P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
12-07-2005, 08:18 PM
#53
My Feedback: (25)
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Christmas came early 
My hawk arrived today. Pictures of basic package already posted so I'll just post a couple of special ones and make a few immediate observations.
This is one incredible ARF. One of the best I have seen, and I've seen some of the best. It is very light but built with a lot of interlacoking parts and reinforcement in the right places. Just look at that engine box. The covering is imaculate and my hinge slots are dead straight and centered.
It's a good thing I haven't bought an engine yet because this is a very unique plane that is going to take some thinking and research to come up with a gasoline engine that will fit right. The engine prop shaft is offset an inch below center just like the real Hawk. Also the engine box face is not that large: 4.5" wide and 4" high.
The cowl size in the engine location is 7" wide, 4.5" above the prop and 3.5" below the prop with about 6" of offset from engine box face to front of cowl. I researching hard because you can almost mount an engine upright in this bird. I'll let you all know what I find/decide. When I first saw the plane I was a little surprised. Iexpected it to be bigger visually. But this plane is not really a gasser; it is a true 1.20 glow size plane, as stated I might add. but I hate glow and will get a gasser in her somehow [>:]
There is quit a bit of space inside the fuselage for CG adjustments and placing a smoke tank; albeit some is hard to get to easily.
Added PS: Well after more research, it is going to be near impossible to get a gasoline engine in this plane without completely chopping up the cowl. Practically everything I see will stick out the bottom a couple of inches or more. The only gas engine that may be able to mount upright is the RCS 1.40, but the sparkplug will stick out the top and the engine is too light. So ifanyone has any gasoline engine ideas I haven't thought of, let me know.
My hawk arrived today. Pictures of basic package already posted so I'll just post a couple of special ones and make a few immediate observations.This is one incredible ARF. One of the best I have seen, and I've seen some of the best. It is very light but built with a lot of interlacoking parts and reinforcement in the right places. Just look at that engine box. The covering is imaculate and my hinge slots are dead straight and centered.
It's a good thing I haven't bought an engine yet because this is a very unique plane that is going to take some thinking and research to come up with a gasoline engine that will fit right. The engine prop shaft is offset an inch below center just like the real Hawk. Also the engine box face is not that large: 4.5" wide and 4" high.
The cowl size in the engine location is 7" wide, 4.5" above the prop and 3.5" below the prop with about 6" of offset from engine box face to front of cowl. I researching hard because you can almost mount an engine upright in this bird. I'll let you all know what I find/decide. When I first saw the plane I was a little surprised. Iexpected it to be bigger visually. But this plane is not really a gasser; it is a true 1.20 glow size plane, as stated I might add. but I hate glow and will get a gasser in her somehow [>:]
There is quit a bit of space inside the fuselage for CG adjustments and placing a smoke tank; albeit some is hard to get to easily.
Added PS: Well after more research, it is going to be near impossible to get a gasoline engine in this plane without completely chopping up the cowl. Practically everything I see will stick out the bottom a couple of inches or more. The only gas engine that may be able to mount upright is the RCS 1.40, but the sparkplug will stick out the top and the engine is too light. So ifanyone has any gasoline engine ideas I haven't thought of, let me know.
12-07-2005, 10:26 PM
#55
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Copperas Cove, Tx.
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Steve,
Got my Hawk today as well. This thing is huge!
Rethinking engine options. I've got a K&B 1.00 that I fit with out having to cut the cowling for. A 25cc or so gasser would definitely fit with engine box mods and you probably wouldn't need the nose weight box.
Hmmm.......
Mike
Got my Hawk today as well. This thing is huge!
Rethinking engine options. I've got a K&B 1.00 that I fit with out having to cut the cowling for. A 25cc or so gasser would definitely fit with engine box mods and you probably wouldn't need the nose weight box.
Hmmm.......
Mike
12-08-2005, 08:18 AM
#56
My Feedback: (25)
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Mike, you haven't even flown the Ultimate yet, why on earth get this thing.
