GP 33% Cap 580 Maiden flight

[JeeUm]

Got a chance to put a flight on the Cap today. Results are kinda of varied. I used the front wing tube position and it was pretty tail heavy here, which made the flight a Little iffy.

From what I could tell, it harriers great, tumbles like mad and flew precision surprisingly nice. It does the craziest waterfalls I've ever seen.

In knife edge it's got a fair amount of pitch coupling toward the belly, but I'm not going to do any mixing till I get the CG closer to correct.

Power is a 3W100 and is wayyy more then enough. Currently the plane is completely stock and weighs in at 27lbs minus the spinner and pilot, everything was used including the stock tube.

Carbon gear, tube and lighter wheels are going in it tomorrow which should be good for a 1.75lb weight reduction.

I used the new $40 hobbico digital servos.http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXNRT1&P=0

These actually work surprisingly well, though not very fast they seem to center quite well. There are two on each aileron and two on the rudder along with one on each elevator.

I am going to replace the elevator servos with a higher quality, faster servo since it seemed they were either just too slow or allowing blowback. On the other surfaces they worked just fine, they may be replace at some point down the road though.

I was having issues with the motor and had two deadsticks. The second resulting in a landing that wasn't quite a greaser, but also not hard at all. The gear plate was knocked a bit loose and I couldn't continue flying the plane.

After doing some reading it seems this is a common problem. There was little to no glue on the vertical former that locks into the motorbox sides. Other people have experience this problem also.

Once I fix the gear, lighten the plane up a little bit and get the correct CG set I think this plane is going to be a great flyer.

I should have some pictures coming soon.

[yakwrecker]

Sweet good to here all went well. I've been breaking in the ZDZ 80 on mine and I am chompin at the bit to fly it. Unfortunatly I need one more 9206 and my onboard RX packs

[SleepyC]

JeeUm..

Common thing I found out with the 3W 100's (I have the 100 B2)

If you over tighten the carb bolts, the carb block distorts and allows the block to leak a bit of air.
In my case the motor after heating up a bit would just go to idle the throttle position would have no effect on it. I was freaking out!
With the 100's the block is phenolic and it only takes 1/2 a turn past tight.
I was about to go insane until I found this out. I actually just bought a new carb block and gaskets should be here Tuesday!
Just a thought!

[3ddd]

jeeum i went with the stock cg and it flew very easy i have now move it to 3 3/4 behind the leading edge at thewing tips.mine did the same thing on the gear plate and the verticale braces had no glue at all on the fuse sides only at the motor box joints.oh and i am in the rear wing tube hole that is for the lighter engines.i have 18 flights on mine now and it is going to be a great imac machine i think

[JeeUm]

So if it does turn out that the bolts are too tight, does that mean the block is shot?

This didn't go to idle, it just quit without warning both times. Also, both times it happened while doing manuevers. Not just straight and level.

I'll recheck the cg once I get the lighter gear and wheels on the bird. Stock wheels weight 10 3/4 oz's. the lighter wheels are only 2.50oz so I'm thinking that will affect the cg a good bit.

[Matt Chapman]

JeeUm,
I used the aft wing tube slot on mine with DA-100 and it's very close. The front tube was for older heavier engines I think. Maybe try that before messing with moving stuff around.
Glad you like what you've seen so far. Goodluck and keep us posted as you go forward with the plane.
MC

[JeeUm]

I checked it at the rear slot and it was nose heavy in that position, so I'm thinking once I put the lighter equipment in it the rear slot will be closer to CG then the front..

[3ddd]

HEY JIM I USED AN OLD SERVO AND GUTTED THE CASE OUT,MOUNTED IT IN THE EXTRA SERVO HOLE IN THE TAIL AND I USE THIS FOR AN EASY BALANCE BOX FOR QUICK CG CHANGES.USE AN OLDER STYLE SERVO THAT HAS FOUR SCREWS IN THE TOP CASE HALF AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE PLANE TO OPEN IT UP.I THINK I USED AN OLD RAM SERVO.AND HEY MATT EVERYONE LOVES THE SPLATS

[JeeUm]

Reinforced the LG area with Glass cloth and epoxy. While working on it I found that there was no real glue in the entire area. The exit duct dropped right out of the airframe, but it should be good to go now.

Might have figured out the problem with the 3W also. Looks like the right side plug might have loosened a bit and allowed some leaking. Pulled the plug and it looked like it got pretty hot, so replaced both plugs while I was at it.

So hopefully that'll get the plane back on track and in the air again soon.

[crhammond]

Jim,

With DA100 and the rear wing tube mine was right on. I would have a hard time making mine nose heavy... With the CG in the stock location it flies precision very well and has almost no coupling.

There is almost no glue on the front end of these airplanes except around the motor box. In mine I used a light coating of epoxy on all the joints and some tri-stock on the gear plate.

You got a light one - 27lbs stock is very light. Mine is 27lbs with all carbon stuff. It flies very light at 27lbs. Seems all the new ones are coming out lighter... I modified mine for cans and it is now 28lbs. Still flies very light.

[JeeUm]

Won't be able to fly it again for awhile. Have to send my 14 in to get a cracked screen fixed.

[crhammond]

	Quote: Originally Posted by JeeUm
	Won't be able to fly it again for awhile. Have to send my 14 in to get a cracked screen fixed.

OUCH - that sucks. I just got a 12Z and I LOVE IT.
Once you get your Cap working you'll love it too.

[JeeUm]

Well the Cap is no more. Another deadstick on the 3w and another gearplate rip out. This time the entire motorbox seperated from the airframe.

Everyone that was there was stunned when we saw what happened. Not a hard landing at all, just a little fast. Nothing that any of my other airplanes would have had a problem with.

Plane is in the garbage now and I'm moving on.

[WangoTango]

JeeUm,
Sorry for your loss. Got my 26-10 for my H-9 33%Cap and I'm having a tad of a balance issue. I've got three flights on it with no problems other than I had to use a small diameter/large pitch Zinger just to get over my desire to maiden the thing.

I have heard that the Splat Cap didn't have any bracing and enough glue on the gear plate area but to get just a couple a flights and wind up with a total loss doesn't sound acceptable to me. Get some cheese and a little "whine" and start calling the GP folks and state your case. We had a guy knock off the gear on what appeared to be a picture perfect landing with his Splat Cap. It didn't take much! Hope you can get something in the air that suites you.

I've balanced this 26-10 and it appears perfect in the tip to tip AND hub balances but I'm getting some of that tail shake at idle the same way I did when I had that brand new Evolution prop on it. I'll keep trying.
WT

[crhammond]

Jim - wow, that's bad. I am almost glad mine crashed and I had to repair it. They used hot glue (sparingly) on the front-end of that airplane. I was able to pull it apart with my bare hands. After I rebuilt mine for cans it is much much stronger. Mind you I totally re-built the entire front.

I would complain to GP - they are not all like that. You got an extra bad one. Cut the front end off and send it to them. I bet they will send a new fuse.