Second build - FT Tutor

[Pullstart]

After building Hambone the piggy at Flite Fest, I was hooked on the build! After crashing Hambone like I was warned, a few times, I picked up a Tutor kit. It was suggested as an easy build and easy fly.

I built the majority of it on Saturday night, and finished it today. I need a battery hold down strap in there and it’s ready to go!

I have the float kit and may end up installing it before too long. I want to have an easy (slow) flying plane and it was suggested by one of the staff that the floats will add low center of gravity and slow it down a bit too.

Being a major Wheel Horse garden tractor enthusiast, it’ll likely be red and tractor themed somehow.

 

[SEEBO]

Excellent choice! I own many planes but man if I only have an hour of free time to fly I grab my Tutor. It was my first RC plane and has gained a few oz through tape, glue, popsicle sticks and other repair means but it still flies great. I'm finally considering retiring it for parts to build my FPV Flerken but I have an unbuilt kit and turbo wing waiting on my shelf and I'm considering overpowering the absolute bejeezus out of it with a motor and ESC from a crashed Eclipson 3D printed model. Looking forward to seeing your paint job!

 

[Mr Man]

After building Hambone the piggy at Flite Fest, I was hooked on the build! After crashing Hambone like I was warned, a few times, I picked up a Tutor kit. It was suggested as an easy build and easy fly.

I built the majority of it on Saturday night, and finished it today. I need a battery hold down strap in there and it’s ready to go!

I have the float kit and may end up installing it before too long. I want to have an easy (slow) flying plane and it was suggested by one of the staff that the floats will add low center of gravity and slow it down a bit too.

Being a major Wheel Horse garden tractor enthusiast, it’ll likely be red and tractor themed somehow.

Nice garage! Deer skulls, tractor, tools, stuff with engines…. I APPROVE! (Kinda wish mine looked like that 🤣, though I do have a partially disassembled vintage enduro bike in mine)

 

[SEEBO]

Hey Pullstart where abouts in MI are you located? I'm SE MI and fly at Wetzel State Game area, home of Radio Control Club of Detroit.

 

[Pullstart]

Hey Pullstart where abouts in MI are you located? I'm SE MI and fly at Wetzel State Game area, home of Radio Control Club of Detroit.

South side of Grand Rapids. I heard of a club near Alto and might look into that. I have some property I mow for my deer hunting, but don’t want to disrupt them too much.

 

[Pullstart]

Nice garage! Deer skulls, tractor, tools, stuff with engines…. I APPROVE! (Kinda wish mine looked like that 🤣, though I do have a partially disassembled vintage enduro bike in mine)

thank you! I have sure made the place my own. There are 5 tractors in various states hanging up, one is even my ceiling fan! There’s some Tonka toys, motorcycles and various other things hanging up too, all out there by myself.

 

[Mr Man]

thank you! I have sure made the place my own. There are 5 tractors in various states hanging up, one is even my ceiling fan! There’s some Tonka toys, motorcycles and various other things hanging up too, all out there by myself.

😲

 

[Pullstart]

Any input to what’s so incredibly wrong? Is the grass just pulling it over?

 

[RickHunter]

Maybe caused by the thrust at take off. If it's torque roll you can add a couple washers to the left side of the motor to give it some thrust angle. Seems your hitting the throttle pretty hard on take off, which you might need to in that grass. One thing you might try before anything else is have someone hand launch you with a nice little toss (towards that tall grass for cushion just incase). Also you might put a couple bbq sticks in the power pod between the firewall and battery. It could save your battery from going through the motor mount bolts in a crash.

 

[RickHunter]

Make sure your wheel is spinning freely. If the left one is binding that could pull it to the left as well.

 

[Pullstart]

Maybe caused by the thrust at take off. If it's torque roll you can add a couple washers to the left side of the motor to give it some thrust angle. Seems your hitting the throttle pretty hard on take off, which you might need to in that grass. One thing you might try before anything else is have someone hand launch you with a nice little toss (towards that tall grass for cushion just incase). Also you might put a couple bbq sticks in the power pod between the firewall and battery. It could save your battery from going through the motor mount bolts in a crash. View attachment 259854

Thanks a ton Rick! The wheels are both spinning free, but I’ll check the rest out. Yes, we contemplated a toss launch. My right shoulder is going through rehab from a one wheel crash, but maybe my wife is done laughing by now! I’m rough on everything, but I’m a good sport. 👍

 

[RickHunter]

It always better starting off if someone else can throw you. That way you have both hands on the transmitter. If on the toss the plane still rolls left, you'll need to give it right aileron to compensate for it. Throwing towards that tall grass should help not damage the plane too bad if unsuccessful. We've all been there. All i had here was catus and tumbleweeds to help cushion my wrecks. I went through two simple cubs before I started to get the hang of it, all with my buddy hand tossing it. Seven years and way too many planes (according to my wife) later I'm addicted.

 

[Pullstart]

I ordered the 5 pack of power pods and that should deliver today. I’m excited to try again with a fresh and straight firewall!

 

[RickHunter]

Best of luck. Hope it works for you.

 

[Pullstart]

Test two. Coming soon…

For now, I built one pod, pre drilled the firewall, then chased the bit into the foam board at an angle and glued in a couple 2-3 inches of skewer on each side for more support.