Do you guys have days where you just don't seem to have the ability to fly well (or is it just me)? Today was one of those days, darn near smashed the Sportster into a million pieces, got all confused, went the wrong way with the aileron, trying to correct, I went the wrong way again, and just about hit a light post and drove it into the pavement. (some of the worst flying I've done in months). Some how, last minute panic, I got it up and out of danger.
Now part of this is because I was fiddling with the plane last night, so things were out of trim/balance a bit. It just doesn't take much to throw me off my game, elevator out of trim, I'm fine, elevator and aileron out of trim, I'm in trouble. That's what happened today, just couldn't seem to get to the trim buttons (I definitely need more work here). Finally, I got it up high, and trimmed it out. You could almost consider this maiden practice as that's how maidens can go.
So I got it all trimmed out but last night, after I posted, I realized I made a mistake. I went to the center hole from the outer most hole on the servo arm. I did the opposite of what I wanted to do, I reduced my throw (I just didn't think, I had it in my head I wanted to go to the middle as that's where the Scout is). So it was late, I was tired and decided to deal with my mistake tomorrow. I woke up early, winds were down, so I got a few batteries in before it picked up. I flew as is, to see what it would do. As expected, it didn't do anything but take away authority. So today, I looked through my left over parts (that came with the servos) and found one that would work. I modified the 2 bladed arm into this.
View attachment 154315
This will increase my throw by 30% (from center position) and I think that will be perfect. I'll try it and find out, I've got 3 rates set up in the event that it's too much. I have no real adjustment at the horns, as I'm using the dental pick and it's cut off). I made a push rod slightly shorter and using all the variables, was able zero out the ailerons nicely, without having a down or up aileron bias (that could be corrected with elevator trim). I double checked to make sure that the hinges or something else limiting the range. (The servo is not being impeded. )
So now the next thing, the spinner looks great but I'm pulling it off for now. You guys talk about balancing props but if anything needs to be balanced, it's a spinner. Because of the mass of the spinner, it's contribution to imbalance is huge. This morning, I tested it out, holding the plane with my hand, rev it up, you could feel it was out of balance (not thump, thump, but out of balance). I need to balance the spinner before I can use it. Unfortunately, I left the tool to remove the spinner on the kitchen counter top, so I couldn't remove it at the field. I flew it as it, it wasn't great. That spinner is 50 grams, nearly 2 oz, that a significant "fly wheel" for the motor to spin (especially considering that I think it's under powered already). That's 3 to 4 times the mass of the prop (depending on what prop). I realize mass further off axis of the prop is a much bigger contributor but still. (I also have a feeling that even after that, reassembling spinner/prop and attaching to the prop shaft may not be repeatable and therefore out of balance.) Of course, I could always balance it and then run it and see how it feels. It's subjective but it's worth checking.
BATTLEAXE: Can your magnetic prop balancer hold a 50 gram spinner? Not sure how weight your magnetics will hold.
I really need a bigger motor to fully enjoy this plane. But the one suggested to me with the ESC are around $100. My plan right now is to maiden the P 40 this week and depending on how that goes (and if I like it), that will decide the direction I go. If I don't like it, I'll get a bigger motor/esc for the Sportster. I also want to see how my aileron mod goes as well. If I like the P 40 more, than I'll probably head in the Spitfire and Mustang direction.
All part of learning, theory is great, but it's hard to beat hands on experience.
