1/4 scale Kangke Monocoupe 90A electric...

[CyberJay]

EDIT: I changed the title to reflect the airplane that I actually bought. Originally I was considering the Pacific Aeromodel Clipped Wing 'coupe... But I ended up with the Kangke. I'd still like to own the PacAero one some day.

Original post follows:

This will be my first electric over 500 watts, I've been doing my homework for a few weeks but I want to ask a handful of questions to confirm my theories.

Pacific Aeromodel sells a Clipped Wing Monocoupe 110 Special that I have fallen in love with. I've never had an IC model so I plan to go electric with it. The electric setup that is "endorsed" on their site is a Power 160, Phoenix 110 HV, and 10s 5300mah Thunder Powers. They say that is 75amps, 2720 watts on an APC 19x10. Here's a link: http://www.pacaeromodel.com/MonoC/Elec/epower.pdf

My plan is to run Turnigy AerodriveXP 63-64 with the Turnigy Sentilon 100A HV ESC, Xoar 20x10 electric wood prop, and either XPS, Zippy Flightmax, or maybe Xcite 10s 4800-5000mah. So I think this will end up giving the power of a 40cc+ gasser, when the plane flies nice with a Zenoah G26. So power should be fine.

From searching RCGroups threads this motor and ESC seem to be pretty reliable. I'm thinking I may get some higher quality bearings for the motor. Does anyone know if this motor or speed control come with the bullet connectors to connect them together or do I need to order those as well. My previous experience has been with CC and Eflite products which did come with those connectors.

Hobby City says that "For some motors this ESC needs to be set to high timing or it could burn up the ESC." How do I know if I need to be on high timing or not? If I just set the thing to high and it doesn't need to be, am I loosing something?

For power connectors, I'm pretty sure this is too much for Deans(which is what I use on everything else)... So I may go APP or 5 or 6mm bullet connectors. Any input would be great.

In the same vein I have an Eflite power meter, the specs say it'll handle 50v up to 6000 watts. So that should work for this.

I'll get a cellpro 10s to charge with.

Short of having something made where can I get some standoffs for the motor like what Ed Ford used on his Monocoupe, see the link above.

I've read about the pigtail with the resistor for dealing with the arc while connecting HV setups. Is this required, or is it only for personal comfort while connecting and disconnecting? I'm not real concerned about the arc/pop but I don't want to damage anything.

Ed Ford(in the link above) has an APP power "switch" (more like a jumper) on the side of his plane which I like, but it seems that I could not do the resistor deal if I did the power "switch" the way he does.

I plan to plug a CCBEC directly into it's own 3s1p 2100 Prolite (just cause I have several laying around) and use that to power my radio system. Seems like that should work fine, but any input is appreciated.

Any other thoughts on what I should be reading about before I move forward?

-Jay

[Lynxman]

Deans handle 75 A fine. I use Deans on one battery set in a big 3700 W Jet at ~85-90 A and they don't get hot.

2720 is most likely about twice as much as that plane needs to fly well. Sounds like it's going to have almost unlimited vertical power. What kind of flying will you do?

The anti-spark circuit is for personal comfort and to reduce wear on the connectors. It's not required. you can install a resistor in a jumper setup like he has made, just solder the resistor across the connector(s) secured to the fuselage side.

[CyberJay]

Deans will work huh? That's cool.

I enjoy scale flying and non-scale aerobatics. I tend to get bored just flying circuits. I've gotten beaten up in other threads because of the type of flying I do. I have 320-350 watts in my 32oz Eflite Taylorcraft and that seems to work very nicely for my taste.

With the resistor on the back of the switch/jumper, what happens if you accidentally advance the throttle while the jumper/switch is off? Does the resistor just blow up or what? heh

-Jay

[Lynxman]

Yeah, the resistor will probably blow if you try to even start the motor without the jumper. It won't keep you from flying though. Just live with the spark until you get a new resistor in there. :)

[blnk00]

That setup is good but you will be overpowered for that plane. I have the same motor and speed controller on a 1.60 size Sukhoi converted to Electric. Currently it is on 10 a123's (same as 9 lipos) and weighs a little over 10 pounds, 19x10 apce prop. I get unlimited vertical.

I also have the same setup with an 18x10 on a 1.20 size Cap. Unlimited.

Set the timing to high on the speed controller. I had to do this for both my planes. If you don't, you might not fry the speed controller but you will hear a horrible screeching from the motor when advancing the throttle too quickly. On high timing the throttle response is crisp and uninhibited.

Recommendation:

Prop down. For that plane w/ this motor, that prop is way too large for 10 cells. A 19x9 Xoar would be perfect for that setup. Plus, you'll have a longer flight time.

[Ercoupe Ed]

Monocoupe guys!! Good deal!!!!
h
Hey, can you any of you tell me what size electric Ishould hang on this one? :D
This one is a 41 Monocoupe owned by Harold Nueman.

Ed

[Goinav8n]

Ed

Is that one clipped?? Very nice restoration project.

Jay
I am just starting a PAC Clipped wing now. DS-821 for everything except rudder. and I havent gotten that servo yet. It will be an easy conversion. Im putting an Atlas engine on it and CC-85 ESC either A-123 or 12s2p lipos.

Its been in storage for months and its time.

Jeff

[Ercoupe Ed]

Ed

Is that one clipped?? Very nice restoration project.