I'm not moding anything. that's why I buy ARF's But it's not just the engine box. the plane was designed to have that "low" crankshaft and that is scale. I have determined that the G-26 may fit in the cowl mounted upright. I'm also think, if I win the lottery, that a Laser 200v would fit nice, albeit costing twice as much as the plane.
I'm not moding anything. that's why I buy ARF's
But it's not just the engine box. the plane was designed to have that "low" crankshaft and that is scale. I have determined that the G-26 may fit in the cowl mounted upright. I'm also think, if I win the lottery, that a Laser 200v would fit nice, albeit costing twice as much as the plane.
12-08-2005, 09:48 AM
#59
My Feedback: (25)
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
With careful measuring and a "short" plug it should fit. but the exhaust and throttle linkage is what I'm trying to get figured out.
Rowdy1, you may want to take a close look at things. I had looked at the MVVS/Evolution engines and decided that front mounted carb didn't give enough clearance. Course if it's mounted inverted the whole thing will stick out anyway.
Rowdy1, you may want to take a close look at things. I had looked at the MVVS/Evolution engines and decided that front mounted carb didn't give enough clearance. Course if it's mounted inverted the whole thing will stick out anyway.
12-08-2005, 09:49 AM
#60
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Consider the carb sticking out one side and the muffler sticking out the other.
Plus there's no place for cooling air to get in with the cylinder pointing upwards.
I tried fitting my G-26 and the results were not acceptable
Plus there's no place for cooling air to get in with the cylinder pointing upwards.
I tried fitting my G-26 and the results were not acceptable
12-08-2005, 11:17 AM
#64
My Feedback: (25)
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Yes, I have talked to Mark at RCS and I'm leaning toward the Roto35, inverted. The Roto because it is a very clean lined engine that will not look as bad as some. There are a couple of engines that will fit upright, but there is no resolution to the cooling issue without hacking a big hole in the front of the cowl. I really do not want a glow powered plane. It's gas or sell it.
Dick, did you find the G-26 unacceptable even inverted? thanks and why? Clearances?
Dick, did you find the G-26 unacceptable even inverted? thanks and why? Clearances?
12-08-2005, 11:38 AM
#67
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Yes, I am. For AnnMarie Cross at RCPower website, plus R/C REPORT Magazine
As soon as it warms up and this ice storm goes by us.
Hopefully in the air by next weekend.
It's ready to go now, but weather conditions are not conducive to outdoor activities.
As soon as it warms up and this ice storm goes by us.
Hopefully in the air by next weekend.
It's ready to go now, but weather conditions are not conducive to outdoor activities.
12-08-2005, 12:06 PM
#68
My Feedback: (25)
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Dick, a rhetorical question, but why in the world is GP saying the plane needs 16 oz of lead in the nose with an O.S. 1.20 if yours balanced without it. How big [X(] were your batteries? If this was the case I'm going to have to finish the plane completely and then see how many ounces it takes to balance.
12-08-2005, 12:13 PM
#69
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
I put the throttle servo, a 5 cell receiver battery and a D cell plus onboard glow lighter where the weight box should go.
Plus a Tru-Turn P-47-like prop hub and an APC 18-6 wide blade prop.
That should be close to 16 ounces
12-08-2005, 08:26 PM
#70
Senior Member
My Feedback: (21)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Fenton, MO
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
pettit -- do you have some pics of how you mounted the throttle servo -- I am going to try to figure out how to get it out on the firewall somewhere as my current setup seems to be binding a little.
12-08-2005, 08:55 PM
#71
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
I'm thinking of the Saito 1.80 sitting on the shelf, and wondering how it'd fit...probably purty good I'd bet.
Dick...how well does the O.S. 1.20 turn that big a prop? I have an O.S. 1.20 w/ pump, but have never tried anything bigger than a 16X8.
I have the Saito 1.80 w/ that 18X6W on it and that's about as big as I'd like to go...IIRC I saw about 8700 on 15%.
