ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

I'm getting excited about this season.

We hope to get the engine started this Friday. It hasn't run in the plane since last October, at Monster Planes. Gerhard ran it though, after he went through it.

We checked the balance tonight for the first time since all the changes this winter. I need to add 7 oz to the cowl and we are perfect. A little more Steel Powder.

John Taylor

My Feedback: (16)

Just watched the gear in motion really great. Please keep us all posted on this season's performance. John T.

Icemanjr92

My Feedback: (73)

I like how the inner doors operate.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

We are using Hitec 5645s so we can program them, and have the speed cut back to 10%.

I'll keep everyone posted on how the gear functions this season.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

We got Zombie out today for the first time in 2011, to test run the newly gone through 3W 80. Gerhard did a very nice job on it. She started well, and ran great. Nice slow idle, smooth transition, steady mid range, and strong high end.

We also tested the cowl flap operation and observed the inner gear doors for stability under the prop blast. All looked good and functioned well. Immediately after shut down, we pulled the cowl and tightened the muffler again. I got about 1/4 turn out of each bolt. It will stay tight now.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2-TVPBlUsE

Scott Prossen

Any way to safety wire those muffler bolts. If the heads are exposed, simply drill them and wire tie them. Never ever a problem then. Me like that!

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Good idea. I'll look into it.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

At least I'm getting one thing out of the way before Top Gun. I'm heading down to the hospital for the birth of my 4th grand boy. Hope he is a future RC builder and pilot.

Did I say I was getting this out of the way? I guess my daughter deserves the credit.

Sounds like it is going to be a long night.

Scott Prossen

Yeah Gary, you got way too much on your plate! Maybe you should let your daughter do the birthing.

Congrats to you and the family, "new" and old.

See you in a week or so.

Scott

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks Scott. Been a long night and still no baby Carson. He is in no hurry to join us apparently.[] Shouldn't be long though.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

Gary, I was having the same trouble on my Brison 3.2,,, a little all thread does the trick too

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

We looked at our muffler and the cap screws are buried in it. No way to do a safety wire. I got a quarter turn out of them after the run-up we did. This muffler has the additional brace on it as well. The original one did not. Hopefully, it will be easier to keep tight. Also, the engine is smoother now after Gerhard worked on it. Should be less vibration on the muffler. It is part of my procedure to check the muffler from the exhaust pipes before each start now.

When you get into heavy scale war birds, more maintenance is required. One thing a new guy to this type should be ready for. I can fly aerobatic stuff, even giant scale, and do very little on them all summer. Not so with these gentile giants.

I bet if we were to track the time spent it would be near a 1 to 1 average ratio, one hour of overall repair and general maintenance for every one hour of engine time. Now that is taking into account that even our scale stuff are flown regularly, and not just at Top Gun like events. Last year, I flew my scale war birds much more than my aerobatic stuff.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

Worse case, you could get longer bolts and add washers or a wheel collar type spacer so the caps are exposed more,,, always options.

Can't wait to see it up close again, When is your first flying event of the year?? Top Gun?

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Yea, I hate to add spacers because that is just something else to compress and get tight. Hopefully, it will stay tight now. Won't take long to find out.

Looks like Top Gun is it. I only wish we could get out sooner up here, but the fields are still so soft from all the rain, and none have been rolled yet. One good gopher hole could do a nice set of retracts in real quick. I haven't been out once yet this year. Flying my sim and indoor helis is all.[]

I found a giant scale P-51 on my sim to practice my demo routine with. At least I get my switching, turns, and the order of the maneuvers well in mind.

I'm not expecting to do very well against guys that fly all winter.

John Taylor

My Feedback: (16)

Hi Gary, You will do fine. I have no doubt about your abilities. Good Luck John T.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

I'm fortunate to be a scale builder who also loves to fly.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

looks like my yet unborn new grandson Carson, has broke his holding pattern. He has turned onto final. Hope he has his gear down.

Headed back to the hospital.

Later guys,
Gary

JSZ

My Feedback: (73)

Hi Gary, congrats on the new family member. I use high temp RTV for the gasket and the bolts with great success. My Ziroli Corsair has been flying for 2 years now with no problems.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks on both accounts.

Carson arrived at 2:02 AM last night. Everything went well. Got home around 4:00.

Glad that is out of then way. He was the last one in the hanger. That makes 4 newborns in the last 7 months. All boys. My shop is going to be a mad house I fear, starting in about 2 years.[]

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

Congrats Gary,, get some sleep,, you'll need it

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks pal. I wish I could get some sleep. Work is piling up. I have a kitchen I need to get installed for a good customer. Always something.

Dwhart24

Congrats Gary. Damn... 4 in 7 months.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

You know I'm a Carpenter/Cabinetmaker too, Right? Keep them customers happy,, they are harder to find these days

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Hey, looks like we even more in common.

I was in high end new home construction in the nineties when the kids were young, but not anymore. Strictly remodel and light commercial now. It has been me, two of my sons (accomplished carpenters in their own right) and my third son is the licensed electrician and also has his own electrical company. I also have a brother with a concrete business.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

We decided to make another improvement I think.

I had a new 4800 2-cell lipo on hand, so we decided to use it for the gear. The Down & Locked control box has a port for an independent power supply. It fits nicely on the side of the interior, below the superfluous air tank, with some Velcro. This puts it right on the CG.

We will use an adjustable voltage regulator to set the voltage to the gear at 6.8V. This isolates the gear system from the RX batteries. You simply cut the red wire to the RX and let the signal come through.

D&L told me that, given the power usage of the system, the 4800 mah is good for about 1100 cycles. Seriously.