Giles elevator question
 

When I line up the counterbalances with the stab, looking at it from the back the elevators don't line up. If I make the elevators even one counterbalance is off by at least a 1/4". Is this normal?

RE: Giles elevator question
 

I am tiring of this. This is an item that you should have reported to me directly, it has no business in this forum.

I really must ask you guys to call me first if you have a problem. This forum is meant to answer technical questions and not for doing routine business like reporting problems.

If your main goal is to publicize every minor defect found in a Wild Hare plane without giving me an opportunity to fix it first then this forum becomes nothing more than a complaint list and I'll shut it down.

I haven't sold a Giles in over 6 months so I know that whatever is going on here happened a long time ago. If you want me to handle this in a professional manner then call me first. If you don't I will conclude that you have some type of agenda.

Tom Fawcett
Wild Hare R/C

RE: Giles elevator question
 

All I can say is WOW, I wasn't expecting help like your giving me! This being my first large airplane and my first Wild Hare. It is also my first airplane with dual elevator servos. I am sorry if you are tiring of people asking questions that they don't know the answers to. I thought that was what forums were for, people helping people. This is a big investment for me, thus taking more than 6 months and I am wanting to be 100% confident that it is right before I maiden it. I do not have an agenda, just a question. Maybe it doesn't matter that they are off, just as long as the end points are the same, I don't know. Maybe instead of posting a short tempered comment, you could have emailed or pm'd me and we could have discussed it. Like I said this is a first for me.


If this forum was set up for the likes but not the dis-likes of your airplanes, then maybe you should shut this forum down. It is not doing any good for people if their questions are not getting answered.

RE: Giles elevator question
 

You should call me first. I take care of problems that way. 817-430-0107. I'm here most of the time, even on memorial day.

It does matter that they are off, that elevator needs to be replaced which is what I would have done if you had called. This is a problem that happens with just about all builders of built-up tail surfaces, they build them on a flat surface and sometimes they have too much weight at the front and develop a twist.


TF

RE: Giles elevator question
 

goflyrc1,

Don't worry, I think Tom is just having a bad weekend. There are way to many troll posts on RCU some times. I had the same problem you did with a kit built 35% Edge (another company) There is a good chance your incidence is off slightly on one side. It doesn't take much. If you don't have an incidence meter, loosen the retaining screws and see if you can jiggle one or both elevator halves up and down a little. If you can, see if you can line them up and then re-tighten. If you have access to an incidence meter check both sides. Most likely you will find one off slightly. If so, just expanding the retaining holes slightly on the appropriate side will allow you to line everything up. This is a somewhat common problem even with the best of ARFs, which WH is one of. If you call Tom, you can go into deeper detail and he will take care of you - even when he is grouchy :).

RE: Giles elevator question
 

Without trying to offend ANYONE, I'd like to offer three suggestions.

First,

Check the incidnece on BOTH elevator halves. This should be done with any plane, from any manufacturer, so if you don't have an incidence meter laying around, you should get a couple. Not doing this means that you have not really been getting as much out of MOST of your planes as you could have been, and trimming has been a lot more work that it needed to be. Incidence should be checked for all the wings and flying surfaces of a plane. There isn't a manufacturer out there that gets it right all the time. If incidence is off a little, some minor sanding or filing is usually all it takes to correct it.

Second,

Check the elevators and horizontal stabs against each other to determine if there is actually a problem in the construction or not. If there is, go to number three.

Number Three The most important one.

If anyone has what they believe to be a problem with with a kit from ANY manufacturer, and not just Wild Hare, it will ALWAYS be better to FIRST contact the manufacturer directly to determine what course of action, if any, will be required from that point on. Posting publically about a potential problem prior to letting the maker have a chance to resolve it does not and will not ever provide the best or fastest resolution to a problem or condition. It also helps, if, before you commit anything to print, that you consider not only what you are saying, but how you are saying it, and how it might be read or interpreted by others.

Back to the subject at hand, go with what Tom told you and call him. He ALWAYS handles a problem quickly.

Pat Roy

RE: Giles elevator question
 

goflyrc1, I had the same issue with a rudder on one of my planes, one call to Tom and a new part was forthcoming. He realy will take care of it!

RE: Giles elevator question
 

We talked, problem is being addressed.

TF

RE: Giles elevator question
 

Told ya so!:D

RE: Giles elevator question
 

Yes, thanks Tom. I will let you know how it goes.

RE: Giles elevator question
 

I hope you are just having a bad day. I was considering a Giles for a 3W75, but if you are this abrupt, I wonder . . . . . I had questions about the Giles, but now I am afraid to ask!

RE: Giles elevator question
 

Don't be, just call me at 817-430-0107.

TF

RE: Giles elevator question
 

I got several personal emails from some of your dedicated fans, so I guess it was just one of those days. I will give you a shout when I get the funds for the next project for either the Giles or the Ultimate. I have a 3W-75iUS needing a home whenever I finish my current 35% project. Thanks for the reply, happy landings.

RE: Giles elevator question
 

That engine is ideal for the Extra 260 or the Giles, it's probably a little heavy for the Ultimate.

TF

RE: Giles elevator question
 

Mike,

The Giles is a wonderful plane once you have it set up properly. If you have it nose heavy it can be snappy, but balanced on the center of the wing tube, using the manual suggested control travels for a starting point and it's a beautiful bird. Pay attention to the low rate elevator travels if you plan to pull a bunch of abrupt elevator pulls.

Pat

RE: Giles elevator question
 

Tom

Sometimes others gain information from the internet, because a phone call is not really an option.

I am in Australia, so time zones etc come into play.

I have followed the various Giles articles and your usually friendly and detailed responses with great interest. I bought mine when I was working in the States about 18 months ago. Due to work commitments I still havent finished it, but aim to do so by the end of this year.

I havent experienced any difficulties with what I have done with the Giles so far and cant see any occurring, but if they do, I would have emailed due to the earlier stated reasons and am not sure I would have been thrilled with a response like that above and I say that noting the excellent after service and information you supply

Cheers

Phil