RE: Four Star 40 mod - COWL - Questions
[quote]ORIGINAL: Andrewmc Acs_guitars, good to see you are still lurking about. When you gonna get that 4* of yours finished? [/quote] I have too many other projects these days... hopefully this summer. My new shop is up and is waiting on me to have time to finish out the interior, once that is done I have 3 planes to get covered including the 4 star[:)]. trpastor: Looking good! If you search
Posted on: 3/17/2009 4:07 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8587910

RE: Four Star 40 mod - COWL - Questions
[quote]ORIGINAL: trpastor Hey Guys, I've started a post a while back but now have some follow up questions. I'm almost ready to cover, but I've chopped the cheeks and and doing a balsa cowl. Before I begin, I wanted to be sure of a few things. I found an article from RCMagainze 2000, and in the instructions (written for a 4*) they say to mark the horizontal thrustline 1 7/16" down from the top. This lowers it about 1/4" from the original insructions. I guess it's maybe to make more room for the top cowl part. Any reason NOT to do this? Will it hurt it to drop the engine down that far? Also, I mounted the engine as close to the firewall as I could. I didnt' see any reason why I couldn't, and I think I left enough room for the tubing to come out the firewall and around the slots. (see image) [/quote] Since no one else took on the cowl question, I way as well. Many have done this on the 4 star 40 and it is not that hard to to, just a lot of shaping and sanding. Moving the engine lower by 1/4" will not adversly affect anything... Just be sure to maintain the thrust angles in doing so. I do see a potential issue with moving the engine tight to the fire wall though. This will affect the CG meaning you may have to add nose weight (adding overall weight to the airframe) unless you have a bigger/heavier engine than reccomended (most new engines are lighter). Not a big deal, but I try to stick by the idea of "lead don't fly" and build as light as possible. Here are some pics from my 4 star build.... Mine is still not covered so I have no finished pics for you.
Posted on: 3/17/2009 9:58 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8586955

RE: Any reviews of Tenergy batter packs?
I've used these... So far after 1 flight season they are still goiing strong. Nothing bad to say about them. I have also used some of their lipo packs for my electrics and find those to be of good quality as well.
Posted on: 1/19/2009 10:46 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8375532

RE: run time on losi mini crawler???
IMO Lipo is of no use for these Crawlers as long as you move the pack to the rear axle. The stock pack will run for more than half an hour. I usually get bored of my little rock pile before the pack dies. Tip... Losi Blue compound tires and weight on the wheels do a lot for the performance of this little truck. For an indoor challenge pile up a few pirs of shoes for a crawling course... great for a rainy afternoon.
Posted on: 1/18/2009 9:25 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "RC Rock Crawlers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8373912

RE: lipo and esc for reciever battery in a non electric plane.
He is not referring to the power of the esc, he is talking about the BEC that is built into the ESC.... This is what regulates the power to the reciever. The 25amp rating on the ESC is the avaliable power for the motor, not the reciever.
Posted on: 1/15/2009 4:18 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8361819

RE: favorite magazine?
[quote]ORIGINAL: sqeakalong And Model Aviation...with their "too high" plan prices...well if wasn't sent with the membership...would they still be a viable publication? [/quote] That would be a big NO!! If they had to consider magazine sales they would care a bit more about the content and the hack job editors. I will find a good article every few months from them, but it's not too common.
Posted on: 1/14/2009 4:41 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8358121

RE: favorite magazine?
RCM is the best I have read.... I have a big stack of old ones that I still re-read. MAN is a joke with little more than advertising in the title of reviews. Fly RC is OK as well as Flying Models. MA is decent but need more substance in it's articles. It sounds like what you read before was RCM... it had you hooked.
Posted on: 1/14/2009 10:06 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8356853

RE: losi mrc widening/4ws
To make the track width wider you can use thicker drive hexes... not sure which ones guys have used. As for 4ws you just need to buy the steering set from Losi, it is the same as the front. Then its just a matter of a servo and either a 3ch radio or use a y-splitter.
Posted on: 1/13/2009 10:50 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "RC Rock Crawlers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8355743

