Help me pick my KV for my Alfa F-86!

[tofuti]

Hi all, couple questions. I need some data to help me figure out which of the wicked KVs to get, 4800 or 5400. I would like to stay with 5 blade fan. Need to do some cost analysis.

- For those of you on the 4800 (which I like cuz you can go 3s or 4s with the 5 blade), what LiPos are you using for your 4s setups?

- For those of you on the 5400 what LiPos are you using for your 3s setups?

- For those of you on the 4800/4s or 5400/3s, what ESC are you using? I have a new CC P35, which I know by specs is a little light since the noted combinations draw about 40 Amps. Is the P35 "close enough" or should I get one of Don's 40amp ESCs?

Thanks!

[The Don]

A few questions to help inthe process:

1) How fast do you want to go?
2) Do you want to stick to 3S lipos or 4S lipo?
3) What kind of flight times do you want?

Don

[tofuti]

A few questions to help inthe process:

1) How fast do you want to go?
2) Do you want to stick to 3S lipos or 4S lipo?
3) What kind of flight times do you want?

Don

Hi, and thanks for all your feedback, I know I've been pestering you about this for a couple days now. Let me answer your questions:

1) How fast do you want to go? With my current set up my guess is I am going maybe 65? I'd like to get into the 90-100 range. I ain't looking to set any records for the fastest F-86, but I am looking for a significant speed increase.

2) Do you want to stick to 3S lipos or 4S lipo? If it were an option, I would probably alternate, fly both in the same day... once my 4s batteries were depleted, I'd prolly do some more 3s flights with my 2100 PLs

3) What kind of flight times do you want? Currently I can fly around for more than 7-8 minutes no problem. I usually land when I sense that others are getting tired of my low passes. I recognize that with the increased power comes faster pack depletion. So if on my high speed flights I am only getting 4-5 minutes, I am OK with that.

I think the important question we might both be honing in on is:
Between the 5400/3s/5 Blade and 4800/4s/5 Blade, what do you think the performance differences would be?

Not to make this reply over-long but some other factors I am considering are: In the interim while I get some better LiPos, can I use my PLs in either config? Sounds like yes, but with throttle mgmnt. And if I decide I want to go 4s, can I shoe-horn one 4s 1800-2100 size pack into the F-86, or do I gotta buy some 2s ones and combine them (which would be 100% fine if a 2s pack cost only half as much as a 4s pack, which is generally not the case).

Anyway, thanks again for your help!

[The Don]

I think the important question we might both be honing in on is:
Between the 5400/3s/5 Blade and 4800/4s/5 Blade, what do you think the performance differences would be?

Not to make this reply over-long but some other factors I am considering are: In the interim while I get some better LiPos, can I use my PLs in either config? Sounds like yes, but with throttle mgmnt. And if I decide I want to go 4s, can I shoe-horn one 4s 1800-2100 size pack into the F-86, or do I gotta buy some 2s ones and combine them (which would be 100% fine if a 2s pack cost only half as much as a 4s pack, which is generally not the case).

Anyway, thanks again for your help!

Here is what you can expect. The W4800 with the 5 blade will be a good all around setup on 3S lipo and also allow longer flight time. Expect 90 mph and good performance. If you want to go to about 100 mph then you want the Wicked 5400 with the 5 blade and 3S lipo. There is a video posted on RCG somewhere of this setup in that plane.

I flew my Alfa Saber on 4S and had troubles with getting the lipo to fit, these newer lipo brands are too think so you will need two 2S lipos, then I had issues of the canopy coming off in flight, the ailerons fluttering and the higher AUW making the landings faster and harder on the underbelly of the model. On 4S is when my canopy flew off and hit the stab and broke it off casuing me to crash. So my experience on 4S has not been the best in the Alfa models. They really go faster but I have had issues with them coming apart on me. I do know guys on the 4800 and 4S in the alfa 5 blade and the models are rocket ships, over 120 mph easy but they also fiberglassed them up for strength.

Personally for me I am going to put a W4800 in my next F-86 and run 3S. That will get me nice speed and still allow me to cruise around.

The other option I forgot to mention is the Wicked 4000 which will allow you to go 3S to 4S easy as well. The 4S on the 4000 will be over 100 mph as well, especially on the new higher rate lipos.

Hope this helps.

Don

[tofuti]

Thanks, it sure does! Helps me narrow down my thinking...

In terms of high output LiPos, besides maybe EVO and Thunder Power, any other good brands I should take a look at? I am thinking anything geared towards helicopters is probably a good bet as long as they are in the 25c continuous range.

Thinking 5400kv. The field where I fly is probably not appropriate for 4s 120mph anyway. It is a public park with a strong RC presence, but still a public park. Will be careful with the ProLites until I get some souped up 25c batteries. In the long run it is not cost effective to buy a bunch of 2s packs that cost about the same as a 3s pack.

Thanks again!

[tofuti]

FYI, just made my order for the 5400 & a Pentium 40 ESC. Thanks!

I like to put a secondary BEC (dimension ParkBEC 6v) on all my planes, I assume this is compatible with your ESC w/o pulling any wires, correct? I think you only need to do that with the Castle BECs....

[The Don]

Thanks for the order! The Pentium 40 has a built in 3 amp switching BEC. So you will need to disable the red wire unless the external BEC you are using automatically does that in the connector the provide.

Don

[tofuti]

Thanks for the order! The Pentium 40 has a built in 3 amp switching BEC. So you will need to disable the red wire unless the external BEC you are using automatically does that in the connector the provide.

Don

No prob, thanks again for your help... yeah, i like the ParkBECs cuz they are light and pretty much PNP as far as I know (as has been my experience thus far).

I wouldn't bother with an external one for the sake of airframe safety, but i just like the separation of flight and ESC functions in different hardware for safety of others. Since I fly in a congested area, I'd hate to send an EDF into a jogger, dog, or major highway.