dgtaylor wrote on Apr 15, 2003 04:11 PM:
Just received my EZ-400G and was looking at various posts about the plane. Saw the one where you said you had to make modifications to get it going right and was wondering if you could give me more details.

David,

I had to strengthen several things that broke:

1- Battery hangers
2- Landing gear mount
3- Motor/GB mount

For all this, I used poplar hardwood (Lowes) because balsa does not have the strength.

I also added strength (1/4" square dowels) to the bubber-band pins holding the wing down, but they had not broken - just looked small with everything else that broke

I also drilled holes in the MPJet GB to allow the Sp400 some air. Mine was getting very hot.

This sounds bad (and I was a little disappointed), but now that it's done, I really like the plane - for what it is. I use mine primarily for a camera platform. It goes high fast and floats well. Takes a major thermal to keep it up, however. Be sure there is "washout" in the wingtips, or it will stall.

Back to the mods:

See
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hlight=400+hot

for the gear box vents. I have replaced the GB with a 4:1 ball bearing and use a 11X7 prop. Mine came with a 3.51:1.

There is a picture at
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hreadid=103830

showing the other mods - but not too clear. I put holes in the G10 motor mount and screwed/glued it to the back of the wood - then glued the wood to the carbon tube fuse. I also added a wood "saddle" and a tie-wrap to keep the motor from vibrating and backing out of the GB (it did once) and I balanced the prop.

The Bat Hangers are the same shape as stock - but made of 1/4" square dowel. The LG mount is a 2-piece "clamp" that I dremeled the wire LG into. Then clamped it on the tube with 4 screws and glue. I did it this way because I had already glued the motor mount on and needed a way to clamp the LG on without threading it onto the tube.

If you are interested, I will take additional closeups tomorrow to show you the details. It could save you some time.

Let me know if you want them

I am very interested in how you do with the same elements - whether they break and how you deal with it.

Tom

Thanks for the info. I have the wings assembled and most of the tail surfaces.

I guess I will check the temp of the motor before going further with the motor mount. I was going to add the wedge and tie for the motor, but was thinking about making the wedge out of foam to help with the vibrations.

I planned on trying photography with this plane also.

Knowing how bad I trash my foam planes, I am almost afraid to fly something that looks this good, and is not made out of foam.

Thanks Tom, this is timely information. I am also putting an EZ400 together as a camera platform. While I did beef up the motor mount, I neglected some of the other areas of modification which you describe. I'm going to take another look.

Jeff

In this picture, you can see many of the mods I did. Notice the foam wing shim. Raising the wing in the back has the same effect as on a SS - keeps the plane from ballooning with power. This shim might be a little too high - still experimenting.

Note the beefed up 1/4" Battery Hangers and the Landing Gear Mount and the 1/4" Rubber Band Posts.

My NEsail LG Mount broke on the first landing. This one is in the form of a clamp. The wire is dremeled into both halves - then 4 screws clamp it on the tube. I used JBWeld Quick to hold it because the screws alone wouldn't. Probably could have made it lighter - now that I know how to land this plane. But my first landings were kinda rough - and this gear has held up. Material is poplar - started as a 3/4" square dowel from Lowes.

The length of the rubber band posts can be seen here, too. I just glued about a 2 1/2" piece of 1/4" dowel to each corner.

Again, using poplar dowels, here are both sides of the MM. I sanded in the down-right angles into the flat side (wrt to the hole) that the G10 is mounted to. The screws held it until the CA dried. This gives enough surface between the fuse and the mount to hold.

The saddle and tywrap were an after-thought for vibration, Works well.

This is the camera mount. I wanted the Aiptek vertically - right on the CG. This is the back of the part - the front is velcro to mate with velcro on the camera. I included posts - and put little notches to keep the bands from slipping. The velcro on the back mates with velcro on the plane. Brass strap is from Lowes - aluminum would work - but a such a bend would weaken it.

The Camera Mount on the EZ400. The angle is about 60deg. I find this good as I can aim at the ground or the horizon with the rudder/bank.

A rubber band from keeps everthing snug. Goes from the brass strap to the posts on the camera mount. Also seen here is the battery hanger.

Here is the camera mounted.

I know all these mods add weight - but the EZ has so much wing - I can't see a difference. With or without the camera - I can barely tell. I never go over half throttle to climb (8 1100 HECells). I tend to favor things on the robust-side.

Despite the NEsail website - I find it takes quite a field to bring this guy in for a landing. For close-quarter photos, I still use the Slow Stick. This rig is for ball games, etc, where I want to be high, quiet and low-distraction.

Having learned on a SS - I had to get used to the hotter landing speed. Too slow and the EZ400 will stall and drop. Power is not necessary - but land with some speed and roll out. It's pretty when you get it right - the LG is nice and stiff and the wheels are great.

Lastly, I couldn't stand to see that pretty red tail skid get all scratched up. I stuck this wire loop into two holes - not even glued. I tried to get a wheel to work - but returned to the skid.

Pls let me know if you do any of this to your EZ - or anything else.

The pictures really help a lot.
Was your landing gear reinforced with thread or is that something new in the instructions? I wrapped the gear and glued it per the instructions. Then gave the gear legs a couple of hard tugs trying to seperate them. It has some give where the wire flexes, but the mount seems sturdy.

Also, I will need to modify the camera mount some. I have the pencam SD. One thing I like about it, the SD card plugs right into my ipaq. I can tell if the camera was at least aimed at the right subject at the field by just putting in the card and checking the pictures right after I land.

I have one and found the same problems, motor mount broke, and landing gear problem. Easy fix. My wings have a small warp never fixed that one yet. Never thermaled it yet, thinks it needs strong ones. I carry up 6oz 35mm on mine, no problem. Have to use down elavator a little when climbing up on power. I use 8*1100HE cells and are great. Nice one Tom one making holes in front of gearbox, my motor got hot too.

Wayne

David,

I used a 19GA wire where the instructions said "thread". That wasn't the issue. With pressure on the little triangle from the backward motion of the gear, the twist broke the wood at the hole. Seems Wayne's did the same. If your LG holds up, please let us know.

Tom

Do you add any reinforcement to the leading and trailing edges where the rubber bands go on the wing?

If the wind quits, I might get to try it this weekend.