Chris Walby

Depends on the lipo and how used/abused its is but sometimes a balance charge can take a lot longer to fully charge the battery. Example 3S2200 discharged to 50% e.g. 1100mAh and recharged at 2.2A should take 30 minutes to recharge (about that for a charger not on the balance setting), but I have had a lipo take a hour or just timed out on balance setting. At the field I just charge (not balance) and then balance charge at home while in the same room watching them and doing something else. I then record the pre charge state and the amount of charge put back in. In my experience once the lipo looses 10% of its capacity I start to notice the peak performance is tailing off (hard to notice on a trainer, but on a poky set up, its apparent) time to retire the lipo before it gives trouble. Had lipos have a cell fail under high load which is just after take off, can't say its an enjoyable experience trying to get the model back into the field (over the hedge) with the ESC latched in low voltage cut out. Sure there will be lots of things other people do and its just a case of doing what you want to do.

I think you are miss quoting Phoenix The Domino Trainer ARF comes out of the box 95% prebuilt and you can be out at the flying field in only a few hours. Build FAST- NO GLUEING OR SPECIAL TOOLS required, Just only two tools are all you need. It has sturdy all balsa/ply wood construction and is very stable in flight. The world of radio-controlled flight offers all kinds of adventures. If you're someone who's looking to begin the quest for adventure with a plane of your own, you've got a lot to look forward to. Start with success. Start with the Domino Trainer from Phoenix Model!!! Try building something from scratch....that last 5% can translate into many hours of work 🤣

Depends on how cleaver the discharger is? If its a resistance perhaps it raises the voltage until it meets the desired discharge current, so becomes a constant current device irrespective of voltage If its a battery then it does the same sort of thing, by raising the output voltage until it reaches its set discharge current - this sort of sounds ok if its a very large lead acid that can tolerate this sort of charging profile. The concern is if you tried this with a low cell count/ low capacity Lipo, probably a good way of making it catch fire! There are bespoke lipo dischargers on the market that have low voltage cut off, but they do just generate heat in the process ISDT FD-200 Smart Discharger,200W 25A Wireless APP Control Discharger Capacity for 2-8S Lipo Battery Discharging: Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games Interesting to know quite how it works, although I can't see how practical it would be.

Why not post the question in "Laser Engines - Technical questions"?

I am very pleased with my M6D and M6. Compact, easy to view screen and quiet/effective fan, case does not get hot so the heat is going somewhere else.

Flying Sunday with almost zero wind. Still getting to grips with the Habu SS landing (just how slow it will fly) and more fun with the Laser FT 200 powered Balsa USA cub. Half throttle will do nicely and with the odd 3/4 throttle on the wheeling turns. PS must square up the cub UC!

Toto, I am surprised at what manufacturers don't include in the way of strengthen or structural support, but if they do extensive testing and nothing fails then its strong enough. Worth bearing in mind that they don't design or built models to survive crashes and as you increase the AUW with repairs you will notice the degrading flight performance...as they say "build in lightness". I have flown both very well used/crashed models and then their brand new stable mate and its quite noticeable how much better the latter flies.

I'll be there both days, flying might be dependent on what's serviceable in the hanger. 😉

Would something like this do? The advantage is if the wheel gets caught the arm will rotate on the shaft or pull the screw out of the rudder fin rather than damage the rudder servo

Ok so looking at the sales pitch an ammo box will get to 700C and the youtuber advises it should be on a non combustible surface and nothing within 1 meter all the way around it? The Bat-safe did say how hot the case actually got but just advised combustible martials should not be within proximity of the Bat-safe, two points of not being very helpful IMO Question for those that use Bat-Safe's - how do you charge batteries as it says the catch has to be latched on the lid and does this not risk pinching the charging cables? Thanks for constructive reply's

I thought the advice for Laser engines was to get it really nice and hot. Pinch the fuel line and drain tank, the attempt to start until it no longer will run and job done. Not quite sure where the oil is coming from to wet the plug. Only problem I have is priming engines I can't get to the carb, then it takes a few more spins to pull the fuel through.

It could be LVC caused by a faulty lipo (assuming its being tested with a prop on it)? if not the the problem lies between the ESC and the operator!

Its probably even worse if you put a wanted ad anywhere as then you would be offered all kinds of old photos of kit other people actually own. IMO its like junk mail....low cost and they only need 1 halibut per 10,000 phishes, what have they got to lose?