RE: Herr Piper Cherokee Kit .049-.061,42"
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6404847/anchors_6404847/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#6404847]My Herr Cherokee[/link] I just thought I would thow this in here... The plane flew great on the Park 450 electric motor. The Park 480 would have been more sifficient as the plane was lost to a tip stall that the extra power could have pulled it out of. The plane was very docile and flew great being just a little nose heavy. Seeing that a Park 450 or 480BL motor is enough to fly this plane, I could not imagine having a .20 nitro on the nose. Properly powered this is a kit I would recommend to anyone. The kit goes together quick and easy and the parts are top notch, but I would expect this from any Herr/SIG kit. The price is great too, though it has gone up a bit the past year just as everything else has.
Posted on: 1/12/2009 1:34 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum ""1/2 A" & "1/8 A" airplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8349608

RE: Epoxy vs CA+ for tail feathers
I have used CA for the tail feathers on many airplanes and never had an issue.... Even in a crash they seem to hold just as well as epoxy. [8|] A good fitting joint is really the key.
Posted on: 1/11/2009 1:34 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8345648

RE: Kits sitting in the box...
I have around 20 kits in the box... 2 Kit built planes waiting for covering... 1 scratch build waiting for covering... and 3 ARF's. Not counting all my flight ready and retired planes. The best part is that my wife doesn't mind as long as I keep things mostly out of the house. [:)]
Posted on: 1/10/2009 9:12 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8343580

RE: Midwest Tri-Squire
If I can get this thing covered and flight trimmed by March I'll be there.
Posted on: 12/24/2008 12:33 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8278251

RE: Four Star 40 with Saito 56
Wow... 6 months later and it seems I am the only one not finished. Great job guys! I have not done any building in 6 months now and it will be a few more before the workshop is built.
Posted on: 12/20/2008 8:37 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8265918

RE: Midwest Tri-Squire
Finally getting back to RCU and glad to see there is still interest in the TriSquire.... My last post was on 6-24-08, the next day I recieved a call and got news that my father in-law in Jaksonville had passed away. So to say the least, this has been a rocky 6 months. The move to FL got pushed back to September, and RC went on hold. If it weren't for the Parkzone micros I would not have had a chance to fly at all. All of my building projects are on hold until I complete the building of my new workshop. The TriSquire made the 1200 mile treck with out so much as a dent, and I am still really anxious to get it along with 2 or 3 other built planes in the air by this spring.
Posted on: 12/20/2008 8:22 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8265870

RE: Talk me out of buying this plane
[quote]ORIGINAL: nothinbetr2do well, if you like it and can afford it. i say buy it. you can always put it up until your ready for it. then you'll have your next plane already and get a deal on it to [/quote] My thoughts exactly!
Posted on: 6/24/2008 2:31 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7655769

RE: Midwest Tri-Squire
How is everyone coming on the Ti-squire builds? I am getting really anxious to get mine covered and in the air. Still just to busy getting ready for the move [:@]
Posted on: 6/24/2008 8:38 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7654658

RE: LST2/MMB owners: what are ya breaking??
I have had mine for a few months, added brushless, and the typical BL durability upgrades and I have broken NOTHING since I bought it! I am not a harcore basher, but as with any RC offraoder it has taken many missed landings and tumbles. I am 100% happy with my MMB. The best thing is that replacements and upgrades are not expensive at all for these smaller trucks. I switched from a 1/6 scale gasser to the MMB HUGE price difference in hop-ups and I enjoy the MMB more than the 1/6 scale because I can run anywhere and it's just as fast with the BL system.
Posted on: 6/23/2008 8:28 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "1/16th, 1/18th, Mini & Micro RC Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7650562

RE: Duratrax Cliff Climber 1/14th scale crawler Thread
Perfect for a back yard rock garden... I would definitely look at one of these once released, it looks to be a basic crawler design that has been proven by the Clods. Great to see an option for a smaller stick. A video is needed to really convince me that I need it.
Posted on: 6/23/2008 8:22 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "1/16th, 1/18th, Mini & Micro RC Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7650554

RE: Trainer plane question.....
Have you checked the CG?
Posted on: 6/20/2008 12:19 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7641198

RE: Dope finishes
You should probably just make a test piece.... In my experience, nothing goes over oil-based finishes, other than oil-based products with out a primer. I have never tried what you are suggesting though. May I ask, why oil-based Minwax and not a water-based stain??
Posted on: 6/17/2008 9:21 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7628528

