I had a glitch in the software....it's not freeware, it's the same forum software used for Flying Giants etc. Extremely powerful, but also extremely unforgiving about having the wrong box checked somewhere.

The main reason I'm password protecting the owner's forums and the team forums is not to hide anything, it's basically bandwidth. I have 8 gig a month and that's it. if I have to upgrade, the pricing jumps. Not a big deal, but I'm about to drop some large files on there and I can't have everyone downloading them just for the heck of it, I'd be shut down in one afternoon.

On another note, if anyone registers in those forums and doesn't use thier real name, you have to email me and let me know who you are if you want access to the owner's forums. I'm about to start adding content over the weekend so I'm keeping a close eye on the bandwidth.

-Mike

LOL the filter here filters out other forum names? Okaaaaayyyy.....

-M

Mike,

What are your feelings on lightening the cores for the fin and stab? Just a few round holes to core out the foam a little.

Also, sent you an e-mail about your CAA forum.

Pete

Got it.

Go for it, I don't think you'll save a lot of weight though, because the V2 tail cores aren't that heavy or large to begin with.

-Mike

Well i am beginnig to wonder if I am destined not to fly the Black Magic gasser in a competition. Today after some wierd engine issues I flew the plane and what I thought was a coupler that had come loose i found a broken (in half) custom aluminum header. Well this just ain't your off the shelf header and I don't know how long it will take me to get another. I have a few plans but I was hopeing to be in Andersonville on Saturday. Will see.

jon lowe had a problem with his headers breaking when he first started running the os. 1.6 his fix for the problem my work for you also!



gary

Thanks Gary I will try to talk to him. Karl wrote me back and may have me a new one by Friday. But still have the question why did it break?

Hey Mike, I would like to ask you how well does the plane slow down? Is it hard to slow down are it slows down very nice, I'm really starting to consider buying the Black Magic V2 or V3 because each picture I look at gives me a higher and higher feever to get one.

Thanks.: Matthew Liprie


_______________________________

TAKE OFF IS OPTIONAL, LANDING IS MANDATORY

Matt,

The v2 is a wide body plane and slows down very nicely. The v3 is almost sick it slows down so well. Downlines are really very nice with this plane. You can watch it next weekend in Houston. I'll have the prototype with me, and I heard from a little birdie that there will be multiple Black Magic sightings in Nederland later next month,

Arch

How bout this one?

The VF3 slows down better than the V2. The V2 slows well with a 4 stroke but with a 2 stroke, you have to pay attention with prop selection. Neither are really super fast, but the 3 is just so draggy it's crazy. Arch thought I was kidding about having to add power....LOL the down line drag on the 3 is pretty similar to a 40% plane. As in, they feel very similar in this respect.

If it's a choice from scratch, I'd say get a 3. One thing we found lately after having the opportunity to fly 2s and 3s side by side, is that the V2 and VF3 are similar, but very different planes. Each sort of excels at one thing or another, but both are fantastic. The VF3 DEFINITELY is the plane for FAI, but for the AMA sequences, it's really a toss up. I'm inclined to recommend the VF3 at this point all the way around, because I can't find any ill effects from the size. In fact, it handles the wind better than the V2. In fact, I think it handles the wind better than any plane I've ever seen....ever.

And yet, after flying Jon Lowe's V2.2 the other day, well..........there is still something about that plane. The "groove" that plane has is still ridiculously locked.

I really have to say, it's a personal preference at this point. But since you have to build either one, the VF3 is about twice as easy to build....maybe easier than that.

-Mike

By the looks of the rudder in the piture it dos'nt take much does it. I am still enjoying mine. My only problem is I shouldn't have installed the stab permatly. It wants to float on landing. have to give it down input until I did some throtle an elevator mixs.on final aproach I have a switch set for throtle landing speed an that puts down elevator an touch down, three point landing.

One other thing to note is that was a low speed knife edge...and notice the ailerons and elevator are both neutral

Knife edge loops with no correction, and about 1/3 stick. That's pretty cool.

-M

Hi

Can someone please tell me the size of the wing foam blocks, I seemed to have put my plans down some where

Thanks

Troy

Hi Mike,

Thinkin' about adding 1" to the height of the vertical stab on my BMv2, any opinions? I've already done the v2.2 mods.



Gene

Go ahead. I'm not really sure what you'd gain, but it's worth a try. You might change the rudder mix slightly and it would have more rudder for sure, but whether that's good or bad sorta depends on the pilot.

-Mike

PS Troy that is a 4" thick block for the wings.

Arch with the new Team Black Magic Mascot, "Little Mikey"

Hi Guys,

What sevos would you suggest for this AC. I know as fast and as strong as possible, but what is acceptable in terms of speed and torque.
Can somebody give sort of baseline requirements for the ailerons, elevators and rudder. (Got the throttle figured)

Regards
Attie

A few guidelines....

Aileron, 80+ in/oz.
Elevator, FAST...and if you use one servo, about 100 or so.
Rudder...all you can get.

-Mike

In my new V3 I'm running the following.

Futaba 9155 rudder 200+/- oz
Elevator 9254 with DEPS, 60 +/- oz, but .04 at 6.0v
Ailerons, 9154, the low profile aileron servos

Arch Stafford

Finally, some progress still tons to do. How many weeks untill the Nats? Checksix volunteered his spray gear and yard. Now that is a friend.

Just don't let the E.P.A. see the third piture. They would have a feild day with someone, HAHA.

Hi Mike,
Glad your feeling better. Was checking some notes and way back on the beginning you posted a wing incidence of +.25 degress. In Ryans set up it was a full degree positive. Why the big difference?

Anthony,

After flying Mike's designs, and playing with wing incidence, I would not go more than .25 degree on the wing. Bad things happen when you get a lot of incidence in these planes, the VF-3 ESPECIALLY. it stops tracking in all aspects. I would start with the .25 degrees and go from there.

See you at the NATS..You guys coming to St. Clairsville to practice?

Arch

I agree with that assessment.

The difference is personal set up and "feel". It depends on what you like the plane to do. I have noticed quite a few people like the feeling of a much higher wing incidence, for whatever reason. When Dean got that plane back, after trimming he ended up back at about .25+

So, it just depends. That's why I say start at .25+ and then adjust from there. Zero on the stab. You may end up with a hair of positive incidence on the stab by the time you're done. but within these parameters, the plane grooves NICE. And negative snaps are just SICK. That was the main reason I had it at .25+ last year, was because of the negative snap in advanced. Ryan was flying it mainly in P-07, and they have a 1.5 positive snap. Probably didn't have much to do with the difference, but I noticed when I got high on the incidence the negative snaps weren't nearly as nice and clean.

just food for thought.

Your plane is looking great by the way! See ya at muncie!!! (Or St Clairesville hopefully)

-Mike

When is the St. Clairesville get together (practice or whatever)? Is Arch driving up? I would love to meet you guys there and get a first hand look at the BMs and enjoy some flying.

Anthony