Graphite 2 F3J/TD

[loic_debisschop]

I ordered a graphite 2 to Vladimir models. He's shipping it to me next month. Do anybody have feedback on building this glider ? I've seen some messages concerning very hard flap servo installation, is this problem fixed ?
How does it flies ? Have you ever seen it in competitions ?
Thanks !
Loïc

[charnwooduk]

hi loic

I've got a graphite 2 that should be arriving this week, i'll let you know how i get on with it, and post a few pictures.

i've been searching hard for information about it too, and have taken a bit of a leap of faith buying it.

what version have you gone for, mine is the v-tail kevlar.

[loic_debisschop]

Good ! We might exchange interesting informations about building and flying the graphite 2 ! I ordered an all glass V-tail version. I thought price difference between the 2 versions was too high compared to weight difference (120 g). And i already have an AVA which is a very, very light glider ( And stiff enough) ! So i didn't feel the need for the kevlar version. AVA molding quality makes me confident for the Graphite 2 !
I haven't seen any information either, except this pictures( good but, not enough to wait !)
http://www.f3j.dk/images/list_en.asp?topic=graphite2
and what you can find on this forum using "advanced search" and typing "graphite 2" in the "search for exact phrase" option.For example: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273209&highlight=graphite+2
Maybe some of the graphite 2 owners will join this thread !

Please let me know if you receive your Graphite 2 on time.

Loïc

[dhauch]

Hi,
If for any reason either of you don't have time to build it , I will for $125.oo
I can ship it back for around $12.oo.
I build planes full time.

If you want more info, email me at; djunruh@qtm.net

dave hauch
mich.

[loic_debisschop]

I had some feedback from Robert Samuels (St Louis) about the G2. Everything sounds good, except for flaps mounting.
Thanks to Robert !
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I've had my G2 for about a year now. I'm in love with it. I fly in local
TD competition. It flys wonderfully. Launches great and thermals great.
I've flown it with ballast in winds up to 20 mph with no problems. I did
encounter a problem with the flap actuating when building it. The
installation shown simply did not work. The flap push rod would interfere
with the TE spar and the top skin. I had to make the flap horn 6 mm longer,
use a straight push rod and had to cut away part of the TE spar to get it to
work correctly. I had to use a servo horn that was longer and as a result
had to slot the servo cover to clear it. I put all this information on
RCSE. Gordy Stahl had another suggestion as to how to lenthen the flap
horns also posted on RCSE. Barry Kennedy was no help whatsoever despite my
many calls and emails to him. I also cut off the end of the fuse (the
last inch or so) so I could access the V tail pushrods and ruddervator
horns. Then I simply taped the cutoff piece back on. Hope this helps. All
servos in my plane are Jr 368 digitals. They are worth the money. It's a
great plane. I let some very experienced flyers try my plane and their
opinion was that it could fly with the best planes in the world.

Robert Samuels.........St. Louis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had also some news from Vladimir: He sends my G2 this week !
Loïc

[AustinTatious]

THe build is quite easy. I hgad 2 issues that I addressed.

One was the Flap servo installation. I did have to dremel out a bit of the TE spar. This allowed the flaps to go almost a full 90 degrees.

The second Issue that ws a concern for ME, wass the installation of the Front Crutch into the rear Fuse. The Balast tube angles upwards and had a bit of glue on the top of it where it touches the top of the rear fuse on the inside. I put a CF tube brace under the bottom of the balast tube going down to the bottom of the rear fuse. This was to prevent that joint from breakgin loose. More than liekly this was not needed.

As far as flying goes, the plane is awesome. It will launch high as you could want. It floats as good as an Icon. and its very light with BIG flaps so it slows nicely for landing. Its a winner. I have doen VERY well at contest with it. I feel that I ( the pilot) am the only thing to blame for not winning. I hav ehad the plane in the air with Many different planes of high caliber such as the Sharon, Zeineth, Hera, and Icons. I did not feel "out plane-ed"

[georgeg]

Has anyone here actually seen the Graphite 2 cross tail? I'm wondering whether it has a flying stab on it or the fixed stab and elevator combination that the original Graphite has? I emailed the US importer but haven't received an answer.

[loic_debisschop]

The cross tail version in not available yet. See:
http://www.airplane-model.com/graphite2.html
According to the drawings, it is a full flying stab.
Loïc

[loic_debisschop]

Thanks for the feedback. Do you have pictures of the G2 that you could post ?
What version do you have ? Standard, kevlar ?
What is the flying weight: 67 oz (1900g) ?
Did you choose different settings compared to Kennedy instructions ?

Loïc

[loic_debisschop]

Robert Samuels made correction to his previous mail:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loic: Correction: I made the flap horns 6.5 mm longer not 6 mm as I said
in my earlier message. I looked at the sites you gave in your message and
the photos shown indicate that Vladimir may have already made these
improvements. I'm not sure. But the photos show the TE spar cut away just
like I did on my plane. In addition the gap seal was also cut away which is
an idea that I did not think of but may be a way of not having to lengthen
the flap horn.

