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Ok! Maybe everyone knows but I wasn't there ok. My question is ....I need to add weight to the front of my plane. How, where,and how to keep it there. Will the weights effect the receiver function? Thank you

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Where...as far forward as possible (in the cowling). How...lead shot mixed with epoxy and spooned into the cowl or wherever it is to go. Put the shot into a container, such as 35MM film comes in, until you get the right amount to achieve the correct CG. Then mix in the epoxy and put it all in the area you have chosen. Sure beats trying to melt lead into the form needed to get the balance you want. Last, does not affect the receiver. Regards.

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Even if there's no cowling there're often "cheeks" that stick out beside the engine; you can attach the weight to those. If that isn't possible then the firewall will do.
You can get stick-on lead weights, but the adhesive is rather weak, and it definitely won't last long next to the oily engine. If those weights fall off, you're in trouble. Epoxy will hold them on safely.

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If there is no cowl slide the engine out a little more on the mount. Even in some cowled applications
there is enough extra cowl to slide it and the engine out. Also dont be afraid to put the battery under the fuel tank. The last 10 planes I've built have no lead. If you plane ahead a little you can do the same.
later daveo

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Thank You for the info joe

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On some models (if there's room in the spinner, or you aren't using a spinner) you can use a brass 'spinner-nut) (large "acorn" type nut) adding the weight as far forward as possible.

There are also flywheel weights made, mostly for use by Pattern competition aircraft, requiring a 3 inch or larger plastic spinner (can fit in some 2.5 inch aluminum spinners) These are available in 1/2 to 3 oz sizes.

Sometimes just a couple of extra washers in front of the prop is plenty of weight...

The further forward the weight, the less weight you need to get the same CG change.

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Adding weight should be a last resort, first try relocating the battery. If you are unable to relocate the battery, then consider a heavy hub or lead strip. Heavy hubs at the end of a prop shaft shorten the life of the front bearing and are not recommended on engines using bearings. Cheap one-season engines on the other hand, well, who cares, . . . it's a quick fix and will get you though the day or season.

The best way to add weight to the nose is to use strip lead shaped around the bottom of your engine crankcase. First determine how much you'll need. Shape it so it fits perpendicular on the underside of your crankcase and across the two front engine mount screws where it will be secured with a nut. The front engine mount screws need to be long enough to completely pass thought the engine mount so they will act like a stud on the other side. Use a separate nut to secure your engine and another nut to secure the lead. Of course holes need to be drilled through the lead in the appropriate places. This method places the weight foremost and doesn't need a cowl; it's also crash resistant and won't hurt you bearings.

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Really. Try moving some stuff around before you call in the LEAD police....

"Heavy Hubs" are for people who like destroying engines. Beats the absolute crap out of a bearing.

Lot's of places to add weight....the prop shaft IS NOT one of them....

Weight is death. It's better to get rid of weight behind the CG rather than look for creative ways to ADD it in front of the CG.

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if you can't move the bat. as a last resort you can use a steal motor mount insted of a fiberglass or nylon mount. don't add weight to the propshaft!

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You can screw lead sheet on to the sides of the motor mount, it works well on great planes motor mounts. Welding supply companies carry lead sheet.

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totally 100% agrees with niteflyer. Do everything in your powers before adding weight. Heres a couple of stories about weight. First one about me and how I aquired my Lanier 540 ARF (with motor and servos) for under 250 bucks. Some guy was flying this airplane and could NEVER get it to land right, he got VERY upset about this and finally one day on final approach he creamed it pretty good. He started taking out the motor and radio gear and heading towards the trash can with the airplane. I, of course being the patron (and businessman) that I am talked him out of it. He ended up handing me the crashed airplane (on a scale of 1-10 the crash was a 4) and all of the gear (except receiver) for $240(all I had on me). I began work on the plane and noticed that under the motor he had well over a pound of weight added. I called him about this and he said, well the plane used to be tail heavy but he "fixed that problem" with the weight. Ok. I made the repairs on the plane and took the weight off, I put my engine further forward and the battery pack right behind the firewall. Though the plane is still tail heavy, it is balanced at a great 3D setting. Since then I have many flights on the aircraft and the landings are as slow as they get for such a high performance airplane.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] My 2nd story comes from a friend of mine that flies in all of the IMAC masters competitions and Joe Nall masters, and is a demo pilot for the halftime show at top-gun. He purchased a 40% Staudacher (used), took it to the field and flew it and it flew like S**T. Further inspection showed that there was a 9lb. (YEAH No TYPO) 9lb. lead weight on the front of the airplane in order to get it to banlance. After some thinking it was decided to move the wings back, until proper CG was aquired with no added weight. Since then, he has managed to take an additional 2 lbs off of the airplane by stripping it down and drilling lightening holes. Thats (if my math is correct[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] ) 11lbs. of weight taken off of the airplane. One more pound was taken off later by switching to Lithium Ion batteries instead of NICADS. All in all 12lbs. lighter, and the plane is now flown as a back up in competion (flies SWWWEEEEEETTTTT) and is used as his primary demo plane at various events. So, watch that weight! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

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southern touch99 has it right. Weight is the enemy of performance. By all means try to balance the airplane by moving stuff as much as possible. However for a finished aircraft, if only a small amount of weight is required for balance, go ahead and add it. One ounce represents less than 1% weight increase for a 7 pound aircraft. This will raise the stall speed by about one percent and I doubt if the performance loss can be noticed. This might be more practical than reworking the equipment installation.