What design ?

[Matthew Cosier]

Ok, I have been out of CL pretty much since starting with RC at around 15 yo, (now 47) and have now got interested again, and this time would like to try stunt.

I fly electric RC, and was very interested when I found out that e-power has now found it's way into CL. While visiting my parents over Christmas I found out that the Australian NATS were on just up the road in Albury, so I have been along to watch the morning flying sessions for the last couple of days and saw electric stunt models for the first time and was impressed.

I will probably build a Peace Maker just to get some thing flying, but would like to build an electric stunter that will fly good enough for a beginner to stunt, be easy to scratch build from plans and is a full body design. Kits will be out of the question due to the shipping costs to Australia, and a plans built model will be easier to fix/replace when I make mistakes, so what would you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance, Matt.

[Avaiojet]

Matt,

Welcome to SH. 

Wish I could help you with your decision but I'm just starting to look into electrics myself.

Be interesting to see what your choice is?

Electrics, the future?

Charles

[ChrisSarnowski]

Hey Matt,

You can take a look at the Hobo, designed by Tom Neibuhr,which has been recommended to others recently.

http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amaplans/2012/07/23/the-hobo/

Another idea is the Tornado, which is a full-body Twister, by Allen Brickhaus. Plans are available from Flying Models.

http://carstensbookstore.com/tornado.html

Someone can chime in on electrifying these models.

Hope that helps.
Chris

[Steve Helmick]

I would suggest asking around about the profile Sukhoi 26 that won the Aussie NATS at least twice. I'm pretty sure you can get plans and laser cut ribs from somebody down there...Peter White would be my first stop. To complete the story, it was designed by a member here, Dave Trible, and I'm not sure how he'd feel about this knockoff situation. Some will poo-poo the profile, but they don't really work as badly as they'd have you believe. A bit of engineering, plywood and CF mat/epoxy will stiffen it up fine.

IMO, electrics have a considerable advantage, but they do not like being crashed. I would recommend an OS .46LA, which will probably survive most crashes on grass surfaces and is easy to run. I'd use whatever muffler gets the CG right, with a 4 oz Hayes tank (holds more than 4 oz) on muffler pressure. Just look at the "pinned" posts in the engine setup forum here for how to run it. When you are pretty much done with the crashing, then change to electrons. There are several members here in Ozzie, so you can perhaps find a flying mate/coach, depending on your location.  Steve 

[Martin Quartim]

For getting started and learning the pattern, for me there is nothing better then a Pathfinder. The profile plans are available from Brodak and the Full Bodied is available from John Miller.

http://www.cadclassics.net/pathfinder%20mk2fb.html

Very easy to build

This wing aerodynamic is unbelievable, it just does not stall no matter how hard you push it:
 

The airfoil of this wing is different from all other model I have seen. My pathfinder was very forgiving when I started and I rapidly went from Zero to Advanced with it. You can not push this thing out of the envelope with a good power system.

Recently I had a back problem and took the old Pathfinder to a Open contest and managed a 4th place, was 3rd until the last round.

I thought the Pathfinder would not do well in windy conditions, but look my friend flying in 8m/s winds

Jorge went from almost Zero to this level in just one year, flying alone mostly of the time. Pathinder + Very Powerful engine is the ticket to who is seriously about learning the pattern.

Also seems that Chip Hyde was flying a Pathfinder with Shark looks and doing extremely well.

The Pathfinder should be a lot more popular and famous.

Happy New Year and Good Luck!

Martin

[Howard Rush]

The two-engine version of the Pathfinder is wonderful, too. 

[Keith Renecle]

Hi Matt,

Mmmmmmm........decisions, decisions! It seems that you like the idea of e-power, and I must agree that it is a lot simpler these days, cleaner as well and of course so quiet that you can fly on a local fields near houses. Steve said that they are not as crashproof but I have developed my system with that in mind and it shuts down the motor if the prop gets snagged or pranged into the deck. The lipos these days are also a lot more crash resistant, but I'm sure that you know that if you have experience of electric R/C. My KR governor timer system is available from RSM Distribution by itself or you can get a complete system to suit whatever model you are flying.

I can only agree with Martin on the Pathfinder designed by Gordon Delaney. This has been an outstanding design that has a proven track record for many years, and Gordon is a top class designer and pilot. It could modified to electric quite easily. My own Eze-Pro electric and Protron have a neat nose construction with e-power and the plans are on my website: http://www.keithrenecle.co.za/Electric%20CL.htm just scroll down and the link is under the model photos. The Peacemaker is a good old design but it's a small model and will most likely frustrate you after a short while. A .35/.40 size stunter on 60~65 foot lines is just sooooooooo much nicer all round, and also not too big and heavy for kids to fly either. Just one thing that is important, don't both with a non-governor system, even the RC transmitter thing. The model slows down and speeds up with a fixed throttle setting and then goes slower as the battery goes down. Sure you can use the throttle as you fly but it is just so much nicer to let the governor do all the work for you, and the governor systems around do such a good job.

So have a look around, check out the websites and decide what constant rpm system to use. This particular forum has a wealth of information and you will get many unbiased opinions by reading the huge amount of threads on this subject. I would sincerely like to say that this forum is probably the best all-round forum on e-stunt anywhere on the net, so a big thank you to the regular contributers that really add value on this subject.

Keith R
Darkest Africa

[GregArdill]

Matt

If you get another chance to see the fliers at the NATS try to find Bruce Hoffman, he flies e-stunt and is a very helpful sort of a bloke.

He'll be able to give you full details of his power system as well as some ideas on models.

Regards

Greg

[Matthew Cosier]

Thanks for the info guys, this is what forums are all about.
Lots of good advice here, the Hobo seems to be the nice simple design I'm looking for, and the web page that Keith has is loaded with information.

I did get a chance to meet a few people at the NATS here in Australia and made a few contacts from my home town of Adelaide, so we will see what comes in 2013 with control line.

Thanks again to everyone who gave advice, I will keep reading the forums and will update you as I start a n project.

Regards Matt