Show us your work bench

[another_finn]

Wow, those pre-painted kits have certainly come a long way from when I last saw one

I don't really have high hopes of making my first jet and first twin survive its maiden, so I took the cheap option and used the GWS EDF64 impellers that came with the kit. I just installed two KB20-40-14L brushless motors and 20A ESCs from Hobby City to give it some authority - at least the power system should be reusable in my next jet, as long as I can find the nacelles after touchdown

[mnwizard]

I know, I couldn't believe the finish on it. I made the guy at the LHS open one up to prove that it was the same as the one on display!

They make a yellow-cowled ME-109 that I'm probably gonna have to build too.

I love an optimist! Are you gonna paint it before you crash it?

I've never done anything with a twin before. Do both motors run off the same speed control? If so, how do you match the motor rpms?

[another_finn]

Originally Posted by mnwizard

I love an optimist! Are you gonna paint it before you crash it?

I've never done anything with a twin before. Do both motors run off the same speed control? If so, how do you match the motor rpms?

I have separate ESCs embedded in the nacelles, but they're connected to the throttle channel by a Y-lead... I'm thinking I should probably try to run the other one on a separate channel, slaved to throttle and possibly mixed with rudder so I could trim out the inevitable thrust imbalance.

I'm kinda torn about the paint issue... At least I could get some nice photos out of it, but it's a lot of work to waste if I come back from the maiden flight with a bag full of packing material

The real problem is going to be finding about a mile of paved runway... The low thrustline from the underslung nacelles means it will have to be pretty nose heavy, so I'm guessing it's going to come in hot. I could always dump it in tall grass and hope for the best, but I had to build it with landing gear to make sure I can at least get airborne. EDFs don't really have the bite that big props do, so I didn't want to add the risk of a botched hand launch to the already considerable odds stacked against it.

[mnwizard]

Mika - It makes me grin just thinking about the 262 roaring down the runway!

I can't get the balancing of the motor thrust out of my head. What a fun challenge! To do it right ya'd have to run seperate throttles. A two throttle Tx, too cool! 'Course I'm not saying I'd be good enough to fly it. It'd be fun to put a second throttle on a Tx and don't connect it to anything, just to freak the guys at the field.

I'll be waiting anxiously for new developements!

You could wait for winter and stuff it into the snow!

[DierWolf]

Well i'm on my 4th plank now they are getting faster and faster LOL.

Have the P51D from Artech
F4U from Artech
Alfa F-86
And got on monday my Sapac T-45 Composite with 70mm Fan running 4cells doing 100+mph

Ahh forgot how much fun planks were....

Need a bigger house now LOL.

[another_finn]

We seem to share a taste in jets - I've been on the lookout for a nice Hawk to turn into a Finnish Air Force bird. How do you like the Alfa so far? I think my next one is going to be either that or the MiG-15...

It does seem to be even easier to fill the house with planks than helicopters. The kits are so cheap (particularly as I'm doing my own paint jobs on GWS NPS kits) that it's almost necessary to get more than one at a time to bring shipping costs down

[mnwizard]

Originally Posted by another_finn

... it's almost necessary to get more than one at a time to bring shipping costs down

I have to remember that one!

[DierWolf]

The Alfa F-86 is awesome especially when you upgrade the ESC to handle 4 cell, i am running 2x 1450mah 25c 2s in series in it, and its clocking 112mph.

running the same but 2200mah in the Composit Sapac T-45, wow that thing flys like its on rails and knife edge is just rediculous!

if you want i would go straight to the Sapac T-45 Foam which has 64mm brushless Fan instead of 70mm and also can handle 4s..

goto www.readyplanes.com and check out the Sapacs, my next one is the Griffen Its HUGE!

[Jonnyheli]

I really want a rc jet plane now... Your making me jelous. I know I said I would rather stunt planes but after editing the jets on AFPD and giving them 500 N of thrust I really want one.

I think I will treat myself to an rc jet plane for xmas. A learjet would look nice cming into landing.

What you guys think of this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/F-15-EAGLE-JET...3286.m14.l1318

You guys are the experts on rc planes... I don't have the first clue about them... I know thats it's 4 ch which is all you need for a plane... Unless I want retracts or other stuff...

