Intrest in a 4-Site Build Thread? [Archive]

Fade2Black

11-05-2009, 06:15 PM

So basicly Here is the deal. Purchased this airplane a few months ago. Built it, and well it got smashed. Not by me, but my buddy who thought it would be a good idea to throw a Panasonic Toughbook on it by accident. Sounded like a potato chip. "Opps, How much is that worth?"

So I received a gift certificate for a my birthday so I purchased another one. Here are the pictures out of the box, and the flying electronics:

Closed box:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010305.jpg

Packaging of small parts:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010306.jpg

Fuse:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010308.jpg

More small parts:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010311.jpg

Airbrakes: The give you two choices. Big and a little bit smaller then big. Its a really slow flyer for sure.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010309.jpg

Motor of Choice:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010303.jpg

Receiver:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010302.jpg

3 Servo's:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010304.jpg

Power: I was pretty impressed. 25c 240mah 6amp spike! 2cell. It can be charged at 5c ! Thats 1.2amp!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010312.jpg

I will be using a castle 10am Speed controller.

Overall the packaging was great. No issues. But there are some really small parts that are going to cause a huge headache. Since I built this before, I know what to expect.

ds1rc

11-05-2009, 06:34 PM

Fade2Black,

Did you get to fly it before it got smashed. It's a great slow fly-er in small a small gym with the big breaks.

Don S.

Fade2Black

11-05-2009, 07:17 PM

Fade2Black,

Did you get to fly it before it got smashed. It's a great slow fly-er in small a small gym with the big breaks.

Don S.

Hey Don..

Yes, I did get a chance to fly it a few times in my backyard in a VERY light wind. I had it proped wrong (dont remember what prop), so It flew a bit akward. But, that was due to the prop being too big for it, It actually pulled the firewall out. :212:. Im now using the recommended GWS EP8040 prop

Fade2Black

11-05-2009, 07:34 PM

So.. Pre-fitting the left side of the fuse to the main fuse is a cinch. In the second picture there is over cut from I assume the die machine. I took a hooby knife and cut them off. Make sure you line this whole thing up perfect or the corisponding parts will no create the 90* angle you need, nor will the diagnal brace on a 45*. Dont mine my square, its my fingers that are making it off, not the actual fuse:

Perfect up to the firewall:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010315.jpg

Cut these small nanometer peices out. No need since the servo will not fit with them there. You may have to cut a bit of the lower portion out to fit the servo:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010316.jpg

When glueing I found that using a dobber with a hair of activator in it works perfect. Glue it, let it site for a second and square it, then a drop of activator on both sides.. Frozen:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010320.jpg

The manual states to glue the right side all the way to the second to last fit. If your going to build a foamy, your building it to be light. It doesnt matter if you glue the whole thing. Just too much weight. If it hits the ground hard enough, its going to explode anyhow. I chose to glue the fit in's. Then bend the portion up and drop a hair of CA onto the main fuse in between the fit in's, not the whole thing. Then spear it, and drop activator on it:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010325.jpg

Fade2Black

11-05-2009, 07:42 PM

The Diagnal brace is angled to sit on a 45* to the fuse. The directions state to line it all up over the holes. I found that it only lines up on the holes on the nose:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010329.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010326.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010328.jpg

I used the same technique that I used on the left fuse portion. Hair of CA on it to hold, then hit it with a drop of activator.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010330.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010344.jpg

The directions state to leave a bit of the aft portion of the fuse untouched. This is INTEGRAL to the build. If you glue this down, you wont be able to get the stab in!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010334.jpg

Once you have everything tight. Place the left side brace in ONLY. When you do the other side, dont put in on. It is actually the holder for the ESC!

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010341.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010346.jpg

Pretty straight I assume for not using a square!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010337.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010340.jpg

Fade2Black

11-06-2009, 06:23 PM

Did alot of work on this thing tonight... Im done, and now its Miller time. :210:

After doing the opposite side fuse portion and diagnal brace the directions state to do the elevator. This is where the build starts to get tricky, and a bit vuage. You arent suppose to put the opposite side fuse on until you put the elevator in, and after going through the directions, I made a DUH. Anhow:

You have to fold it to slide in though. You can go from either direction, but I chose left to right:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010347.jpg

Opposite side view:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010348.jpg

You can see why you should glue the fuse and diag portion. The elevator gets put underneath the left and right portion of the fuse, and then unfolded. There is also a tab as to where it belongs. to lock it into place when ready to glue. DO NOT GLUE at this point.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010349.jpg

Now is when you should put the opposite side fuse and diag on. LMAO.

Glue the fire wall in... Note, I have been using the same technique to glue. Hint of CA, and a drop of activator once centered with the dobber:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010351.jpg

Fade2Black

11-06-2009, 06:38 PM

Key to this and all other portions of the build is to maintain a level surface, with the tail hanging off the table.

