Well,

I did something stupid. I always launch my GWS Mustang with my right hand, and then quickly reach down and grab the stick with the same hand. Never had a problem. For some stupid reason I thought, "Wow, if I throw the model with my left hand, my right hand would already be on the stick." So I tried that. until the moment when the plane left my hand and headed for a point on the ground about 10 feet in front of me did I realize, "I can't throw with my left hand." The plane hit the dirt and broke in the middle, shattered the prop and cracked a little bit off the wing tip. The good news is that it is already glued back together and a new prop installed and a new foam tip created, attached and painted.

One of those lessons, that any amount of talking probably couldn't have taught.

Check out the build log for the FW-190!

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=969730

Matt

Should be here tomorrow...

I ordered the power plant, servos, retracts and an ECS from Hobby City on the evening of the 6th. The items were packed and shipped on the 8th, and they left Hong Kong on the 9th. That is pretty fast! Check out the tracking from the USPS. I will update this when I get the package.

Came home from work this afternoon and a big box had been delivered. Check it out!

It is big!

Birthday Present from my Mom & Dad was a GWS FW-190, NPS in EPO. I will be starting a build thread soo, I will put the link here when I get it.

I got 2 brushless motors from Nelapaty and I have mounted one of them in the Funder. The big issue was mounting it on the stick mount. These motors have 3 mounting screws, where almost the entire rest of the world uses 4. I was able to sort-of use a GWS plastic BL mount, we will see how it holds up. The test runs show good power, and thrust with not too much heat on the battery and ESC. Pics to follow...

So I have completed my first attempt at scratch building. I built a Funder and Lightening. Here is the thread on it: Funder & Lightening Build Log

I used Celfoam 88 and a carbon rod. I glued a balsa leading edge on for added toughness and strength.

My son and I had a few moments before sundown yesterday, so we packed the TM400 and a few packs and the Tx and off we went to the school yard. I was using the 10x6 prop, so I knew things would be a bit faster than usual. We got there and set it on the play area (cement) and took off. All things were fine, it flew with a nice quiet sound, no more gear noise. It had tons of power, and I truly took off at 1/4 throttle. I trimmed it out and it seemed a touch tail heavy, so I think I am going to move the ESC forward and I might have to add 1/2 ounce to the nose. It was not enough of a difference to stop flying, so I flew it around and it was awesome. I did some vertical climbs and other things to see if I could heat up the motor and or battery then brought it down. The battery was slightly warm (no warmer than with the brushed motor) and the motor was dead cold.

We put a new pack in and took off and then I let my son fly it for a while, he did great as usual, he is a natural. I just need to get him to the field more often. At 14, hitting the flying field with the old man may be low on the list :-0.

All in all, a great upgrade, I can not wait to get the 9x5 prop on it, it will be even nicer to fly. Thanks LightFlightRC!

matt

Hey all,

I have upgraded the power plant in my old reliable and super easy to fly GWS TM400. Here is a link to the post: Link I have not yet flown the modified plane, but I hope to do some over this holiday weekend. I also need to go out and get a 9x5 prop, as the 10x6 I am using now will be just too much for my gentle flier!

Gang,


I also fixed the landing gear and it held up to 2 pretty speedy landings on grass.

Matt

I wonder if anyone has ever seen this posting I made awhile ago...

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=523884

Hey all,

Flew the Mustang weekend before last (last weekend I was sick!) and I had a mishap. The right landing gear folded on me during a grass landing bounce. It happened while landing and experiencing some tip stall.

I fixed the landing gear by epoxying up the support and inserting the gear back in the mount, we will see if it holds. If it does not, I will have to either remove the gear and re-balance for no gear, or rip the mounts out and replace them (I have spares).

From what I have read, the tip stall problem can be helped by filling in the panel lines on the top of the wings. I have done that and sanded them smooth. I will report on if that helps at all. I may just have to get good at landing pretty fast!

The Mustang had it's maiden flight last Saturday (11/17/2007). It flew well.

Matt

Hi All,

Waiting for my GWS Mustang to arrive.

matt