37% Ultimates

[Oilsands]

Well decided that I like the colours as is and will not be changing them. It came packaged very well and no damage at all.
So far I have put together and mounted the cabane, there I changed all the bolt lengths to 4-40 x 3/8" except the one were the flying wires will goto. Mounted the main landing gear with out the wheels and pants (saving those for later). Mounted the tail wheel, I have the collar on the top and a piece of fuel tubing on the bottom (will not come loose like a collar can). Started to remove any wrinkles in the covering, which there was next to none. Glued (epoxy) the vertical fin, rudder, the stab and elevators. Made sure the holes for the screws to hold the stab on were in the correct place and drilled the holes and tapped the Al tube. Mounted the top and bottom wings, again made sure the holes for the screws to hold the wings in place were in the correct place. One was not and so drilled holes in the correct place (it would have ended up missing the Al tube), then tapped the holes. I glued the tabs for the wing struts before mounting the wings. I put the wing struts in place and drilled the hole needed. The Futaba S9156 servos will not fit in the servo holes so they have to be lengthened a bit.
I will be putting Futaba S9156 all around except for the throttle which will be a Futaba S9405. Have a Futaba R6014FS Rx and a SmartFly EQ6 and the pin flag switch and ignition kill. A DL100 will be the power plant with a PAU 27x12 prop and a 4.5" No Limitz FG spinner. Batteries I am looking at will be around the 2100 to 2500 mAH x 3. I will be making my own servo extensions and will be making the flying wires quick to put on and take off.
Still need to make up the flying wires, glue the ailerons in, glue the firewall, mount the engine, mount the cowl and canopy, mount all servos and control linkages, mount the electonics and balance the plane, as well as put the wheels and wheel pants on.
By the way, the photos below have been taken before I started to take any wrinkles out of the covering.

[Oilsands]

Received the No Limitz 4.5" silver fiberglass spinner from PAU, very nice! Very light at 4.4 oz! Very well packaged as all the other items that I got from them. Shipping was very fast as well, it took 6 days (since I put the order in online in the evening). I don't have to worry as much when I cut for the prop as there are less hazards (mainly nasty dust and splinter/slivers).

[Flyfalcons]

Anothony, I also have one of the No Limitz 3.5" fiberglass spinners on my new plane and am very impressed with their quality. Very good stuff! I'm curious to see what you think of the EQ6, as I am planning on getting one for my new plane. I might have one of the No Limitz 6" ultimate spinners sitting around for that and it might look really sweet as well.......

Looking forward to watching your Ulty build!

[sweetpea]

The EQ6 is awesome. I have one for my Ulti and have set them up for my buds in Vegas alot. Everything all in one.

[JohnVH]

DO WORK SON! Motivation for you...



Im going to have to get mine in the air again soon, this pic has me excited.

[Oilsands]

Sweetpea, that is what I like about the EQ6 as well (all in one). I know that it is not needed in this size plane, but I would have had to use some servo matching componets even though I have the futaba 10C. This just makes sure that I have good clean power going to all electronics and everthing other than the servos are in one place. Reading the directions, it sounds easy enough to program. Getting very eager (excellent photos) to get this and the 36% Edge built, but would still have to wait for the weather (spring). I have a Smartfly SuperReg on another plane and I really like it along with the pin flag switch and ign kill.

[smokin]

i like both your airframe and your powersystem decisions! we have the pau ulty with an eq6 in her and it is about the best flying rig you can get for that investment! keep it up... you'll love it!

[castlebravo]

Well, mine is almost done and will probably maiden this weekend if the PNW weather gods see fit. So far they are smiling (probably that awning I sacrificed during the snow storms!) I will try to post some pics tonight when I get back to the redneck ranch house.
Before we start singing praises.....there are a few items that have put a burr under my saddle. They are all pretty minor and I'm sure when I fly this thing they will seem inconsequential but hey......if you dont hear the negative feedback.....you dont know what to fix
1. The hardware........where the he!! did this stuff come from? It doesnt fit any allen wrench. If people are replacing it....why include it? Just provide a list of what is required.
2. The instructions (not included with airplane, I had to download and print) are minimal at best. Sometimes they refer to items that are done at the factory but aren't.....such as the wing tube holes. Not a big deal but for someone not accustommed....its a surprise. The instructions show a picture of the plywood tabs for the inter wing struts but make no mention of them. I also had to grind down two of these tabs to make the strut fit flush.
3. This is a gripe I have with all ARF Mfg instructions..........Mounting the engine should be the first thing in the instructions.....not mounting landing gear or tail components! How many times do you have to twist and turn that fuse to mount the engine? When you got the tail and gear mounted....all you're doing in banging those items up!
4. I was concerned about the "Gap" under the cowl but now that everything is together I guess it doesnt look that bad. Not as scale as it should be though.
5. Paint lines on cowl dont line up with monocote. Just a little off but still.....
6. Wing bolts in the bottom of the wings just asking for gravity to do its work. They could easily be engineered so they mount into the tops of the wing while being flush. They would also be accesible without getting your knees dirty.

