About the amps, I'm quite naive as to how the stock motors would handle 13-15 amps each at 11.1V, never tried them

They wouldn't last long, a brushless system has far more power at full throttle. My point was that on average you flew at or below half power, a level that the brushed motors could have handled.

After all my calculations and planning, my TSII still came out too heavy, over four pounds with two 2350mah 25C LIPO's (14 oz. for the two). As much as I love the E-flite retracts and how they work perfectly I'm afraid they will have to be pulled out. The retracts plus a servo for steering weigh over 1/2 pound. Thought I'd show two pics of the progress before I remove the retracts. The plane empty weight is 3.5 pounds w/o bats right now, so I have no other choice....

2 RIMFIRE 35-30-1250 2.6 5.2 oz.
2 9X7.5 3 blade PROPS 0.035 0.07 oz.
2 HS-65MG flaps 0.44 0.88 oz.
2 HS-82MG ailerons 0.66 1.32 oz.
2 HS-82MG elev/rud 0.66 1.32 oz.
2 Airboss Elite 45a ES 1.8 3.6 oz.
3 E-flite retracts 5 oz.

It is pretty, though. Too bad there is no diet available to help.

I always used to prop 6V S400s for about 13A on full throttle, using 8xnicd though. Current-wise that was fine, assuming you weren't on full power continuously. Never burned one out.

Originally Posted by sylifis

After all my calculations and planning, my TSII still came out too heavy, over four pounds with two 2350mah 25C LIPO's (14 oz. for the two). As much as I love the E-flite retracts and how they work perfectly I'm afraid they will have to be pulled out. The retracts plus a servo for steering weigh over 1/2 pound. Thought I'd show two pics of the progress before I remove the retracts. The plane empty weight is 3.5 pounds w/o bats right now, so I have no other choice....

2 RIMFIRE 35-30-1250 2.6 5.2 oz.
2 9X7.5 3 blade PROPS 0.035 0.07 oz.
2 HS-65MG flaps 0.44 0.88 oz.
2 HS-82MG ailerons 0.66 1.32 oz.
2 HS-82MG elev/rud 0.66 1.32 oz.
2 Airboss Elite 45a ES 1.8 3.6 oz.
3 E-flite retracts 5 oz.

Sorry you have to pull those shes very nice as is

Originally Posted by sylifis

After all my calculations and planning, my TSII still came out too heavy, over four pounds with two 2350mah 25C LIPO's (14 oz. for the two). As much as I love the E-flite retracts and how they work perfectly I'm afraid they will have to be pulled out. The retracts plus a servo for steering weigh over 1/2 pound. Thought I'd show two pics of the progress before I remove the retracts. The plane empty weight is 3.5 pounds w/o bats right now, so I have no other choice....

2 RIMFIRE 35-30-1250 2.6 5.2 oz.
2 9X7.5 3 blade PROPS 0.035 0.07 oz.
2 HS-65MG flaps 0.44 0.88 oz.
2 HS-82MG ailerons 0.66 1.32 oz.
2 HS-82MG elev/rud 0.66 1.32 oz.
2 Airboss Elite 45a ES 1.8 3.6 oz.
3 E-flite retracts 5 oz.

A beauty. Too bad. Did you try to fly it? It's a mighty big wing and with those props, who knows? Good luck, Tony

Thanks for the positive inputs..no I didn't try to fly it yet, but I did pull the retracts out, what a shame huh? I think part of my problem was the wires running from the motors in the wings to the ESC's that are in the belly area, all that copper must have added up to a few ounces. Because of the holes made for the retracts I also fiberglassed the top of the wing using 3/4 oz. per yard fiberglass, but that should not have been more than one ounce....it's a conundrum.

Who needs landing gear to take off. No Gear, No Problem. No need to toss in the air, sit it down on the ground and let it go. Full Power (400 Brushless Motors, 6X4 Props) and off she goes. Touch and goes are easy to... The Twinstar II Does It All. See the proof below.

Sparkie

TwinStar Belly Takeoff, Landing, & Touch&Go's (1 min 31 sec)

Mine does that too. Quite amusing - I find myself chuckling every time. I taxied to the pit area last week and just started laughing. I have not perfected the art of dragging a wing to aid in turning, yet.

Hi fellows I just found this site and was interested to know if any one has done the Keith Sparks water conversion , if so how did it work and did you have to up the power a bit.
www.parkflyerplastics.com

Thanks Taz

Just returned from four wonderful FPV flights with my new 1.3G 400mw Tx/Rx. All I can do now is sweet beautiful picture at half a mile and I'm ready to push a bit farther too.

I also logged 861 watts and 77.45 amps I guess my Thunderpower 3s 2650mah 45C packs like the warmer temps.

Originally Posted by sylifis

...
The plane empty weight is 3.5 pounds w/o bats right now, so I have no other choice....
...

No other choice? The B-25 weighs approx. 3.5 lbs and has a much smaller wing area than the Twin-Star.

Jürgen

Originally Posted by Jurgen Heilig

No other choice? The B-25 weighs approx. 3.5 lbs and has a much smaller wing area than the Twin-Star.

Jürgen

I also get 15 minute flights at 3.68lbs and some WOT . It might be worth a try as is.

i would have at least flown it with the retracts. i'm sure it would have been fine.

My concern was the total weight of 3.5 lbs. plus 14oz bats. was 4 lbs. 6oz., ostensibly, the retracts are designed to work for planes under 4 lbs., I also was concerned that the weight might be too much stress on the plastic wing retainers....I'm pretty good at assembling lawn darts.