RE: official: Mini LST2 and Mini Monster Baja
[quote]ORIGINAL: brainleak The spur that comes with the DD slipper from losi is the one that I use. You cant continue to use the gear cover without modifications but I've never used it anyway. [/quote] You can use the cover and the only modification is to add spacers/washers under the mounting tabs. Easy to do and will save your gears if you ever run in rocky soil. The pinion size depends on the motor(s) being used. p.s. Search the forum, I found all of this info in previous threads when building my BL MMB.
Posted on: 6/16/2008 2:48 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "1/16th, 1/18th, Mini & Micro RC Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7625411

RE: slight miss when inverted
You should also check the fuel clunk in your tank... If it is too long it could be hanging-up when you roll inverted.
Posted on: 6/15/2008 7:05 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7622370

RE: R/C P-51 Dead Stick Crash Warbirds over New Jersey N.J.
Typical stall.... kept the nose too high and bled off too much speed.
Posted on: 6/13/2008 2:20 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7615387

RE: Four Star 40 with Saito 56
Nice job on the tube... Much better to do it right than take the easy road. Without the tube you would have a tough time getting the srevo wire thru the wing. Looks like I am falling behind, everyone is finishing up while mine is still sitting on the work bench waiting for me to have time again.[:o]
Posted on: 6/13/2008 9:45 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7614497

RE: mini monster baja steering?
With all the money you have spent on servos you could have upgraded to the exotec and used a MG stangard servo... You won't break that with your mini. I know this is not what you were asking to hear, but at what point are the micro servos not worth the trouble anymore?[&:]
Posted on: 6/12/2008 9:25 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "1/16th, 1/18th, Mini & Micro RC Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7610523

RE: Wind wind go away come again never!
Long-winded, but well said. [:)] The thing to remember is that the airplane is flying thru a fluid in which solid objects are anchored to the ground below. The airplanes position relative to trees and telephone poles makes a big difference in this and our percieved safety of the plane. [8|] We all know that in a tail wind our GROUND speed is increased, thus giving the pilot less reaction time in relation to objects anchored to that ground... This is exactly why beginners need to step in a little at a time so that dumb thumbs and over reacting won't be as much of an issue.
Posted on: 6/11/2008 5:15 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7608146

RE: Stuck high in a tree now what?
Great!... I use the Zippy's myself. Well worth the low price, I have 8 of them in 3 different sizes and they work just as well as my more expensive packs. Have you gotten your SS down yet?
Posted on: 6/10/2008 5:00 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7603978

RE: Stuck high in a tree now what?
[quote]ORIGINAL: n19htmare It's clear outside with humidity at mid 70's through out the night. Will my electronics be ok? I don't care about the plane it was only $20. But my AR6200, battery, Servos, Motor. [/quote] The reciever, servos and motor will be fine, but if your battery is over discharged it may be toast... Certainly if it is a LiPo.[&:]
Posted on: 6/10/2008 1:34 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7603295

RE: Wind wind go away come again never!
I work on Kits and use the Sim to keep me entertained in the hobby... I also have some RC cars too. I have gotten to fly a park flyer atleast one evening each week. Just as the sun is going down (7:30 - 8 pm) the winds die down a bit and are usually little more than 10mph. You just have to be aware of the gusts and not over react when the plane seems to have a mind of it's own. The only reason I have been flying park flyers is because I am too lazy to drive out the the club field that late in the day with my larger planes. [&:] A 40 size or larger glow plane will handle 10-20mph winds pretty well, but a beginner should first try this with the instructor by their side, as high gusts can suprise you.
Posted on: 6/9/2008 4:34 PM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7599393

RE: Four Star 40 with Saito 56
For CA hinges I actually use my balsa stripper... It is the type that uses a #11 blade. I mark the hinge centers and then set the stipper to be in the center of the thickness of the TE. Then I make 1 1/4" wide slots starting in about 1/8" deep on the first pass, about a 1/4" on the second pass, and full depth on the third pass. Then do the same on the LE of the control surface. I have used this method on alot of planes and always end up with nice hinge lines. As long as the wing has a close to flat bottom on the TE this works great (on symetrical airfoils this won't work). I only use hinge slotting forks when I am using a pinned hinge... As you stated, the slots are a little big for a CA hinge.
Posted on: 6/9/2008 9:23 AM by Author "Acs_guitars" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7597835