Dick...how well does the O.S. 1.20 turn that big a prop? I have an O.S. 1.20 w/ pump, but have never tried anything bigger than a 16X8.
I have the Saito 1.80 w/ that 18X6W on it and that's about as big as I'd like to go...IIRC I saw about 8700 on 15%.
12-09-2005, 12:03 AM
#72
My Feedback: (25)
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
I was looking at the RCV engine for this bird as someone has mounted in above posts. then I read the manual. Have to run it for 2 hrs on a test stand before flying and the engine is only designed to use 10% nitro and a synthetic/castor blend that has 6% castor. States the engine may be damaged if run on higher nitro and not run well if you use less nitro. Who needs an engine you have to buy special fuel for. to bad, because it is a unique design that solves a lot of fitting problems.
12-09-2005, 01:12 AM
#73
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Copperas Cove, Tx.
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
Steve,
Yeah, yeah..... I'm getting behind on my plane building/flying but when you do it at work all day sometimes its the last you want to do when you get home. However, I've always had a love affair with the P-6E. I completely could not believe it when I first saw the Tower listing for this plane. I had to have it. I literally checked my wish list everyday to see if it was in stock.
I think I'm just going to go with the Saito 1.20. I've been thinking another option for gas you might want to look into is a Supertigre 2300 converted. I've seen the older 2500s converted to gas that work very well.
You might want to talk to Jay Harbour about those Roto engines. His take on them is not good. Apparantly they used to use them on the UAV trainers we fly. When I was back east for my flight eval, I remember seeing one with a Roto installed. When we pulled the trainers out of the box out here I noticed they all had G-26s installed so I asked Jay why the change. Not a very good report.
Later,
Mike
Yeah, yeah..... I'm getting behind on my plane building/flying but when you do it at work all day sometimes its the last you want to do when you get home. However, I've always had a love affair with the P-6E. I completely could not believe it when I first saw the Tower listing for this plane. I had to have it. I literally checked my wish list everyday to see if it was in stock.
I think I'm just going to go with the Saito 1.20. I've been thinking another option for gas you might want to look into is a Supertigre 2300 converted. I've seen the older 2500s converted to gas that work very well.
You might want to talk to Jay Harbour about those Roto engines. His take on them is not good. Apparantly they used to use them on the UAV trainers we fly. When I was back east for my flight eval, I remember seeing one with a Roto installed. When we pulled the trainers out of the box out here I noticed they all had G-26s installed so I asked Jay why the change. Not a very good report.
Later,
Mike
12-09-2005, 08:44 AM
#75
Senior Member
My Feedback: (21)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Fenton, MO
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: P-6E Curtis hawk (build thread)
ORIGINAL: splais
I was looking at the RCV engine for this bird as someone has mounted in above posts. then I read the manual. Have to run it for 2 hrs on a test stand before flying and the engine is only designed to use 10% nitro and a synthetic/castor blend that has 6% castor. States the engine may be damaged if run on higher nitro and not run well if you use less nitro. Who needs an engine you have to buy special fuel for. to bad, because it is a unique design that solves a lot of fitting problems.
I was looking at the RCV engine for this bird as someone has mounted in above posts. then I read the manual. Have to run it for 2 hrs on a test stand before flying and the engine is only designed to use 10% nitro and a synthetic/castor blend that has 6% castor. States the engine may be damaged if run on higher nitro and not run well if you use less nitro. Who needs an engine you have to buy special fuel for. to bad, because it is a unique design that solves a lot of fitting problems.
Regular 10% Omega (the pink stuff) can be used per RCV support. I ran mine for a little more than an hour on a test stand, but I believe I could have ran it in on the airframe -- I did not notice any bad vibrations. I love the fact that it will run on 10% nitro -- much cheaper than the heli fuel I run in my saitos.
Pettit -- thanks for the picture -- I think that will work perfect and elimanate my lone throttle pushrod, and also get rid of the 1 oz of lead off the firewall that I had to add to get it too balance.
