Wattage Lightning airframes on EBay

Fly_joy · Jul 03, 2002, 04:22 PM

Guys,

I was surfing EBay and came across Wattage Lightings airframes for sale.

They are $18 + shipping (without RC electronics and batteries). Search Ezone to see the threads on converting these to 3ch RC.

I think I'll pick a couple up.

PS I have absolutely no affiliation with the seller. I'm just passing on information that you may find interesting.

Larry

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1745393037

dstout · Jul 05, 2002, 12:19 PM

Keep us posted on your Lightning conversion. What type of gear do you plan on using? Very cool looking plane.

sheerLuck · Jul 05, 2002, 09:39 PM

That auction was over when I checked. I emailed him at robert@ElectricJets.com . He said he'd still sell them for $15 plus shipping outside of ebay, so I also ordered a couple.

I have the original which flies great, so I look forward to converting one to 72Mhz with more than just motor control.

johnhlong · Jul 06, 2002, 08:09 AM

What type / sixe electronics can you get away with mounting in these.

I am new to indoor flight.

John

Greg Covey · Jul 06, 2002, 08:41 AM

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the information.

The Wattage Lightning frame is just large enough for using conventional R/C components like GWS Pico or Hitec HS-50 servos.

Mine has been converted to a single motor plane using a couple "Lite" wings from Cloud9 and an Astro Flight "Firefly" coreless Cobalt motor. I still need to replace my 6-cell (old technology

) 120mAh NiMH pack with 2 of the new 140mAh LiPoly cells and reduce .4oz from my 3.5oz plane!

You can see some pictures of my conversion here.

johnhlong · Jul 06, 2002, 08:49 AM

Since I am new to this....

Why not use 2 ESC's on a comuterized radio?

Anyone tried that?

John

johnhlong · Jul 06, 2002, 09:16 AM

I understand that the stock plane turnes by varying the motor speeds.

If you are turning left does it increase the right motor RPM or decrease the left motor RPM or both.

When it flys, does it have 1/2 throttle and then full throttle for climb?

I have not seen one so I have some seemenly simple questions.

Thanks

John

Fly_joy · Jul 06, 2002, 09:45 AM

John,

I have a stock one. If I remember right, it turns by slowing down one of the motors.

They fly very well, considering the simple controller. I have flown mine indoors, although the large turn radius limits the fun somewhat.

I think a light set up with two esc's would do very well. I am thinking of trying the same.

Larry

sheerLuck · Jul 06, 2002, 04:03 PM

Is this a new idea, or have I just now caught the drift of your questions/answers - or is this not possible :

Use the motors for turns like the stock version - put power on left stick as normal, but by using 2 esc's and some kind of mixing - right stick (normally rudder or ailerons) could vary the power between left/right motors ?

Then it could be flown engine-only, like the stock version, or with one servo for elevator - possibly allowing loops ? If feasible, this sounds pretty nifty...

Also, I notice Greg replaced the motors with N20's - are the stock motors completely unsuitable ? Seems like they probably already have caps since it's already an RC plane...

================

May have found an answer to the first question - seems like Jurgen's setup should do it. Any thoughts ?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...motor+steering

Greg Covey · Jul 07, 2002, 09:32 AM

I didn't replace the motors with N20s but rather installed new ones. I bought the empty frames from Hobby People since they sell spare parts for the Wattage Lightning. The wing comes wired but without motors.

I found the stock twin motor setup to be a bit light on power for the given wingspan when converting to conventional servo rudder and elevator. This is why I switched to a larger wing with a motor in the nose.

By replacing the stock battery pack with a couple 140mAh LiPoly cells in series, this may lighten the ship enough to make a noticable difference. Using the stock technique of dual ESCs seems to work also, but as Larry stated, the turing radius is shallow when compared to a servo setup.

johnhlong · Jul 07, 2002, 03:36 PM

After I go an buy 2 of those airframes I find this on E-Bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1745847138

The complete single engine Lightning for 9.95.
There are 6 of them!

John

Fly_joy · Jul 07, 2002, 04:36 PM

John,

All is not lost.

That "Lightening" is not the same as the Wattage Lightning discussed on this thread.

The FreeFlight Lightening, aka MicroTaxi, is smaller than the twin Wattage Lightning. It's a good plane for RFFS RC conversion. See Greg's posts under "MicroTaxi".

Admittedly confusing.

Buy both you'll be happy

Larry

johnhlong · Jul 07, 2002, 04:47 PM

Ahhh.

But at 9.95 still a nice find.

Should be fun to crash .../ fly

John

Jul 03, 2002, 04:22 PM	#1
Fly_joy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 226	Wattage Lightning airframes on EBay Guys, I was surfing EBay and came across Wattage Lightings airframes for sale. They are $18 + shipping (without RC electronics and batteries). Search Ezone to see the threads on converting these to 3ch RC. I think I'll pick a couple up. PS I have absolutely no affiliation with the seller. I'm just passing on information that you may find interesting. Larry http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1745393037

Jul 05, 2002, 09:39 PM	#3
sheerLuck Crash Site Instigator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Novato, CA USA Posts: 917	That auction was over when I checked. I emailed him at robert@ElectricJets.com . He said he'd still sell them for $15 plus shipping outside of ebay, so I also ordered a couple. I have the original which flies great, so I look forward to converting one to 72Mhz with more than just motor control. Last edited by sheerLuck; Jul 05, 2002 at 09:41 PM.

