F-35 with Delta V

[Gabe]

Well, I finally got the new foam for my F-35 and got the Delta V edf from E-Flite in there. Holy $h@t! She blew my Habu away! I'm runnin 2200mah 4s zippy's that I hollowed out the battery compartment for. Dang she is fun!

[19000rpm]

Which F35 did you get? What size fan? I've been looking at the Max F35 with a 64mm fan over on nitro planes.

[Gabe]

That's the one! They still have the kit only version available. I'm running an E-Flite 40amp esc with the 65mm Delta V motor.

I reused the servos from my Starmax F-35 and the linkage that connects the elevons an the ailerons. Otherwise, the Max kit comes with 4 servo links so you will need 4 servos fir the ailerons and elevators.

[19000rpm]

I was going for the Max kit with the standard fan that requires a 14L inrunner motor that seems to be out of stock everywhere I've looked. Any thoughts?

Glad to hear she's as fast as I've heard.

My only concern is that I take off and land on rough grass, except when flying off dirt roads and ice or snow. The gear doesn't look too substantial. Am I going to need to fly it without the gear? If so, how does she hand launch?

[Gabe]

Dude - same problem. I fly on a soccer field and the gear really sucks. I ripped the wing of on her maiden attempt. Had to ca glue it back on. I'm gonna try to launch diagonal across two basketball courts. I really hope there's enough room. I'm thinking about grabbing another sen of the Habu landing gear and throwing it on there.

As far as hand launching, I'm pretty chicken $h!t about it. This is my third set of foam and the only one with the Delta V in it. The standard fan and motor sucks. Stalled everytime on takeoff if you gave it too much pitch. Spend the extra money and go with the Delta V. It slides right in. Just got to shave away a little foam on the hatch.

I still have to bench test at full throttle for battery voltage cut off time. I will let you know though.

[19000rpm]

Thanks for the heads up on the motor.

It's a shame the EDF's take so long to spool up. I don't know if I've got any place smooth and long enough to get it off the ground. I'm going to have to think about that.

I've seen some guys using a rubber powered catapult to launch them. I might try hand launching just for the heck of it.

Let me know how that runway and gear work out.

[Gabe]

I think a hand launch would work, but the elevons are just held on by two stab hinges. The Delta V is really strong too, I'm not sure I could hold it at full throttle and control the launch.

I will let you know about the landing gear switch.

[19000rpm]

Yep, that's the problem with hand launched belly landers. Usually the elevator/elevon is exposed to some damage on landing if things don't go well, in particular, with a set up like the F35. I think I'd leave the gear on just for that reason. At least it provides some protection.

BTW you can buy or make plastic protectors for the control horn on the elevons if they are exposed to contact on belly landings.

I think I'd be concerned about hand launching at anything but full throttle. Like you, I'd also be concerned about gaining control.

Is that the Eflite Delta V 480 motor and housing you're using and what ESC?

[Gabe]

Yup yup. 40amp esc. E-Flite.

[19000rpm]

Thanks for the info Gabe. It looks like I waited too long for the camo version.

[Gabe]

Ooh that's sucks. The gray is still cool though. Spare foam is easier
to find too.

[19000rpm]

I'll just spray some white and dark grey on the top.

Did you use run of the mill 9g servos on it?

[Gabe]

Yup. Just the standard ones that came with the orignal starmax kit. They work just fine.

[19000rpm]

He who snoozes looses. The Gray one just went out of stock too. That just leaves the ARF's. Would I be making a huge mistake buying one of those? How bad is the motor/fan?

Well, I'll keep an eye out. I checked out the Delta V at Hobbyzone yesterday. That is one sweet unit. Reeks of quality.

[Gabe]

Not a terrible mistake - but it really has no vertical thrust power on takeoff. It takes a while to get going and you gotta have a long smooth runway. On takeoff, I really didn't have a whole lot of aileron control either - wrecked a few times because of it and actually had a stall on the initial climb resulting in a total loss of the foam.

If you really want the plane, the esc and motor changeout is really easy, and the arf's have everything else already installed.

The stock esc will NOT handle a 4s battery or the Delta V motor, just FYI.