thx. good to know.

I typically land in parking lots so typically the first few flights I am a little concern with the occasional nose down landing until I get used to the plane.

Originally Posted by gremlin

Great setup, that's the same items I have in mine and it flies great. I'm running a 15x6 Xoar and flying off of a grass field and have no clearance issues with the stock wheels. I don't recall the size but the stock wheels work fine and fit the wheel pants

Starting my build. Seems like a standard build and should be easy enough.

Kit look nice. I've just started. Starting to expoxy the motor mount (thought about trying using wood glue instead...maybe next time) and apply thin CA wherever I think is needed. One particular area I know CA is needed is the battery hatch. I made 2 minor cracks on the battery hatch trying to get the hatch off at the beginning. It was on rather tight and as a result I had to dremel some wood away to make it easier to remove the hatch on/off relatively easier than it was before. Not an issue. I may add additional carbon fiber across the hatch to give it more strength in case I have to pull on it harder than it can handle down the road.

Landing gear and wheels are also done. I am leaving out the wheel caps for now until I get several flights with her so I don't scratch the caps (just in case). Also installed the rudder control horns.

Seems I should have everything ready for weekended maiden except for the motor. It's not scheduled to arrive until Monday based on the latest tracking of UPS.

Starting to expoxy the motor mount ...

What? Why? Pic?

Soaking joints with thin CA is never a bad idea, but I tend to avoid the mess of mixing epoxy unless I need to.

Originally Posted by Bivens

What? Why? Pic?

Probably learned it building those fragile PA planes that actually need it

I think the OP should change the title of this thread to something like "3DHS 42" Vyper Bype Biplane."

OK Guys, I'm confused. (Yeah it doesn't take much). I've got 8 flights on my Byper. When I first set it up, I balanced it at 5 3/16" with my finger tips. On my first flight it required 1 click of rudder trim and she flew straight and level, no adjustment to elevator trim. I put her into a 45 deg upline, flipped her inverted, and she performed a nice outside loop. She's tail heavy. I moved the battery forward, and repeated the test. She was less tail heavy (less tendacy to nose up on the inverted upline) but I didn't have to adjust the elevator trim for straight and level flight. I've moved the battery as far forward as I dare about 1 inch (a good portion of the battery is hanging over the end of the tray), She is still slightly tail heavy, But I still haven't had to adjust the elevator trim? I'm using the recommended Hacker motor with the spacers, I've got an 80A ESC inside the motor box, I've got the Hitec 85mg servos, and I'm using 2450 30C batteries. I'm going to get some larger heavier batteries 2650 or 3000, that should help with the CG. But I'm confused by not adjusting the elevator trim What am I missing?
Lance

Originally Posted by Reef_rc

Starting my build. Seems like a standard build and should be easy enough.

Kit look nice. I've just started. Starting to expoxy the motor mount (thought about trying using wood glue instead...maybe next time) and apply thin CA wherever I think is needed. One particular area I know CA is needed is the battery hatch. I made 2 minor cracks on the battery hatch trying to get the hatch off at the beginning. It was on rather tight and as a result I had to dremel some wood away to make it easier to remove the hatch on/off relatively easier than it was before. Not an issue. I may add additional carbon fiber across the hatch to give it more strength in case I have to pull on it harder than it can handle down the road.

Landing gear and wheels are also done. I am leaving out the wheel caps for now until I get several flights with her so I don't scratch the caps (just in case). Also installed the rudder control horns.

Seems I should have everything ready for weekended maiden except for the motor. It's not scheduled to arrive until Monday based on the latest tracking of UPS.

Epoxy is too heavy and not needed, and will preclude you ever being able to replace the motor box if needed...I would not do it...

SteveT

Yes, good point....

Motor box replacement is one of the serious benefits on 3dhs planes...if you smash the front half....the motor box kit has all of the laser cut wood needed for repairs of motor box and battery tray, all of the way back to the wing tube....including landing gear mounting platform and carbon reinforcing for the gear mount.

The repair process starts with CA remover or acetone to soften the glue.....it's easy to get it apart then install the new kit....but if you epoxy the motor box....it will not be easy to get loose for repair.

Nice call Steve.

Thank you....

SteveT

After a rather late night/early morning dash to finish the build before sunrise, I was able to maiden this little beauty quarter till 7 AM this Sunday. 3 flights was all I was able to get in due to weather conditions.

Maiden was non eventful; always a good thing. Today forecast had winds predicted up to 20 mph and cloudy sky. Since I was up late finishing up the build, I had firm plans to maiden the bird before the weekend was over and before winds got crazy. Given the plane has mass, 12 mph winds wasn't too much of an issue for the maiden flight and 2 subsequent flights. Take offs were less than 5 feet. Landings were all three point landings. Trim wise I wasn't able to do much here since the wind tossed her around slightly. I did make minor trim adjustment but nothing is absolute until I can fly in calmer weather late this coming week.

Flights were with 14x7 APC electric prop. I had wanted to use 15x6 wood prop from Xoar but the center hole was too big for the standard spinner and I didn't want to mess with it.

Overall it's a nice plane given the limited flight time. Can't wait for more stick time .

IMG 0275 (0 min 39 sec)

Originally Posted by Reef_rc

After a rather late night/early morning dash to finish the build before sunrise, I was able to maiden this little beauty quarter till 7 AM this Sunday. 3 flights was all I was able to get in due to weather conditions.

Maiden was non eventful; always a good thing. Today forecast had winds predicted up to 20 mph and cloudy sky. Since I was up late finishing up the build, I had firm plans to maiden the bird before the weekend was over and before winds got crazy. Given the plane has mass, 12 mph winds wasn't too much of an issue for the maiden flight and 2 subsequent flights. Take offs were less than 5 feet. Landings were all three point landings. Trim wise I wasn't able to do much here since the wind tossed her around slightly. I did make minor trim adjustment but nothing is absolute until I can fly in calmer weather late this coming week.

Flights were with 14x7 APC electric prop. I had wanted to use 15x6 wood prop from Xoar but the center hole was too big for the standard spinner and I didn't want to mess with it.

Overall it's a nice plane given the limited flight time. Can't wait for more stick time .

http://vimeo.com/53261753

Nice
But you forgot your pants.

this is one plane that really needs the pants, even though I have already cracked one of mine, what is the best way to fix? glass cloth and epoxy?

Originally Posted by Inverted-I-Fly

this is one plane that really needs the pants, even though I have already cracked one of mine, what is the best way to fix? glass cloth and epoxy?

glass and CA, or rolled up paper towel and CA. I use a piece of parchment paper to hold whatever it is down while I goose thing CA into the fiberglass or paper towel...

You can say I ran outside after a late night without my pants on .

I typically saved the pants for later once I get the trim worked out. Just a preference.

Originally Posted by jsmith285

Nice
But you forgot your pants.

Originally Posted by theKM

glass and CA, or rolled up paper towel and CA. I use a piece of parchment paper to hold whatever it is down while I goose thing CA into the fiberglass or paper towel...

smart.

I usually suffer with papertowel hardened finger tips until I can find the gf's nailpolish remover.