Hey Guys,

I'm really looking for my first gas plane! I'm currently flying an Ultra Stick Lite and have previuosly flown a Tiger II and a trainer.. I've been flying my Ultra Stick since X-mas and It's beggining to show its age... So this Christmas I will be looking to get away from the mess of glow and get into my first GASSER! I'm really looking at the Wildhare Edge But I have some questions..

1.) I have to help pay for the bird so I need a total cost and the insividual costs of all Items(engine servo's ect)..

2.) I'm a FUTABA guy... I'm using a 6EXA and dont have the money to upgrade... Will the Be OK?

3.) Can I Use S3305 servo's?

4.) How hard is this thing going to be to fly?

5.) What Ignition Should I use? I want a DA 50

6.) Prop?

7.) What hardware? Can I just go for the Wildhare package?


Thats all for now but Im sure more to come soon! BTW the reason I'm asking so early is I need to start collecting parts!

Plane will cost 399.00 plus 75.00 for the hardware kit and 35.00 to ship. Da50 is 595.00 and about a 100.00 for a pitts muffler. It comes with it's own ignition. Servos(4 hs5945mg 1 ds8611a) will cost 400.00-450.00 depending were you get them. Prop 28.00(start with a 22x8) If I where you I would invest in a 9c radio with a 8 channel pcm rx atleast. You will spend a couple of hundred more on a Lipo battery system if you want(Fromeco) or 65.00 for nicads or nimh. 30.00 for2 switches. Spinner cost me 87.00(tru turn) cut and reamed. I would say about 100.00 for odds and ends(extensions, ball links and whatever). It adds up fast. Buy a little at a time, before you know it you will have it all together.
It will fly like a *****cat on low rates and a tiger on high.

OK It recomends 120 oz. servos for wings and 100 for elev.. I have 4 S3305's currently.. And depending on the condition of that airframe I could pull them out for use in the Edge and use cheaper servo's for the USL.. I already have switches and betteries lined up for NoBs... I will not run Li-po's.. Not enough cash... And I absolutely cannot afford a new radio so will the 6EXA work? About the muffler...does the DA come with one?/ $100 for a muffler is ALOT if I can use the stock one somehow...

Thanks

OK I see where I can buy the muffler for $70 from DA.. Can that one be used?

If you use the stock DA muffler you'd end up cutting the cowl all to hell.

TF

the DA muffler is only an exhaust diverter....if you have any sound restrictions it wont be quiet enough. The Slimline is a much better setup.

On the servos, the more tork the better the plane will fly. it has very large control surfaces!

Ice Man,

I had the same questions last year about the Wild Hare Edge. I had a G62 that is an excellent choice for the plane. If you can get one cheaply, it will serve you well in this plane. Yes, the DA50 is a very very good match for the plane, but the plane WAS designed around the G62 initially. I do now fly the DA 50 on my Edge. Do not shy away from the G62. It is a good match for the Edge as are other 50 sized engines.

I am flying HiTec HS 5645MG on ailerons and elevators, and a JR 8611 on the rudder. Word is that the 5645's do not center as well as the 5945(which are $30 or so more expensive each). I just cannot tell the difference with the type of sport flying that I do. I just marvel at how much danged fun this plane is to fly.

I used Tom's hardware pack. Only needed to buy 5 18" servo extensions to hook up the servos to the receiver. Yes, I did have to buy three switches(two for the redundant battery packs and one for the ignition switch. Think I also bought a fuel dot.

The plane is very very complete the way Tom sends it to you. It is top quality. As a first gasser, it is a steal. As a third or fourth gasser, it is still a steal.

This is an excellent plane for a first gasser. It also has the ability to be a top notch IMAC OR 3D maniac plane depending on how you set it up. It has an incredibly wide envelope that will adapt to your flying skills.

Your transmitter will work fine with the plane. I started with a lower level JR radio with some mixing. Worked fine. As your budget allows, you can upgrade. You will NOT be doing 3D stuff right off the bat anyway. Get the plane, get it in the air, then know that you can upgrade as your budget allows. That is what I did. You will not be sorry.

Look on Tom's website. He has most of the stuff you will need to complete the plane and he is very competitively priced. Email him and he will answer your questions. He will be very very fair and honest with his advice to you.

If it sounds like I am happy with my association with Wild Hare, yep, sure am. You will be too.

Go for it.

John

You can find used Slimline pitts mufflers for the DA on RCU all the time..I bought 2 for 70$ each..the stock DA muffler will cost you 70$..look around for items you can buy used..

Thanks guys,

RCNUT... Why do you say I wont be doing 3D?

Jeremiah Thanks for the tip I'll look around!

Anything else?

OK Some more questions after reading the manual:

1.) Does the DA 50 require standoffs?

2.) How do I cut the hole in the firewall for the carb? Dremel? Is the anything I need to be aware of?

3.) Are all the hinge holes predrilled? Are Hinges Included?

4.) Does the hardware package include everything needed? Besides extension.

5.) Do most people go for the Pull-Pull setup with DA 50?

1. Yes but you have to use spacers if using the stock standoffs or you can order them custom

2. No hole is needed for the carb..its rear mounted.. but if you mean for the neeldes then just use a dremel or a drill and make a hole to stick a screwdriver thru..

3. Yes

4. Yes

5. Yes

I made an assumption that if this is your first gasser, you would likely take it easy on the controls to start with. If you set up the throws like Tom says to, the plane will be a nice gentle flyer on low rates. It will be a handful on high rates, unless you are used to that style of flying. Regardless, with the setup I have described previously, The plane has a very wide flight envelope.

