zrooster

That's great! Saw your request for a replacement cowling on the FB page. Can't believe the guy let it go for $80! Where'd you end up getting the replacement cowling?

As for the weight, it's good that you got it down that low, but I would caution you to make absolutely sure you've got the CG right, and I would recommend balancing it around the 120mm mark.

Also, some have mentioned that strapping your weight directly to your engine can cause your mounts to fail. I don't have any experience with this, but it's something to consider.

ledgehunter

Agreed, $80!!!! Has to be the deal of the year... Wow.

That is quite a fire it started. Do you happen to know what his electric set up was?

sonds like you have the weight figured out now. Go fly and enjoy it.

larryg1959

Originally Joe just gave me the plane. He thought about it for a minute and gave me the option of returning the (4) $40 servos in the wing or giving him $20 bucks a piece for them. I just gave him the $80 bucks for the servos. Joe was so disgusted with the plane he left the motor in it and two of the three 5 cell lipos he was using. The lipos did not burn at all, they just got black from the smoke...he said the motor may still work also but I haven't tested it

larryg1959

Got the replacement Cowl from TopRC...Cost me $70 bucks with shipping....Joe basically wanted his (4) wing servos or he gave me the option of giving him $20 bucks a piece for them. They are $40 servos. I'm sticking to recommended CG from the manual..130mm for now. I may consider moving the nose weight. I had concerns about where I placed it. I have room just behind the muffler under the engine firewall

ledgehunter

When do you think you will maiden it? Good luck and let us know how it goes!

zrooster

You got it directly from TOP RC? Reason I'm asking is I'd like to have a spare on hand...also may go with a different (heavier) engine option later. I also need to replace one of my "cannon" barrels...the tip was ground down when it nosed over on the maiden (hard landing=bent gear=nose over=damaged gun barrel).

Don't understand why he was disgusted with the plane, but it worked out for you!

zrooster

As for CG, mine was tail heavy on the maiden. I may have inadvertently been slightly aft of 130, but in order to err on the safe side, I'm rebalancing at 120 for the next flight. That's why I recommend forward of 130. Maybe I was aft of 130, maybe I wasn't. I'm not going to take the risk, and I'd hate to see anyone else lose a plane because of it.

That said, your plane already flew (albeit with a different power system). You should be able to use the same balance point your buddy used and be good.

ledgehunter

Z, you may also want to consider GatorRC, I believe they are the importers for this one in US. That's where I have gotten my spare parts from.

http://www.gator-rc.com/airplanes/warbird-rc-planes

zrooster

Thanks! Will do.

larryg1959

Maybe this weekend...I'll have video for sure...and thanx for wishing me well

larryg1959

I believe I spoke with a Mike Mueller from Toprc and he shipped me the cowl. Joe is a guy who spends big money on planes and usually doesn't spare the expense when it comes to parts. He flies competition. This was his first warbird. He actually doesn't build any of his planes. He has them built for him and shipped to him..His planes cost like $2,000 and up. As far Joe as was concerned this plane was a total loss. He said I needed to buy a whole new fuselage. After the fire Joe took out the sound system, took off the carbon fiber prop..I stood there and watched him pick up the fuselage and head for the garbage can at the flying field..I said "Joe, where are going?" he said I'm throwing it in the garbage, do u want it?..I said hell yeah I want it...That's a true story dude..The picture is of Joe and a few of his many competition planes

larryg1959

Actually that's pretty much what I'm doing zrooster..Joe still had his cg marks on the wings and those are what I'm going with. I hope it goes well

ledgehunter

Damn.. I think we need to get to know joe.

good luck on the flight!

yep, Mike is the guy, he's with GatorRC

w1nd6urfa

My Feedback: (4)

Larryg good luck on the maiden

Its a gentle flier, at 23 lbs you should be fine as long as you keep the airspeed up. I don;t know your maiden routine, I usually go high up and do a couple of stall tests, then you know at what speed it will drop the nose / wing. That helps reduce the stress for that first landing!

zrooster

Yeah! I'll happily take his throwaways! Larry, good luck!

larryg1959

Who wouldn't

larryg1959

Excellent info..thank u..will handle it just that way

zrooster

Any word on the maiden?

zrooster

By the way, I confirmed that my engine failure was due to overheat. Cowling off, peak temp was 170F. Cowling on, it got up to 312F and was starting to quit.

w1nd6urfa

My Feedback: (4)

Rear exhaust engines need extra cooling

zrooster

Hmmm. Didn't realize that. I did a lot more cutting after my last run... If that doesn't do it, I might have to copy your baffle design, as I'm almost out of things to cut...

w1nd6urfa

My Feedback: (4)

I have bookmarked several excellent articles on engine cooling by Pe Reivers of MVVS.nl
I think he passed away a while ago, and now it seems his web site has been taken off-line permanently. Its a shame because the site was a treasure chest of information on high-performance RC engines. If anyone knows a mirror, please let me know

Anyway, he was also a member on RCU, these are quite good references:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/gas-...t-results.html

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/gas-...s-how-2-a.html

ForcesR

zrooster; have you considered installing an air dam/spoiler at the leading edge of the warm air exit in the bottom of the cowl. That's what I did on my H9 Spitfire and I have never had an over heating problem with the FG36.

Roger

zrooster

Thanks! Got some reading ahead of me!

zrooster

No, first I heard of it. Assume the air dam is the bit on the leading edge of the scoop? I'm willing to try anything.

Here's how my cowling sits after the latest cuts I made. I haven't run it since I opened it up to this point, so there may be hope. Also, I'm running it in an environment where there's no airflow except that produced by the prop (worst case situation). Let me know if you see anything I'm missing...

I also installed a lighter tailwheel to help with CG...3 grams lighter than stock. Which, if I remember my engineering mechanics problems where I had to balance the forces, works out to about 1/2 an OZ at the nose...every little bit helps...