Thanks Arch,
What happens when wings get heavy and what would constitute Heavy?
Rick

I would start getting concerned at 15oz or above. The plane will wind up much more in snaps. It doesnt take a lot either. I know Mike Wingo glassed and painted his and they came in at about the same weight as mine and Dean's, maybe even a little less.

Arch

16 oz and over is heavy for a black magic.




don't know why there are attachments to this post.... I tried to delate these but something is screwy with RCU......

Yep, 16 is the heavy point. 15 and under is fine, anything much over that, you're going to feel it in snaps and spin exits.

Speaking of weight, I have to say after messing with these for a few years now, screw conventional wisdom and I am about to commit heresy....IMHO this plane flies better/easier at 10.5+ than it does at 10 or less. It's a BIG plane and the wind can kick it around if it gets too light, it's just a feel thing. Mine is too light for my taste. I am about to put some lead on the wing tube or something. Dean's and the Wingo's planes are between 10.5-10.75 and watching them last weekend in the gale force crosswinds in Ocala was pretty convincing to me. They just seem to ignore the wind and don't get kicked around as much. And as far as I can tell by flying them, they don't suffer any ill effects from being a few ounces heavier than what is considered "light".

Also I recently installed a YS 170 (finally). WOW....that is THE engine for this plane if you want to feel something spectacular. I have been in love with the DZ 160 for a long time ad as usual for me, I'm hesitant to change when something is working well. Now I wonder why I waited. In my opinion the sweetness is the ability to turn the 18.1x11 prop the same RPM as the 160 turned the 18.1x10 and the added prop pitch really smooths things out for me. The nice thing is, it slows down just as well. I'm also running the venturi and the smoothness of the throttle off idle is amazing.

This spring I am building one of these for myself and will probably do the build here as well. I am shooting for 10lbs 10 ounces all paint. YS 170 for power, servos to be determined. Aftr building over 20 of these things, it's time I had one that I actually built for me [8D]

Also I am currently putting the finishing touches on a matched pair of electrics and I will post some pics of the installation as well. The E versions are slightly different, and there are lots of ways to skin that cat. I'll show you what I do.

Heck of a good start to 2009 so far!

-Mike

Dude - about time

Ya Mike I will have to agree with you on the whole weight issue for the Black Magic VF3.

After having to fly this particular plane all weekend (Rail Mount broke on my plane) I saw a big difference in the way the plane handled the wind. the plane still crabbed as it should have. but you just needed a little more power for your baseline. thats the complete opposite for my 10lb 13oz Black Magic where little throttle is needed to keep heading.

Also, just to let everyone know the Anhedrals IMHO are a must have for the VF3. the Stabs just smooth out alot of things specially inverted. I couldnt believe how smooth my 6-sided outside loop at the bottom was. they made it easier to set an inverted line " AND KEEP IT"

But thanks again Mike for allowing me to fly your plane this whole weekend. wish I could have done better for ya on saturday. but towards the end of the contest on sunday you could see I started to get the hang of it.

Thanks, Chris

Hi Mike,

I for one will be very interested to see what you do with the electrics... I'm yet to start my one but I do have all the bits. Just need to make my foam cutter and finish my fuse jig and most importantly make time.... Too many distractions with other models etc.

Cheers
Jason.

Uncle Larry requested some fuse detail pics- he is finally starting his own build, he might be getting stuff done tonight even ....

I thought this might also help others with the build. My fuse here as you see it is 18.1 oz. built for a DZ...

Hey thanks Dean, but turn the fuse over and let me see the bottom at the firewall. I seems that Chris's plane has 1/4" stock at the bottom of the fuse sides and for the floor support at fuse doubler just behind the firewall. I know once I get an understanding how it should fit and look, I'll wizz right through them.

And by the way Mike and Dean, that balsa striper is the cat's meow!

Larry

Which balsa stripper?

LLD

That looks way to easy,..it's like cheating! Larry you can hammer those out in no time.




Bill H.

Advantage Hobby & Fliton Field Rep/Duralite Batteries/Custome Airframes of America/ Dragon Fire Custom Graphics/ Guardian America.

Hey Larry....

here you go buddy. You should be able to get this much done over this weekend - no correction - YOU MUST GET THIS MUCH DONE THIS WEEKEND......

motivate - motivate - go larry go !!!!!!

y - o - u c - a - n do it !!!!

dude if you lived here - I'd have it built already

go larry go !!!!!!




oh uncle koolaide - ARE YOU DONE YET ??????


Can't wait to Lakeland - isn't that the "Koolaid Invitational"

Now that graphic would look good on my plane! Seriously,....take the lakeland 2009 out of it I'll put it on the planes!



Bill Holsten

Advantage Hobby & Fliton Field Rep/Duralite Batteries/Custome Airframes of America/ Dragon Fire Custom Graphics/ Guardian America.

OH YEA !!!!!!!!!


Dude you are so on the TEAM !!!

Welcome Bill !!!!!

Right on Dean!


Call you later or PM about getting some of those from you.[8D]





Bill Holsten

Advantage Hobby & Fliton Field Rep/Duralite Batteries/Custome Airframes of America/ Dragon Fire Custom Graphics/ Guardian America.

Good grief, kids. LOL!

But, shouldn't it be DRINK the Koolaid?

-M

You have a good point their Mike,..LOL!


Hey Dean,...what Mike said!


Bill Holsten

Advantage Hobby & Fliton Field Rep/Duralite Batteries/Custome Airframes of America/ Dragon Fire Custom Graphics/ Guardian America.

Go to You tube and search - Dane Cook's Not So Kool-Aid

I don't want to post the actual link as it contains some adult language - it's over there on youtube....

very funny.........

Ok Dean,

I got this morning and put the rest of the 1/4" stock on the sides and all the doublers on one side. I'll do the other side when I get home tonight and get the crutch together too.

Larry "Uncle Kool-aid" - Gandolph
Team Black Magic and so on

PS: Nonfocus Division is out

Hey old BOPOD said we are going to have to change the name to "The Sandy Bunz Invotational". Long story and I'll post his e-mail for the reason why.

Larry

May YS170 has arrived,...I can fly this weekend!


Bill Holsten


Advantage Hobby & Fliton Field Rep/Duralite Batteries/Custome Airframes of America/ Dragon Fire Custom Graphics/ Guardian America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLxTpsIVzzo


I know, I just can't help myself......

Thats' Kewl!!!!!!!!!!



Bill Holsten

Advantage Hobby & Fliton Field Rep/Duralite Batteries/Custome Airframes of America/ Dragon Fire Custom Graphics/ Guardian America. Proud supporter of YS Parts & Service.

okay here is the official team koolaid logo

Dean send that to me in an e-mail so I can cut a paint mask....