Chris Barlow Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Kevin mine took 65g (2.3oz) at the very front to get the CG on the rear edge of the main spar and flew a tiny bit tail heavy. Easily manageable and not enough to be a problem but I have adjusted the RX battery to put the CG to the front edge of the main spar now. Will have to test this yet but I expect it to be spot on now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 In less than ideal conditions today I decided to go for the maiden. No drama no fuss. Within 2 circuits I had her trimmed for hands off flying. Where did I go on the CofG? I decided that Mr Todd knows his stuff and left it as recommended. So I did indeed need that 6oz of church roof up front. The only thing I do need to do, is as Vecchio and BEB have said is to rake the undercarriage forward a bit. I was however a little surprised at the amount of juice left in the battery after a 5 minute flight. Using an 11x6 as recommended there was only 14% in the 2200Mah LiPo. Even to a layman like myself that seems a bit low. Other than that. One very happy bunny. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 I was however a little surprised at the amount of juice left in the battery after a 5 minute flight. Using an 11x6 as recommended there was only 14% in the 2200Mah LiPo. Even to a layman like myself that seems a bit low. Other than that. One very happy bunny. Kev. 1451 mah gone back into the pack. Hmmm something not quite right here. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Its looking good Kev shame about the lead I reckon its time we had one with Silver wings and a red fuzz Might need to rename it, sometime around 12ish flyer though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Flew the Dawn Flyer yesterday evening at Tibenham, a tarmac runway. Had no issues with the nose going over, so the undercarriage is now good. I have changed the Master Airscrew for an APC E prop. After a 6 minute flight there was still 57% left in the battery. Should see me good for an 8 minute flight. Can hardly wait for Greenacres now. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Before Greenacres I had had seven successful flights with the DF. On the Friday evening I took the opportunity to have a sneaky flight. The result was a less than pretty sight. Any way with a little epoxy from that nice David Ashby the DF was ready for the Saturday Mass Build flight. Had a blast and really had to concentrate with six other Df in the same airspace. On the Sunday however a completely different story. Unsure as to if the damage to the servo`s was caused by the crash or by the incident on the Friday evening. I have ordered new servo`s and the rebuild will commence tomorrow, as it needs to be ready for the weekend after this.. I will post the rebuild on this thread. kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Need to toughen up those 3 weak spots! Looks like exactly the same break lines as mine after the unlucky collision after landing on Saturday! I'm thinking lite ply reinforcement or glass cloth & resin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Broke mine in same place fellas I used 1/32 ply so I could restain, I also added one on the paddle where spar joins. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Posted by john stones 1 on 24/06/2014 21:40:14: Broke mine in same place fellas I used 1/32 ply so I could restain, I also added one on the paddle where spar joins. John I think that's the way forward. I think I'll sandwich the lower tail longeron between 2 triangles of ply where it joins the bath tub! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 Thinking along the same lines as the rest of you I attacked the job yesterday. First thing to do was to remove the stain and Poly C varnish from all affected areas. This came off quite easily and provided a good rough surface for the glue to adhere to. Then from some 1/32 ply I cut out a couple of doublers. Glued the two fuselage halves together using epoxy and left it to dry. Then using lots of clamps I added the fuselage doublers. and left this to cure overnight. You can just about also see the small biscuit I let into the break on the bottom longeron. Finally added this morning the small ply plate to strengthen that area. Kev Edited By Kevin Fairgrieve on 26/06/2014 09:42:46 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 So all glued up, re stained, and ready to go. Not a hard repair by any stretch. Hopefully if the weather gods are good I will try to re maiden her this week. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 So after the rebuild I took the DF to another fly in last weekend. Lined the DF into wind and applied throttle. She took off very nicely, and so once again I turned into the circuit. Same result as at Greenacres. A sudden roll to the left and plane and terra firma collided. I am now beginning to suspect a radio problem, as both times the same result. Range check was OK, so maybe installation issue`s. Strange really as previously the same configuration has had seven successful flights. The next course of action is to rebuild of course. It would probably be quicker to build from scratch, but I like a challenge. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 That's a shame Kev Must be real annoying, hope you get to bottom of it. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Shame about that Kev after a tidy repair. Annoying when you have a problem 100 ft away and you can't see what's going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Thats a real shame Kev. I think I would put the rx in a bouncy foamy for a test CheersDanny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 After a bit of a break, as the will to repair was a bit low I started again today. The RX combo in this has been consigned to the test bench. I have since acquired a Taranis and will be using that in this and all my other models once funds permit. The laser was a £1 shop special. I had 4 originally but over the course of the years this is the last one left. If you can get one they make the building of straight models a lot easier. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 What rotten luck Kevin, but I do admire your perseverance. Looks like she'll be back in the air in no time. I've not flown a DF, and from what I've seen of others they look very safe and benign. However, I just wondered - is it possible that each time it's gone in, it's been flying a little too slowly and because you're in a turn, the inner wing has stalled? Just thought it better mentioned than not, 'cos if it did happen to be so, not even a Taranis can help with that Best of luck anyway, she looks worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 It did occur to me too. Having the exact same fate on the same flight path as the previous incident would give rise to suspect a stall rather than a radio glitch, especially cosidering you're using a satellite unit as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 Posted by Chris Bott - Moderator on 16/07/2014 11:23:38: What rotten luck Kevin, but I do admire your perseverance. Looks like she'll be back in the air in no time. I've not flown a DF, and from what I've seen of others they look very safe and benign. However, I just wondered - is it possible that each time it's gone in, it's been flying a little too slowly and because you're in a turn, the inner wing has stalled? Just thought it better mentioned than not, 'cos if it did happen to be so, not even a Taranis can help with that Best of luck anyway, she looks worth it. I would agree with you about that on the first crash. I was a bit hasty to get into the circuit. With 9 or 10 other assorted "mass build" flyers, space was at a premium. The second crash not so sure. I was in no rush to get into the circuit and had good height and speed. Amongst those present at this incident was Ian Redshaw, who also thought the clime out was good. I still have my doubts about the radio/servo`s, and will be soak testing the whole system. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 Progress is going steadily. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Looks good. Is it worth considering extra diagonal bracing between the rear fuselage and front tub? e.g from the bottom of the first "V" forward to the underside of the last former? (F5 iirc) Mine has failed again following it's repair at Greenacres after the ground collision. This time I suspect it started in the air going up into a loop and snapped fully on the ground! Minor stuff again but worth eliminating the weak points this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 I have added the ply doubler again on the rear section of the tub area. Adding a brace as you suggest may impact on the path of the elevator push rod, but I will look. To be honest I just want to get it finished again and fly the darn thing it is such a good model. Shame about your`s again. An easy fix I hope. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 Lost the desire to post the rebuild, so here she is. No chance to fly until after the Nationals. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Hi Kev, wow you have been through the mincer with this one haven't you? Let's hope its third time lucky!! Regarding the stall theory, well those who know me will be aware that I am of the opinion that a good proportion of so called "unexplained radio problems" are in fact good old fashioned stalls! But in this case I'm not so sure. My experience is that the DF has a very benign stall - little more than a "nod" really. There is no sign of a serious wing drop. Anyway best of luck with the re-maiden! Fingers and toes crossed! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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