Robert

[georgeg]

The cross tail version in not available yet. See:
http://www.airplane-model.com/graphite2.html
According to the drawings, it is a full flying stab.
Loïc

Thanks. I've seen the drawing and agree that it does seem to indicate a full flying stab. On the other hand, I've got a club mate who swears up and down (and he's a preacher, too!) that it has a fixed stab & elevator. Since I have yet to see an actual picture of the tail end of a cross tailed G2, who knows?

[loic_debisschop]

I received my Graphite 2 yesterday, in a solid wood box. I'm not disapointed, wing tips are beautiful, even better looking than on the pictures. Flaps are huge, no excuse to miss the spot with this glider ! Fuselage has an unusual shape, and is well streamlined and designed. Looks light and strong !
I'll try to post some pictures later.

Loïc

[g.guasch]

So, the travel story have a happy end...
Now, the building is another.
And after, the other on the field....
Gerard.

[charnwooduk]

still waiting for mine to arrive, it was supposed to have been shipped on the 24th Jan, so no idea where it is.

I did get a letter from Vladimir with some additional linkages he says he miss out the kit.... but I dont have any kit yet!

Fingers crossed it will arive this week!

[loic_debisschop]

I took some pictures yesterday, i could'nt wait to mount the glider ! CharnwoodUK, i hope these picture will make you patient... And i hope you will receive it soon.
Last picture concern the flaps linkage hole: can AustinTatious tell us if the flaps installation problem has been solve ?
Loïc

[loic_debisschop]

here is the flaps one !

[g.guasch]

This time, in french,
sorry for UK and US readers :

" Ben là, la gde classe, et si avec ça tu fais pas une couv'
d'un de nos mags cette année, j'comprend plus rien !
Je comprend mieux pourquoi nos artisans Français comment à fermer
les portes...
Et quand le SUPRA sera là, le pére Vlad aura vraiment les top T/D
bestioles du moment..."

Bye,

Gerard.

[phanou]

Bien joué Loïc,

J'espère voir la bête sur les terrains bientot et vivement un article de ta part !

A+
Stéphane

[AustinTatious]

Idotn think that anything has changed as far as the flaps go. I can tell you that making a little room is not very diffiult... Another option woudl be to somehow extend the brass horn tha screws into the flap. IF pics of my installation are needed I can post them. Basically you jstu remove a bit of the TE wher ethe gap is. IT jstu not a structural issue.

[kipp geisler]

I have 2 questions about the Graphite:
1) To what extent does the glider come ready to fly? does it come with pushrods installed? What about the V-tail control horns, are they installed? Wing and V-tail saddles and threaded bolts? Does it come with all the hardware? Good hardware?

2) What is the consensus on a hollow radio tray vs. keel or tounge type mount for the servos and elect. gear?

I am noticing that Kennedy says they have both types in stock and the old version with the radio tray is quite a bit cheaper, assuming the web site is correct and the prices are updated....anyone know the real status?

[AustinTatious]

1) To what extent does the glider come ready to fly?

First you install the tow hook. Then the Tounge gets glued into the fuse. ( MUST BE IN THAT ORDER, ask me how i know!)

The Control horns for the V-tail screw in. I secured mine by weeping in thin CA. You must cut a few areas out of the Tounge depending on how you want to install your gear. The Vtail consist of two halves ( packs down nice) and they fit wonderfully onto the tail. The plane comes with a great hardware package.

2) What is the consensus on a hollow radio tray vs. keel or tounge type mount for the servos and elect. gear?

I will NEVER purchase another sailplane without a Keel/Tounge. Its jstu SO much stronger and sleeker. Not to mentiontinstalling the radio gear is SO much easier and easy to get at. It also lends to a really cool balast system!

[loic_debisschop]

You can download "building instructions" on Kennedy or Vladimir website. You will have a good idea of the work to do. It doesn't seem too long. I'll start to work on my Graphite 2 next week, i'll try to post some more pictures

[loic_debisschop]

I finished my Graphite 2 last saturday. No problem at all with the flaps servo installation. Maybe Vladimir fixed the problem. But this installation wasn't very easy and you need to move the servo neutral to have 75 % of the stroke in extension ( flaps down)
Another difficult thing was the pushrod instalation: it's hard to glue them to avoid bend in compression but i think i managed to do it. I used cyano to fix them and then fluid epoxy resin. The rest was conventional and easy. The fuselage offers plenty of room and i just followed the instructions.
I needed only about 60 g. (2 oz) of lead to regulate the center of gravity. I may post some pictures later.
Flying: I'm just starting to tune it but what i can say is it's an easy glider. Rudder and elevator are very precise thanks to Drela's HT14 tail airfoil and JR 368 servos. I need to find the best CG but circling is already very easy with the wing additionnal dehadral.
Landing flaps are very efficient, seems to be very easy to land on the spot ! I'll give my tunings when i'll be happy with them.

Loïc

[loic_debisschop]

Enjoy !

[loic_debisschop]

Pictures by Jean-Marc Zuliani, if you like them go to:
http://jean-marc.zuliani.org/aeromodelisme/index.htm

[g.guasch]

Miam, miam ...
Gerard.