Flying for Real..

[DaveB]

Nice vid Eddie I bet finding the camcorder reset after 20mins was a bit.. dissapointing

You're right Dale. Though I've been cheesed off at missing the best of a good day, it does feel nice knowing I've 'pulled it back' a little. I feel it might be advisable to use glue to secure the new gearbox/motor when it arrives but I'm not sure which one to use yet. Working on the premiss that my motor was a one-off.. I could glue it to the same degree as Hobbyzone as it may never have to come out again but I dunno.. it was particularly destructive getting the old one out. That said.. new fuselage sections aren't exactly expensive.. it's just the time and effort taking working bits out of the old and fitting into the new. We'll see

ATB
DaveB

[DaveB]

Repair update..

As the weather is still good (though too windy for the little Champ by a country mile).. I popped to Wheelspin Models on the bike, my local RC dealer and stockist of Champ spares. First.. I went to the aircraft/helicopter section and stood dreaming (or was that drooling) Thank goodness I'm not like I used to be otherwise I'd have come home with something very expensive like an ICON A5 and a Blade 450 (Eddie.. I'm told by one of the guys the A5 flies beautifully)

Anyhoo.. I popped in to get a replacement gearbox/motor assy for the Champ as online, it shows in stock. The chap went to various places and no sign of the part However, he looked at his notes on one of the pc's and noted he'd written that there was an alternative someone had tried and it had worked and.. he had one in stock. It's an uprated motor compared to the Champ and is recommended for use with a more powerful battery but this involves cutting the battery stowage under the fuse to accommodate the bigger battery. We wasted another 15mins while he showed me Park Zones latest little flyer (I want one) then bought it. I've got it back home and found the gearbox housing is smaller than the Champs but I've successfully located it and added a couple of dabs of epoxy.. one either side to help keep it in place. I tried it before installing and it works fine. The prop shaft may be slightly thinner but the prop has gone on ok. I just hope it doesn't fly off I've checked online for what the part number fits and it's the P51 and Sukhoi SU26 I think the Champ may be a little overpowered but who cares I'll be doing stuff like that 16 1/2yo (in my dreams anyway)

So.. there we go. Waiting for the glue to go off but in no particular hurry as the wind is still too high. Should I have difficulty with the prop, I can always try the one off the P51. To infinity.. and beyond Here's a shot of the new kit in place. You can see how much wider the Champs gearbox housing was.. it filled that recess


ATB
DaveB

[VEGAS]

Way to go matey.

A modified and sooped up Champ! Becomes the Advanced Turbo Champ

Looking forward to hearing a full report on the maiden flight.

Just got back myself from a couple of Wildcat flights.

Not the best today. Very warm but quite a breeze. Almost stuffed the Wildcat into the ground whilst turning.

Simply too low trying to perform a high speed sideways turn.

I'm very lucky to return un scathed after that.

Keep us posted on the Champ Dave. You may have set a trend here..

[DaveB]

Will do Eddie

This is the model I looked at today.. http://secure.hobbyzone.com/index/parkf ... U1180.html
It's a quantum leap above the Champ.. spec is impressive and the chap in the shop couldn't speak too highly of them. Bigger than the Champ and it has to be said, more realistic looking. Weighs a far old whack more too. I'd need a 6ch txer to use all the functions.. something I may be asking advice on in the future Price isn't bad for it either.. around £140 in real money for the BNF model

God Eddie.. have you seen a Blade 450 close to?? Holy jesus mate.. it looks more complex than Concorde! I stood there with my mouth open wondering at the build! I hate that shop. Everything I want under one roof and little I can afford

I'd be tempted to fly the Wildcat low too mate. Up high is ok but the fun starts when you're close to the deck Glad you both walked away unscathed. Losing the Hawk and the Wildcat in quick succession, your better half would be a little more than suspicious me thinks!

EDIT @ 2122BST..
I couldn't help it mate.. the epoxy had gone off.. the wind had dropped (but was still surprisingly 'choppy' as I found out) but.. the little lady now goes like something off a shovel Must have had her up for 15mins and on one battery. It has so much pwr now, it might give the Radian a run for it's money! Throttle at 1/4 most of the time. Had it been dead calm.. perhaps less. Tried a 3/4 pwr climb.. very impressive. Only hit full chat a couple of times.. once while trying a loop.. it looked like it was about to stall so I pushed the stick forward and the engine pulled it round Second time while flying low (as you do).. strong gusts enough to unsettle the Champ big time kept coming from nowhere and I had a horrible feeling it was going in. Again.. shoved the stick up full while pulling back on the elevator and it sat there for a second hanging on the pwr then pulled itself up Sweet mother of mercy
In conclusion.. if your Champ engine dies the death, then I'd recommend this upgrade. If it doesn't and you just fancy changing it.. it's possible, I guess, to remove the engine from the gearbox on the upgrade bit but I reckon impossible to take it out of the gearbox housing on the Champ if left in situ.. so much silicone in there, you'd never get it out. The only way I can see is to do as I did.. have plenty of patience.. take plenty of time then pull big chunks of foam out of the engine bay Bottom line.. you're just as well taking the old gearbox and engine out.. doing the damage.. repairing it then adding the P51 assy. Wires on the Champ are red and black.. on the P51, white and black. Put white to where the red was (lh side looking fwd) and black where the black was on the other pin If you're interested.. the item is Parkzone PKZ3624. Cost, £12 Champ assy.. £11. No contest The weathers been good, I've had my Triumph out and the Champ is repaired. Days don't get much better than this.. without a lot of money

