I assembled a Phoenix Models Strega with a Tower .46, Jett remote needle valve, Jett muffler, Jett bubbleless tank and 10x6 prop. Weight w/o fuel is 5.35lbs. Here are a few photos of the initial flights at Lowes Motor Speedway flying field. For time savings, I kept the original orange color. The plane would look much more eye-appealling with almost any other color in my opinion. The time to strip and recover would be worth it in hindsight. There are a few adjustments I need to do. I had to add a Great Planes 2oz. spinner weight to get the CG right. I don't like the idea of a spinning weight on the nose, so I'm planning on removing and adding dead weight to the firewall. The 4-cell 700mAh NiCd rx battery is as far forward as it can be mounted. Also, need to tone down the throws and add more expo. Seems pretty sensitive with manual recommended throws and 40% expo. Any suggestions for a different prop size?

If the plane can survive my flying skills, I plan on flying it at the May 15, 2010-Julian, NC -Old Julian Airport Warbird pylon races. Here are the rules for this class of pylon planes:
http://www.rcpro.org/html/rules/warb...cing_rules.htm

Dave G

Great looking Flying Pumpkin. I like my Strega in Orange, all three of them, and all my SRMII's are Orange but, I am getting old eyes and with the white trim I put on them they are easy to see.

I would try a 9X6.5 or a 9X7 depending on the wind and let the motor scream. You won't be able to pull the pylons as hard with the 9X7 but the extra speed might be worth it. It would be like taking the high line around the track at a NASCARSuper Speedway.

Anyway Dave, you will have fun.

We run an APC 9.5x6 or a 10x5 on the T-34s we race out here. The 10x5 is for the guys that run right on the pylons and the 9.5x6 is for the guys that try to make a smoother and slightly wider turn. We use the 46 AX stock and it's a 650' two pole course.

Dave,

That plane looks familiar. I think a close-up and it would be even more familiar. [sm=thumbup.gif]

Once you get the throws toned down, you'll like the color better. [sm=bananahead.gif]

I think I have some APC 9.5x7 Pylon props here. They would work on that setup. If it doesn't get up on the pipe, just trim the tips down to 9.25" or to 9". Remember, there are no prop limitations in RCPRO Warbird Racing. I wouldn't go smaller than 9" on that airframe though.

You have to get used to the tuned mufflers. You might not have gotten it fully on the pipe yet.

BTW: I use the recommended CG and about 40% of the recommended throw for the elevator and ailerons. I use about 10% expo on both.

To dial them in I set up dual rates with about 50% of the stock throw as the low rate. Each flight I knock 10% off the low rate until the it feels good. That's 10% less than 50%, ie around 45% and then 40% and then 36%.

Thanks all, Once I get the spinner weight/CG issue settled, then I'll tone down the throws. Chris, I thought I'd start at 1/2 of the rec. throws and gradually decrease as needed, and then I saw your post. Bingo! I have several different 9" props that I'll put through some test flights. What type of spinner are you all using? The plastic cone-type is not my favorite. Tru-turn or spinner nut?

DaveG.

True Turn!!!!!!

I too am new to this business of getting an engine up on a pipe. I presume that I will here an obvious change in the sound and perhaps a jump in RPMS. If someone would expand on this topic it would be appreciated.

Don, you mentioned a test stand and a breakin prop size in one of your posts.


Thanks,

Ken

If it is the red Jett muffler it wants to turn above 15,000 on the ground. That will get it into it's sweet spot in the air. I used to run a 9x8 on my TT 46 Pro with an Ultra thrust. It was about the same load on the engine as the 10x6. It really depended on the day which was faster on the course. The 9x8 had a little more speed but the 10x6 lost less in the turns. Either would break out in bronze if I flew a tight course. My son won a few trophies with that Strega.

Blessings, Terry

Yes, the Jett muffler is red. I removed the 2oz. spinner weight and added "dead" weight behind the firewall to re-balance for the manual recommended CG (125mm behind leading edge at the fuse). I also toned down the throws to 50% of recommended for low rates. I plan to takeoff and land on high rates, which are still at the manual rec. throws and fly on low rates. I need to re-tach the engine, but thought when I bench checked, it was spinning in the upper 17K range with a 10x6. I've put a 9x6 APC on for now and will be more analytical for my own concern, and for those interested. Current "all up weight" w/o fuel is exactly 5.50lbs.

