Help getting dads old plane to fly

[Greyhound247]

The angle of inclination of the V-shaped wing is very large - there is an excellent option for the trainer model. Do not make ailerons - they will not work well.It is enough for you to control the rudder (keel). When you have the experience, you will be able to make a new foam wing without the wing angle + ailerons.With excellent engine thrust, the trainer will be able to make barrels.

I currently have other foam wings with ailerons, so I'm comfortable flying 4-channel. But my other planes don't have so much dihedral angle, which is why I wanted to ask. So ailerons definitely won't work here? I am a pilot, so flying 4-channel is more natural to me than flying 3-channel.

 

[Bricks]

You could include them and if not happy the way the plane reacts just don`t use them....simple. I would

 

[Shurik-1960]

I made ailerons on a Sea BB seaplane. There were almost no left and right turns, although the ailerons were wide and long. I removed the ailerons+ servo mechanism. It's overweight. If you want ailerons, make a new wing.If you want a steady flight in a strong wind, fly a model with a large V-wing angle.

 

[Merv]

Not entirely sure how to estimate that? since I don't know which motor/esc/battery...

You will need to irritate.
Get the weight of a battery & motor you are thinking about using from the manufacturer. The weight doesn't even need to be the same brand of stuff. All 2200 3s batteries are going to weigh about the same. All 2212 motors are going to weigh about the same. Use the estimated all up weight to run the calculations. If it is under powered, try again with a larger setup.

Estimating the all up weight is not difficult. You don't need the exact weight, just be reasonably close, plus or minus 10% or so. The thrust to weight ratio & watts per pound are not exact measurements. They are intended to get you in the right ball park.

 

[Piotrsko]

You can use ailerons but they need differential throw, that is much more up movement since down movement is kinda worthless on diehederal as it makes more drag than anything else and you dont want that drag on the outside wing: it cancels the turn. Just don't expect a sjappy aileron roll.

 

[Greyhound247]

I could use some help buying a battery. I went ahead and got the FT XL Power Add-on as FT support got back to me and said the 2814 motor would have no problem getting even a 3lb or more plane to fly.
I've read threads about how to buy the right size battery but I'm still having a hard time understanding so would appreciate some help. I know the motor is 1100kV and the kit has a 40A ESC, a 12x4.5 prop, and 17G servos. I also have a spare AR620 Spektrum receiver, will this be fine to use? Just want to make sure I'm not gonna brown out.

 

[Mr Man]

I could use some help buying a battery. I went ahead and got the FT XL Power Add-on as FT support got back to me and said the 2814 motor would have no problem getting even a 3lb or more plane to fly.
I've read threads about how to buy the right size battery but I'm still having a hard time understanding so would appreciate some help. I know the motor is 1100kV and the kit has a 40A ESC, a 12x4.5 prop, and 17G servos. I also have a spare AR620 Spektrum receiver, will this be fine to use? Just want to make sure I'm not gonna brown out.

Yes, you might want to run a separate BEC for those rather large 17g servos.

 

[Mr Man]

Battery is dependent on balancing the plane.

 

[cyclone3350]

I could use some help buying a battery. I went ahead and got the FT XL Power Add-on as FT support got back to me and said the 2814 motor would have no problem getting even a 3lb or more plane to fly.
I've read threads about how to buy the right size battery but I'm still having a hard time understanding so would appreciate some help. I know the motor is 1100kV and the kit has a 40A ESC, a 12x4.5 prop, and 17G servos. I also have a spare AR620 Spektrum receiver, will this be fine to use? Just want to make sure I'm not gonna brown out.

I just saw this thread. My father and I built this one back in the late '70's and he still has it. We had a .25 glow on it and was plenty of power. I would leave it as a rudder only. It may seem a litle squirley, but we did learn to fly succesfully on it with the radios of the day. As far as a battery, with the 12x4.5 prop, U R going to need a 3S. If FT states that motor will pull a 3lb bird, then a 3300mah should fit in there without any problem. If U R concerned about the weight, then U could go to a 2200mah. Hmmm... my dad still has his in the attic, Now I'm thinking of pulling it down and doing a convert on it.

