Futura57

There's only one type of WC log 😉

My wife is due a 38 year (married) service. Do you think the Repair Shop would take her on? I still have an emotional connection and they don't make them like her anymore 🤣

Thanks guys. It seems my expectations are a little high 🤔. It is my first EDF experience after all. With the EDF on full chat the model certainly feels like it will take a hand launch easily, so she's ready to go when the weather plays ball.

I have tried a GNB 4S 1550 60C Lipo but I'm getting very similar readings to my Overlander 2200s, including the voltage drop. I may order some GNB 2200/2300s 100C to maintain a similar CG.

What puzzles me is my current and power reading is a little higher than the EDF specification, yet the thrust is way down at 660g vs 1,085g. Surely my ducting must be suspect to deliver such poor thrust. 🤔

August 2023 I purchased a FMS V2 50mm EDF 4S 4500kv 11 blade (here) for my new prototype Strange Quark model. The performance numbers quoted are; 32.9A, 486W & 1,086g static thrust. This was my first ever EDF purchase, so on receipt I did a quick check it would run ok using a 4S Lipo, unbranded 40A ESC and servo tester for the throttle. The fan ran smooth so I put it back in the box until recently, when I installed it in my model. The model’s regular intake area is approximately double the fan area and there are additional cheat holes close to the fan, about the same area of the fan. The outlet is 200mm long and decreases to about 85 / 90% of the fan area at the exit. Now that the model is ready for its maiden, I made a few measurements. The model’s AUW is 870g, so I was expecting a thrust to ratio far in excess of 1. I’m using an Overlander 4S 2200mAh Lipo rated 35C (here) and a SkyWalker 50A ESC (here). The throttle-stick / ESC I calibrated in the usual manner. On full throttle my Watt meter measures a maximum 34.84A and 512W. The Voltage drops quite quickly during the first 10 seconds or so from 14.9V down to 14.2V With the current and power measurements 5 to 6% higher than the specification I was expecting good thrust figures. I placed the model nose down on some kitchen scales and zeroed the scales. On full throttle the scales were reading around the 660g mark. I can only surmise that my model’s ducting is woefully inadequate. Removing the hatch with the cheat holes opens up 2 or 3 times the fan area right next to the fan and makes no discernible difference to the measured thrust. So, is my outlet tube the culprit? I’ve never been particularly impressed with my Overlander 4S 2200mAh Lipo performance. On a warm day I barely get more than 4.5 minutes on my EFlite Ultimate 3D, which I do not prop-hang or fly aggressive 3D. I have no way to measure cell internal resistance at this time. I’m beginning to wonder if I have the EDF I ordered and paid for. The box and instructions are not marked with V2 anywhere, but I don’t know if they should. So, what is the likely cause of my underwhelming thrust measurement? I do believe my model will fly adequately, but perhaps I was naïve to expect the specified EDF static thrust. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

No, I don't log flights or lipo charges, any more than I would log visits to the WC, despite being the place where I spend most time on this forum 🤣. Life's too short. I know which models I fly the most (e.g. my Top Quark is now over 120 flights old and no crashes in 6 months). Others I tend to fly with it, and others I fly less regularly. But I regularly rotate in the sense I will favour other models for a couple of months, whilst interspersing with less frequent others. I try to fly every model at least 10 times a year. That's for 10 fixed wing and 8 heli serviceable models. Others requiring maintenance or a major repair may lay fallow for a season. I estimate I fly 300+ flights a year, so logging would be a chore with no obvious benefit to me. And flush 😂

@Paul De Tourtoulon as a rule of thumb I've always believed that larger models are more tolerant of a higher wing loading. As you infer, more wing loading equals more airspeed to compensate. For smaller models with a high wing loading it can be a challenge to get them off the ground or hand launch them fast enough. There is a question, of course, of the 109's 5.8kg weight (or mass, depending on your interest in physics 😉) and the consequential induced drag. In this regard, is the Saito 125 up to the job of hauling it around?

I do concur completely with your story @Jon - Laser Engines and I was a little taken aback by the seller's assertion. I've flown a few warbirds in my time and maidened them for others who have promptly put them in. I shall let the 109 go for now because the seller would not take an offer. Also, it is collection only. I reckon it could easily be around a couple more weeks. So, if I don't find anything else that yanks my chain I may well just pay the asking price. Then I need to make the 150 mile round trip and spend £25 on petrol to collect it.

Thanks. Yes, fingers crossed for the maiden. Next week hopefully. The construction needs a fair bit more development before I commit to a proper plan. I do have lite ply templates for all the major parts which are quickly and easily cut from foam sheet. But as it stands is only suitable for an intermediate to advanced builder to be able to improvise a little and fill in a few blanks so to speak. My original propeller driven Top Quark design is all drawn up and a build article has been written. I just can't get any good flying shots otherwise it would have been winging its way to Kevin weeks ago. And he doesn't like content in dribs and drabs.

Thanks guys. I just got a response back from the CM Pro Me109 seller on the BMFA Classifieds. He is adamant it needs a 160. So, on reflection, rather than risk £250 and a 150 mile round trip I shall keep a lookout for a second hand Seagull offering perhaps, at a good price 😁

@Jon - Laser Engines I've lifted the details below from the HobbyKing site. What do you think given the weight and wing loading? In old money I make that 33oz/sq ft (someone please double check) which I think for a larger model is not too bad. Do you concur? But is it on the lardy side for a Saito 125 to haul around? Details; Wingspan: 1850mm Length: 1668mm Weight: 5.8kg Wing Loading: 103dm/2 Airfoil: NACA 2415 Wing Area: 56dm/2 Radio Req.: 5-7Ch (10 servo, standard size) Engine: 160 2 stroke.

