RE: Pitts Model 12 15e ARF by E-flite vs Great Planes Super Stearman EP ARF 36
The problem with this aircraft's strength came from a defective batch of wings. The defect is easy to discover if you can examine the package pre-purchase. Look inside the wing where the servo bay is. Look through the rib to the next bay looking toward the wing root. This bay should have shear web going from the top of the spar to the bottom of the spar, the defective wings only have top and bottom stringers (spar caps) in this section and no shear web. The set of wings I had for this aircraft broke after just a couple of flights, not complete failure, I was able to land but I noticed the failure when I was handling the aircraft. These wings were replaced by Horizon and the second set worked very well until I managed to cartwheel the aircraft so I ordered a third set of wings. The third set of wings I inspected when I received them and found them to have the same manufacturing flaw as the first set so I sent them back without flying them. The fourth set of wings did not have the flaw and worked perfectly right up until the point that I did an inverted flat spin to low and did not have enough battery left to do a hovering recovery. This was honestly a very fun airplane and with the good wing it seemed plenty strong for my 600 watt setup. I did not replace this aircraft with another because I did not like the battery tray position and access, but that would be no factor on a glow airplane. I would use an alternate means to secure the battery hatch than the stock system because that also worked poorly in the retention of the hatch role it served. I honestly think I might consider giving this a go in glow myself, haven't thought about this plane in a while, and it was very fun.
Posted on: 9/13/2011 10:53 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Electrics to Glow Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10714686

RE: Saito FG-20
Have the folks that converted theirs to glow had any problems? What else is involved besides buying the glow carb? I'm ready to convert it, I've wasted my time on mine for a couple years and am just done.
Posted on: 8/30/2010 2:57 PM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9969554

RE: Saito FG-20
Someone is going to use this engine in a Helicopter, [link=http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=229182]FG-20 Pantera[/link] It's a neat idea but not something I'd do because you can do a proven gasser helicopter with a Zenoah 20 for the same money or less.
Posted on: 7/21/2010 2:01 PM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9879087

RE: Saito FG-20
What airframe would you suggest for getting this engine to run right? I want something floaty so that when the engine, that was running perfectly on the ground, quits immediately after takeoff, I can land nice and soft and hopefully short of a gopher hole. Most trainers I have seen, seem a little small for this engine. Thinking Senior Telemaster, but not sure how well they do as a glider, and they are a little spendy for something that I want to use just to tune an engine.
Posted on: 3/18/2010 2:07 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9591863

RE: Saito FG-20
W8ye, By backside do you mean to place the ignition inside the fuselage against the firewall or inside the cowling against the firewall? Timbers, would yours gradually work it's way to stumbling or would it make a sudden transition? Mine makes a very definite transition. one second it is running great, the next it is really burbling. Not much snow here, but probably won't get a chance to try again until after the new year.
Posted on: 12/23/2009 1:13 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9353269

RE: Saito FG-20
Well, I finally put mine in the air yesterday. I have owned it almost a year, but life kept getting in the way, and I wasn't really willing to risk an airframe after I had heard of the troubles. Recently I found a used Aeroworks .60-.90 Extra 260 airframe for ultra cheap, so I crammed it in there. Everything is stock except I am using a Slimline Pitts muffler with the pressure tap capped off. For those thinking about this Airframe, it really is small for the motor. Using the Saito FG-20 mount, the motor is about half an inch too far forward, so I have a fair gap between spinner and cowl. Balance was kind of a trick as well. I put the ignition behind the fuel tank, just in front of the spar. I have two 6.0V AA size NiMh battery packs sitting on a frame I built into the turtle deck right behind the canopy.The throttle servo is mounted beside the rudder servo. With this setup, no balance weight was necesarry. I could have probably left the ignition under the cowling if I would put my rudder servo in the tail, but space was tight back there and I would have to have built up some mounts for it. If I get to the point where I like this motor on this airframe, I will cut the motor box by 1/2 inch and put the rudder servo in the tail, but I am not there yet. I think the Aeroworks .60-.90 Yak would be a much better choice airframe just because of the round cowl, You wouldn't notice the 1/2 inch gap near as badly, you also would probably get better cooling. This motor has been bench run, and performed nicely there, ground run up was good, and the first minute of flight was good. After about a minute of flight the engine dropped power and started burbling hard. I landed, tweaked the mixture, and took off again with similar results after a minute except it went dead stick a little into the burbling. Unfortunately I came up a couple feet short of the runway and lost the landing gear. When I get it flyable again I'll pull the cowl and try again. I think I have adequate cooling. the engine is mounted sideways. The very top of the head is in the airflow. and I have a ton of exit air. about a 3"X6" exit. But about a 15% portion of the engine is blanked by the cowling, so it is worth a try. I have looked through the posts and all I can find are people that have trouble with it as soon as it gets in the air. Has anyone here had the engine run great for the first minute in the air, then start to have trouble? If a solution was found, what was it? Thanks, Steve
Posted on: 12/22/2009 11:59 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9351262

