Pete Carpenter

Not much left to do now, it's pretty much there. In the end I repositioned the ESC to be underneath the firewall box and it's in a very good airflow because of the gap between the cowling and the u/c plate. And the leads just reach in to the fuse now, so no soldering or extending wires necessary!   But can anyone give me a quick how-to for the Black Mantis ESC programming card - using one of these is a first for me and I just want to be sure. Connect the receiver lead of the ESC to the - + P pins on the top of the card, then connect the battery pack to the ESC, and that's it? Any idea of the beep tone I should get when it's successfully programmed with the card, there's no mention of that in the ESC manual. And at what point in the proceedings should the throttle calibration be set - before or after I use the card? Thanks guys @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

@import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); Thanks everyone, all a great help and much appreciated! I'll take a closer look at the options tomorrow. I'm quite handy with the soldering iron so no problems there      "or you could have just bought a 60 engine and a glow starter,! it would have been cheaper in the long run!"   It was a close call Lee, but EP won at the end of the day as that's what I'm kitted out for at the moment! Besides, I fancied trying my hand at the conversion . You're right though, probably would have been cheaper, lol! @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);Edited By Pete Carpenter on 04/08/2011 17:01:00

@import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); Hi, Well the 540 is almost done, I think it's on schedule for a maiden next week, but I've just run up against a small issue which I could do with some advice on please! I really want to mount the ESC on the side of the motor mount well within the airflow through the cowl, but the ESC pos & neg leads aren't long enough to reach beyond the cowling and in to the fuse to make for an easy connection to the pack. If I extend them by about 4", is that bad for resistance or anything? The ESC leaflet says that the wires from the pack must be 6" or less, and they are just shy of 6". I don't know if I should be putting an extra 4" of wiring between pack and ESC... Also, the ESC leads are 12AWG and the pack leads are 10 - if I make the extension, which size should I go for - does it make much difference?  Any help welcome, thanks! @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);Edited By Pete Carpenter on 04/08/2011 14:17:18

@import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); Thanks again guys! To be honest I wasn't too keen on wiring up multiple packs anyway, I'll just add some 6S ones to the shopping list. Better start saving, lol! Tim I'm glad you confirmed my thoughts about the UBEC, but that 85A ESC that Richard linked to looks like it will fit the bill nicely. I'll keep you posted with progress! @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); Edited By Pete Carpenter on 19/07/2011 09:38:53 Edited By Pete Carpenter on 19/07/2011 09:47:20

Thanks Tim & Richard - I'm glad to see that my thoughts are along the right lines; those BL4020 and Overlander Thumper motors are also ones that I was looking at over the weekend. It sounds like 6S might be the way to go, I don't have the packs yet as this is my first 'EP biggie' - my collection consists mainly of 3S 2200mAh packs. How about wiring a couple of those up, or is it best to buy a single 6S pack?   Something else I forgot to add - I'm probably going to use Spektrum DS821 servos (I have them in another model and they seem good performers) and there are 5 required; presumably a decent ESC's BEC will be able to cope ok - no need for a separate UBEC? @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

Well I've decided to go the EP way with the Edge 540 - it's been a looong time since I've flown IC and so don't have any stuff, and kitting myself out again isn't something I want to do at the present time - although I have to admit I've been very tempted since winning the 540! Does anyone have any powertrain suggestions? Thanks to Al for the info so far, I'm more than likely going to go down the Turnigy path to save a few quid - the drawback is that all Turnigy stuff seems to be on HK backorder at the moment, grrrr!!   From what I've seen, an SK50-55 motor, 80A ESC and a 5S pack should do the trick and I'll buy a few different size props. 1kW should give this plane lively enough performance (for my needs).   If anyone can offer any thoughts on the conversion I'd be happy to hear them. Although I've been flying EP for some years, this is my biggest model and first IC to EP conversion, so any feedback welcome!   Cheers, Pete @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

Thanks everyone! We've got a house move coming up so it will have to stay in its box a little while longer but I'm very much looking forward to getting it airborne once the dust has settled!@import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

Wow! It''s not often I win something (actually never....) and truth be told I''d completely forgotten I''d entered the draw for the Seagull Edge 540! We returned yesterday from a week away, to find 2 "Sorry we missed you" delivery notes on the doorstep - I knew I hadn''t ordered anything and wasn''t expecting anything, so was at a loss as to what it was. I got online and rearranged delivery, the nice man from DPD came to the door at 8.30 this morning. Opening the box I was still at a loss, I only assumed MyHobbyStore had wrongly delivered somebody''s order! After a bit of head scratching I checked the RCM&E and MHS websites to see if I''d bought something while sleepwalking, and lo and behold I found my name in lights!!!   So thank you very much RCM&E, this win comes at a time of a seriously bad run of luck in life at the moment and so maybe marks the beginning of a much needed turn around!   Cheers, Pete Carpenter @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

