I used an old Clouds Fly that was missing a canopy, RX and ESC to test a Timber RX that was in a crash. The CF airframe was in good shape but the prop was being retained with a prop saver fitting in front and aft of the prop. This worked until the third flight when the aft prop saver departed the prop shaft and I lost the prop. Fortunately I was able to glide back to my launching area. I’ve replaced the prop saver by using a collet. There is no more vibration and the prop should stay on.

The AR636 Timber receiver is stock and has not been unlocked. I made a belly hatch and mounted it using 3M Dual Lock. This makes it easy to remove for plug inserting and checking and is solid. I don’t use fuzzy velcro because the gyros/sensors see movement and interferes with pitch and roll leveling. I had to use a servo reverser on the aileron channel 2 and on the rudder. I could have moved servo and horns around to eliminate the reversers but use the RX in another aircraft that may not even need reversers.

The RX has had no problems flying out to around 1200 feet where the CF is very small and hard to see. With SAFE On she is very easy to fly and with SAFE Off she can do standard rolls and loops. Surprisingly CF handles 10-15 mph winds just fine using a 2200 3S for added weight and CG. I use Flight Modes and use up elevator trim for Thermal Mode and just rudder. CF will tip stall so I will reduce the amount of up elevator to prevent any onset of a stall....Continue Reading

My friend Lonny W asked me to maiden his “Big Red” (BG). He had to do a lot of work to finish her up and she looks great. We found that the elevator pushrod was bending in it’s nylon tube and causing the elevator servo to strain and the result was the elevator could not return to neutral. The tube was removed and he threaded a 4-40 rod for clevis connection at the elevator horn and servo end. This solved the binding and allowed the servo to provide accurate return to neutral angle. There were many other issues with the model but the purpose of this blog is to report on the maiden and follow on flights with recommended angles for the flight controls.

The DX9 transmitter and AR637T receiver is installed as we both use SAFE Select for reduced pilot workload. When turned off aerobatics are available with AS3X taking care of gusty winds. It’s available on Horizon’s Bind and Fly models but with BG you have to program the receiver after the first maiden trim flight.......to be continued