RE: CRRC 40cc kit
Race, Before you had starting working with me on this engine, Dave and I were working on it with my 50:1 87 octane E-10 gas with Ace hardware 2 stroke oil. The 108 leaded race gas with amsoil saber 100:1 improved our numbers and transitions the day you helped me, so that seems to be at least the right direction. I went with the 108 leaded because that was the only way to get rid of the ethanol that Dave thought might be causing me some problems.
Posted on: 12/3/2009 12:08 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9299497

RE: Saito FG-20
Thanks for the info W8ye. That saved me $75 I was close to pulling the trigger on.
Posted on: 6/9/2009 8:11 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8837758

RE: Saito FG-20
Dale, did you check for a stuck valve yet? mine arrived with no compression because the exhaust valve was kept open with a piece of something on the seat. Almost finished with the kit I'm putting this in, anyone know of a good fitting inverted pitts muffler to put on this? the only things I have found online so far claim to fit a Saito 1.20 but I can find nothing for a Saito FA1.25 and definitely finding nothing for an FG20. I am assuming whatever fits an FA1.25 will fit this. I am not so sure about a Saito 1.20 though. Mine has been running fine on the stand so far, hopefully that continues when I get it on the plane.
Posted on: 6/9/2009 1:24 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8837418

RE: Hyperion SU 31 Build Suggestions
Just a quick question on the 25 size Hyperion Sukhoi 31. I just recently crashed my 25 size Hyperion Yak 55. but am considering replacing it with the Sukhoi. I am looking at the Sukhoi instead of another Yak because I had a hard time getting my CG far enough back on the 55 due to the wingtube restricting travel of the battery to the aft. On the sukhoi, is it possible to get the battery positioned across the wing tube? Thanks Steve
Posted on: 5/7/2009 3:12 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Electric Aerobatic & Sport Planes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8747653

RE: e-flite pitts model 12 any good?
What I am planning on doing is attaching a small dowel rod on the bottom front part of the hatch, drill a matching hole in the top of the firewall, putting a small magnet into the bulkhead at the back end of the battery tray. and a small magnet into the back of the hatch to mate. I think that should do the trick. I wouldn't worry too much about the Decals, All it came with was some N numbers, and a Pitts decal for the cowling. I usually don't put decals on any of my planes until I have had to do a couple rebuilds, then I use them to distract from my poor covering skills. If you want to try and make some there is clear sticker project paper at office max for $10 for 10 sheets. and google up some pitts logo's to print. I use the sticker paper to print up nice AMA numbers for my birds.
Posted on: 4/14/2009 6:33 PM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "3D Electric Flying!"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8681504

RE: e-flite pitts model 12 any good?
Took a little bit to get back to this topic concerning the shear web. Looking into the servo hatch on the wing. you'll notice that on the spar there is a sheet of balsa between the top spar and the bottom spar. The area that I have seen a failure on is the next wing bay inboard. with the hatch open look through the rib into the next wing bay. at the correct angle you should be able to see up to the spar. If you see that there is a wood between the top and bottom then you are good to go. If not contact horizon and have them trade you out. The wing that came with this aircraft when I first purchased did not have the shear web on that bay, and broke the first day flying as described in a previous post by me. The replacement wing sent by horizon was built with the shear web installed on that bay and worked flawlessly through many flights following. I ended up cartwheeling this aircraft and broke the good wing. I then ordered a replacement wing from the LHS and it had the same issue as the wing that originally came with the aircraft, didn't bother installing that one, but sent straight to horizon for a replacement, which arrived within a week. and had the correct wing construction. Considering that I have gotten two wings with the same problem, I don't think that this is an isolated incident, and suspect this is the cause for the wing fold ups that have sullied this planes reputation. This aircraft is absolutely one of my favorites in this size, and it is too bad it has gotten a bad rap. It does incredibly beautiful inverted flat spins, and is just a blast to fly. I am running a 3s with the power 25 and no, it will not hold a hover. I think it would with a 4s and will probably give that a try sometime. next time I get asked a question about the wing and I don't answer please give me a kick with a PM. Totally unrelated to the wing is the battery hatch. I lost mine in flight. I always kind of wondered how good that latch was going to last and got my answer yesterday. Unable to find in the weeds. still waiting to hear back from horizon on whether I can get a replacement for just the hatch, and when I do, I think I will modify it with dowels in the front and latch or strong magnet in the back. If anyone on here has a hatch from a wreck I would love to buy it from you, so please PM me.
Posted on: 4/14/2009 3:09 PM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "3D Electric Flying!"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8680877

RE: Saito FG-20
I think they are talking about a rumored 14cc gas from Saito.
Posted on: 4/11/2009 12:22 AM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8669658

RE: e-flite pitts model 12 any good?
I didn't have to do any z bends on mine, just one 90 degree. the hardware kit on mine came with some little plastic clips that went over the end of the rod and clipped on. as a side note, make sure you have the latest wings. peek through the aileron servo hatch and make sure you see shear web on the next bay inboard. the first production run was missing those and my wing broke in flight. luckily it held together and I didn't notice til I landed. E-flite sent me a shipping label and I sent them back. The new ones are much stronger.
Posted on: 2/12/2009 12:55 PM by Author "bulldog319" in the forum "3D Electric Flying!"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8469071