Txmustangflyer

As far as painting the struts...you could aleays pull the whole unit, mask, then paint with strut dtill installed..

But, you could also scribe a reverence mark on the strut that would still be visible after painting, and scribe a corresponding point on the block, then when you reinstall, just line them up.
I'd do the latter, painted or unpainted as a quick preflight check..S%$# happens, and the easier we can make it on ourselves to discover it happened before it becomes an issue, the more likely we are to see it.
a small drill bit or a center punch on light tension (spring loaded type) would put just enough if a mark in the metal that, even painted you'd still be able to find.

Dave Wilshere

Second Mig 17 arrived in England…
Same set up as mine.

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

I got some flights on my Mig17 last week. Very impressive model! Beautiful presence in the air!


I used the suggested CG of:CG is 29 cm forward of the TE at the root wing fillet. That’s about 3” behind the split of the fuselage.I think its very close to that or maybe a slight bit nose heavy there.
My throws are about 1" at the tip for aileron, 2.25" rudder, 1" on the elevator from the root.

I had one landing gear sticking on 2S so i tried 3S life and one would still stick. I ended up having to increase the amp cut off to 4.5 amps to get it to fully retract. I would suggest trying a 3S life and if you have any issues look into having the controller set to 4.5amps.
I ended up at 61.6 lbs wet with 3 smart 4000 and 1 smart 3200 with K235 turbine. build toward the back a bit as it needs no weight. my batteries are on the equipment tray.
Great flying model. I think its the most realistic model i have seen in the air. Very solid flying jet.
I was getting 7 minute flights with about a 1/3rd left in main tank. We were really hauling azz though. The plane is especially cool while flying fast!! lol. Ali said he was getting 9 minute flights with a K210 with wing tanks mounted.
I used a 2S for afterburner and lights and its plenty bright.
Im using a Powerbox SR2 and Cortex.
This was a Plug and Play and the Macgregor and Savox servos are actually really good. they felt great. No worries about those if you are considering PNP.
The plane has a tiny bit of over steer and need to see if I can improve that next. Not figured out why yet. very manageable but would lie to improve.
The Mig likes to land when its done flying so I think landing with some partial braking might make landings even more predictable.
Overall very happy. I think its the best CARF model to date.
Scott

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

throws

Airforce7

My Feedback: (31)

Thanks for sharing your flight report and setup Scott!

With 1" throws on the ailerons would you say the roll rate was pretty fast given the size and weight of the jet? Is your 1" throw a lower setting assuming you're using dual rates? After setting up my aileron servos my max travel is +/-30mm (+/-1.18").

Airforce7

My Feedback: (31)

My cockpit kit arrived today. I unwrapped everything and test fit my pilot to see how it looks in the seat and inside the tub. Quality of the kit and parts look great. Here are some photos...


Seated pilot

Pilot and seat inside the tub

Close up shot

View looking at instrument panel

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

I only fly with one rate. the ailerons are at 100%. roll rate was nice here. the airplane is big and will feel a little more soft. I increased elevators to 125%. they felt better here.
Scott

jackdiazccs

Thanks Scott.

Were you able to increase the cut off voltage at the field ? Is it something you can program on the controller ?

Jack Diaz

Dave Wilshere

Have you tried lubing the tie rod slider? On mine is was dry and tight.

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

the gear operated perfectly on ground so i did not check to lubricate. that might actually be the solution. we tried slower takeoff and applying brakes. the wheels are very large and have some momentum. Andreas plane has no issues so maybe i need to grease mine.
Greg Alderman happened to be at the event and changed the setting for me.
Scott

Dave Wilshere

Scott

When I first operated mine with the Electron manual controller the gear opened and closed OK, but I could hear the work it was doing. I added lube to the worm drive and that slider and I could hear the ‘load’ reduction. Maybe worth a try.

Dave

kimhey

Highly appreciated if you can check with Greg how he changed the amp settings. I have read the manual and searched the net to get this info. No luck so far

rhklenke

My Feedback: (24)

That depends on which gear controller they supplied with the gear (I'm not familiar with the CARF Mig kit, so I don't know what it is).

If its the Electron RB-45, then you would need a Xicoy GSU anyway to change it on that controller. If its the GS-200, there should be a menu screen where you can change the cutoff amp settings.

