radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

I agree with all that advice. I finished the markings.

thebluemax

My Feedback: (151)

+1 on dumping the CG machine and using the Vanessa. The CG machine is so inaccurate and not easy to replicate consistently it is not funny. I have planes I balanced with the CG machine and I thought they were balanced. When testing out the Vanessa the Vanessa showed they were off. Using a CG machine from GP and another brand (page 46, post 1819 is a picture) my P-51 showed it needed anywhere from 6 to 9 ounces in the tail. Using the Vanessa it was almost spot on with only needing an ounce in the tail.

raptureboy

Dang! Just when I thought I found a theme no one else had LOL looks good man, hope your maiden goes well. She really looks good in the air and fly's like it's on rails. The guys at my field like to sit back and just watch as I open up coming across the field and then shoot straight up with a couple of rolls thrown in. This and my P-40 are sweet flyers. Shame they discontinued the P-40

added link for vanessa rig http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/tips...g-rig-how.html

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

The extra ply parts are for mounting ESC, etc. under the cowl in the event you go electric. They are not mentioned in the instructions but then neither is the hidden opening for cooling.

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

I did three more flights today...total of eight now. The plane flies a lot like a traditional pattern plane. It does smooth loops, rolls, slow rolls, 4 and 8 point rolls, Cuban 8's, snaps and spins. The only maneuver it doesn't do well is knife edge...not enough rudder to hold the nose up. The last landing was my first really bad one. I forgot to lower the flaps and just as the plane was flaring to land the right wing stalled and the plane cartwheeled. The reinforcing that I did to the LG mount worked and no damage to the plane at all. One gear leg bent back just slightly but is easily fixable.

Here are a couple of shots of a "photo pass".

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4YLNVdKvwiM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

There is also a built in hatch in the top of the fuse for battery access.

acdii

This explains a lot, my 4*120 kept coming up nose heavy, at least that is how it flew until I removed weight from the nose. My LT-40 flies beautifully though that one I finger balanced.

I was going to ask for a link, now I dont need to.

Anyway, here are the pics of the parts, the first is the retract parts, the second the assumed electric tray.



Also the batteries I use. Only need one for this plane, the green one weighs a little more and it intended for my Corsair that will need 3 packs, RX, Ignition and Retracts. The Retracts will need 4 cell NiMh, the ignition can use a lead off the green pack with a voltage filter/regulator. That should save a little weight.

The one thing I am not too crazy about with the dave brown nut job is the lack of compression cone that 4 strokes normally have. The lack of that can surely toss a prop when it back fires.

acdii

So with that rig, which I have everything except a pulley for, do you balance the plane right side up then or upside down?

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Either way works as long as the horizontal stab is level. The plumb bob always points directly to the actual CG.

acdii

OK, I put the cowl on and am rather disappointed with how it fits. There is a gap I cant get rid of, the cowl is too short. If I attempt to close the gap it pulls away from the rear, leaving an even uglier gap.



One other thing to note, with the spinner back plate on, there arent many threads left.


Will this nut set work with the amount of threads I have?


Also I noticed the picture of the packs didn't load.

acdii

Oh and one MORE thing. Those who have a Saito 100 installed, can you post a pic of your cowl and how you vented it for cooling? Thats the last thing I need to do other than balance and throw setup.

Aiden88

My Feedback: (5)

The cowl is the absolute worst part about this airplane. I've had two now and they both fit like crap.

acdii

Well other than the cowl everything else on the plane was good, Very few wrinkles, all got ironed out easily. Other than the balance, the plane came out nicely. Still have to work on my retracts though, I have nasty toe out on the left, and a little toe in on the right.

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

When I complained about how poorly the cowl fit here is the answer I got back:

"Dear Valued Customer:

Thank you for your Email.

To get a "perfect" fit with any kit part, you may need to do a bit of fitting
and trimming. Cowls and canopies are typical items where this may be needed.

We hope you find this information helpful."

I sent another email with this picture and asked what sort of "fitting and trimming" I would need to do to get it to fit properly. No answer back.

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

I took the Mustang to a local flyin today and had an interesting experience. An elderly gentleman stood beside me while I was flying and said that the sight of the P-51 brought back memories. He said he flew a P-51 in the Korean War and was one of the few pilots who shot down a Mig 15 with the Mustang even though his kill wasn't confirmed. Real or not it's a heck of a tale.

Aiden88

My Feedback: (5)

+1 for the Vanessa CG Rig. Took me all of about 15 minutes to build and its very simple to use.

thebluemax

My Feedback: (151)

I balanced mine the way the manual recommended.

As for using the Vanessa balancer, low wing airplanes are balanced upside down like any other balancer. That is standard procedure.

