mwhar760

My Feedback: (18)

got the engine and landing gear mounted on mine and could'nt resist the urge so i bolted it all together. it seems as if this plane could actually be a weekend project to fly on monday???

Tired Old Man

My Feedback: (1)

If you've done one before and have your hinging methods down it really can be.

rctom

It takes me 1 hour and 15 minutes to hinge a plane.

20 minutes to tape and prep one side of all surfaces.
15 minutes to glue in the hinges
<wait for glue to dry doesn't count, do this part before noon>
15 minutes to glue the other side
<wait again, do this after dinner and allow to dry overnight>
25 minutes to pull out all the masking tape and clean up

I clocked myself on the most recent job which was a large plane. One must be organized, but it isn't a big job. You need sharp exacto blades, blue masking tape, gorilla glue or urethane glue, toothpicks, small paper cups. You also need something to hold the pieces securely while the glue dries.

TF

mwhar760

My Feedback: (18)

well actually this is my first bunny plane actually met tom and purchased the kit being that i dont live to far from him was a pretty cool thing! really nice people to! compared to the g/p ultimate and yak 54 that i have put together the 540 v2 the hardest thing to it is mounting the engine. like tom states

mwhar760

My Feedback: (18)

curios tho has anyone put a smoker system in theirs and if so where is the best place to put the smoke tank??

mstroh3961

My Feedback: (4)

beside the gas tank....

get a pair of 16-18 oz dubro's

mwhar760

My Feedback: (18)

thanks,for the info. was wondering about the cg change as the smoke fluid was used up due to the forward tank placement ??always center mounted the smoke tank on the cg. before but it's not gonna happen here no room??

mstroh3961

My Feedback: (4)

One tank <smoke> needs to be placed on its side..........

Tired Old Man

My Feedback: (1)

If you're a little creative you can use a 24 ounce smoke tank placed flat and a 16 ounce gas tank. The smoke will run out first.

Al Lewis

Well Tom, not to get off of the subject buddy but I just got this off of my club website.

Aug 2nd, 2007
FOLKS, WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS! It appears we have a new IMAC competitor within our club! BRANDON WOYSHNIS. Brandon stepped up to take Third place in Basic Class at the Pacific Coast Freestyle IMAC contest!! GREAT JOB, BRANDON!

Maybe you'll have someone new to showcase your great planes. I think he turned 9 this year. I also believe this was his first competition. Can you say "Two Aliens"

Al

OverTheEdge

My Feedback: (1)

Hey guys...
I'm looking to take the jump from glow to gas and have been eye balling this plane with the 3m53 combo. The closest thing to this that I fly right now is a 90 size Aeroworks Edge540 with an os120ax on the nose. (Time to go bigger! [8D])
Anyway I have a question.
Are the wings on this plane sheeted foam or built up balsa? I printed the manual off the website and it makes it sound like the wings are foam... but on the description on the same website it says the wings are built up? If they are built up... do they seem to handle the vibration from that gas engine pretty well?
I'm selling off some excess inventory (planes, and other misc) to scrape up the $$ for this bad boy... If things keep selling the way they are now I should be ordering this combo with a couple of weeks !

Captain Randy

My Feedback: (1)

The wings are built up.
The older version was foam, so maybe that was the confusion (Don't know what manual you read.)
I've flown mine well over 50 times and the wings are rock solid.

This plane will not disappoint you!

Barry Cazier

My Feedback: (17)

Mine should be ready by next Saturday. I can't wait to fly this plane. Should be interesting.

All I have left to do is:

Mount the engine
Hinge the wings
Hinge the elevators
Hinge the Rudder
Seal the hinge lines
Cut the cowl
Mount all the servos
Mount the canopy
Mount the landing gear
Mount the ignition
Mount the radio gear
Balance

I should have it ready in a week. Can't wait.

Thanks
BArry

rctom

So, you just took it out of the box?

TF

Henna Ojisan

That's what I was guessing as well - pretty much sums up the whole build

Jason

R.J. Rose Ocala FL

He way underestimated the complexity of the task by failing to mention installation of a fuel tank!

phjoker

My Feedback: (4)

Don't forget to balance the prop

Tired Old Man

My Feedback: (1)

I think the first 4 days were prolly lost in admiring the plane[8D]

Fuel tank installation? You mean two zip ties and a piece of foam? The hardest part is deciding where you want to put the fuel dot. I hope that decision ends up with the dot higher than the top of the tank when the plane's sitting on the gear. Keeps the fingers dry when you R&R the plud in the dot

TheFoxes

My Feedback: (2)

"Dang! Guess I'm starting alll over."

R.J. Rose Ocala FL

Pat -

I guess you missed the cynical humor in my remark about installing the fuel tank. There was nothing complex about assembling this plane, locating the engine is the toughest task and the instructions make that as simple as falling off a log.

The fuel dot comment is most appropo. I get a dribble every time!

Barry Cazier

My Feedback: (17)

I was just trying to get a laugh...sorry.

I'm actually doing pretty well. I've got the engine mounted, all the hinges mounted and sealed, the canopy is installed, the cowl cut, and I've got the cannister installed. I think that's pretty much the hardest stuff. I've got to mount all the servos, landing gear and radio. Then balance and fly. I really should have it ready by next Saturday for the maiden.

Question? My firewall only has about 1/16" difference from the left to the right. Is that enough RH thrust? The engine is almost centered when I centered it in the cowl. I would guess approximately 1* of RH thrust. That seems less than most other planes I've seen. Is that about right for this plane?

Other than that, I'm very impressed with the build. It's been fun and I'm just taking it easy and making sure everything is right.

Thanks,
Barry

R.J. Rose Ocala FL

That does not sound right to me. I did some rough measurements of mine with the cowl on. Measuring through the air inlets the right side of the firewall (aft looking forward, left side looking at the tail) is about 1/4" aft of the left side. Looking forward with the canopy hatch removed, it appears that my engine mount bolts are approximately 1/2" disposed to the left (aft looking forward). This with a DA50. Allowing for the fact that you have a different engine, the centerline of the mount system should be somewhere in the range of 3/8" - 1/2" left of center (aft looking forward).

I don't know which is correct but will tell you that even with the apparently greater right thrust angle, I still have to hold a hair (or is it hare?) of right rudder takeoff climb or vertical climb to maintain a straight line.

Al Lewis

Zip ties!!! We don't need no stinking zip ties!! Use the red velcro ties from HomeDepot! They work great!! LOL

Barry Cazier

My Feedback: (17)

Yeah, this has got me a bit worried. And...I am using a DA50 engine also. Mine appears to be an 1/8" to the left and that is all. I mounted the engine exactly like the manual said and I'm exactly certered in the cowl. Based on that I must determine my fire wall is mounted incorrectly. I guess I'll review that and try to correct it.

Thanks
Barry

Al Lewis

I just checked mine Barry (which is almost impossible with the engine in) and as near as I can get it it comes to a difference of a hair under 1/4". Engine is centered on the cowl opening. Plane flys great.