kc Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Thank's for your comments Peter. It's a tough little plane as damage is not severe. With my very limited use so far I rate it as in the same class as a Wot4 -a do everything model.One of my clubmates had 3 lock outs with Spektrum so bought an expensive latest model FHSS/FAAST Futaba 8 channel and had a lock out on the first day using it! Another had 3 similar in the same far part of the field with Turnigy. Two of us have now had same thing with Futaba 6EX 2,4. Spec varied, some were glow, some electric via ESC some electric via BEC. All these radios have different failsafe types. Some like my 6EX on throttle only, others have various settings.My crash was much nearer than all the others so cannot say it was near the limit of range or vision like the others may have been. All had loss of power as first indication and then immediately lost all controls. Most of the other pilots thought they almost got radio back but too late to save the model. I cannot say I got the control back but mine was fairly low at the time so no chance. Ours is a field well away from houses and the nearest phone mast is over a mile away, but the area has recently got 4G so who knows what this might do?We dont seem to have had any similar incidents on crowded weekend flying but from memory all the incidents may have been week days.....must check this with my pals.Maybe I will go back to 35Mhz..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 After further checking of the model, before repairing, I discovered that the brand new ESC has some intermittent fault which gives no current to the Rx on some occasions! Therefore I reckon the Swamp Rat problem was not due to a 2.4 Ghz problem but due to ESC lack of power to RX.However all my clubmates problems were due to 2.4 Ghz lock outs of some kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Glad that you have solved the problem. That is one of the fascinating things about full size crash investigation. I wonder if the lock outs in your club were using DX8 txs. There do seem to be problems with that transmitter based on threads and our club sec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Vinten 1 Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 Hi Keith What was the esc was it a trusted name ? I have lost a model for the same reasons now I only buy trusted ones Regards Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Peter, the lock outs on the crahes I observed & investigated the gear used were 3( at least) Spektrum DX8, 3 on Turnigy 1 on Futaba 6EX FAAST ( not the Swamp Rat) 1 on Futaba T8J FAAST.Current theory is that it may be a combination of range, end on to aerial, battery running a bit low. That is when all 3 happened at the same time. 2.4Ghz takes a good few seconds to reconnect when you turn off the TX in bench tests. If all these things happened at once on 35Mhz maybe you get a slight glitch and regain control quicker and dont actually crash. On checking with a friend in Australia they suffer just like we do.Gary,The ESC I used was a brand new Robotbirds 40 amp bought from BRC/Robotbirds at Wings & Wheels. I set the model up on the bench using a separate NIMH supply to Rx ....for safety of course. Maybe a longer bench test with ESC power would have shown up the problem. Regrettably I used the new ESC for 'reliability' instead of the old reliable J Perkins 35 amp I had from a previous model which was stripped of the Rx to make Swamp Rat.Got to get back now to repairing the Swamp Rat for flying tomorrow if the weather is OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Bolland Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 hows this for a tight fit ASP .25 had to cut away most of the cowl to fit the carb Edited By Adrian Bolland on 09/10/2013 11:46:55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Very neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Well my Swamp Rat is repaired and waiting for some good weather for another test flight. Now it's been flown once and fully crash tested I must admit to one other modification from the original design. I used 3/16 spruce spars instead of the 1/4 hard balsa. The wing survived the cartwheel crash which ripped out the wing bolt plate and F3 before breaking the 2 BA nylon wing bolts. So I feel my use of spruce was worthwhile as the spars did not break, and 3/16 has proved adequate so far. Maybe 3/16 is marginal if the weight is greater than the 3 pounds of my version. Peter's tip about slightly rounding the spars so they fit into the ribs easier is a great idea - worked well.I have to say also that 300 watts and a 3S2200 Lipo seemed adequate power too. No lead was needed with the layout I used - the 3S2200 balanced it well at the design CG. I must remember to check if the few dabs of epoxy to restore the ripped off tailplane and rudder have changed the CG.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Bolland Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Wings ready went for the 11g in each wing option seems simple Edited By Adrian Bolland on 11/10/2013 12:27:28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 This photo shows the simple hatch for the lipo & the simplified front for my electric motor version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Bolland Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Next sunday if the weathers good ,Maiden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Vinten 1 Posted October 13, 2013 Author Share Posted October 13, 2013 Hi Adrian make sure the cg is correct and Iam sure you will have loads of fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formtex1947 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 I am in the process of covering my OS 25 Rat given the less than great weather this weekend! Did everyone cover the wing in one piece top & bottom, or did anyone paint the fillets on front & rear of wing to mate up with the fuselage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Vinten 1 Posted October 13, 2013 Author Share Posted October 13, 2013 Hi Formtex i covered mine in to stages bottom then top The fillets as you call them were covered on there own and then the rest covered lets see some pics when finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formtex1947 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Hi Gary, many thanks for the input, will work on that idea. Yes once she's finished I will post a few pics before the maiden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 I did the bottom in one piece, the top in two with separate pieces for the fairings. Do make sure that the bottom is very different from the top. There is not too much to give a clue which way up it is in moments of stress. My white with broad black bands shows up well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 I covered just the wing then attached the front & rear fairings after they were covered. Wing covering was cut away a little to reveal bare wood to glue fairing.It did occur to me that the front fairing could be attached to F2 if the fairing was a bit smaller. This miight be neater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formtex1947 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Thanks to all for the sound advice on covering The Rat wing. Will et you know how I "fare"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formtex1947 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Hello fellow Rat builders, A question for Peter -- Peter do you have any wing incidence figures for The Rat, and Harlequin? I attach a couple of pictures of my Rat, al that's needed now is balancing & good weather for the maiden. I shall use the new OS. 25 FP for the maiden, then if all is well change over to a OS. 25 FSR as per your suggestion. Thanks for all the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formtex1947 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Sorry about the no pics of my Rat! Let's try again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Very smart indeed. On al lmy sports models I use, 0 d egrees incidence on wing and tail and 0 degrees right and side thrust. Works well for me. It is only when I start playing with incidences that my models don't fly as well. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formtex1947 Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Thanks Peter will check them out, that said the Harlequin flies fine but was just wondering about The Rat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Vinten 1 Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Hi All its been a while but i have redone my swamp rat electric version after putting in the wrong inputs ,upside down and 4ft from the ground. well i have changed this a little the fuselage is a little narrower and the wing profile is thinner so i have now called it the RIZLA let me know what you think ( like or dislike ) i have a little more work to do on the cowl where the holes are will post when done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 WOW!!! That looks sensational. LOve the cowling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 hello gary, very nice job you have made there........really good ...looks like a racer..circa 1930's. ken anderson.....ne...1........ GV fan club dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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