DaveG.

I totally missed the fact that you have a Jett Muffler on your plane. I'd try the 10x6, not the two I listed earlier. That said, I'd be pretty impressed if you could get that Tower 46 to turn a 10x6 at 17k on the ground.

Chris,

I tested two props today. Results: 9x6=17410, 9.5x6=16600. Did not try the 10x6, but I'd guess it be just short of 16k. BTW, I felt the 9x6 performed better for me in the air today than the 9.5. These are all APC sport props. Any reason to use or not use an APC "pylon" or competition prop?

DaveG

As I said before 9X6.5 or 9X7

Try loading it up a bit. My stock 46AX with a stock muffler will turn the 9.5x6 at 16,800. You need to get the motor into the 15k-16k on the ground range to take advantage of the Jett muffler.

I'd try the 10x7, or 10x8. They seemed to work the best. The Vess 10x8 fell right in between them and was the best prop I found when I was working up a Rossi 45.

Good luck,


Chri

In my experience the APC pylon props (D-1 series) are quite inefficient below about 17K. Whip them beyond 19K and these little buggere pull like angry 8.75" freight trains.

I have found that when comparing props for racing, you really need to have someone with a stop watch out there timing your runs. Sometimes, your plane will sound and feel faster because it's turning more RPMs but in reality it is turning slower laps. About 40% of the race is turns and how well the plane pulls through those turns is a huge factor. You need straight away speed too, but if you are losing too much in the turns you fighting a losing battle. Props in this size are only a couple of buck a piece. You would be well advised to buy an assortment of sizes and get out to the course and fly them. Ground RPM is rarely a good indicator of what is going to happen once it is in the air and starts to unload. What works well on one airframe is not necessarily going to work on another. Your flying style has a lot to do with it too. If you fly tight turns, a given prop might work better for you than if you fly wider turns. There are a lot of factors but the stop watch won't lie. Lap times are what's important.

Blessings, Terry

I would use the pylon props "Absolutely"
I ran a q500 w/ttpro40 and the differenve is huge. I pull a good straight speed (660') and turn tighter than any sport prop can. In fact I sling shot out of the corners at 3/4 of the way through them.
My ground RPM is 16,200. I know what TT says is the optimum RPM range but I am sure I am hitting 16,500 in the air and this is the fastest Q500 in our series. I ran a 8.8 x 8.75 at 6000 and 3000 feet both.
I dont recall my lap times but it is quite fast. Im not familar with the Tower engines, but if you can get 16 on ground, you will do fine with a pylon prop. It will yield you happy times.

Keep in mind he is flying a PM Strega, not a Q500. The Strega has a lot more drag than that Q500. I'm not saying the pylon prop won't work, just that he needs to try a few different types to find the one that works best for that airframe and his style of flying.

Blessings, Terry

i had one of those strega's with a 60lx and was slow no matter what prop was on it. the fastest was with a four stroke. i dont know what its maybe the wing but that plane has tons of drag. i even put jett wheels on it.

My PM Strega with a TT PRO .61 w/Ultra Thrust pipe is a great Silver Class Warbird. I just built it straight and it is a runner. I see lots of them at the RCPRO Warbird races and they run great in all three classes but, I think for Gold they have to be reinforced a bit in the wing and the horizontal stabilizer. My next three are all Stregas and the last two will be modded to look more like the real Strega and one of them will be a Gold Class plane.

Hey Barry,

For those who care, in the your picture on the left are Carry Buschbaum's planes. The spitfire on the left is a Phoenix models spit and he won the Silver class with it last season going away. He even missed the final two races and still easily won. The Strega in the center is what he won the gold class with the year before. The Strega on the right has a custom wing and Tucker, Carry's son would have won Gold with it last year if he hadn't missed the final two races when they moved to Texas. The Stregas will move well and they groove on the race course very well, especially with a YS 1.10 in them.

Blessings, Terry

Thanks Terry, I knew you would be along to tell the reall story on those planes. I do remember i shot those pictures at Kingman. I wish we were coming out West so i could be racing with you guys this year.