Ideas for making hatches in oldtimers

[Mike C]

I have a Jr. Falcon on my bench that has been sitting there for a while waiting to have the fuse sheeted. I have been trying to figure out the best way to put a hatch on to access the batteries for charging and changing out at the field. With that in mind I have 2 questions:
1) How have you installed access hatches on models that you have converted?
2) How do you go about deciding where to place everything esp. the batteries to get the CG correct on a model that is not designed for electric flying?

I have to finish this model soon since I have made a pact not to by anything else until I have finished the 2 unfinished models currently on my bench. :rolleyes:

[vintage1]

I started a thread somewhere on hatches...
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199419

Got lots of useful feedback. I ended up using the piano wite spring method with a simple ply-stiffened-with-balsa-frame in between whetever structural members were appropiate.

In general put all the heavy stuff near the CG. Normally with e.g. a rubber model conversion the motor alone will balance the model.

So the rest of the stuff is distributed round te CG to not upset it.

[Mike C]

That's just the kind of thing I was looking for. Thanks a lot. Gonna take a look at the fuse tonight and figure out battery placement.

[brucewillman]

My first RC plane was a Jr. Falcon. Do you have any pictures of the JR. Falcon you can post? What motor and gearing are you going to use?

Bruce

[Mike C]

I currently only have the fuse built. I started almost a year ago and am just getting back around to it. Guess you could say that I am a slow builder D) I thought I would build and weigh everything and then figure out what power system to use. I was thinking maybe Speed 400 with 2.33:1 as I already have everything for it but not sure yet.