Grab the lower wing and face it away from you upwards.. Dont mind my picture, its the wrong way:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010354.jpg

Test fit to open the holes as to where the fuse is going to sit in the wing. I made sure to press firmly enough to pop it in, and rocked it back and forth to open them up some. Not too much though. Snap!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010355.jpg

Once you have the fuse in place the right way, pull it out and drop CA on the tabs that lock it in, as well as were the wing and fuse meet. (Your going to need to have a strong joint here. My old one kept popping off and flexing.) Pop the fuse in and seat it. I had a second hand from my brother to hold it down while I squared it, and applied the activator. Let it sit for a bit to make sure you have a strong bond. you can also run a bit of CA down the base of the fuse here to double up on it. (I didnt, and will probably pay later)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010357.jpg

Next, the joiner for the upper and lower wing. Easy enough.. Flip the aiframe right side up, hang tail off the table. Make sure you have them pointed correctly. Flat end faces the nose, tabbed end faces the aft. Make sure the scheme is correct on both,and glue in, square it and hit with activator. Once bonded, let off the square. (How do you like my square?)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010359.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010360.jpg

Proceed to do the other side.

The upper wing is a bit diffrent. I did one joint at a time. I also did this upside down to be as flat as possible. Seated it, pulled it out, CA, activator, square, bond. Do that with the left side, fuse, and right side. It will come out flat.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010362.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010363.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010361.jpg

Fade2Black

11-06-2009, 06:47 PM

Next your going to put the flying wires all over this thing.

By the way.. Little Parts!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010364.jpg

Its basicly in the manual how to do the wires, you will have some left over that is sticking out. Only advice I can give you is make sure you measure them and place the correct ones in. If not, you will be ripping out CF rods, and runing the hole you made. Also, make sure you doing them on a flat surface. You want the wings to be as square as can be. Easy way to tell is, once your done, if the aelirons dont fall freely, it means that, the portion of the wing with the stuck aeliron is tweeked a bit. Work it back and forth until you find the sweet spot and reglue the rod that is off. I got it as good as I could, no perfect, but, what ever!

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010365.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010367.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010370.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010373.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010372.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010374.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010375.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010376.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010377.jpg

Fade2Black

11-06-2009, 07:07 PM

heligrom

11-11-2009, 08:42 PM

Looking good! I'm going to be building one for a buddy, so it's nice to see how its going to go together.

Dave_ORCC

11-11-2009, 10:37 PM

Thanks for the thread......... I, too, will be building one for a buddy soon.

2 questions for ya:
What was the weight of your first one? and, are you in some sort of "witness protection plan" or something?

Cheers,
Dave

3D-Seth

11-11-2009, 11:06 PM

Since I am trying to cut weight on this thing as much as possible:

I cut the little plastic case off the receiver, and cut the wires on the servos to shorten them up a bit...

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010379.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010380.jpg

If you're trying to save weight, you could also go with some smaller servos. HS-55s are "big" by today's standards.

Thread looks great.

Seth

Fade2Black

11-13-2009, 07:20 PM

Looking good! I'm going to be building one for a buddy, so it's nice to see how its going to go together.

Thanks guys.. Build is almost done. I didnt take many more pictures, but will describe in much detail what I accomplish with the pictures I have left.

Thanks for the thread......... I, too, will be building one for a buddy soon.
2 questions for ya:
What was the weight of your first one? and, are you in some sort of "witness protection plan" or something?
Cheers,
Dave

Honestly, I never weighed the other one, but by the time I was done with it, I am well sure that it weighed more than this one, thats for certian.

No, actually thats not me, its my Kid brother and he didnt want his picture up on a forum. :211:

If you're trying to save weight, you could also go with some smaller servos. HS-55s are "big" by today's standards.
Thread looks great.

Seth

Yea, I know there is smaller servo's out, and the 55's are a bit heavy, but I drilled them and snipped the wires. They should be light enough. We'll see.

At this point, all is done, all I need is to add the ESC, motor and, prop. Waiting for the ESC and motor from my LHS as I lost the set I had from the original. I think it made it into the trash!:205::205:

Fade2Black

11-13-2009, 07:57 PM

As the above post stated, there wasnt much left to do to the plane after the last pictures. But I will highlight some of the stuff that I did, as well as a very important mod that I find is going to help it fly much more straight and cleaner snap rolls.

The hardest part of this build hands down was the connecting of the carbon rods to the control surfaces. The only thing that holds them together is shrink tubing, and obviously to get it to shrink, you have to apply heat. All the surfaces suffered since I was forced to use a lighter. The soldiering iron started to melt and buckle the foam. You can see the damage in the pics. I used the white part of the flame to hit the shrink tubing... Its hard to get this to stay because you dont have three hands. One to hold the control rod stright, one to apply the heat, and one to hold the rod in the tubing.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010394.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010395.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010401.jpg

Also, you have to manually build the control horns which consist of an inch long carbon rod and a triangular peice of foam. I think this could have been supplied much better from eflite prebuilt. Between the shrink tubing and the horns, my happieness turned to a big dissapointment. Once you glue the rod to the horn, hit it with activator. The you have to glue it to the surface and hit it with activator as well. I think the process could have been much better and lighter if they just supplied you with micro horns.

