build DB Mascot

[EarlyBird]

Thanks John, you have confirmed my own thoughts but it is good to have some numbers to be more objective. I was wondering about fretting out the fuselage sides behind the wing just for the sake of it. I am now looking at the amount of birch ply which in my opinion is somewhat excessive when I compare it to the mini super and how little ply was used in that design.

 

Steve

[Ron Gray]

 Certainly look at replacing ply in non stressed areas behind the wing but as John has said, smaller, lighter servos plus watching the finishing are your best bets.

[Rich Griff]

 

someone said excellent tom ??

[EarlyBird]

Buying a kit is like buying a box of chocolates. I expected the main wing spar to be the traditional quarter inch and 16th webs much to my surprise the main spar is a 1/8 inch comb design that was used in the sky 40, which put me off that model. I am thinking of using the traditional design and modifying the ribs to suit.🤔

 

Steve

[Richard Wood]

Hi Steve,
Small metal geared servos such as HiTec 82mg are excellent but be careful with HS81 as the nylon gears are a tad fragile & can be stripped.
I used standard servos in the Mascot.  

[EarlyBird]

Thanks for all the input guys.

I have had issues with the HS 81 gears stripping and I'm now very reluctant to use them.

I particularly liked the grabber plate and wing bolts as this is how I intend fitting the wings. In the photo I did notice the small servo fitted to the rear of the fuselage, was this for reasons of balance?

I am comparing electric designs with IC designs. I'm considering the notion that weight is added where strength is required. The hard part is working out where extra wood has been added just to increase the weight where it is required.

 

Steve

[Rich Griff]

Balance...see leverage...I hope Tom has no intention of a maiden flight with his model "as is"....

 

Perhaps servo is fitted backwards, even then there are issues .....

 

What does Tom think ?

[EarlyBird]

'Balance...see leverage...'

I am not sure what this means.

[Tom Flynn 1]

Well I originally fitted the servo there as I was scratching for servo’s at the time and found that one on and old 
Durafly spitfire which had an exceedingly long lead so I put the servo there and the lead inside.

When I flew it first time around it was OK, no issues at all. The problems I had was with too little down or right offset.

having played with it over the late summer I got it flying OK.

By then, with winter coming, as the front didn’t look too good, having been moved around so often I thought I’d refurbish it over winter. 

As it had successfully flown a few times, while I was playing with the front, I decided to change the undercarriage, as it was originally a tail dragger and it didn’t look right, plus I decided to remove the elastic bands.

Waiting now for some sun, and the tide to go out at the field, to fly it again.

 

[EarlyBird]

Thanks Tom, that is very helpful please report how it flys now.

 

Steve

[EarlyBird]

I now have a set of accurate scales which have enabled me to weigh some of the wood, it does not weigh much and therefore confirms what both John and Ron said. Where to go from here is now the question. I think I will remove as much wood as possible and see if it does not fall apart in the air, hopefully not. For me this is just adding to the fun. 

 

Steve