Anybody done a 38 Special bipe for E CL ?

will it do a usable pattern ?

curious

Vincent

Hi Vincent
If you do a SEARCH for 38 Special you will find some nice discussions, most folks have powered up to 40-46 size engines.  It sounds like it will do a pattern but is not a threat to win the NATs!

This weekend, I will be building a prototype of an electric conversion package for the 38 Special.  I will be using the Brodak Arrowind 40 sized electric system, and plan on using an 11" prop.  The power system I am using will also turn a 12" prop if needed, but I'd bet that willl be too big for the airplane to fly properly.

I'll try to post some pictures when I get them! 

Hi Vincent,
       I love Biplanes,what a great idea H^^Have you given any thought to the powertrain components yet?Since we know its just for fun pattern flying you don't have to break the bank with a worldbeater system.I have a set of plans for this bird and maybe I can get an idea what you are looking at.I'd like to build one too.Trax

I am building a 38 Special to sport fly the pattern.   Planning on using the same set up I use on my Forerunner.  Basically a .40 glow replacement.  3020-860 Exceed Rocket ($21).  Phoenix Ice Lite 50 ESC ($80), Hubin FM-9 ($8), 3K 4S Lipo-s.  I have 2 projects in work ahead of the 38 Special so it could take awhile to test fly.
Joe

The modification build is shown below.  Essentially the mod is a lite ply battery box with a firewall capping it.  this box is then installed into the fuselage.  THe 38 Special includes a balsa cheek, I changed the shape of that, and installed on on each side to reinforce the battery box.  It all feels pretty stiff.

The installation shows the Brodak EPS 40 power system, it will turn a 12x4.5EP but I plan on restriciting it here to an 11x5.5EP - the 38 Special simply is not big enough to handle a 12" disc!

Note that this set of parts should be pretty generic and should be adapable for numerous profile mods

Next project is going to be a 38 special electric ... I plan doing the nose same you did on this post.  Anything I need to know that isn't obvious from the photos?


Joe

Hi Joe
First the commercial: the parts you see in the pix will soon be available from Brodak as a kit - as soon as I finish the assembly manual.

As with most electric installs, you will have to know what your battery pack dimensions are.  This set-up shown here uses the 105mm length packs, like the Brodak 4Sx2800's or ThunderPower 4Sx2700's.  If you use longer packs, like the Turnigy Nanotech 2650's they will run past the bellcrank opening in the fuse - there really isn't any room to move it .  In that case you will propbably want to mount the pack in a box on the outboard side of the fuselage, shift the firewall off center so the batt box supports it,  and offset the bellcrank to the inboard side - mounted on a couple aluminum angle brackets.