Controls very slow

[Allen Eshleman]

I have a very heavy Nobler, pulled by an FP 40.   I hadn't flown it for a long time.  However, it was not very responsive on the end of 60 ft. lines.  Had plenty of pull on the lines and glided to a very smooth landing.  Weight is a problem.  But could it be tail heavy?  or what?  Any suggestions?

[ray copeland]

More likely nose heavy, tail heavy would tend to make it twitchy.

[Air Ministry .]

If its got the stock muffler on it , itll be very nose heavy .  A tounge muffler'd help there .

The round case FPs seem to be heavier than the earlyer wart case ones .

Check the sea gee .

[John McFayden]

You say you had not flown it in a long time. If previously it was responsive and no changes were made to the model then perhaps the hinges are stiff due to old oil and dirt thickening up. Some IPA or even fuel can be used to clean them and loosen them up.

John McFayden

[Dave_Trible]

Yes quite nose heavy.  Remember the Nobler was designed for a 6 ounce Fox .35 with no muffler,  and a 3 1/2 ounce fuel tank.  If you were to add enough tail weight to get to a proper CG the plane would be too heavy but worse,  create a bar bell with chunks of weight on both ends which would resist turning then not want to stop turning once set in motion.  Try to lighten the nose even if you have to fly it less muffler and find the lightest spinner ( or leave it off).  If you build another try to 'go nostalgia' and use a Fox or McCoy or something lighter and consider flying it without muffler- like in the good ol' days.

Dave

[Jim Mynes]

Some IPA or even fuel can be used to clean them and loosen them up.

A good IPA loosens me up, too.

[Allen Eshleman]

I will check the cg.  It did have a fox 35 on it.  Then, perhaps a B-40.  First time flying with FP.

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

May not be the plane....I know I need to loosen up after a long lay-off!  Just say'n.

And yeah.....I agree with the nose heavy fella's.  A plane will act as you describe if nose heavy and that motor/muffler combo is MUCH heavier than the old unmuffled Fox 35.

[Avaiojet]

Allen,

I have an ARF Nobler I'm thinking of assembling if I don't sell it.

Could you please tell me what yours weighs?

Thank you in advance.

Charles

[john e. holliday]

As stated it is nose heavy.  I replaced the Fox 35 Stunt tongue muffler with EVO 36 tongue muffler.  Left off the cowl as I didn't want to hack it up.  Left off the spinner also.  After trying to fly I wound up adding tail weight.   It now turns like it should but the fuel tank is not big enough.   It is being used to break in the EVO.

[Tim Wescott]

However, it was not very responsive on the end of 60 ft. lines.  Had plenty of pull on the lines and glided to a very smooth landing.  Weight is a problem.  But could it be tail heavy?  or what?  Any suggestions?

Yet another vote for nose heavy -- not responsive, plenty of pull, and an easy smooth glide all point to that.

Lighten it up in front as much as you can, and then put on tail weight.  Good balance is better than light weight, especially when you have a powerful motor like the FP in front.

[Skip Chernoff]

Your plane is probably nose heavy ,Add weight to the tail to get it to turn properly.

[Allen Eshleman]

Thank for all the advice.  So far, I had added a quarter of an ounce to the tail. No good weather for flying right now.  Will try that.  With that weight it seems to balance near the front line - the up line.

In answer to Charles about weight, I don't have anything to weigh with. I can say, that a good new kit, even an ARF will be lighter than this often repaired porker. 

I just finished all the modifications to the 40 FP that I ever plan to do.  I just added one head shim.  Before that I put a slightly smaller venturi in it. Hopefully, no more, runaways.

[Mark Scarborough]

a;llen have you checked the cg? then the leadout position,

[Air Ministry .]

Threw one of these on the FP 40 wart thing , the other weekend .

Straight into a deep steady 4 - stroke . Tho in the Mewgull it'd finally stopped the runaways !
and I DONT need a deep steady 4 - stroke in the Machhi 72 .

A 1/2 rad on the end of a bit of scrap metal , chamfered . And glow plug in clamped drill chuck , would get it .
If you kept your fingers out of it . Theres definately a ' Transformation ' . And not a difficult ' FIX ' .

Sceptre Flight reviews gives differant combustion chamber volume ( Head ) for FP 40 R/C & FP 40 C/L .

[Brett Buck]

Thank for all the advice.  So far, I had added a quarter of an ounce to the tail. No good weather for flying right now.  Will try that.  With that weight it seems to balance near the front line - the up line.

    The leadouts may be too far forward, but moving the CG back is probably the right move. But be advised that a lot of these classic airplanes (many of which are Noblers underneath) are very sensitive to the CG position. The range from too sluggish to unstable is very narrow. So go very carefully with the changes, and if it suddenly starts wanting to tighten up in round maneuvers where you have to fight to keep it from ballooning at the bottom, you are probably very close to the aft CG limit.

     Brett