RE: Impact
 

Yes diagrams would be nice but too late now. I already stuck the hatch pins and hooks in, they seem to work ok.

RE: Impact
 

Ordered mine today! Will be my first F3A model so looking forward to it!

Will be going down the electric route - probably with the Hacker C50. Lots to learn about batteries/motors now - any good sites that explain them in a nutshell?!

RE: Composite ARF Impact
 

I'm going with basically the same setup as "Fishgod". Mintor 170 with a 60mm rise header and 8411SA / 9411SA servos. My questions is in regards to the engine mount. The manual states:

"We recommend a Hyde mount without nose ring. Mount the engine on the Hyde mount according to the instructions of the Hyde Mount System. Trail fit the Hyde mount to the firewall".
In looking at the mounts that Merle offers, only the "A" series is recommended for use without any sort of nose ring, but naturally it's just about the heaviest mount according to his specs. All of the rest of his mounts either recommend the use of a "customer installed nose ring" or have their own integrated nose ring (ARI, ARIA, ARIS..etc)

Is there some reason that the integrated nose rings wont work well with this ship ???

Bill

RE: Impact
 

I have an integrated nose ring mount and an Impact, it looks like the integrated nose ring mount will work fine. The kit has a former that can be modified for a nosering also however, using that it might be a little lighter.

RE: Impact
 

Bill,
I am running the ARIAS mount for the 170. It works fine but I did replace the firewall that came with the impact. I used a piece of 1/4in carbon; end grain balsa. The carbon; 1/8in ply firewall had some flex to it. If I were to do it again I would probably go with the AR mount and a fuse mounted nose ring. My ARIAS mount has alot of movement when you grab onto the spinner/prop. I haven't contacted Merel yet about it but I am going to. The kit does come with a carbon/ply piece to use for a nose ring.

RE: Impact
 

Thanks Guy's,

I'd really like to go with the integrated Nose ring for simplicity sake if I could, but If I can get it lighter and a little stiffer via another method, I'll pursue that avenue as well. Does anyone have any pics of their Impact engine installations ??? I'm also considering the way the engine was mounted by the guys on that German website link that was referenced earlier in this thread.

Bill

RE: Impact
 

How about wing adjusters ? Has anyone installed them with thier Impact ?? If so which ones are you using, and how did you install them ??

Bill

RE: Impact
 

I added wing adjusters, just now assemblying though. I added the adjusters just forward of the location of the stock anti rotation pin.

RE: Impact
 

BYoung,

Do you have any photos of your adjuster installation? Did you mount tail and wing adjusters?

I got my Impact today and will be starting on it soon.

Thanks,
Mark

RE: Impact
 

You guys make sure to post some photo's !!! My crate doesnt arrive in the US till the 25th so I probably wont see mine til the 2nd week in november, but I'd like to get a head start on gathering up everything I need in advance, and knowing what to expect.

-Bill

RE: Impact
 

I didnt mount stab adjusters. Sorry dont have digicam so cant post pics.

For wing adjusters I cut a 1" square hard ply plate w/ slot to mount the adjuster and glued the adjuster to the plate. I used the stock rear anti rotation pin locations temporarlily to set the wing up which got it very close. Then I made a cardboard template that slipped over the wing tube to mark a radius back for the adjustable pin location and scribed lines on the wing and fuse. Poked a hole in the fuse on the radius line and then matched the slot on the plate for the wing adjuster pin. Added some balsa to the wing root to flush it with the root of the wing and put the adjustable locator socket in that. Then block the fuse up, zero the wing incidence to the nose, having sanded the inside of the fuse so the epoxy will stick, I glued the adjuster into the fuse using the socket on the wing to locate the adjuster in the fuse.

Setup as instructed I hear the plane wont need the adjusters, but I had a couple so I decided to use them.

FWIW: Be careful on the rudder post installation to be sure you get the rudder throw you want. For the rudder there is a rib at the approximate location of the rudder horn, if you use the phenolic horn supplied in the kit you can slot the rudder for installation on the bottom of that rib, on mine this rib was located about 55mm from the bottom of the rudder. Use care when drilling the leading edge of the rudder for the hinge points, maybe use a dremmel with a bur instead of a drill. If you install the chin cowl before the gear formers you will have better access to the alignment pins for the chin when gluing them in.

RE: Impact
 

Bill,

I've posted some photos of my kit parts etc on my site www.composite-arf.co.uk

Go to the Hints, Tips & Info section and click on the Impact Build Thread button.

Hope to keep the photos coming for those interested in this model.

Rgds,
Mark

RE: Composite ARF Impact
 

Someone should talk to their marketing people.... "Impact" for an airplane name... that is funny!

