Article Cox Models Dust Devil ARF Glider Review

[Andy W]

If you have the motor already, that's another story! I'm sure it will work out fine, we just need to know what prop to use. I'd try and find other users who can suggest good combinations. You want to swing a typical sailplane prop - somewhere between a 13x7 and a 16x10 - and probably run 7 sub c, or perhaps 7-10 cell 2/3 sub c (i.e. GP2200) cells (anything lighter won't allow you to balance the model).. I'd ask in the Power Systems forum - unless you have a selection of props to try anyway..
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[Spencer J]

I have a mega 16/15/2 and have bought a dust devil for it...how well wills this motor work with the dust devil?

I'm worried about cooling. I'm thinking on buying one of those cooling fans from radio shack and put it in the fuselage so I don't have to make cutout holes that would increase drag.

Also, I bought the hobby-lobby Jeti 90A programmable ESC. Will this ESC be able to hold up to the draw of the mega motor?

I'm also thinking about using my 6 cell thunder tiger pack. Two of the cells are made for amps, the others are for voltage (they call it a "four-S-Two-P") I really hope this works.

Last, but not least, I bought 2 servos from hitec and a receiver. The servos are called "HS-50" and the receiver is called "micro 555" I really hope these will work....will they?

Anything else I need to buy? I bought the motor (had it really) ESC, micro 555, and 2 hs-50s. What else?

[Andy W]

That motor is too small and light for this model, and has much too high kV (RPM/volt) - you'd need to be able to gear it 6:1 or so to be able to swing a prop that would work on this size model. I also don't think you'll be able to get it to balance with such a light motor up front (I tried with a Cyclon Mini Elite and there was no way to balance it, even with the battery all the way forward). It's unlikely your LiPo pack would work. The servos are also too small - the Dust Devil requires HS-81 servos (the cutouts are designed for this size servo, but you also need much more torque than the 50's can provide).

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[Andy W]

Flew it again this past weekend in the Extreme F5J. It was too windy to trim my AVA out correctly, so I flew the Dust Devil instead and kept the AVA low. The DD performed well - again, in windy conditions - is again rugged, as well as easy and relaxing to fly. My miserable timing and piloting skills ended up with me launching into and repeatadly finding sink, however..
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[tinkrerpilot]

What other setups for motor, prop speed control, batteries would one recommend for the Dust Devil, since Cox leaves it up to th individuals to figure it out. Would be nice if they gave some ideas as to what they even used in it to fly it. Best to know the product, then just sell it. Have not heard to much about it in the forum arena either.
I have have sitting on the shelf waiting for all the needed things to come together before building and flying.

Any other ideas as to what will work best in this? General sunday flying and maybe some competition flying.

Thanks for the info. Learned some more from this thread.

[Ed Franz]

Hey Andy,

I am looking at the Dust Devil and was wondering about a motor combo I have. Do you think a Multiplex BL 400/4D with 4.4-1 gear box on 7 cells would work? Too light?

Ed

[Andy W]

Ed,
I don't have experience with the multiplex motors but I will say the 400 series is probably too light to allow you to balance the model. The short nose means you need a heavy motor up front.
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[Ed Franz]

Thanks Andy. What is the weight of your motor and gearbox? This would give me an idea of what I need to look at in the way of motor/gearbox combo. Pity we have to use Ni-Cads in the AMA events, still think this might make a nice 7 cell plane.

Ed

[Andy W]

I have a direct drive Mega 30/3 - that's an 8oz motor. It flies great on that, and 7 CP1700's. You *might* be able to get it to balance with 7 CP1300's..
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[Ed Franz]

Andy,

Who was the guy who flew the Dust Devil at Nats last year? I seem to remember you posting that, but now I can't find it.

Thanks,
Ed

[Andy W]

Mike McGowan, I think, plus on the box it's endorsed by Ken Bates on the box!
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[ken troxell]

maidned the DD this past weekend. the plane handles well,tracks straight and true.
i had to replace the music wire push rods with 1.8 mm CF rods from HL to get it to balance. i am using an AXI 2820-10(the one shown in the manual) and a 1700 nicad pack.
don't even think of using the spoiler without elevator compensation...the reaction is nothing less than VIOLENT.
andy's throws seem to be roght on...ken

[Andy W]

I can imagine you'd have to lighten up the tail a good bit to balance with anything lighter up front, which on reflection is a pity - if the nose had been just a couple of inches longer, you could have used a much lighter power system and gotten this down to the mid 30's..
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[Up&Away]

Two quick questions:
With the spoiler in the center of the wing, doesn't it block the airflow for the elevator making the elevator inefective?
Is there/will there be a t-tail version?

EDIT
Does it only come in red?

[Andy W]

No. It's rare that spoilers actually block the airflow sufficiently to cause that. I don't believe there will be a different tail or color available. The V-tail can be easily removed for storage and transport, btw - mine is just held on with tape.
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