What are/were some of your setups?

[Mike Palko]

For all of those who have tried electric C/L what was your setup? Just list the motor, prop, gearbox if any, battery cells, mah, flying weight, maneuvers it was capable of, wingspan, length of flying lines, ect..... I don't need all the details i just want to get an idea where you guys stand and how your planes have flown. Thanks Mike...

[shaneyee]

Mike, I'm new to this group but I am also interested in C/L electric. I haven't flown this setup as I am a recent returnee to flying. I came back to control line combat but the arms race is too much to handle in FAI combat what with new engines and huge attrition in planes. I am using a 600 size motor from a Black and Decker grass trimmer than used to run off 6cells. I am running 7cells ( 1700SCE nicads ) and an 8x6 prop. This weighs 21 ozs. I am going to put it on an RTF Beliaev FAI combat wing built by Mezlik mainly because its only 8oz for about 460 sq in. I will not use any ESC but I have a cut off rigged to trigger when it lands.
My next project if this works is to electrify a Brodak Nobler.

What are you working on.

[Mike Palko]

Wow that is a HEAVY motor. A motor that spins an 8x6 prop should weigh 3-4oz if i am right. Plus the purpose built motor for electric flight would probably have more power. I give you a thumbs up for trying though and would like to know how it works.

My past setup was a scratch built sig twister, astro 15 geared, 10 1400mah cells the old big heavy ones. I recently have gotten back into it and have since made a new pack 10 1700mah cells. The new pack will drop about 4oz off the plane and add flight time. I havent had a chance to try it yet because my charger won't handle 10 cells. (my old packs were two packs of five) Once i test the pack i plan on buying a new motor. Lighter and more powerful. Before i can do that i need to figure out how to build a motor controller for it because it will be brushless. Once i do all that i will decide what plane the power plant will fly. All i know now about my next plane is that it will be a full bodied plane. I will keep you guys in touch.

[shaneyee]

The 21 oz includes the battery pack. The motor is about 7 1/2oz.
The all up weight is thus 29oz for a wing loading of about 9oz/sqft. What do you do to switch the motor on/off? When I do the Nobler I'll put an ESC with a Hitec Feather Receiver so I can fly solo. What do you figure for motor/cells? The standard Nobler is about 50oz and of wing area 500sq in. What about a Promaxx 1507 cobalt motor with 2.9:1 gearbox turning a 12x8 running on 10 cells?

Shane

[Mike Palko]

If it was a glow powered Nobler i would want it to weigh no more than 45oz. I would rather it be 38-42oz to have it fly well with say a fox .35. If i was building it as an electric i would say just make it as light as possible. The finished weight of my next plane w/motor and battery's i hope to be 40oz or less.

I am using a bec cercuit to control my motor. It has an on/off switch and when the voltage goes below say 5-6volts it turns the motor off so you can land. But i have someone to launch my plane for me so i don't need the esc and reciever. I guess that is the best way for you to do it. I am learning just as you are. I can't help you with motor choices yet, i don't know enough myself. I have played with many can motors, astro 15, and sr max 10. The astro is the strongest by far so that is what i am using. I would guess the promaxx is similar to the astro 15.

[Ryan Nau]

The only electric CL I ever tried was my Old beat up Brodak Flying"Clown Racer" I used a Geared 450T and 8x800ar or 10x800AR. You probably already know what the flying clown is. I used 52feet .015 lines. I did ok, but not that great. I did some of the pattern, but when it go overhead, like on the over head 8's and top of the verticals, forget it. It worked ok though. I flew it for a season electric, then it got smashed!:D
I built a new one this past winter and made this one a lot nicer and stuck an OS LA 15 in it, and it flies very well. Does the whole pattern well for a plane its size, and got 5th with it at the brodak flyin in my first time clown racing!:D