Thanks for the info Mike! After reading your initial post here that you'd been in touch with Jamara, I e-mailed them myself to give them some "customer feedback" about the Pitts kit; I got a reply a couple of days later saying that they couldn't provide any additional instructions (I hadn't actually asked for any, but had commented on the lack of info for attaching the cockpit struts to the fuse and wing...), and they told me to get in touch with them again if I run in to problems. I'm going to try and figure it out on my own but at least it's good to know that an offer of help from them is there if necessary. I think it's just crazy that they don't include a plan just to keep the cost down - how much more is the kit going to be, percentage-wise of what it is now, if a plan is thrown in??!    They shouldn't say that a plan isn't necessary because the parts are so precise, then go on to say in the manual that the plan needs to be printed!  

Well I'm pushing on with the Pitts, the fuse is almost done and I have to admit that it went together OK(ish) despite the kit's shortcomings. The wing is next - stage 14 of the manual, the start of the wing, states "Print out the plan" - how on earth do we get that printed out full size, and why couldn't they have done it themselves, grrrrrr..... I'm posting the build on my own forum, the thread can be read at http://forum.rc-airplane-world.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=1665 - hope that's ok to link to it from here?? If Google is anything to go by there are very few of these Jamara builds going on, or at least being documented. Hopefully my little effort might give someone some hope!Edited By Pete Carpenter on 18/09/2010 18:29:30

Hi, Your grumblings are well justified! I've just started building the Pitts S2B from the same range and am starting to be quite concerned about a few things down the line. I'm not sure what Jamara was thinking with this range of kits, but they really have cut some corners when it comes to letting the builder know what's going on.   So far I have only assembled the tail feathers, which did go together OK, and the 'fuselage cell' as they call it. This was more like putting together one of those 3D wooden jigsaws than an RC plane! Although the accuracy of the laser cut pieces is good enough, I'm already having some doubts about the strength of this thing - at the moment it looks like one knock will send everything flying apart.   The 'instructions' are very very poor, just a small set of poor quality pics in the paper manual and coloured ones in PDF on the disc. There is a full size plan on disc thankfully, a very necessary reference for finding which parts go where.   Jamara have not said anything about how the wings are attached, or how the struts are expected to be fitted to the top of the fuse. This is my first ever bipe build and I'm a bit shocked to find that this somewhat important point isn't referred to once. There are plenty of other equally important bits of info missing as well.   Overall I'm extremely disappointed with this offering from Jamara; the kit caught my eye soon after the range was launched and I've been looking forward to buying, building and flying it for months - at the moment I'm wondering if it'll ever get to the flying part.       

Many thanks, David - will do!   Cheers, Pete

Hello,   I'm an overseas subscriber (Spain) and am still waiting on my July issue   Is there an e-mail address I can contact to check it's been sent out please? Last month's issue was here before the 10th of the month, if I remember.   Many thanks!   Pete 

They don't need to be crashed, Phil!! A new glider that I'd ordered arrived the other day, it had been crushed en route -- just waiting for them to sort out a replacement. Oh, and my new DX6i also arrived, missing the rx  . I think there's a higher force at work here...

Ah, far too good an opportunity to pass up - count me in please!

Many thanks for the welcomes!  Thanks David for the info - my dad got his hands on a copy a couple of days ago, but I've bookmarked your site for future reference! Cheers.

Hi All,  I've just joined the online RCM&E clan, and not before time I have to admit... My name is Pete, currently living in southern Spain but originally from the New Forest, Hampshire. I think there's better flying weather here in Spain, but I've been here for 7 years and we're in the throws of attempting to move back to the UK. Cue the "What? You're mad" responses... I've been into aeromodelling since about the late 70s, and in to RC since my teens, albeit a very interuppted hobby for various reasons. I'm currently plane-less but am eagerly awaiting the delivery of a new glider and Spektrum DX6i set. And I have a small heli. In my earlier UK-based life I took my PPL and clocked up a few hours flying out of Popham, but sadly my last logged flight was back in 2001, just before we moved to Spain. Maybe one day.... My time here in Spain has been spent building an online guide to getting started in RC flying, which has been quite succesful -  so I've been promoting the hobby in some way. If/when we move out of our current apartment and get into a house with a hobby room, then a vintage plane is on the cards - I built a 'Buccaneer' yonks ago (from an original plan!) and loved its clumsiness around the sky, I'm very keen to get my teeth in to a Ben Buckle Majestic Major, or something similar. I'm not too much of a 3D enthusiast or speed freak, I prefer the slower stuff! My request is for last month's RCM&E - I'm keen to get my hands on the Multiplex Fox conversion article! If anyone has a spare copy and is willing to post it to Spain, I can send some dosh through Paypal. Am I allowed to make such a request? I know I should be an RCM&E subscriber, but if I described our local postal service to you then you'd understand why I'm not... Cheers, Pete