ghoffman

My Feedback: (3)

I got mine back with all the updates. Todd says I should expect some additional power, with some new porting, (wow, it was ballistic before!). I changed my throttle curve, firewall mounts, but the pipe/header system is perfect, so no changes (per recipe here). If the weather permits, it should be fun!

cmoulder

Matt,

Excellent work!

Your nose ring is a lot lighter and much less bulky than mine... What did you use to glue it to the cowl?

It's not too late in the season to maiden unusually mild weather for this time of the year.

MTK

Bob,

I carved and fitted a ring from lite ply. I epoxied it in the fuse nose, not the cowl. Ground the excess with a Dremmel drum.

The ring is a piece of 1/16" aircraft ply, laminated with glass cloth. 2 oz cloth 2 layers, ca'd in place, but epoxy would work the same.

Then a slit piece of neoprene tube was fitted inside it. The neoprene tube is not tight against the ring....the hole in the ply piece is oversized. This way the neoprene tube serves as shock absorber, even though there is little shock at that point; mostly rotation motion. I ca'd the neoprene tube to the nose ring.

Nose ring (the part that fits the engine) weighed around 5 grams. Nose ring mount (ring epoxied in the fuse) weighed maybe 10 grams including epoxy and blind nuts.

MTK

The plane to this point is missing pipe installation, landing gear, rudder servo, Rx and battery and IBEC. Can't hardly wait to get it DUNN.

Weight is under 8 pounds to this point, so my estimate of around or just over 10 Lbs, finished, should be very close.

RC11

My Feedback: (7)

Just tached 2 props. I recently purchased Todd's tach and tried it out. 18x10PN at 8600 and a 16.5x12w at 8900. WOW! On the ground, this knocks the socks off my OS160. More to come soon.
RC

RC11

My Feedback: (7)

Would it be possible to get lighten up the ignition module? Is the case necessary?
RC

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The case is a shield against RFI

MTK

This is probably doable. There are materials I have used in the past that are extremely lightweight that can be used to shield the CB. It is common practice to use aluminized or coppered mylar as shielding for hi speed data transmission cables for example. Would save at least 25% of the module's weight but would require someone with an O-Scope to do the necessary experimentation.

Some form of covering is necessary to shield the radio from the module's radio frequency intereference emissions.

BTW- with JR radios (2.4 gig) that use satellite Rxs, it's a good idea not to get any satellite within 6" of the module. More distance is better

NJRCFLYER2

My Feedback: (42)

It's best to leave it alone.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The contents of the ignition box are filled with epoxy. You cannot tamper or change anything about the device without destroying it.

NJRCFLYER2

My Feedback: (42)

No sense of adventure!

ghoffman

My Feedback: (3)

I got mine back today with all the updates. It started easily and ran great on the driveway at home. I am leaving the cowling off until I go fly it, since it has been 75 out and I know by the weekend it will be 40-50 and the mixture will change. The idle is so smooth at 1700 and it spools up the Xoar 18-8 laminated instantly. I should fly Saturday, weather permitting.

MTK

I'd hazard a guess to say that nobody has tried to shield the module with a much lighter alternative. Obviously that isn't a task for the casual observer....Wonder if RCExl has even considered it.

Epoxy potting has been around for many years. It is simple and cheap to do and that's the main reason fabricators use the medium. Nevertheless, foamed PolyU or foamed silicone rubber would be as effective at a fraction of the weight, in our specific application. Nobody has looked at alternatives I'd bet

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

You could get an old CH Synchro Spark ignition and replace the case with something lighter?

The CH has no potting material inside the aluminum case. They are not made any more.

They have a Deans plug going to the timing sensor but it can be changed to a Futaba. The sensors themselves are the same.

You can get a shielded CM-6 plug cap for installation on the CH unit from many different places.

NJRCFLYER2

My Feedback: (42)

These CDI cases are not as heavy as you might think. The potting material is where much of the weight is.

RC11

My Feedback: (7)

I think I'll be leaving things alone for now but I'm glad to see the interest. Maybe a supplier will think about manufacturing a lighter module. The market is there and that what drives this stuff. A lighter module might be money well spent. We pay big bucks to save weight. What say you Ed?
Thanks,
RC

NJRCFLYER2

My Feedback: (42)

No plans for this at this time.

ghoffman

My Feedback: (3)

it is not the weight for me it is the size. On a 50cc Extra, who cares, but on a smaller gasser profile 3D plane it is cumbersome and it can get smaller, check out the empty space inside:

MTK

Aesthesis flew her maiden today. The SAP 180 HP is just too danged light....Aesthesis is a tad tail heavy. Originally intended for the ZDZ40, she was set-up accordingly. Need figure out how to put nose weight in and not add any extra weight.

Anyway, she came in at 9 lbs 24 ozs on the nose. The SAP has no problem hauling this bird around.

Have a little trimming to do which is normal, but first feel is very positive. I am pleased! A little disappointed at her tail heaviness but pleased overall. Here are a few photos from the too windy session this morning

Joystick TX

Fantastic looking plane. Looks like your four years of work paid off.

Hopefully you can move some of the "heavy" stuff forward to take care of the tail heavy problem. I love the new light weight batteries, but it is discouraging when moving them fore or aft makes very little difference. We have come a long way from the days of the 2-1/2 pounds of radio gear.

ghoffman

My Feedback: (3)

Definitely, nicest plane I have seen, awesome! It was way too windy yesterday, up to 29 knots here.

rcpattern

My Feedback: (45)

Very nice Matt. Can't wait to see it in person.

Arch

MTK

Steve and all,

Thank you. I have a 3000ma lipo that I will place right behind the firewall. It adds about 2 ozs to the weight of the current set-up. That will enable me to fly all weekend on one charge. At least it won't be dead weight.

Not much I can do to lighten the tail....stab is about as light as I can build. I may have a little more latitude with rudder, making it smaller. But won't know whether a smaller rudder is feasible until I get some more flying under her wings.

cmoulder

Matt, MEGA KUDOs!

Astonishing final number on the weight.

Guess you won't have to hack the ignition box. ;-)

MTK

Thanks Bob. No, not anytime soon. I mean, it is possible to reduce the module weight. Question is how much?

Electronics don't weigh much. Quite a bit of weight is in the potting epoxy and in the case, so by changing materials here, some reduction could be realized. I estimate no more than one ounce (about 25%). The spark plug cable is the heaviest single part of the whole module and there isn't much that can done to it.

BTW- I had a small issue with very rich running when upright. I think it was because my tank was set high up. I have room to drop it a couple inches.