I still have a serious concerns regarding the storage of batteries (of any type) inside a metal (conductive) box. Perhaps totally unfounded as everyone who buys an ammo box lines it with a non conductive, non flammable material, but what I have seen this is not always the case. Accident waiting to happen IMO.

How far off topic can we go....Mod please delete

IMO its network connection and speed, seemed to only happen to me when the internet was on a go slow.....and timed out...and yes I used to type mine in word as well..those were the days 🤣

Greetings Mike, Try loading a few photos, then going for a cup of tea and then press submit...You might be surprised that it still works. You can even write a reply, nod off or even reboot the pc and find your message saved ready for you submission...One of the bonusses of the newish website.

Only experienced one adverse event with a lipo. The battery in question was a tied old 4S3300 so rather than dispose of it I installed it in a start for IC engines. Being left in the flight box, occasional use, but high current may have caused the lipo to degrade. Anyway it seemed a bit limp starting an engine so was checked and was discharged down to about 40%. Put it on charge in the clubhouse and went to fly a model, then on my return to the clubhouse to a odd smell, very puffed lipo and burn mark on the worktop. Charging stopped, disconnected and lipo moved outside. Later discharged and recycled.

The important thing is tank to carb orientation (which ever way around the carb body is, does not matter). Tank the wrong height...might as well drink a pint of castor

Peter, I heard a similar story regarding Republic P-47 Thunderbolt's and a number of pilots that were killed as they applied excessive throttle on missed landing approaches. Inexperienced pilots were instructed to climb to a safe altitude and sequence through a missed landing approach (flaps, gear, landing speed) then apply full throttle. Shortly after this the aircraft would roll inverted hence teaching a valuable lesson that full power was not required for a go around and to be positively avoided. In one of the interviews with Eric "Winkle" Brown IIRC it was landing a Mosquito on a carrier. Eric demonstrated with one of the "boffins" onboard a high altitude landing approach with a single engine failure. This resulted in the aircraft rapidity rolling to inverted and the conclusion that hanging a mosquito on the props when landing on a carried was a high risk task with little room for things going wrong. There appears to be no comment from the "boffin" regarding the high altitude inverted flying with a mosquito in its landing configuration, but I bet it was rather exciting!

Difference between IC and EP...well IC will be ticking over a 2000 rpm and WOT at 10,000 so difference of 8,000 and most like launched at WOT. EP typically 4S and 1100KV so off load motor speed of 16,280 rpm and probably around 15,000 rpm with the prop on. Hence the prop will be accelerated by nearly 50% more rpm. EP most likely launched before the motor has got to full speed so the accelerating prop has a greater torque effect with EP than IC hence the greater tendency to roll. With very over powered funfighters etc I have found launch at less than wot and waiting until the motor has stopped accelerating helps with the launch. Open to any other theories though 🙂

Thanks Peter spot on in my book. Only thing to add is the issue with depth and speed perception at distance and long low approaches as that it can be difficult to determine the actual air speed of the model. Last weekend with my Habu ss I was surprised that (with nearly no wind) I needed to extend the final circuit (started at half throttle and dropped to quarter while descending) that it needed no throttle before the final descending turn over the trees. For a delta shape wing it does glide very well.

Perhaps the best policy is to contain the lipo fire and not allow other material to become involved as they will burn themselves out...in the end. Or how about using or contacting FireTrace (no personal connection) and asking the professionals how they would deal with a lipo fire?? Automatic Fire Suppression Systems by Firetrace Ltd. - Firetrace Not cheap, but piece of mind 🙂

Perhaps its just a case of landing too fast? If I haven't blead all the airspeed off then the model lands, just it still has enough energy and airspeed to tale off again when promoted by a suitable pitch up runway feature. The grass will act as a high drag retard on the wheels and hence keep the model down if landed a bit quick. I am quite surprised and how slow some EDF will fly/glide and how long I can hold off landing....sometimes well beyond the runway threshold (time to go around)! In part I think its to do with the quite quick flight speed (getting used to quick) and then the pilot not getting accustomed to the low speed characteristics. A few of the Chris Foss designs reward the pilot with this effect if you have not reduced your air speed suitably, this can be countered with a good dollop of down elevator at the right time, but it does feel weird pushing the nose down especially with a tail dragger.

IMHO, Its important to launch firmly but accurately, so flat to slight up and slightly body side on underarm chuck. Has to be left hand as right hand has the throttle cut (ready to launch, switch throttle cut off and then chuck) and thumb with full up and ready to correct any role with the ailerons. The alternative is put a RX in with gyro and safe. Safe on, full power and lob...once fling straight and level, switch safe off and commence fun