frets24

My Feedback: (15)

That really rots. I'm sorry to hear of your mishap. Nice that HK has them for such a low price right now....I may just get a spare parts kit for myself. Hope you're back in the air soon.

RBean

I've been out of town working all week and will be home tomorrow. Hobby Kings site says the ARF was delivered today. I hope so. I'd like to get this plane back in the air. It won't take long to prepare the new wing and install the landing gear. Hope my cooling mods work. Don't know why not. Used this set up with the top scoop on two P-40s with DLE 20s. Neither had any problems. We will see.

RBean

I got the new wing on the Tony. Test flew today. Got in three flights. Only took one click of trim, so I guess the airframe parts are uniform. Engine ran great. I even flew throttled back and ran on ground after landing with no problems. I think my air ducts and baffels worked keeping the carb cool enough so there was no vapor lock. It's good to have the Tony back in the air. The next time I have the cowl off I'll take pictures of the duct work and baffles in case anyone else is considering putting a DLE 20 in one of these. I think mayb

frets24

My Feedback: (15)

Good news indeed. Glad to hear the DLE is behaving now. You are seriously making me jealous though...I haven't been flying in months. The few days I could have squeezed it in on a free day or early enough in the evening it's been really windy or raining.

Cheers!!

RBean

I've now got seven flights on the plane since I did my cowl mods. Here are some pictures. In addition to adding the two inlets above the spinner I opened up the cowl around the cylinder as you suggested.

dogshome

I must fly mine!

RBean

I thought I had my engine problems fixed, but after I opened up the cowl around the cylinder, it got worse. Three dead sticks out of three flight, always after I throttled back some to land. I figured the slower flight was at a higher angle of attack and the open areas on the bottom front just cause the hot air the pile up in the rear upper cowl area. So I filled in what I had cut out. Made a cowl flap, installed baffles so the air has to go out the cowl flap and in so doing go through the carb area. On the first flight the engine ran rich once in the air. Took several flights to get the engine retuned, both high and low needles. Running good now. Had seven flights today with no engine problems. Maybe I have it fixed this time??? What ever works. Next step if this didn't work was to remove pitts muffler and put stock carb on. This would entail removing a large section of cowl on the left side to clear the stock muffler. I didn't want to do that. Here are some pictures of the fix, at least on the outside.

frets24

My Feedback: (15)

Glad you were able to recover the deadsticks without damage. Sounds like you have the engine dialed in now as well. Nice work on the cowl remodeling.

dogshome

Been up a couple times between thunderstorms today. The RCGF15 is enough power to loop now on a 14*8 and she rips from a dive

I imagine the DL20 would make this little plane hurtle! Hope you get it sorted RBean. Quick question did you put a venturi on the carb and is there plenty of airspace behind the throat? Also did you put a tube/pipe on the metering cover?


It was flat clam today and I need to play with the flaps - our patch was sodden and full of moss - so a couple of nose-overs [:'(]

RBean

Dogshome, I tried the tube to the pump cover etc. No difference. I'm pretty sure it was vapor lock from the carb and fuel getting too hot over the pitts muffler. These DLE 20s have a special/different combustion chamber, give them more power but probably makes the exhaust even hotter. I had three more flights today. No engine problems. Total of 10 flights since my last mods. I really think I've got it sorted out. I even flew around, at altitude in case it quit, with gear and flaps down at about 1/4 throttle for a few minutes with no problems. This plane has plenty of power with the DLE 20. I have an RCGF 15 and I can tell you the DLE has a lot more power. Not unlimited vertical, but it will go straight up for a while. The weight has creeped up some with the cockpit and cowl work. Weighted at 10.4 lbs. Still flies great, take off and landings nice and slow.

RBean

I've got three more flights on the Tony. 15 flights since my cowl mods, a total of 60 flights on the plane. No engine problems in the last 15 flights so I think I have the cooling problems solved. When I have time I'll clean up and paint the cowling where I did the patch work.

frets24

My Feedback: (15)

It's always nice to take the plane home in the same shape you brought it to the field in. Good to hear that the DLE is acting properly as well. Sometimes these engines, gas or glo, can give you a fit trying to get them dialed in.