 

[RcLew]

Oh the M.E.N. brings back great memoirs, had many fights on one back in the mid 70s, I still have my plans, hopefully I'll scratch build one someday. They fly slow and gentile with that under cambered wing, its a plane you can sit in the lawn chair and just fly around. I flew it year around winter and summer, had a Super Tiger 25 on it, as far as electric I wouldn't know, I like my nitro, love that smell. My flying buddy had one also, he put ailerons on it, didn't fly that great with under cambered wing. We use to drop parachute men from them, we also placed a garbage can in field, fly over it and try and drop MT beer cans into the garbage can, I don't recall anyone getting one in the can. Get it flying and put that smile on your dad's face, and hand him the radio

 

[Greyhound247]

I just saw this thread. My father and I built this one back in the late '70's and he still has it. We had a .25 glow on it and was plenty of power. I would leave it as a rudder only. It may seem a litle squirley, but we did learn to fly succesfully on it with the radios of the day. As far as a battery, with the 12x4.5 prop, U R going to need a 3S. If FT states that motor will pull a 3lb bird, then a 3300mah should fit in there without any problem. If U R concerned about the weight, then U could go to a 2200mah. Hmmm... my dad still has his in the attic, Now I'm thinking of pulling it down and doing a convert on it.

Thanks! Thats exactly what I needed. I'll post an update once its done. I do plan on adding ailerons with differential since flying 3 channel just feels very unnatural to me, and if they don't work I can always just lock them.

 

[cyclone3350]

Thanks! Thats exactly what I needed. I'll post an update once its done. I do plan on adding ailerons with differential since flying 3 channel just feels very unnatural to me, and if they don't work I can always just lock them.

Cool! Luv to see how it works out. I think the ailerons will make it more stable for the turns. If I remember correcrtly, in the 2 channel control, U really didn't fly it, it was more like gently deflecting the direction of a free flight model to keep it within the field boundaries.

 

[Greyhound247]

Next problem: the new electric motor is shorter than the old glow motor by about 1" (2.5cm). Any tips regarding attaching this to the firewall? Do I shorten the nose or add a few layers of balsa to get the prop to be about where it was with the glow motor? I don't think adding a few layers of balsa will add too much weight, so I'm leaning toward that rather than shortening the nose since I think shortening would potentially alter the aerodynamics by changing the prop position.

 

[Mr Man]

Next problem: the new electric motor is shorter than the old glow motor by about 1" (2.5cm). Any tips regarding attaching this to the firewall? Do I shorten the nose or add a few layers of balsa to get the prop to be about where it was with the glow motor? I don't think adding a few layers of balsa will add too much weight, so I'm leaning toward that rather than shortening the nose since I think shortening would potentially alter the aerodynamics by changing the prop position.

Yeah, just Make some stand-offs for the motor.

 

[Tench745]

Typically one would either add some metal standoffs or build a plywood box that the motor can mount to. Standoffs are heavier, so pick the one that fits your nose weight needs.

 

[Shurik-1960]

A piece of foam + 4 mm plywood.Make the cuts 2-3 degrees down and to the right when gluing. The light balsa does not hold the screws from the engine frame-the engine will vomit.

 

[Merv]

...Any tips regarding attaching this to the firewall? ...

That is an easy fix if you have a 3D printer.
Or know someone who does.

 

[Greyhound247]

That is an easy fix if you have a 3D printer.
Or know someone who does.

I don't. Also need to find some decent 4mm plywood. My local hobby shops just have basswood.

 

[Mr Man]

I don't. Also need to find some decent 4mm plywood. My local hobby shops just have basswood.

Maybe check and see if your local library had one, or see if there's a nearby makerspace.

 

[Bricks]

Check local craft stores, that is where I find any balsa or plywood I might need..