I just saw this thread. I have been following the Black Magic build thread. I am currently building a Black Magic with an MVVS 26 gasser. Current setup is Karl Mueller header with ES tuned pipe and Merle Hyde mount. The weight should be well below 11 lbs. Should be in the air in two weeks I am waiting on the Hyde mount. I will post results later.

I'll be very interested to see how you go bdbd.

if this setup works I'll probably be hitting up Mike to get a kit sent to me.

I do like the BM's.

Oooh you cheeky bugger!

Well I had some spare foam around after redoing the canopy: I mangled the last one trying to get right of the low-rider look.

So I carved a new one out of foam, which you can see in the photos.

I wanted to add an intake to keep the crankcase cool on the MVVS so I threw a chunk of foam on the top.

Then I threw a peice of stuff on the sides.

Now as a matter of aesthetics, what's better? squarish cheeks or rounded cheeks?

Considering this is an old ship, I think square cheeks might be out of place, what you think?

The pattern doledrums.

I'm at the stage where I really have to start making decisions about where things are going to live in the old old girl.

There's already servo trays installed, and I don't think I can be bothered moving things at this point so I'll just live with where everything else ends up.

Update. It is finished I am planning on a maiden flight tomorrow. Final weight 10lbs 14 oz. I can save another 3 oz by changing the li ion batteries for li poly. Will post flight report tomorrow.

WOOOOO!

First flight with the MVVS, at 10lb the plane's definetely in the right arena to perform, and she does, beautifully.

I think this has a lot to do with the designer more than the engine tho, I don't want for power, and it is suprisingly quiet, on a long pipe, and transitions quite nicely. Obviously there's not much change with the top end after about 50% open throttle, but it hauls...

...hard.

photo's later

Okay, time for photo's.

For those who are interested in what the plane is, it's a Zytec 2, it's an own design from one of our local boys, and I've gotta say it's a absolute winning flyer.

So pure.

It's been through a few owners and the previous owner set it up for a DZ and I think he may have rearranged the front end, hence all the cracking but that'll soon be fixed as I have plans for a respray some time soon.

Took off, 3 clicks of right aileron and a few clicks of up and she flys like she's on rails.

Coudn't be happier.

That's what it's all about
be happy

Oh trust me Dick, I'm happy as a pig in you know what.

There's a few things that I need to sort out before I'm totally happy.

But as is, she's a good ship with a strong engine.

I did notice that my MK mount moved, and gave me a whack of right thrust, so something to fix there.

That single color rudder irritates me too, as does the cracked cowling, but that's cosmetic.

Overall I'm glad I'm doing it this way, and I've got to say, it's quieter than I thought it would be.

saturday hurt.

Badly.

I'd been practicing fairly leisurely, working on the advanced schedule and decided to take a break to practice my snaps.

snap to the left, to the right, to the left, back across the field KE, roll over, snap to the left.... RRRIIIP! My port wing panel separated from the fuse, shortly followed by the starboard.

After that, I had a yellow lawn dart looking for a place to hit.


In the post mortem it was revealed the the wing joiner may have had a hairline crack lateraly and the wings flapping just opened it up

after taht it was just mess.

So now I have to perfectly fine wings (sans joiner) and tail. The radio seems to be ok but the retract servo is munched and the throttle servo is an electric motor with some electronics hanging off it. :O

Oh well, forward to the drawing board, and time to buy a carbon joiner methinks!

Never good to hear mate.

Just some food for thought, carbon is VERY sensitive to small nics and cuts, much more so than aluminium ( I assume the wing joiner was Al).
A small cut in aluminium will generally create a stress riser, however carbon is likely to propagate.
For a given weight, the carbon tube will be much stronger, however not more resistant to hangar rash.