Fade2Black

11-13-2009, 08:05 PM

The firewall goes in clean, and i would defiently follow the directions with this. Make sure you sand the back end of it before you mount it or it WILL rip off the first time you goose the throttle. Make sure you get it on as stright as you can.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010383.jpg

The pushrods are completly built other than the opposite end. It figures that they leave the hardest part for the builder

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010385.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010385.jpg
The above picture shows the rudder rod and "my modification" I will touch on that shortly.

The rudder and elevator rods must follow through wood guides that they provide you with. When you are ready to put the rod on, guide the rod through the wood, and then place the wood into the foam! If you do it backwards, then your going to have to unhook the servo arm from the servo and hook up the rod with the z bend, then bolt it back down! :197:

Fade2Black

11-13-2009, 08:09 PM

The speed brakes are fairly easy. Snug them up first to open the slot. Then once fit, apply glue and tack it in. Dont worry about them being crooked at first, try to get them stright, but once you put the supporting flying wires, you can tweek it to straighten out. Since it comes with two diffrent sets of speed brakes, I flew it before, I opted with the Larger of the set. I would honestly fly the plane without them first and figure out which ones you like better. I am going for super slow flying, so bigger are better!

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010390.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010397.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010398.jpg

The support rods mount into the holes on the wing strut:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010388.jpg

Fade2Black

11-13-2009, 08:18 PM

Okay.. So this I guess is where I start complaining alot i guess. Between the building of the control horns, then the shrink tube connectors, this took the cake. :205::205:

Once the plane was build as you see it, I was forced to add two carbon rods to the tail section. They run from the "turtle deck" to the horizontal stab.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010399.jpg

The first plane I had had alot of tail flex in it, and when rolling, the tail would lag behind the wings ALOT.

On this model, I tested it crudely by holding it by the nose and rolling the airplane with my arm. Again, the tail had significant flex. I was forced to add the rods to stiffen up the rear half of the airframe, but ultimatly added a lot of tail weight. form vs function i guess.... Make sure these rods are perfectly straight, or the airframe will tweek and the elevator will not be in a straight line with the wings. Not sure what the designers were thinking here.:205:

Fade2Black

11-13-2009, 09:08 PM

Over all here is some pictures of the plane fully built less the motor and prop. After you put the speed controller in, you can close it with the other brace.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010403.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010404.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010405.jpg

Synopsis:

1. Looks awesome. Clean lines has an agressive look that gives it that cool factor which I like alot, function over form, but it seems the form, functions if you know what I mean.

2. Cannot comment on the flight caricteristics of this airframe since i havent flown it yet, but the other was good. I did have it proped wrong, and the tail was very sloppy, but it did perform well.

3. The directions were very detailed with the exception of a few vauge portions. If you follow the directions well, it will build nice. jsut make sure you take every step correctly, or your going to be pulling apart glued parts.

4. Quality of the parts and built materials are top notch.

5. "The 4-Site also offers a high level of prefabrication" quote from HH's website is highly misleading. The only "prefabrication" i found was the hinges and the easy half of the control rods. Everything else must be built by hand including the control horns and connections between the rods and surfaces. I may also want to add the CF tail skid was also in place when taken out of the box

6. The half aft portion of the the airframe is extreamly weak and twists when you roll or snap. you MUST reinforce it with carbon rods or your rolls and snaps will look like hell.

One other tip I would like to give is, when you glue the 1" extentions to the ailerons for the control horns, you should shrink half of the shrink tubing on them first, and then mount and glue them BEFORE you put the wings on the plane. It will make it much easier when you connect the wings with the 2mm CF rods.

I am sorry about the quick last portions of this thread, but I was lacking.

If there are any questions, please feel free to give me a shout.

I will update this thread with fligh photos and flight info as well. :198:

Fade2Black

11-18-2009, 03:43 PM

Additional pictures after motor, ESC and matter install.

I tried to make it as neat as possible, but wires never seem to cooperate.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010419.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010411.jpg

Wires!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010412.jpg

Some of the foam ink came off when I tried to CA the velcro to the fuse, and than in fell off. A marker will fix that.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010413.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010414.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k224/Mariotango/4-Site%20Build/P1010415.jpg

I will be flying it tonight, and will post up videos. I will be a good chance to test out the video camera on the New Motorola Droid :197:

heligrom

11-18-2009, 03:44 PM

Looking good!! Let us know how she flies

Fade2Black

11-19-2009, 07:11 PM

Here is a vid of it flying a big circle. I was having fun with it so much that I forgot to have someone take a vid of it. I had my buddy fly it, but he wasnt doing much other than circles, burping, and almost hitting bleachers. But, you cans ee how stable it is.

It flies GREAT, and is extremely slow, but responsive. I do have to say that the 240mah Hyperion lipo's only last about 6 minutes at a half throttle flight, and about 4 on a 3D flight. Time for 400mah packs

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.