Stik RCGF 10 cc all set!

Yesterday I started tuning up the Stik and her RCGF 10cc engine. She ran ok, but I realised there were a few maintenance issues that needed attending to.

The clunk was kinda solid, as you can see, stiff as a rod. I check them every season and this one had two. This year it needed replacing, so I used some Tygothane. 

This meant pulling the tank which was a bit of a project. I pulled a few unnecessary structural modifications, and removed the defunct Orange 3-axis stabilizer system (don't recall why I am not using it...). Had to remove the throttle  servo, then was able to pull the tank with some elbow grease. On replacing it I had a bit more room, and used a simple cross bar screwed into the frame to hold it forward. I changed the fuel line, kept the vent line. I broke the cheap 3-way and replaced it with a filtering one ai had on hand. Inspection of the carb got me thinking that maybe the vestigial connection for vacuum on the carb, whcih was just squished, might be leaking air, creating some of the idle issues. I CA'd a piece of snug tubing and screwed the end closed. Removing some of the framework made the throttle more accessible and I noticed that it had been rubbing and catching on the motor mount. I realigned this and moved the throttle connector in a spot cleaing the motor mount. This morning I rest the end poi ts while running the engine and tuned the needles. She is running nice and reliably!

Price of foam to tidy it all up!

Eflite UMX Timber Maiden

I took the UMX Timber up for the first time today. A little power wimpy for aerobatics, and not enough elevator throw to loop from high speed level flight. But she really was able to handle some pretty gusty winds in a very narrow space in my front yard. I also like the pulsing the motor does when the battery is at or below 3.8V in full throttle! Fun to kick out the flaps and land at nearly a stand still in a steady wind. Her lack of authority in rudder and elevator made for some moments when I thought the Ents were going to eat her or my neighbor would have a plane on his roof, but she managed.

I wonder if reversing the gear channel would change SAFE MODE and AS3X MODE around? Stock is Gear 0 = SAFE, and GEAR 1 = AS3X. Kinda like my cut outs and SAFE to be a flick up, not down.

Nice little plane!

The rudder wheel is off center and quickly broke through the foam, I stabilized it with CA and a styrofoam patch and then secured it with 5 min epoxy. I threw a construction staple across the rudder-fuse gap as this was already pulling away. Tossed some hinge tap across both sides in the bottom.

Another fun addition to the fleet!

Eflite UMX Turbo Timber

Have been so impressed by my Eflite UMX Pitts S1S that I was looking at another UMX, and I liked the Turbo Timber. Today Instopped at my LHS, ABC Hobbies in Windham and after touching it I bought it.

Very nice!  700 mm wingspan.

Pleasant surprise was that it comes with the VSTOL leading edges!  Bound and programmed her today, and tomorrow plan to maiden! She looks so fragile, the horizontal stabilizers are really thin, but word on the street is she is sturdy. The Pitts is rugged.

Excited!

Maidened the Eflite UMX Pitts S-1S and I am such an idiot.

I LOVE THIS THING! Flew her in the small front yard off the driveway and between my neighbor's house and mine. It flies amazingly well! My first UMX. I can drive her around these tight spaces without much thought. I now have a plane I can just toss up anywhere!

Maiden, took off, rolled inverted, full throttle for an outside loop, immediately lost all power, came down hard. This baby is hardy! "Landed" wheels down, and nothing broke, so I'm not calling it a crash. Another battery, right after full throttle take off engine quit. Another battery, same, another, same. Happened with all 4 new batteries. Watch the vid, solve the mystery!

And this is why.

Dusting off the Align 600 EFL

Cleaned up and lubed! My Align 600 EFL

Scorpion, MonsterX, Sweet!

Will be flying it 10S. Homie ain't shelling out coin for 6S batteries just to fly sport.

It Was The ALIGN GP780?

I read up a bit and found out it was the GP780 gyro. Maybe... Online people noted the wag was a common problem with it.

I removed it and put on the Assan 250 MEMS gyro. I can't say I like it, not sure it holds well, but no wag.

It's a simple gyro. I think it will just take some time to find the right %. I saved the new KST tail servo for the rebuild of the 450 FBL (more on that later).

EXI 450 Tail Wag Update

I once again tackled the tail wag on the EXI 450. I have tightened up everything, still wagging.

Installed the all metal Tarot 450 Tail Slide. I found the it needed offsets between the arms and the blade control arms. An M2 lock nut fit the bill perfectly.

Changed the tail servo control arm to a smaller wheel, to decrease the mechanical advantage, to see if that will decrease the wag.

Reset the end points and have a pretty good range despite the small mechanical advantage.

It was dark and cold by the time I finished, so it will need to wait a few days.

I ordered a better tail servo to replace the cheap Emax 9257 I have on there now. I picked up  KST 215MG froem Amainhobbies and will install it when it arrives.

UPDATE 3/10/2020: Decreasing the mechanical advantage did the trick. There is virtually no wag now at 33% gain. Good enough for me! Not sure I will swap out the servo.