[NSRCA-discussion] CA Models Eclipse

Ron Van Putte vanputte at cox.net
Fri Nov 6 14:31:54 AKST 2009 

These are all good ideas.  It should be the topic of a K-Factor  
article:  "How to Avoid a Porky Airplane or Remove the Pork From One  
That Already Is".

BTW, drilling lightening holes in wheel collars is a bit overboard.  :-)

Ron

On Nov 6, 2009, at 4:50 PM, John Pavlick wrote:

>
> Good point Anthony. I didn't think of that. Yeah that stuff is  
> heavy alright. :)
>
> I think Jeremy Chinn's plane was "overweight" when he arrived at  
> the NAT's with it. And it was just a profile job! LOL Between me,  
> Mike Hester and a few others, he had enough ideas to get that baby  
> down to legal weight in a few hours. It's not as hard as you think  
> sometimes. And you don't need to do it all at once since  
> technically it's not really "flying season" anymore. By next season  
> you'll be good to go. :)
>
> Like I said, just take off 1/2 an ounce 32 times. VBG
>
> The most common sources of "surprise" are:
> 1. Wheels. Weigh the wheels. I bet they're heavier than you think.  
> Hobby Lobby has some really good super light wheels that don't deform.
> 2. Linkage parts. Replace metal with carbon fiber. Stronger and  
> lighter.
> 3. Servo leads. Use the shortest leads possible. Saves weight and  
> reduces chance of interference + power loss to servos.
> 4. Prop. Look at different prop weights. You'd be surprised.
> 5. Wing + stab. tubes - Must be carbon.
> 6. Axles. Especially on an electric, a single 8-32 or even a 6-32  
> bolt may be used with a blind nut inside the wheel pant. You don't  
> need a big gangly axle with a nylock nut on the end.
> 7. Landing gear. Some gear is REALLY heavy.
> 8. Rx batteries. 2 480's or a single 910 LiPO are fine for an  
> electric - you don't need an on / off switch either. Just plug the  
> flight batteries in when you install the main batteries.
>
> These are just some of the things that can add up to a porky plane.  
> Of course you can't go back and pick the wood or lighten up the  
> finish too much so you're kind of stuck in that area. I bet you can  
> hack 8 ounces out without spending too much money or time though.
>
> John Pavlick
>
> --- On Fri, 11/6/09, Anthony Abdullah <aabdu at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> From: Anthony Abdullah <aabdu at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] CA Models Eclipse
> To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Date: Friday, November 6, 2009, 5:04 PM
>
> <!--#yiv1383434613 DIV {margin:0px;}-->
> Sand off all of the clear coat
> That stuff weighs a ton and is no longer needed to fuel proof the  
> airframe.
>
> From: Ron Van Putte <vanputte at cox.net>
> To: General pattern discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Fri, November 6, 2009 12:29:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] CA Models Eclipse
>
> I have two 2500 gram calibration weights.  On my electronic scale,  
> they "weigh" 5008 grams.  The fuselage (with landing gear and  
> wheels) is 3750 grams; the stabs (with stab tube) are 259 grams;  
> the wings (with wing tube) are 998 grams.  That's a total of 5007  
> grams, so it actually weighs 4999 grams.  Remember, this airplane  
> is all painted.
>
> Ron
>
> On Nov 6, 2009, at 11:15 AM, krishlan fitzsimmons wrote:
>
> > Ron,
> >
> > You sure your scale is accurate (Heck, am I sure mine is?)? I'm  
> putting together an Eclipse arf for a friend with a heavy Turnigy  
> motor and heavy motor mount, a heavy Turnigy ESC, the stock wheel  
> pants, heavy wheels, TP 5300's and it's at 4950. Most of it is put  
> together now, all pieces weighed though.. He'll be overweight by  
> the end of it I'm sure as he will run a heavier rec pack, Rhino  
> 4900's, and so forth, but, he used heavier components. I know with  
> stuff that I use he could be under with it. I built a Eclipse arc  
> that was well under.
> >
> > Seeing as this plane was built for glow, I'm surprised to see how  
> close this one is. Sorry yours is a lil heavier! Bummer as it's a  
> nice plane!
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Anthony Frackowiak <frackowiak at sbcglobal.net>
> > To: jpavlick at idseng.com; General pattern discussion <nsrca- 
> discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> > Sent: Fri, November 6, 2009 8:51:53 AM
> > Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] CA Models Eclipse
> >
> > Just a perfect example of what is wrong with the current weight  
> rules.
> >
> > Tony
> >
> >
> > On Nov 6, 2009, at 8:05 AM, John Pavlick wrote:
> >
> >> Ron,
> >>  What are you using for an Rx battery? Regulator? Wheels? Don't  
> overlook the little things. You only need to save 1/2 an ounce 32  
> times. VBG
> >>
> >> John Pavlick
> >>
> >> --- On Fri, 11/6/09, Ron Van Putte <vanputte at cox.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> From: Ron Van Putte <vanputte at cox.net>
> >> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] CA Models Eclipse
> >> To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> >> Date: Friday, November 6, 2009, 10:18 AM
> >>
> >> After further reflection, I couldn't use two 6S packs with lower  
> capacity; it would exceed AMA's limit of 42 volts on batteries.
> >>
> >> Ron VP
> >>
> >> On Nov 6, 2009, at 9:11 AM, Ron Van Putte wrote:
> >>
> >> > No matter how I fudge the data, it still comes out at least a  
> pound heavy.
> >> >
> >> > Ron
> >> >
> >> > On Nov 6, 2009, at 8:46 AM, Jerry Stebbins wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Ron, have you looked at 6s packs at lower mah. Jerry
> >> >
> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Thompson"  
> <kthompson56 at satx.rr.com>
> >> >> To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca- 
> discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> >> >> Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:32 PM
> >> >> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] CA Models Eclipse
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>> Man I wish I had the cash for that plane...
> >> >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Van Putte"  
> <vanputte at cox.net>
> >> >>> To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca- 
> discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> >> >>> Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 1:40 PM
> >> >>> Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] CA Models Eclipse
> >> >>>> I bought a beautiful receiver-ready CA Models Eclipse from  
> Mike Wingo, hoping to convert it to electric power.  It is an all- 
> painted  airplane; no MonoKote/UltraCote/etc.  It is complete,  
> except for the receiver and is fitted with Futaba digital servos.   
> Power is an OS  1.40RX, with appropriate header/pipe.  The only  
> problem I have with it is that it weighs 5 kg.  After doing the  
> math, I cannot figure out  how to convert it to electric power and  
> keep the weight at/under 5 kg.  So, I want to sell it for what I  
> paid for it: $900 + shipping,  if necessary, I can provide  
> additional details/pictures for anyone who's interested.
> >> >>>> Ron Van Putte
> >> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >> >>>> NSRCA-discussion mailing list
> >> >>>> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> >> >>>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
> >> >>> _______________________________________________
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