Re: Skyray with my contest engine

Ken Cook Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:04 pm

Jim, I had to use a quarter and a nickel to balance with the two Black Widows. Not using the gear would certainly take care of that issue. The ribs are very fragile and my hands aren't the smallest. I crused the outboard wing holding it during launch. I highly suggest glassing the joints in the trailing edge as these pulled apart on a mild gravity surge. I will tell you this though, it's very difficult almost next to impossible to trim the elevator due to you not being able to see it. The rudders block the elevator and this could make flying by yourself a chore. You could glue a bb-q skewer on the top or bottom of the elevator and let it stick out the rear of the plane 2-3". Paint it day-glo colors so you can see it. Good luck with it. Ken

JPvelo Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:42 pm

Ken Cook wrote: Jim, I had to use a quarter and a nickel to balance with the two Black Widows. Not using the gear would certainly take care of that issue. The ribs are very fragile and my hands aren't the smallest. I crused the outboard wing holding it during launch. I highly suggest glassing the joints in the trailing edge as these pulled apart on a mild gravity surge. I will tell you this though, it's very difficult almost next to impossible to trim the elevator due to you not being able to see it. The rudders block the elevator and this could make flying by yourself a chore. You could glue a bb-q skewer on the top or bottom of the elevator and let it stick out the rear of the plane 2-3". Paint it day-glo colors so you can see it. Good luck with it. Ken

My current twin is the same elevator setup. I use two small pieces of scrap sheet and a small clamp to clamp the elevator in neutral. I then walk the up line from the plane to the handle to make sure the lines are attached correctly. The handle is then adjusted with the elevator clamped in neutral.

Jim

**RknRusty** Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:44 pm

Ken Cook wrote:...it's very difficult almost next to impossible to trim the elevator due to you not being able to see it. The rudders block the elevator and this could make flying by yourself a chore. You could glue a bb-q skewer on the top or bottom of the elevator and let it stick out the rear of the plane 2-3". Paint it day-glo colors so you can see it. Good luck with it. Ken

If I have trouble seeing my elevator when I'm hooking up, which I frequently do, I rubber band a pair of stir sticks across the elevator and stab to lock it in neutral, and then I adjust the handle to feel like I like it in level flight.
Rusty

EDIT: Jim beat me to it.

duke.johnson Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:18 am

Same idea here, but I use popsicle sticks and clothes pins.

JPvelo Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:13 am

Ken, when you glass the trailing edge do you use epoxy or cya?

Jim

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