Author Topic: Tower Hobbies Fun 51 (Read 2834 times)

Steve Kientz · « **on:** December 25, 2006, 03:58:58 PM »

Has anyone converted a Fun 51 from r/c to c/l ? My wife bought me one for Christmas.Also curious about engine selection.

Thanks
Steve

Bill Little · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2006, 05:11:19 PM »

Quote from: Steve Kientz on December 25, 2006, 03:58:58 PM

Has anyone converted a Fun 51 from r/c to c/l ? My wife bought me one for Christmas.Also curious about engine selection.

Thanks
Steve

Sounds interesting, but I am not familiar with it!

Richard Oliver, among others, has worked with the R/C ARFs in converting them into rather GOOD stunt planes.

Bill <><

Tom Dugan · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2006, 05:43:39 PM »

Steve,

You might ask Leester (he uses this forum) I think he has built this to CL.

Thomas

Clancy Arnold · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2006, 07:02:44 PM »

Steve
Dave Evar who lives near Cleveland, Ohio sent me an E-mail and attached a photo of his.
Clancy

Leester · « **Reply #4 on:** December 25, 2006, 07:17:26 PM »

Clancy: I built one and mainly followed the kit. I put a 4" Bellcrank and a 40FP on 60' lines. Is a lot of fun the 40FP has plenty of power but when landing watch the wind that is one BIG wing.

Tom McClain · « **Reply #5 on:** December 25, 2006, 08:09:04 PM »

Contact Scott Richlen of Annandale VA. He converted one. It was quite a project and came out great. He posted some pictures of it on SSW.

Joe Messinger · « **Reply #6 on:** December 25, 2006, 09:02:28 PM »

Hello,

Last Fall, a friend won a Great Planes R/C "Dazzler" in a raffle. He converted it to C/L. His only alterations were to include a bellcrank and lead outs, a pushrod to the elevator with horn, and he pinned the ailerons so they were stationary. (Said, for his purposes, it would have been too much trouble to convert the ailerons to work as flaps.)

He installed a ST .40 R/C engine and locked the throttle open. The first three flights weren't bad. Pretty fast lap times but tolerable. On the fourth flight, he made a couple level laps, pulled the plane up for a wing over and the nose of the plane broke completely off. The engine continued to run for a few seconds and ended up about 150' from the circle where he was flying. The rest of the plane came down in a spin.

The aluminum motor mount separated from the firewall and took the nose with it.

I can't speak for all RC planes but my observation was that RC planes do not undergo the stresses that are involved with a C/L plane and (at least in this case) eventually fail.

If an RC plane is converted to C/L, I believe some modifications to add strength to critical areas would be wise.

Joe

Bill Little · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2006, 09:08:39 PM »

Hi Joe,

I agree. There are plenty of peoplpe who insist that the R/C planes pull as much "Gs" as a CLPA ship, but I don't know.......

They have a lot more sky to work in.

Plus, most of the ARFs, etc., are not full bore R/C Pattern ships.

Who Knows?? Only the Shadow knows......

Bill <><

Leester · « **Reply #8 on:** December 25, 2006, 09:59:17 PM »

I converted an UpRoar, which is the same as a Dazzler except the Dazzler has a built up turtle deck. I put in ply fus formers and maple motor mounts and a bottom cowling, not that much work. It flys ok, good enough that I crashed it doing lazy eights (opperator error) the engine compartment stayed sound only damage was from the landing gear going through the wing. (somebody moved the ground up higher)

Garf · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2006, 10:45:23 PM »

Ever since I started flying at Markham Park, I keep checking the trash cans at the R/C area, but the only plane I found was beyond salvage, even by my standards.

Terry Bolin · « **Reply #10 on:** December 25, 2006, 10:50:59 PM »

::)I bought a fun-51 with CL In mind so I'm curious about the sucess of the conversion too.
Terry

Leester · « **Reply #11 on:** December 25, 2006, 11:49:45 PM »

Just build it and covert it to C/L it'll fly.

Steve Kientz · « **Reply #12 on:** December 26, 2006, 05:21:47 AM »

Thanks for all the input,I will make some small changes since I almost always try "TOUCH AND GOES"(ask Clancy).Hopefully it will be up to it.

Thanks
Steve
PS:Merry Christmas,Clancy!

Clancy Arnold · « **Reply #13 on:** December 26, 2006, 06:31:59 AM »

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Steve.[

Dave Evar sent me a picture of his Fun-51 converted to C/L using my 4 channel U/Tronics Control system. He is using Throttle, rudder and flapperons with a mixer.

Clancy

Leester · « **Reply #14 on:** December 26, 2006, 08:25:46 AM »

I usually do "Touch and Goes" also, but theres sometimes a repair involved between the Touch and the Go.

Garf · « **Reply #15 on:** December 26, 2006, 10:04:53 AM »

My latest "creation" is built using a set of ribs from this same plane.

Steve Kientz · « **Reply #16 on:** December 26, 2006, 10:41:03 AM »

I assume a TT pro36 would be more than enough engine,if not how about a OS 40 LAS ?

Bill Little · « **Reply #17 on:** December 26, 2006, 10:45:27 AM »

Hi Steve,

I would expect the TT 36 to have more "power".

Bill <><

Leester · « **Reply #18 on:** December 26, 2006, 11:07:40 AM »

Steve: FYI, with kit wood and the 40FP as it sits in the photo lustre kote over silkspan it weights 50oz. I didn't try to make it light, and it's sturdy.

Steve Kientz · « **Reply #19 on:** December 27, 2006, 05:45:40 AM »

Leester
Where did you put the BC?I was thinking near the Cg,is that right?Also, did you use the provided landing gear in the stock location?

Leester · « **Reply #20 on:** December 27, 2006, 11:59:10 AM »

Steve: you can put the bellcrank where ever it is convenient so the lead outs have a straight shot out. I put mine pretty much so the flap hook up was a straight line and used the rib cut outs for line holes. If you make your lead outs stationary about 1/2 to 3/4" spacing at the tip should do it. I didn't use adj. lead outs but should have, theres plenty of room. I used Sig Fazer landing gear thinking they were lighter, but turned out there the same. Yes I put them per the dirrections. Have fun

Leester · « **Reply #21 on:** December 27, 2006, 12:17:16 PM »

Steve hope these help. Top one is something else.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #22 on:** December 27, 2006, 01:21:20 PM »

Always thought that that series of fun fly planes would make a good control liner. especially for carrier. Never have got around to it yet. I remember the guys flying the SIG Mfg. Faser with half the chord of the flap cut off. Fairly decent stunt flights they put in with them. Too many planes now. DOC Holliday

Steve Kientz · « **Reply #23 on:** December 27, 2006, 01:31:40 PM »

Leester
Thanks for the pics and info

Steve