What's next the "Crater"


DP

RE: Impact
 

How about Xact:
[link=http://www.milehighwings.com/]www.milehighwings.com[/link]
It rhymes with Impact but is 2 letters shorter.
;)

RE: Impact
 

Thanks Mark,

I'll make sure to keep on eye on your "build thread" for hints and tips.

Bill

RE: Impact
 

After looking at pictures of the kit, it seems difficult to install the the aileron servos. Can anyone tell us how its done? Also, would it be easy to intall an MK bellcrank for the elevators? Otherwise, what elevator pushrod system can be installed if using only one elevator servo? Thanks.

RE: Impact
 

Builders of composites such as gliders etc. are pretty familiar with the installation of servos in this type of wing. Composites (hollow skinned wings etc.) seem relatively new to pattern pilots.

You can fit and center the servo arm first. Then rotate it to one side. A piano wire tool helps to feed the lead into the servo hole and back up again. A wooden rod allows you to push the servo into the location.

The screws are realatively easy to insert. I extend my wrenches using K&S tubing taped to the handle. It helps if they are magnetised. It is also easier to use socket-head screws.

Then switch on the servo and the arm comes out of the wing allowing you to fit the clevice.

It is not a bad idea to make a fastener/notch to keep the servo lead at the root end of the wing to save you fishing it out all of the time.

Regards,

Eric.

RE: Impact
 

To mount my servos I made a screwdriver from an arrow shaft and a phillips screwdriver bit. I then put a piece of fuel tubing on the driver and used it to get the servos in place. Pretty easy to make and I keep it around because you are not going to get to them with any pre-manufactured screwdriver. Also when you ordering parts for the Impact and your not using JR servos, make sure you buy a package of JR servo screws. The holes for mounting the aileron servos are pre-milled in the wing and Futaba or Hitec screws are to small.

RE: Impact
 

Or you could just buy a "Ship-in-a-bottle kit and practice before you attempt servos ...... :-) :-)

It not be a big thing, but I really like having the arc of the servo-arm in the same plane as the aileron-horn. By screwing the servo to a center rib you avoid making a big hole in the surface of the wing to allow you to lay the servo flat. A foam-core wing does not let you do this very easily. On the other hand a hollow wing lets you do a whole bunch of things differently.

It is so exciting to see how other minds do things different...

Eric.

RE: Impact
 

I just received my Impact a few days ago and began this week to work on the kit.
I'm really surprised to read here that the Impact kit is very similar in quality to the PL Prod and ZN kits....
It's true when you open the box, but does any body checked the alignements, the former ribs, the tail post size, the right wing twisted, the tubes in the stab not parallels, the carbons tubes ready to sand....
I would like to see how does it fly when mouting the plane according to the marks on the fuselage....
The engine cowl and canopy are really heavy, and the wheels pants are twice the weight of a ZN line pair painted...
After a sanding and adjusting day, the kit appears as it should be straight out of the box...
The kit is cheap compare to French PL or Zn, but you get what you pay for.....except the building instructions missing.
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RE: Impact
 

A vue of the impact in level flight, wing 0.25°, stab 0°

RE: Impact
 

Good value for the money I think is the answer. I think the surface finish quality is what is described, I understand the PL and ZN Line kits are lighter but for this level of completion you pay almost double......I think....... Havent Invested in the PL or ZN stuff yet.....

Are you sure that wing is at .25 degree....looks more like .3 to me..... :D

RE: Impact
 

J-P
It may be true the the ZN/PL kits are a bit lighter. My fuselage with pipe tunnel, canopy, and chin cowl weighed 27 oz. At the cost of $1400.00 delivered to my door for a kit verses $998.00 delivered to my door for a fully painted Impact there is not much of a contest. My Impact ready to fly came in at 9.85 lbs. There is little to no roll or pitch coupling. A very true flying plane. Granted I am a only fly AMA 402 but the plane is capable of any sequnce. I have had some very talented flyers put the plane through P05 and are very impressed. If I were a Christophe, Jason, or a Quique I might be able to tell the difference between the kits and how thy fly. For me, an all composite plane that flys true, is fairly easy to assemble, and inexpensive is a big plus to our hobby.

RE: Impact
 

The weight is not the problem.
PL an ZN Kits are straights.
What do you want to do with a twisted wing... the right wing trailing edge is 3 mm lower than the left one
This wing should be returned, but as it's a molded wing, the others have a good chance to be twisted too....
Up to you to get a good finished aspect airplane if you don't plan to fly with the airplane( in Masters or FAI)

RE: Impact
 

I suppose that is true. If the wings are coming from the same sets of molds there is a very good chance that the rest of them are coming out twisted. I am carring approx 1/16th of an inch right aileron trim.