How are the wingspan retracts holding up?

dogshome

I've got my DLE20 run-in now in the Yellow Seagull Yak I have. Masses of power on a 16*8 - Vertical punch out from a hover and unlimited vertical. KE loops and umpteen vertical snaps and rolls going up. In the Hien it should really be going like a rocket!

Have you timed it/got any idea of the speed? I reckon mine is doing ~60MPH on the RCGF 15 and 14*7 prop (much less powerful engine).

RBean

frets24, the WingSpan retracts in the Zero are still holding up ok.

Dogshome, I don't know the speed. We had a guy at the club with a radar gun a few months ago, but this was before I had the Tony. It is not extremely fast but fast enough. I'm guessing 70 to 75 mph. Its vertical is good enough for about three rolls while going straight up. After that it is about done. Not unlimited vertical but still very good. I recommend the DLE 20 for this plane, but then the carb cooling becomes an issue. I'm surprised you didn't have these problems with the 15 as it has a pitts muffler and rear carb.

dogshome

The 15 does not put out anything like the power of the 20. Generating less heat I guess.

Vertical rolls are only an option after a dive - maybe 1! It loops from level flight in a reasonable radius (not huge) and has plenty for safe go-arounds or dodgy take-offs!



The moss on our field is causing problems for everyone at the minute. I have to take off in the pits when no-one else is around - that's the only hard part of the ground. Landing has to be dragged out as slow as possible and on a certain patch to avoid a nose-over. A big squidgy sponge. Even the helis have to be careful lifting off. Henseleit TD was up to the top of it's skids [:@] We have a veggie arrester hook The farmer is coming to spray it soon.

RBean

I imagine its hard to take off and land on a wet spong. I hope they get the field in better shape. Flying season will be over in a couple of months. Rain and wind, oh joy. Its time to move south.

frets24

My Feedback: (15)

Just not to Charlotte! (This week anyway)

Business has gotten a little slow due to the convention and the early to mid day weather has been perfect. So wouldn't you just know it....the only opportunity in months I've actually had time that I could go flying, there's a DHS/FAA restriction prohibiting ALL model and RC aircraft operation for a 50 mi radius of home


Back out to the shop.......

RBean

Of course you must be stopped. There is no tellling what kind of mayhem would result should you fly your plane. I suppose a terrorist who built a model with GPS guidance, etc. explosives and so forth and was all ready to go would cancel his attack because of the no-fly zone. Just like "gun free" zones stop criminals and nut cases from using guns.

dogshome

Scoop :-)

frets24

My Feedback: (15)

You made me grin!

RBean

I havn't had any engine outs in the air since my last cowl mods. However, after the first flight, if I start up without waiting at least 45 minutes when I start up and am taxiing out, it quits. Has done this repeatedly. Usually when I give it just a little power. Finally removed the pitts muffler and installed a straight pipe I made for the DLE 20. It was way too loud. But I got a baffel, I think from Troy Built models. It made a big difference. Not exactly quiet, but not as noisy. Solved all my running problems, getting that heater out of the cowl. Here are some pictures. I'll fill in the sides of the exit hole some as it does not need to be that big. Three flights today testing it out.

frets24

My Feedback: (15)

Your cowl has had quite the workout modification wise! Hopefully this will be the last go-round on getting the engine inconsistancies sorted.

RBean

No kidding. I think I've got it this time. I have another cowl in my spare parts collection (the whole AFR) I had to buy to get the wing that I destroyed, but I want to save it in case of further mishap. You never know.

dogshome

Something else is wrong. Absolutely zero (hah!) overheating with the RCGF 15cc in the Hien. The DLE 20 in the Yak has also had no trouble at all. Both have Pitts mufflers.

As long as the head has cooling air (which yours has), overheating should not be causing cuts.


The DLE20 is a little jewel (and I've had several gas engines) - something else is the cause of the cuts.

RBean

Dogshome, I don't know what else it could be. Removing the pitts muffler fixed all my engine problems. I have a DLE 20 in a P-40, fully enclosed with the same pitts muffler, but it has that scoop on top and a nice opening in the front and large exit. No problems with that one. Also the Yak has a radial cowl, so no problem getting air circulating through the cowl. I agree the DLE 20 is a jewell.