Jul 06, 2002, 08:49 AM	#6
johnhlong Hobby Hopper Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Issaquah, Wa, USA Posts: 229	Why not ? Since I am new to this.... Why not use 2 ESC's on a comuterized radio? Anyone tried that? John

Jul 06, 2002, 09:16 AM	#7
johnhlong Hobby Hopper Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Issaquah, Wa, USA Posts: 229	How do they turn? I understand that the stock plane turnes by varying the motor speeds. If you are turning left does it increase the right motor RPM or decrease the left motor RPM or both. When it flys, does it have 1/2 throttle and then full throttle for climb? I have not seen one so I have some seemenly simple questions. Thanks John

Jul 06, 2002, 04:03 PM	#9
sheerLuck Crash Site Instigator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Novato, CA USA Posts: 917	Is this a new idea, or have I just now caught the drift of your questions/answers - or is this not possible : Use the motors for turns like the stock version - put power on left stick as normal, but by using 2 esc's and some kind of mixing - right stick (normally rudder or ailerons) could vary the power between left/right motors ? Then it could be flown engine-only, like the stock version, or with one servo for elevator - possibly allowing loops ? If feasible, this sounds pretty nifty... Also, I notice Greg replaced the motors with N20's - are the stock motors completely unsuitable ? Seems like they probably already have caps since it's already an RC plane... ================ May have found an answer to the first question - seems like Jurgen's setup should do it. Any thoughts ? http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...motor+steering Last edited by sheerLuck; Jul 06, 2002 at 04:36 PM.

Jul 05, 2002, 12:19 PM	#2
dstout These go to eleven... Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 447	Keep us posted on your Lightning conversion. What type of gear do you plan on using? Very cool looking plane.

Jul 06, 2002, 08:09 AM	#4
johnhlong Hobby Hopper Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Issaquah, Wa, USA Posts: 229	What type / sixe electronics can you get away with mounting in these. I am new to indoor flight. John

Jul 06, 2002, 08:41 AM	#5
Greg Covey Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rochester, NY, USA Posts: 5,776	Hi Larry, Thanks for the information. The Wattage Lightning frame is just large enough for using conventional R/C components like GWS Pico or Hitec HS-50 servos. Mine has been converted to a single motor plane using a couple "Lite" wings from Cloud9 and an Astro Flight "Firefly" coreless Cobalt motor. I still need to replace my 6-cell (old technology ) 120mAh NiMH pack with 2 of the new 140mAh LiPoly cells and reduce .4oz from my 3.5oz plane! You can see some pictures of my conversion here.

Jul 06, 2002, 09:45 AM	#8
Fly_joy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 226	John, I have a stock one. If I remember right, it turns by slowing down one of the motors. They fly very well, considering the simple controller. I have flown mine indoors, although the large turn radius limits the fun somewhat. I think a light set up with two esc's would do very well. I am thinking of trying the same. Larry

Jul 07, 2002, 09:32 AM	#10
Greg Covey Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rochester, NY, USA Posts: 5,776	I didn't replace the motors with N20s but rather installed new ones. I bought the empty frames from Hobby People since they sell spare parts for the Wattage Lightning. The wing comes wired but without motors. I found the stock twin motor setup to be a bit light on power for the given wingspan when converting to conventional servo rudder and elevator. This is why I switched to a larger wing with a motor in the nose. By replacing the stock battery pack with a couple 140mAh LiPoly cells in series, this may lighten the ship enough to make a noticable difference. Using the stock technique of dual ESCs seems to work also, but as Larry stated, the turing radius is shallow when compared to a servo setup. Last edited by Greg Covey; Jul 07, 2002 at 09:38 AM.

Jul 07, 2002, 03:36 PM	#11
johnhlong Hobby Hopper Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Issaquah, Wa, USA Posts: 229	After I go an buy 2 of those airframes I find this on E-Bay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1745847138 The complete single engine Lightning for 9.95. There are 6 of them! John

Jul 07, 2002, 04:36 PM	#12
Fly_joy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 226	John, All is not lost. That "Lightening" is not the same as the Wattage Lightning discussed on this thread. The FreeFlight Lightening, aka MicroTaxi, is smaller than the twin Wattage Lightning. It's a good plane for RFFS RC conversion. See Greg's posts under "MicroTaxi". Admittedly confusing. Buy both you'll be happy Larry

Jul 07, 2002, 04:47 PM	#13
johnhlong Hobby Hopper Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Issaquah, Wa, USA Posts: 229	Ahhh. But at 9.95 still a nice find. Should be fun to crash .../ fly John

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