As for mid wing planes I found that balancing them upside down gives the best results as there seems to be more flat surfaces on the bottom to check that the plane is level. Both with the level and by eye sight. I have see on some mid wings when balanced upright where the level said it was level but when I looked at it, it was not. Flipping the plane upside down I could see that it was level by both methods.

I only balance high wing planes upright as that is normal procedure as well..

I will also do the finger test as a double check. If that is close which it almost always is then I know the Vanessa balance is good. If it is way off then I balance it again until both match. I found this issue only with mid wing planes when balanced upright. Which is why I only do mid wing planes upside down. When the mid wing is done upside down both methods are always close. I started doing the finger test as a double check when a friend of mine balanced a mid wing plane right side up and he said it was all good but it was tail heavy when flown and crashed. He had gotten a second one and when balancing it upright I noticed the level was level but it was not by eye. We did the finger test to be sure it was balanced and it was tail heavy. We then balanced it again upside down and both tests were good.

This is what I have found using the Vanessa which others may not have had happen to them.

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

I think that with the Vanessa rig it doesn't make any difference whether the plane is upright or upside down. The great thing about the Vanessa is that the plumb bob always points directly to the CG no matter what attitude the plane is in. As long as the plane is level (actually the stab should be level) you will have an accurate CG reading.

chuckk2

The "voltage protector" is a capacitor. looks like 16v 3300mf ?

thebluemax

My Feedback: (151)

I should have said manufacturer recommendation instead of standard procedure. In any case I personally have had the best results when balancing low and mid wings upside down. It seemed easier to do and matched my double check. Hopefully those who do them right side up have good results.

Doing the Polestar upside down with no stab was a piece of cake with the Vanessa and I am hoping it will be the same with the F-117 when it is finished.

Did not mean to get off topic so I have some pictures of my Mustang here too.

acdii

Bugger, only thing I cant find is the dowel I had. Oh well, I had more than enough sun today out flying, and too tired now to work on it anyway. I still have to order the spinner nuts for the Saito, Does the YS have threads that the nuts that come with it that work? I have this same spinner that I bought to use on my kit built P-51 that eventually I will get back to work on, and that one will have a YS 110 in it.

thebluemax

My Feedback: (151)

The threads on the YS are 8 x 1 and the Saito is 8 x 1.25. The adapter for my YS I used was a Tru-Turn TT 0814-A. It needs a 10-32nd bolt which is too big for the recessed hole in the spinner. I used the tip in this thread by Mikecam on page 29, post 1129. I was able to shave the head of bolt down using this method to fit the bolt into the recess of the spinner perfectly. It took a few tries to get it right as it is all trial and error.


Mikecam's post on page 29, post 1129:
" I put my bolt into my cordless drill and then took my dremel with a small sanding drum and turned on the drill and used the sanding drum to take a little off. Using the drill keeps the bolt nice and round. Leave the bolt in the drill and see if it fits into the spinner, if not take a little more off. Careful you don't have the bolt too long when it does fit inside and you bolt up the spinner. I cut mine to length with the dremel and a cut off wheel."

raptureboy

The vanessa rig is very accurate and works fine with the plane right side up. You do need to make sure your loops are not wound crooked around the dowal or your measurement will be off. Also when leveling you need to watch where you place the level, if your stab is airfoiled shape as the mustang, you will want to place the level on the high point of the stab. I use a small bubble level I removed from a square. Remember the plumb bob points to the current CG and you will need to add weight to make it move closer to your cg mark, then relevel the stab and check the cg again. When you have the correct balance the plumb bob will line up over your cg mark when the stab is level. What is neat about this is you can raise and lower the gear and see the effect it has on cg and make adjustments and not have to worry that you plane will fall off anything, and it stores in a drawer. I was able to get a 2nd cowl that fit alot better than the original although it still needed some adjustment. The one I got with my P- 40 really needed adjustment. Bluemax I like that 117, did you scratch build that or is it a kit? It would be nice if you could power it with a ducted fan.

thebluemax

My Feedback: (151)

It is a kit I purchased from a guy here on RCU. Here is a link to the last one he had up for sale.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=982667

It is set up for a glow engine but I think he did a couple as EDF. Not sure what modifications he did to it to make it work. I built it as the directions said except I did a lot of extra sheeting on it and added some hatches to get to things inside. I fiberglassed the bottom and it is ready for paint one of these days. The top will be done in carbon fiber ultracote. Looking to do this scheme.I have the stars layed out for a stencil when it comes time to airbrush them on.

Poitivin

All, thank you for sharing so much info as it really helped me to have my bird almost ready following so good advices


I went with a Saito FG17 which I intend to breakin in a couple of days though am not sure if when ready the setup will be with the stock muffler or with a keleo Pitts 100 as it looks pretty and less cowl modification.

Does anyone know the weight for a keleo Pitts 100 as the stock weights 57 gramms and am trying to avoid extra nose weight ?