Steve Fox Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 Hello there, sorry but rather a big break from the build of the Morane, it was decided to do up the spare room in the house which involved a new floor from the foundation upwards. Fortunately my son is a builder so we managed to drag him into the job. Anyway the Morane is pretty much finished. I have some concerns about the all up weight which came in at 6 lbs 4 ounces!!. Bob Wright build weight was 5 lbs 6 ounces. But I assume that would be the dry weight without fuel. He added about 4 ounces of nose weight to get the cg right. The cg is right up front 2 and a half inches from the leading edge. My weight is including the 3 cell lipo battery. But still I needed far more lead weight to the nose than I wished to get the cg. I fixed it all to the cowl to get it as far forward as possible. It certainly looks like I build tail heavy despite trying to be thrifty. I took the Morane out to the paddock to just see how it might runway, a good wind curtailed to much discovery of handling. But I felt like the 3 cell may be a little weak on power and a 4 cell might be called for. Running a Emax brushless motor 3520 05 Wing loading ?? 60 inch span Chord 12 inches All up weight is 6 lb 4 ounces. How does that feel to you. Your thoughts would be appreciated Cheers Steve NZ 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outrunner Posted August 8, 2023 Share Posted August 8, 2023 Steve, I make the wing loading at 20oz sq foot, should be good 👍 Go fly Very nice model 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 1 hour ago, Outrunner said: Steve, I make the wing loading at 20oz sq foot, should be good 👍 Go fly Very nice model Hi Thanks for your reply and input Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 First flight!! Sorry for again the delay in reporting back on this build. The Morane had its first flight about 2 weeks ago. The all up weight of the model was 6 lb 3 oz. We used a 3 cell lipo and on leaving the ground it was proving marginal in power, but we were committed to flight. A slow steady climb and back around to land it. Glided in nicely but unfortunately nosed over without enough elevator to prevent this from happening I think we were petty much flying close to stall without the power to climb. A 4 cell will give the added power for sure Only minor damage to the undercarriage and I have managed to reduce some weight of the plane so now all up 6 lb 1 oz. Flying again this Sunday so will update then Cheers Steve NZ 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted September 5, 2023 Author Share Posted September 5, 2023 Hi all. Well no second flight of the Morane over the weekend due to the weather. So I worked on reducing any excess weight out of the model and now have it down to just under 6 lbs!. As I mentioned earlier, flying with the 3 cell lipowas very marginal in power. We flew but just really. The spring weather this week has been bitterly cold so I had a little time to mess around with my 2 cheap Aliexpress pilot busts for the Morane. I had done a 1/4 scale many years ago with good success so wanted to try again. It doesn't really take to long to do, just a step by step process out of a download I print off many years ago. It's apply layers of several paints over a few hours.I haven't fully finished yet but thought I would show you what I had got too. Your thoughts would be appreciated as to how they look cheers Steve NZ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted September 9, 2023 Author Share Posted September 9, 2023 Hi folks Still no second flight yet, the weather has been unsettled, but spring is slowly approaching so should be in for some fine frosty mornings to go flying. Finished those 2 pilots as best as I could the eyes give me trouble but it will do. I dragged the 1/4 scale Fokker D.VII down from the rafters. This plane has been quite the hanger queen for a good number of years. I started it about 8 years ago, but was very interrupted due to the nature of my work which took me overseas for 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Anyway this is the year it will fly!! The model is a Balsa USA plan and I built it from scratch. 88 inch wing span and about 9 5 kg all up weight. I will spend some time over the next few weeks making sure that everything is in order. Will update you on the progress. Cheers Steve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted September 18, 2023 Author Share Posted September 18, 2023 A few more pictures outside Regards Steve NZ 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torsten Spitzner Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 Lovelly👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 Hi there Finally managed to get the Morane flying well, it took a couple of flights to get it sorted, slightly more right thrust and needed to remove a lot of aileron movement as well, super sensitive!!. Plan is to use aileron differential next weekend and that should really smooth everything out Cheers Steve NZ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 (edited) Darn it I managed stall the Morane on takeoff yesterday,which I was a little surprised about as I had a couple of excellent flights the day before. It stalled to the right the angle of attack on takeoff was severe and felt at the time was I thought good.. Interested the last flight yesterday it had a left tendency and climbed madly I got it into level flight and landed very well, it fact the first flight that it hasn't toppled over. I had been slowly removing nose weight and that had been improving that issue. It has been a funny thing to trim out over the last few months but I finally thought I had it sorted. The damage isn't significant and should have in sorted and back the air by Friday. My pride is more damaged than anything as I should have caught it before it went pear shaped on me. My only thought as I was pulling every thing out was did the servo rails become damaged with all the toppled over landings. Whatever ever the case poor maintenance or a poor effort on takeoff, it's on me and I will be much more watchful Or was it ground fire!! Cheers Steve NZ Edited February 26 by Steve Fox Grammar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 Looked good in flight, trim changes from one fight to another, like you say servo mounts moved or perhaps engine bulkhead moving? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFlynn Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 It doesn't look like much is holding those cabanes in place... 🤷♂️ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 Hi JD8 and flyingfinn, yes the repairs are almost done, yes I am now suspect to the servo mounts becoming damaged after several topples on landings, Mainly due to the odd second to last flight where it climbed sharply and wanted to push to the left. I should have been more aware and looked then. The carbine were fairly well tied in ,the position in the picture is not there actual position. But you are right, I will be beefing those up for sure. Cheers Steve NZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted February 28 Author Share Posted February 28 Hi there all Well getting good with the repairs. The servos are in new trays and well secured. Carbines are anchored in tightly. A few more jobs to do and should be good to go this weekend I hope. Cheers Steve NZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Fox Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 Repairs completed and has come out slightly lighter in weight. I will have to weight until later in the week to fly as a fair bit on work wise Cheers Steve NZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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