Wattage Lightning airframes on EBay

[Fly_joy]

Guys,

I was surfing EBay and came across Wattage Lightings airframes for sale.

They are $18 + shipping (without RC electronics and batteries). Search Ezone to see the threads on converting these to 3ch RC.

I think I'll pick a couple up.

PS I have absolutely no affiliation with the seller. I'm just passing on information that you may find interesting.

Larry

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1745393037

[dstout]

Keep us posted on your Lightning conversion. What type of gear do you plan on using? Very cool looking plane.

[sheerLuck]

That auction was over when I checked. I emailed him at robert@ElectricJets.com . He said he'd still sell them for $15 plus shipping outside of ebay, so I also ordered a couple.

I have the original which flies great, so I look forward to converting one to 72Mhz with more than just motor control.

[johnhlong]

What type / sixe electronics can you get away with mounting in these.

I am new to indoor flight.

John

[Greg Covey]

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the information.

The Wattage Lightning frame is just large enough for using conventional R/C components like GWS Pico or Hitec HS-50 servos.

Mine has been converted to a single motor plane using a couple "Lite" wings from Cloud9 and an Astro Flight "Firefly" coreless Cobalt motor. I still need to replace my 6-cell (old technology ;) ) 120mAh NiMH pack with 2 of the new 140mAh LiPoly cells and reduce .4oz from my 3.5oz plane!

You can see some pictures of my conversion here (http://www.gregcovey.com/micro-fl.htm).

[johnhlong]

Since I am new to this....

Why not use 2 ESC's on a comuterized radio?

Anyone tried that?

John

[johnhlong]

I understand that the stock plane turnes by varying the motor speeds.

If you are turning left does it increase the right motor RPM or decrease the left motor RPM or both.

When it flys, does it have 1/2 throttle and then full throttle for climb?

I have not seen one so I have some seemenly simple questions.

Thanks

John

[Fly_joy]

John,

I have a stock one. If I remember right, it turns by slowing down one of the motors.

They fly very well, considering the simple controller. I have flown mine indoors, although the large turn radius limits the fun somewhat.

I think a light set up with two esc's would do very well. I am thinking of trying the same.

Larry

[sheerLuck]

Is this a new idea, or have I just now caught the drift of your questions/answers - or is this not possible :

Use the motors for turns like the stock version - put power on left stick as normal, but by using 2 esc's and some kind of mixing - right stick (normally rudder or ailerons) could vary the power between left/right motors ?

Then it could be flown engine-only, like the stock version, or with one servo for elevator - possibly allowing loops ? If feasible, this sounds pretty nifty...

Also, I notice Greg replaced the motors with N20's - are the stock motors completely unsuitable ? Seems like they probably already have caps since it's already an RC plane...

================

May have found an answer to the first question - seems like Jurgen's setup should do it. Any thoughts ?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49660&highlight=motor+steering

[Greg Covey]

I didn't replace the motors with N20s but rather installed new ones. I bought the empty frames from Hobby People since they sell spare parts for the Wattage Lightning. The wing comes wired but without motors.

I found the stock twin motor setup to be a bit light on power for the given wingspan when converting to conventional servo rudder and elevator. This is why I switched to a larger wing with a motor in the nose.

By replacing the stock battery pack with a couple 140mAh LiPoly cells in series, this may lighten the ship enough to make a noticable difference. Using the stock technique of dual ESCs seems to work also, but as Larry stated, the turing radius is shallow when compared to a servo setup.

[johnhlong]

After I go an buy 2 of those airframes I find this on E-Bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1745847138

The complete single engine Lightning for 9.95.
There are 6 of them!

John

[Fly_joy]

John,

All is not lost.

That "Lightening" is not the same as the Wattage Lightning discussed on this thread.

The FreeFlight Lightening, aka MicroTaxi, is smaller than the twin Wattage Lightning. It's a good plane for RFFS RC conversion. See Greg's posts under "MicroTaxi".

Admittedly confusing.

Buy both you'll be happy ;)


Larry

[johnhlong]

Ahhh.

But at 9.95 still a nice find.

Should be fun to crash .../ fly :D

John