New electric Grinder

[Leo Mehl]

 I Have finished converting my grinder to electric but the weather has been so cold I have not felt like test flying it yet. The conversion moved the ballance ahead about 1/4" so may have to add tail wate, but will test as is.

[Mark Scarborough]

Leo,, general consensus is that electrics will want to be nose heavy compared to glow setups,, you may find yourself adding NOSE weight after you fly it,,

looks nice though,,

[Mike Lauerman]

Great design, Leo...Has that 'Tempest' look, with the chin scoop and bubble canopy. I like the landing gear...

[RC Storick]

Electrics are not any more nose heavy than their IC counter parts. Add the fuel to you IC plane and see where it balances you will be surprised.

[Howard Rush]

Electrics are not any more nose heavy than their IC counter parts. Add the fuel to you IC plane and see where it balances you will be surprised.

How far fuel moves the CG isn't surprising.  For a 65-oz. Impact, half a tank of fuel (the average CG shift) moves the CG .23" forward. The surprising thing was that an electric Impact works best with its CG .7" to 1.2" forward of  the IC version's.  The CG also had to move up.  Other airplanes have needed a similar CG change for electric, but I think that Orestes said that his Shark operates at the same CG as the IC version.

[Paul Taylor]

Looks good Leo. Keep us posted on how it flys.

[RC Storick]

How far fuel moves the CG isn't surprising.  For a 65-oz. Impact, half a tank of fuel (the average CG shift) moves the CG .23" forward. The surprising thing was that an electric Impact works best with its CG .7" to 1.2" forward of  the IC version's.  The CG also had to move up.  Other airplanes have needed a similar CG change for electric, but I think that Orestes said that his Shark operates at the same CG as the IC version.

Add some motor off set for line tension. Most people are moving the CG forward to add to line tension along with flying faster. Go ahead and tell me I am wrong Howard

[RC Storick]

I think that Orestes said that his Shark operates at the same CG as the IC version.

That's because Yri has clue on how things work. He understand that it is no good to make the nose short and add dumdum to make it balance.

[Howard Rush]

Most people are moving the CG forward to add to line tension along with flying faster. Go ahead and tell me I am wrong Howard

You may be correct.   Most people may be moving the CG forward to add to line tension along with flying faster.  Through arrogance or lack of experience, I would do neither.   I'd move the CG forward, but not for more line tension.  I flew IC Impacts at about 5.25 sec./ lap.  I'm operating the electric at 5.4 now and may go pokier.

[Howard Rush]

He understand that it is no good to make the nose short and add dumdum to make it balance.

Oh, I understand that, too.  I see two courses of action: 1), do as I say, not as I do; or 2) do neither as I say or as I do.   One of these should lead you to the correct nose length. 

[Howard Rush]

What are you using for an airscrew, Leo?  I have some RH (traditional-direction) props you might like.

[Leo Mehl]

What are you using for an airscrew, Leo?  I have some RH (traditional-direction) props you might like.

I am not sure what I will eventually use but my first flights will be with a 111/2" X 6 prop. That is what I used on my last arctic fox and was getting 5.2 laps on 63 foot lines. The grinder turns well so I will fly a little faster with electric. I would like to try something new as far as props go.

[john e. holliday]

Well kid, keep us posted as to how it flies and what changes you make.   MERRY CHRISTMAS  from the old DOC.

[Leo Mehl]

what kind of props is it that you have Howardand Doc this plane flew good when it was powered by that horrible IC engine I had in it. Merry Christmas to all and I hope I can get the sleih out of the garage before years end.

[john e. holliday]

Well, on the Artic Fox I used Top Flite Power Point 10-5 with the Brodak .40.  Then tried the 11-5 & 4.   Last prop and was the worst was Master Airscrew 11-5 wood.  I don't fly electric yet.  And I still pull the Grinder plans out and look at them.   My LA .46 needs a home if it doesn't wind up in the Ringmaster Imperial.