However, that is on the original Xicoy versions of these controllers... On the Electron versions, the cutoff amp adjustment is "locked out" at the factory. In discussing this with Gaspar, I was told that its not possible to change this. Being the USA dealer/importer, Greg might know the "secret handshake" to unlock those settings in the Electron controllers, but when I asked Gaspar, he said that he couldn't (or wouldn't) do it...

That is why I always get the gear without the controller and use the genuine Xicoy controller - which has more adjustability, including the cutoff current...

Bob

kimhey

Thank you, Bob. I have the GS200 from Electron, so I understand my amp adjustment is locked.

Dansy

My Feedback: (53)

Yes electron controller are locked, but if you have a landing gear from electron……talk to Adrián at electron…or Greg Alderman, because if it doesn’t work they will provide support..

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

I assume many of you have contacted Electron regarding my modification.
Ive been notified by Electron that changing the cut off voltage voids the manufacturer warranty and they strictly advice against.
my apologies. I did not realize this would be an issue. Please disregard. I wouldn't knowing promote any modification that would damage your gear or void the warranty. I thought it was a benign modification.

4.5A per output. This is a value we don't consider safe. The retract may operate but there's a high risk of damaging the motors easily because of the high current peaks. If the retract overheats a bit, it's possible that the controller will not cut power with that cut off amp level, and then the motor drive will burn.

A different solution is in the works.

Sincerest apologies.


The Mig17 is a fantastic model. The most advanced, well thought out, complete model I have ever bought. The PNP feature is the highest quality build, paint, finish I have ever owned bar none.

All of our EA models come with Electron retracts. They are the best in the business. They are the most reliable retracts I have ever owned. Issues are basically non existent.

I just wanted to give an accurate review of my experience and findings of my Mig17 and remedy to a small gear retraction issue. The gear almost retracted completely without mod. greasing as suggested above might improve as well.

Electron will provide a new solution.

Scott

kimhey

This Carf Mig-17 looks good, is well made and flies beautifully. The building process was quick and easy, especially for me, as I ordered the gear and doors done at Carf. I built my own cockpit from balsa/plywood and 3D printed parts/pilot. that was the most time consuming part of the whole process.

Jeti for control and Jetcat 250Pro for power. Yes, overpowered and I think anything from 180 will work just fine.

CB400, GS200, RX and rcswitch up front, under the small hatch. heavy cockpit with air operated canopy, resulted in 600 grams of lead in the tail (inside the longest tail fin carbon tube). The suggested CG, 29 cm from trailing edge root works fine. Might push it 5-10mm back.

Airforce7

My Feedback: (31)

Nice job on your MiG kimhey! I like how you kept it very clean and simple. Hope you're enjoying flying it.

Airforce7

My Feedback: (31)

Finally getting around to posting some shots of the servo install in the wings. Needed to sand the servo mounts a bit to fit my 8911 servos. My flaps will operate on XBUS while my aileron servos will plug into a standard PWM port on my receiver, which is the JR 16BPX -Hybrid- w/ 16 XBUS ports. This may be controversial, but I had to drill a hole in the wing former to get my aileron linkages to reach the horn. I managed to drill the hole big enough for the linkage to pass through without compromising the former. There is no workaround for this, the former must be drilled or notched for the linkage to reach the horn. I think CARF should consider a design change in this area for future kits. Currently working on mounting the nav light on the wing tips.


Left wing control surfaces removed

Left aileron mount

Left flap mount

Brass rod hinge removal point

Left aileron linkage 1

Left aileron linkage 2

Left aileron linage passthrough hole

Inside shot of the flap servo

Left flap servo (mounted) 1

Left flap servo (mounted) 2

Left flap horns and servo linkage

Drop tank mounting detail

Main gear door linkage

kimhey

Airforce7, I mounted the aileron servo arm pointing downwards instead, and that way I did not have to drill a hole in the spar.

Airforce7

My Feedback: (31)

Interesting. Can you post a picture or two of your setup? Thanks!

kimhey

will do, later today

kimhey

A club member recorded one of my flights today, and posted it on YT (not edited, so a bit long video). On another flight, max speed was 300,96 km/h (187 mph). That was without pushing for a speed record. But it is really the gentle low speed handling that impresses me. Very predictable.

kimhey

Airforce7, here are a few photos showing how I did the Ailerons. I made a new servo "bed", and epoxied that to the existing one.

Airforce7

My Feedback: (31)

Hey Kimhey, that's pretty clever, thanks for sharing! Also enjoyed watching your flight video, does look like slow flight characteristics are pretty good.