As a footnote.. I looked at the canal too and there wasn't a ripple. Oh how I imagined the ICON dancing across it

ATB
DaveB

[DaveB]

Ed.. as an aside to this, the chap at Wheelspin also said what a great grass lander the Icon is too. I didn't ask him.. he offered the info I can't see me ever owning one.. it's just too expensive but you might one day

ATB
DaveB

[tonymadge]

You have had some bad luck Dave. I still have not got round to flying my Cessna 182 ...I never seem to have the time and the bravery
Maybe I should sell it as it sits in the spare room looking lost, at least it would get some use then

http://www.rcmodelcentre.co.uk/Art-Tech ... _2493.html

[VEGAS]

Dave I think you should buy Tony's Cessna.

Tony, I think you should sell your plane to Dave.

Commission for me 5% -

PS - Perhaps the Icon does land on grass ok. I think it'd have to be something like the playing field for crown green bowls before I'd attempt it.

[DaveB]

The chap said it's more to do with the shape of the hull mate

Now.. IF I could afford that Cessna, I could also afford the ICON and have £14 toward a new 6ch txer. I could also afford the 120SR, a new txer and a shed load of batteries. The list goes on I only have the road round the back of the crescent to takeoff and land the Cessna on which isn't ideal and I don't think the council would erect traffic lights for 'Aircraft Ops' Eddie.. you're a flush Bobbie.. you should be the one looking to buy mate

It's a nice bit of kit though Tony. Aerobatic too which is great
ATB
DaveB

[VEGAS]

I wish I was flush mate.

I got a wife and little un to support so my little luxuries are limited these days.

Besides I'm happy with the hanger. Until I stuff the Wildcat into the ground, which judging by my skills yesterday, should be anyday now.

That Icon doesn't float my boat. Heard great things about it on RC forum but grass landings are definately not it's strength.

I'm always wary of sales staff. At the end of the day they are very biased.

Not saying what they said isn't correct. I just like to do the research myself.

[DaveB]

Hello Mate

Yes.. I've been round the block a few times myself (not that you'd notice) and was more than willing to take things with a pinch of salt However, I didn't prompt on the ICON.. I just mentioned it in passing and he offered the blurb I'm pretty much stuck between a rock and a hard place as are you with 'types to consider' cause at the end of the day.. you have what you have to takeoff and land on. No amount of sales pitch can change the fact you fly off a hill and I fly off a common.. eg, we're both hand launch. The ICON could work for me big time but nothing with main gear like that Cessna. Belly landings on grass are pretty much the order of the day

It's odd you know the Blade 450 as shown on the Wheelspin site bears little resemblance to the one in store.. unless there are other variations on a theme. The one I looked at yesterday (Tue) had more electronics on it than a very electronic thing. The blades were carbon fibre.. not that naff white plastic. For £335, I'd be happy to sit and look at it all day

Anyway.. onwards and upwards Put 3 batts through the 'Super' Champ this evening and again, I wasn't disappointed The P51 motor transforms the Champ into something it could have been from the outset but it IS a trainer and to be honest, I don't think I'd have had as much success learning to fly it. It WILL power loop.. no need to gather speed diving first. This opens up a whole pile of things you can do that simply aren't possible with the standard motor. Pwr/end of batt life are different.. so much so I wondered if the txer was on the blink this evening. Low throttle settings.. zero to low.. won't turn the motor over when the battery is lower than it's rated output.. there's not enough juice to turn the little tinker over. With the standard motor, you get the warning signs at the other end of the scale.. medium plus throttle settings. This isn't a problem at all and can get you out of situations you otherwise might fall foul of. Give it some more.. take it around again or fly it a while longer then take it downwind turning upwind for a gentle landing. You just have to be aware Took the battery out and put a fresh one in and full throttle movement returned

The batteries aren't getting hot/warm but I am being mindful this engine should have a stronger battery so am not pushing it. Ultimately, it may be better to get the new, bigger batteries and cut the fuse to match but this would require a different charger and as cost is an issue, I'm happy to stay with an over rated engine and/or under rated batteries

Power characteristics in general are a little different too. It will porpoise a little more at lower throttle settings but a gentle push on the elevator keeps the plot level. I prefer not to have to keep trimming.. especially as I forget where I was

All in all, I'm happy with the conversion. Should your Champ motor fail (and it probably won't!) then I'd recommend going down this route. Not only will it give the Champ an extended life, you will have a different aircraft at the end of it

ATB
DaveB