Though I have been flying for many years, I prefer sport flying to the 3D level. With the set up Ihave I can do either. If you plan to 3D all the time, you might want to go with the better servos.

John

Thanks guys,

I ment the hole in the firewall for the carb to go through..

Can you please explain the standoffs?

Thanks again and more to come

The DA 50 ships with 2.75" long standoffs that maintain the carb ahead of the firewall if you use them without spacers about 1/4". As such there is NO need for a hole in the firewall when using this engine. The problem is that the WH Edge needs the engine 3/4" further forward to mount up correctly. I simply used some some spruce stock purchased at the LHS that measured 3/4 x 3/8, laminate two peices together to create 2 blocks 3/4" square, mount the blocks to either side of the firewall and drill through to allow passage of the engine mounting bolts.

Simple, light and easy. Be sure to coat the whole firewall and all exposed wood under the cowl as gassers will spit oil out of the carb and oil down the wood, fuel proofing is a must.

Check out www.edge540t.com and you'll have most of your questions answered. This guy did a nice build review and has some videos there too...that will get you motivated.

Yes, the fuel dot comes with Tom's hardware kit. Everything is in there, very nice hardware kit for a person building their first gasser. Standoffs come WITH the engine, but you'll need spacers as previously discussed. Specify what engine you'll be using when you order the plane so Tom can include the right hardware pack...either pull-pull rudder parts (DA-50) or rudder pushrods (G-62).

You will need hinge glue (Gorilla is highly recommended), the servo extensions, some velcro, foam for padding radio gear, glue or screws for mounting the canopy, a dremel for trimming the cowling, a spinner, 22x8 prop (stick with a wood BME, Menz, or NX), normal shop tools like allen wrenches (standard and metric for Tom's hardware kit), phillips screwdriver, pliers, covering iron (to make sure the covering if firmly and tightly secured), and aluminum servo arms if using ball-links and wanting 3D throws (prevents twisting of arms).

Check out that website and keep learning...read through as much of the Wild Hare forum as you have time for, there's a wealth of knowledge there, and will answer most, if not ALL of your questions!

Thanks for the help guys!

I'm going to start ordering small stuff (extensions, prop, Glue, velcro, etc etc.. )

Then I'm going to go with 1 HS5945 for the rudder.. And either Futaba S3305s or HITEC HS5645's for all other surfaces.

I'm going with the DA 50 and Standoffs from "aerographix" and hopefully a used slimline muffler... And a NX 22X8 Prop

I need some good control arms for those HITEC Servo's... Do they have to be metal? And what are ball links? How do I set them up?

If money is an issue simply make the standoffs from wood and save the $30 to put towards other stuff. The Hitec 5645's are fine servos for thesed planes and come with a variety of arms. Metal arms are advised if using ball links, you'll need 1.25" arms on the elevators to get 45-50 degrees of throw and clevises will bind on the arms at these extreme angles, making ball links a necessity. The ailerons are pretty effective with the 7/8 inch arm that comes with the Hitec servo when combined with a clevis. No you won't get max throw bevel to bevel but most guys wouldn't want to fly a plane with that kind of roll rate anyway.

If you want a good servo for the rudder don't overlook the Hitec jumbo's, yes they are heavy but they can get the job done cheaper than the 5945. The 5945 is a great servo but I prefer the added torque of the JR 8611 or the jumbo Hitecs.

BTW you can find the Jumbo Hitecs used for a pretty good price. I have one that I used all last summer, about 50 flights, with an SWB 4 inch arm I'm looking to sell that I just replaced with a lighter JR 8611a.

How much is the JR servo? ANd what's it torque rating?

Also where can I order COMPLETE ball links? Or can I? It would be nice to be able to order like a ball link kit.

Du-Bro has some really nice heavy duty ball links that come in 2,10 and 20 packs....I think that's correct but anyway, you get the idea.

The 8611a is THE rudder servo for these planes, I paid $114 for mine from Cheif Aircraft and the SWB 3 inch double arm was like $10, worth every penny once you see the control they provide on 6 volts.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Explore/...ArticleID=1450

http://www.swbmfg.com/

Whats about a used 8611? I can probably find a lot for cheaper?

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFPW8&P=7

Thats all I could come up with as far as ball links??? But I don't see how they mount up? Can someone post a picture?

Ahh More questions..

1.) The DA 50-R has a choke right?

2.) Should I go with a servo operated choke.... Or a manual choke?

3.) How hard are gas engines to tune... As opposed to glow?

4.) What is the capacity (Nimh) recomended for the ingition? And should I run 2 batteries for the reciever? Or 1? I'm thinking 2 unless the weight penalty is to great.

on the stand offs, If you order the DA from Tom it will come with 3" stand offs. so a 1/4 inch plywood or hard wood shim will get the job done. If you order direct from DA, simply ask for 3" standoffs. They Will exchange them at no cost.

the choke servo is an item of preference. what ever works for you.

servo arms, air wild MLP arms or the SWB arms are the ticket! order 1.25" arms for ailerons and elevators. and a 3" double for the pull pull.

here are some pictures of my install.

That last photo looks like my dog wanting a belly rub.

TF

I do whatever it takes to keep my birds happy!

Thanks For the Pics!

I think I'll be ordering my DA from Tom at the same time I order my Edge.. That way I get both at one time and Tom gets the sell.. Then order some alum. standoffs from Aerographix.... I don't trust myself to make my own spacers[]

In those pics, is that the Slimline muffler that I want? Or different one? Also is there anyreason you went with the servo op choke? or Just preference... I have some S3004's laying around, would one of them do the job?