Jay
I am just starting a PAC Clipped wing now. DS-821 for everything except rudder. and I havent gotten that servo yet. It will be an easy conversion. Im putting an Atlas engine on it and CC-85 ESC either A-123 or 12s2p lipos.

Its been in storage for months and its time.

Jeff

No,
It's full size 1941 Monocoupe, known as "Little Mulligan"
It belonged to Harold Nueman and was donated to the EAA back in the late 80's and our VAA Chapter in Auburn Indiana is restoring it for the EAA Museum.
It will be static display only, and will never fly again.
Hopefully it will be on display by Air Venture 2009.
Attached is a few pictures of "Little Mulligans" big brother
"Mister Mulligan", along with a few pictures of "Little Mulligan" as it used to look and a picture of Harold Nueman who flew both airplanes

I hope this clears up for some people why "Little Mulligan" is so historically significant.
Benny Howard and Mister Mulligan captured the 1935 Bendix cross country trophy from Burbank California to Cleveland Ohio and then Harold flew Mister Mulligan for Benny Howard in the 1935 Thompson Trophy Race to 1st place, winning both coveted trophies tom the same airplane in the same year.

Ed

[Goinav8n]

Ed

Thanks for the history behind the aircraft. Its too bad it will never fly again. I like old planes. I was unaware of Mister Mulligans little brother. Good history for an aviation buff.

Are the wings all being redone too?? Will it be in flying condition even if it wont fly again.

Thanks

Jeff

[Ercoupe Ed]

Hi Jeff,
The wings and tail feathers are done and at Oshkosh.
The reason it will not fly again is when Harold's family donated it to the
EAA, it was with the understanding it was to never be flown again.
Basically, they didn't want someone going up in it and getting hurt or killed.
A Monocoupe is an airplane you must always stay ahead of in flight, or it will bite you.
Present plans are to have it completed and on display at the EAA museum by Air Venture 2009.
We restored the wings at Oshkosh during the show a couple of years ago.It will not be in flying condition, becuase the last engine Harold Nueman had on it will simply be bolted back on, and detailed, but internally it's junk.
The wiring, , fuel lines won't be hooked up.

[CyberJay]

Well.. it's not a Pacific Aeromodel clipped wing.... But it is electric and it is a Monocoupe. Picked it up for a song from a club member. It formerly had a G26 mounted on it. Hope to have it's electric maiden tomorrow afternoon.

-Jay

[Ercoupe Ed]

Nice looking ship Jay!

[CyberJay]

I've got 38 flights on my Monocoupe now.

With a Turnigy 19x10 wood E prop it makes almost exactly 2000 watts with the 10s1p Flightmax 5000mah 20C batteries. The batteries are starting to puff slightly during flight so I guess maybe I'm finding the limits of the cheap packs. Next pair I order I'm going to try some 30C Turnigy packs. If they don't make it to 100 flights then maybe I'll try some of those newer packs like Hyperion G3s or whatever.

As far as flight goes, this thing is great. Big loops, tail slides, snaps, rolls, knife edge, awesome hammer heads, etc. I definitely like the 1/4 scale thing. Inverted flight is only marginal due to the flat bottom wings. I think I probably would like the Pacific Aeromodel Clipped Wing better, but the Kangke saved me lots of money. The only other "complaint" I have is the bouncy landing gear. You have to set it down VERY gently to get a nice greaser landing. As a result I frequently spend half my battery pack doing touch and goes. When it's smooth it's very rewarding.

Final thought... I got a digital fish scale today.. I had assumed the weight on this guy was in the 13-14.5lb range as advertised. Turns out it's 17.25lbs! Which comes to 115 watts per pound. Still flies good though so who knows. I have no additional weight added to the nose or tail so I was pretty surprised that it was that heavy.

Bunch of pics in my blog.

-Jay

[Ercoupe Ed]

Cool Jay!
I still have an IkonNwst Monocoupe kit NIB yet to be built.
Still pondering an electric setup for it.
I also have a Jim Bridi Shrike Commander kit ( Bob Hoover replica airplane )I'd like to build as an electric.

[alanc999]

Cool Jay!
I still have an IkonNwst Monocoupe kit NIB yet to be built.
Still pondering an electric setup for it.
I also have a Jim Bridi Shrike Commander kit ( Bob Hoover replica airplane )I'd like to build as an electric.


Ed, I have a partial kit from Ikonnwest that is yet to be built. I am looking and collecting information and electric stuff. So far I have Hacker C 50 10L with the 6.7 gearbox that I am thinking of using as well as a Jeti-hacker 77-03P esc. I also think I will use the A123 batts instead of lipos.

Not all final of course but a start. I will build it with the 8 foot wing as I am more interested in scale (slow flight for this old man). I also have a Hacker C50 13xl with 6.7 gearbox that I could use. Will see what the advise is and go from there.

Jay, that is a really cool looking set up you have there. Good to know you are successful and thanks for posting the info and pix.

Alan

[CyberJay]

I wish someone would make an 1/8th scale clipped wing Monocoupe or Mullicoupe.. or Mr. Mulligan... Preferably one that flies like a 450hp racer and not like a stock 90hp aircraft.. ;)

I really dig the big plane.. but I can't afford (or find physical space for) 4 or 5 big ones.

Next big one will be the brand new 80.5" Hangar 9 Taylorcraft... I love my little one so much.

-Jay