-Jonny

[another_finn]

Of course it might be OK, but I haven't seen that plane anywhere outside that ebay shop... which is always a huge red flag. Also it's an RTF kit from an anonymous manufacturer, so you just know it has the cheapest, nastiest electronics that China can produce. If you're going to start with something as demanding as a jet, I would at least get something from a known brand with a lot of positive user comments on forums - RCGroups and Wattflyer are great places to separate the wheat from the chaff. You know what people end up with when they buy a helicopter off the bay without doing their homework first

Why not look into ARFs or receiver ready kits instead? You already have a perfectly good DX6i, so you could just get an AR6100 for $52 delivered from lightflightrc... I bet you could get an Alfa in the air with quality components for not much more than that Chinese toy.

[another_finn]

Originally Posted by Jonnyheli

A learjet would look nice cming into landing.

I knew that reminded me of something... It just took a moment to remember where I'd seen it

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/executive-jet.htm

I think a twin engine EDF is just about the worst thing you could possibly get, though... Just wanted to let you know it's available when you're ready for it.

[DierWolf]

dont like the F14 or F15, But F16 and the like yes.

My bro has composit executive jet, its nice but just not my style....

Anyways... Some vids for you guys..

3s Stock Flight Stock Battery Stock Motor Stock ESC



4s Flight Stock motor, upgraded ESC, Stock Motor (1100watts)

[mnwizard]

Whoa D! That is really cool.

Was that a catapult you lanched from in the 2nd vid?!!

I am far too slow to fly something like that! Even if I was fast enough, I wouldn't be able to see it about 2 seconds after it went by me.

How do you get the YouTube vids to work like that? I either get a full screen or have to use the Http.

[tom dubya]

I don't think that was dierwolf in the vids unless St.maarten has taken a turn for the worst. But i did like the little ramp to lanch it. You gotta stop posting those vids,really makes me want a plank.

[another_finn]

Ooh, that upgraded version is a real screamer. Don't know if I would even like it that fast... Seems like you'd be piloting a real fast dot in the sky most of the time

What I really love is at least semi-scale looks, so I tend to fly them around scale speed and close enough to see where all the work went. The paint looks too nice to sand off, so I might once again opt for something a little less finished and take it from there. I just wish they'd get this kit back in stock.... That Midnight Hawks idea is kinda growing on me, the more I look at these photos

[DierWolf]

The black scheme is nice, but could be really bad for you at a distance.... The Sapac Foam isnt painted really its all white foam with some stickers so repainting isnt a issue at all.

As for speed, even 3s is quite fast, but no one says you have to be at full throttle

This weekend i'm going to add some flaps to my P51D, it doesnt really need it but hey i love the look of the flaps when coming in on approach.

Planning on adding them onto the T-45 also but going Flaperon route instead on that one..

[DierWolf]

Wiz, that P51 you got there, how large is it and what's it made of?

I like that color scheme, may change mine

[another_finn]

Originally Posted by DierWolf

The black scheme is nice, but could be really bad for you at a distance.... The Sapac Foam isnt painted really its all white foam with some stickers so repainting isnt a issue at all.

I hear you... That's the trouble with warbirds - most of them are painted to be difficult to see. That dark sea grey / light sea grey scheme is certainly not something I'd particularly want to fly on a cloudy evening

That's probably one of the reasons I'd also like to do a WWI biplane, from the early days when camouflage was more of a fashion statement

The Alfa Albatros D.V shouldn't be too difficult to pick out from most backgrounds...

[DierWolf]

Dark colors are fine as long as you can tell top from bottom i.e one strip on each wing on top while 2 at bottom for instance...

direction of flight wouldnt be a problem for most people, just it will always be like flying around sunset where its always a siloette (spelling i know, i dumb )

Plenty of sunshine down my end so dark colors arent bad really

[mnwizard]

Originally Posted by DierWolf

Wiz, that P51 you got there, how large is it and what's it made of?

I like that color scheme, may change mine

It's only 1/72 and it's a plastic static kit.

If you'd like I'll post some blow-ups of the color scheme.