folding prop for it, but I guess not the right size prop if I need a gearbox. I thought about making it a nose mount....

Thanks for the tip on the GWS gearboxes... I forgot about those.

I'll take a look at my 550, it might have a bent shaft.... and then I can get back to you on the offer for yours. I don't want to take something if I'm not sure I will use it.

So your moving up north??

Tall Paul

.
They're just seeable at altitude...
The pods use a 1/16" ply center support, with 1/4" balsa sides for some streamlining.
The upper part has the streamline shape with sheet balsa sanded to shape, and covered with Monokote.

SquirlNutZipper

My Feedback: (9)

Just got here a few hours ago. Girlfriends asleep but lucky me still awake from all that energy drink I injested. I'm pretty sure I packed the 550, well pretty sure in all the last minute rush. I'm not using it as I went totally brushless except for my CP heli so no worries, I won't get around to using it.

Have to finish setting up the shop tomorrow (Geez do I really have that many tools?) so I'll see what I missed, or not. And I also have to get my photography equipment in line. I do know I packed plenty of nose mounted prop assemblies so give me ring if you want. PM me and I'll send you my cell number.

On another note I did mount a 150 in the nose of my Spirit before leaving this weekend. Used a 4 to 1 gear reduction and a 9x6 folding prop. Not too bad, gave it and required radio gear to my brother as a going away gift as I learned on a sailplane myself. Used the 5amp esc and 7.4v 350mah battery from my doomed GWS Tiger Moth (another story in itself).

Looking to flying with you guys up here. Brought my Omei 2000ep, E-Flite Ascent and CP heli. I'm finding I like sailplanes and all out speed planes the best at the moment. The 1/2a shrike, Mustang and building wood are still down south but I'll get those in a couple weeks. Trying to figure out how I can show touch and go's with the sailplanes so I can be certified to fly at Flaming Geyser with no landing gear, uhm any ideas? I should make a call tomorrow and see if they'll make an exception. Did you hear the park fees are canceled!!! Oh, what good timing.

Cheers,

Alex

Tall Paul

These will ROG and touch and go...
There's a small bumper directly under the nose,and another under the wing at the c.g. that let them slide and take off..

scudrunner77

That's crazy... I would never have thought about trying that. I did see some footage (I think from Hobby Lobby) of a duct fan jet taking off from grass with no landing gear.

scudrunner77

SquirlNutZipper- A few weeks ago I got a hold of the folks at Flaming Geyser and they do let you fly anything now. I went there last Wednesday to do a solo checkout with one of my 1/2a planes but of course the engine would not fire up.[:@] Fooled with it for a 1/2 hr and then is started to rain. All the way home I thought about how to convert it to electric... [8D] But I really do like the smell of Nitro...

pcsketch

I had sucess with a simple setup Gental Lady with speed 400, 6X3 cox gray prop, and a 1500 6 cell car pack. Nice gental climb. Flight time 15 minutes on motor, lots more with lift. Weight 33 oz. I actually coverted my first Gental Lady in 97' Last conversion in 2002. Cheap, easy mods, flies like it's name Gental. But, I got 15 min motor run for looking for lift.

JHF just have fun

scudrunner77

Wow- Can't believe it's been almost two years since I was asking about doing this. Well last summer I did put a speed 400 with 6.3x3 folding prop on the Gentle Lady. Flew it with a two cell lipo... I guess it flew as expected. Very gentle climb... could have used more power for sure. Thanks for all the input.

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

what motor would i use to power a spirt 100? i want to use 3 cell lipo's

Johnmpa

I am in the process of upgrading my GP Spectra to a brushless motor - so far so good, but have not actually flown it yet. I am using the stock prop (may get a 11X6 folding prop off Ebay), NiMH 3500 8.4 V, 45AMP ESC, and a GP Ammo In-Runner 28-45-2100. I am getting the same RPM's as the stock set-up, but the in-runner motor sure gets HOT! I guess a geared set-up would help, but I want it to be direct drive. I ran the motor for a good 2-3 minutes at full throttle and no thermal shut-off. I have yet to balance it, so may have to add weight to nose as compared to the heavier stock brushed 600 motor. Can't wait to see it fly.

AWHTSNK

Bobt2

I have a Bird of Time 118" ARF. I installed an E-flite Power 10 (12 x 6 Top Flite Prop) on a Power Pod. A CC Thunderbird 56 with TP 2100 3S Battery completes the Power system. This set-up gets the "Bird" to soaring altitude in a very short time. Something to think about for the 100" Spirit

AWHTSNK