The paint job is progressing nicely thanks to some help from my cat Willow. She has recently had a hair cut due to unmanageable matting of her long fur each time she went out in the wet.

With flying opportunities thin on the ground right now I've decided to paint my Strange Quark prototype before its maiden flight. I've chosen this CF-18 tiger scheme as the inspiration.

I've noticed a CM Pro Me109 up for sale on the BMFA Classifieds. 72-inch span for 2stroke 120-160 or 4stroke 140-180. Seems like a large engine recommendation for a six foot span model. Anyone know if my Saito 125 would be adequate? On paper it looks not. Thanks. The Seagull offering at 64-inches span recommends a 4stroke 120, so I guess an extra 8 inches warrants a bigger engine on the CM Pro version. Maybe I've answered my own question 🤔

I'm currently in the process of finishing a foam model (XPS foam sheet and Depron sheet) with Matt finish laminating film, first ironed directly on to the foam (at around 100°C) then the film is hand painted on top with Wickes and B&Q Matt match pots. I figured the paint would adhere better to Matt film rather than gloss. The results are ok, but the paint does lift in places when using masking tape. Frog tape is less sticky and better but still lifts the paint in places. Results were far better when I tried a Halfords white spray primer on a test area, but I wanted to try the emulsion paint option. Perhaps spray primer then emulsion would fair better. I have done an almost entirely hand painted job. It remains to be seen how resilient the final finish is. I could always over coat with thinned PVA or perhaps acrylic spray clear lacquer or some such to maybe give a tougher satin or gloss finish. I'm not too bothered because it is a foam prototype model so it's not critical. I will post some pictures soon in my Strange Quark topic when I'm done.

Back by popular demand 😂

I still stand by my original assessment 🙄

It works with my Willow 😹 VID_20231108_135907960.mp4

Getting close to finishing my Strange Quark With EDF power. Still mostly bare foam (Depron and lilac XPS foam). Wings and fins covered with laminating film, though one wing was damaged by a dropped object 😣 Fuselage still needs covering. The plan is to test fly before painting. Matt black or dark grey was my first thought for a traditional stealth fighter look. But I was also thinking orange with black tiger stripes. To be decided. I'm already thinking version 2 will increase EDF from 50mm to 64mm and have full vectoring capability at the tail pipe exit. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I had a good flying session today, but the temperature was around 4°C. Fortunately the wind was sub 5mph, but the old fingers and toes did suffer somewhat. Usually I wrap up with thermal leggings under my jeans and a long sleeve thermal top under a long sleeve T-shirt, then long sleeve jumper and coat. Then there's the wooly hat and scarf. Two pairs of socks are the order of the day, but less than an hour standing on the cold damp grass my toes begin to suffer the rising cold. Usually my toes dictate when I will go home, typically after 2 or 3 hours. I fly thumbs and use fingerless gloves, which I trade for full-on soft leather gloves when I'm not flying. But the old digits do suffer and usually need warming up in my pockets in between flights. Today was a much longer and more enjoyable session because I tried Hothands hand warmers on the recommendation of a club member. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hands-Hand-Warmer-Value-pairs/dp/B00N3X3JLI/ref=mp_s_a_1_8 At around £1 a pair they look like a double sized tea bag. They are activated by removing from a sealed plastic wrapper. After 15mins or so they get up to temperature and fit nicely in the palm of your hand inside your gloves and help keep your fingers warm. Also, they don't interfere with holding your transmitter. But the real advantage was using them in my foot ware too. After putting on my first pair of socks I put one 'tea bag' under my toes, held them in place with a little masking tape, then put on a second pair of socks. By the time I arrived at the field today my fingers and toes were toasty, and stayed that way all day. A real game changer and I highly recommend them. And they really do last 10 hours. What additional measures do you take to keep your extremities warm when flying these cold days?

You're a brave man. Good luck getting it to fly.

To complain, or not to complain. Personally, I think yes. And it's not just an English trait or a bad trait either. On the contrary, many British don't like to complain. In actual fact I'm amazed how many people moan about a particular restaurant, but didn't complain at the time they were eating their meal. They simply never go back. I also think that, because the forum is free for us to use, it somehow diminishes the inconvenience or excuses the error. Let's put it this way, if the problem were never to be fixed then I would be on my merry way. The question is therefore, how long am I prepared to put up with it. The forum owners created the site, so there must be something in it for them. Would they prefer we all just abandoned it and they simply shut it down. It occurred to me that I sometimes disagree with a post, such as criticizing those of us who complain. Can I ask the moderators if we can have an additional quick emoticon to express disagreement, rather than a 'like' or 'ha ha'. Moreover, that each 'I disagree' negates a 'like'. Just a suggestion. Then you can disagree with this post without having to type a response. 🤔

Not sure if they can be edited in situ. I don't think so, but I am happy to be proved wrong. I would say that it's preferable to create your own album or albums and upload your pictures to them. That way you can group / organise your own pictures rather than just put them into Members album. I haven't found an easy way to move pictures between albums without deleting from one then adding to another. Again, I am happy to be proved wrong. You could try looking in the informational topics for using this forum. Nice pictures by the way.

It's appearance has certainly out numbered the FW190 posts 🙃