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Post by Gabe on Mar 21, 2010 14:59:59 GMT -6
Bought the F-16 today. It actually came with a fan and motor pre-installed from E-Flite. As you all know, that won't do for me. This is what I had from my F-35: Delta V 480 4000KV EDF E-Flite 40Amp Pro ESC/BEC Parkzone/Nitro Planes servos AR6100 Receiver Zippy 4S Batteries 2200 mah 30C Here's the fuse right out of the box (and my electronics):  Shot of the EDF that was included - which I removed, of course. By the way, E-flite states that this model is made specifically to house the Delta V 480 EDF - bologna! I spent 20 minutes shaving out the housing because the EDF was a mm or two larger than the stock one:  The wings got epoxied on and the horizonal stabs used two self tapping screws:   I had to cut away a little extra to make room for the aileron servos from Nitro Planes. They were a little longer and deeper. I also scratched out a mm or two to make sure it sat flush with the wing:  Here's a shot after I placed the included tape/decals on to cover the servo wires:  If you look closely, you can see the push rod clevis extends quite a ways past the hinge. Since I had already turned the clevis on the pushrod as far as it could go, I had to reset the servo horn with a few degrees of "cheating" to make sure the elevators were level:  Tricks with hex wrenches - The CG was way off with the addition of the 4S Zippy. With the 3S it was nearly perfect. So I got innovative and CA glued 2 hex wrenches to the back of the horizontal stab on each side. It balances perfect when I hold it on the CG.:   Finally, to make the Zippy 4S fit, I cut away the stupid pilot seats. It was a lot easier than scratching away at foam trying to make the battery area deeper:  Finished product:  Setting the control throws was a breeze. I just followed what the manual had. Winds are upwards of 20mph today. I'm hoping to test fly her tomorrow before I leave for Phoenix for a week. If not, she's waiting for me when I return. Total time spent including this post: 5 hours. |
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Mar 21, 2010 16:16:13 GMT -6
When you posted on that other thread; that you were buying that thing I was hoping you were going to put the Delta V in it. The standard power is a dog, bow wow, from everything I've read and some guy I met that bought one that was kind of unhappy. Looking forward to the flight report  |
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akent
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Post by akent on Mar 21, 2010 19:40:49 GMT -6
Gabe talks about installing the Delta V above in the first post. Maybe edited later.
Fun stuff Gabe, and that looks great!
Kent
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Post by Gabe on Mar 22, 2010 9:09:30 GMT -6
The Delta V bogged down on me again. Never hit full rpms and wouldn't get off the ground. I'm starting to think its not the ESCs and its actually a bad motor. Tried it a second time and after she kicked into high RPMs for a quick second, it shut down (still on the runway).
ESC fried. E-flite 40-amp pro sb brushless. I emailed E-flite and am awaiting a response about both the Delta V motor and the ESC.
Poop.
Oh well, off to Wrestlemania for a week. I will try to keep up on the forum, but its a busy week for me.
Later all!
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Post by dubehigh on Mar 22, 2010 9:35:28 GMT -6
just plane cool, get it ;D good luck on wrestlemania gabe, let me no when you come to mn.
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Post by Gabe on Mar 22, 2010 11:52:40 GMT -6
Thanks Dube. I'm not actually in Mania this year- but I do have a few signings and a match during the Fan Axxess on Saturday. I'll be at Hall of Fame as well.
What were we talking about? Oh yeah, the F-16.
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Mar 22, 2010 12:40:57 GMT -6
Too bad about not getting a good flight in before you go. Have a good tour and maybe you'll have a new ESC when you get back. |
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Post by fireguzzi on Mar 24, 2010 6:18:53 GMT -6
Looking forward to seeing a vid of that baby in action. I love me some F 16's.
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Post by Gabe on Apr 7, 2010 7:39:57 GMT -6
Got the 85amp Turnigy ESC on Monday. Should be able to install it today.
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Apr 7, 2010 9:21:49 GMT -6
Got the 85amp Turnigy ESC on Monday. Should be able to install it today. Looking good Gabe Just a thought: I'm wondering if those wings are going to handle the power? Like pulling up from a dive or a roll at WOT. What about adding a CF tube through the fuse to each wing tip? |
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Post by Gabe on Apr 7, 2010 15:59:45 GMT -6
F-16 down and out - permenantly.
Mor to come when I have time to type. It involves me scraping foam off some dude's roof. Good story...
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Apr 7, 2010 16:22:39 GMT -6
F-16 down and out - permenantly. Mor to come when I have time to type. It involves me scraping foam off some dude's roof. Good story... Can't wait to hear it. ;D |
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Post by Gabe on Apr 7, 2010 16:29:04 GMT -6
Sooooooo.....
First test flight:
Rear landing gear fell off about 75 in the air over a thick patch of trees - no reason for that to happen. Lame. She felt pretty nose heavy - so much that I couldn't really bank or pull up out of a dive. I brought her in for a landing on only the front nose wheel and ripped part of the wing off. After inspecting the damage I CA glued it back on and removed the front nose wheel (its meant to be a belly lander too). I moved the battery back just enough so that she tilted forward slightly on the COG - should have been just right.
I gave her a toss and she took off beautifully. She was still extremely nose heavy so I was all set to belly land when a swarm of 10 year olds ready for soccer practice swarm the field. I asked everyone to give me the field for a second and then I would be out of their way. No one moved...I turned around for a split second and asked again, but by the time I looked back, my nose-heavy F-16 was inverted and heading for the ground. She disappeared behind some trees and then there was the fateful SMACK!!!
After giving the owner of the house my contact info and offering to pay for any damage, I got a ladder out of his garage and a broom and swept the remains off of his roof. The guy was really cool about it. He said it sounded like a bomb went off on his house!
The kids and parents all got a kick out of me throwing the remains in the trash. Soccer dads and coaches are pr!CK$. I was so heated at the fact they wouldn't acknowledge my request for the field for 30 seconds. Oh well, back to the drawing board.
So no 4-cells in the F-16.
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akent
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Post by akent on Apr 7, 2010 18:41:53 GMT -6
Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that.  You were amazing to do that for the fellow whose house it hit. Wow. I hope the electronics were salvagable. Dam ignorant soccer azzhoes... Kent |
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Post by Gabe on Apr 7, 2010 18:59:27 GMT -6
I felt bad for the guy. I just smashed a plane into his roof while he was trying to relax and enjoy the news. I almost gave him a heart attack.
At least the kids at the park learned a lesson about taking care of problems you cause.
Electronics are all ay-OK.
Yeah, the COG needs to be messed with on this plane. I don't think the design will allow for a 4S battery. Its just too heavy.
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