See......just a few minor complaints. Certainly nothing that is a show stopper. Just remember before you blast me......The manufacturers would not change a thing if nobody brought up the issues.
By the way, I went with a new in the box DA 100. Santa was really good this year! He got me a new airplane, a new DA100, and a new 12FG. Already flew my 50cc edge and Sukhoi on it and I love it. Cant wait for the weekend!

Chris Elliott
OMAS/Dusters

[smokin]

those are all realistic and well placed comments! i do assure you that you'll long forget about each and every one when you get your bird in the air! we too thought that the fit of the cowl (underside) was a bit weird. the screws used (almost all of them) we went ahead and replaced right away. we most always dump the china screws due to the imperfections in their metalergy. a couple of our ailerons were pretty well warped and we really had to iron such to get them back to acceptable. BUT.... with all of that said, i still believe this to be the best $649 we have spent for a bird this size. ours is powered by an old style 3W 100 on reg muffs and it is an absolute beast! the power to weight ratio is nothing short of spectacular!

when you have concerns about the PAU products... just call PAU and talk to Herve the owner and he really will make you happy! the customer service i received from him was second to none!

i own a small car dealership and each time i sell a used vehicle i give the same speech....

"please don't judge me by whether or not you have any issues with the product you are buying from me.... judge me by how i handle your issues!" ..... i really believe that herve and PAU have the same philosophy!

good luck and happy flying!

matt

[rrandal1]

Castlebravo -

A local Eh? Well, almost.

I have a BME Ulti and I fly out at Molalla with MOLRCA.

We've only got a few visits to the field with mine but I absolutely love it and hope that as I get more comfortable it will get even better!

I agree with most of the issues. My largest grip was the cowl fit and it bugged me enough that I went ahead and re-engineered it. Mine is setup with DA-100 power.

I'm not a 3-d pilot, but my favorite thing about this plane is how it slows when you come off the throttle. We're talking hammerheads to a landing - like you throw a parachute out the back.

Guess I'm not the only guy around in Oregon with one of these bad boys now! If you ever got out to Molalla on a Sunday let me know and I'll bring mine out.

[castlebravo]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rrandal1
	Castlebravo - A local Eh? Well, almost. I have a BME Ulti and I fly out at Molalla with MOLRCA. We've only got a few visits to the field with mine but I absolutely love it and hope that as I get more comfortable it will get even better! I agree with most of the issues. My largest grip was the cowl fit and it bugged me enough that I went ahead and re-engineered it. Mine is setup with DA-100 power. I'm not a 3-d pilot, but my favorite thing about this plane is how it slows when you come off the throttle. We're talking hammerheads to a landing - like you throw a parachute out the back. Guess I'm not the only guy around in Oregon with one of these bad boys now! If you ever got out to Molalla on a Sunday let me know and I'll bring mine out.

Great to hear from ya! I love the Molalla field....its a great place!. I've been out there a couple of times to compete in the IMAC contest (Basic) and plan on comming out again this year. I would fly there more often but its so durned far from Hillsboro. I'm the current Prez out at OMAS in Banks. I think we have the best field around........450' asphalt runway....heated clubhouse....and a 6 acre lake to fly float planes off of. Yes it is a little challenging with the lake off one approach end and the orchard at the other but all these things just make us better pilots (us in general.....not us specifically)! I also extend the invitation........anytime your over on the west side.....come on out and fly with us!

Smokin,
I agree with you 100%. Its not the mistakes.........its how you handle them. Like I said, all my issues were minor and were things a experienced modler would take in stride. You're also correct in that at $650.......its still an incredible deal.
I feel for you and your dealership in these times. I know here in Oregon....Auto Dealerships are fallin like Jenga Blocks. I hope you have figured out a way to minimize the impact of the financial crisis. People think its the car industry at fault...........but when you cant get a loan......you cant buy a car. Anyway, thanks for the reply and good luck to you!

Chris Elliott
OMAS/Dusters

[sweetpea]

SOOOOOOOOO what everyone is saying is that we need an unoffical Biplane Flyin!


I vote for day 2 of the Whatcom Warbird Fly-In. (gives me time to finish mine)

[sweetpea]

DP--deleted

[Flyfalcons]

	Quote: Originally Posted by castlebravo
	3. This is a gripe I have with all ARF Mfg instructions..........Mounting the engine should be the first thing in the instructions.....not mounting landing gear or tail components! How many times do you have to twist and turn that fuse to mount the engine? When you got the tail and gear mounted....all you're doing in banging those items up!

Mounting the landing gear is the first thing I do to an ARF fuselage. It keeps the covering off the ground, protecting it from scratches or accidentally setting on a tool you left on the bench. Fortunately with most ARFs these days you can pretty much build the plane in the order you want.

[Oilsands]

Yes I had the same issues with the allen head bolts, but not a big deal. Before I glued the tabs down into the wings I made sure they fit, found two that did not. Checked the holds and cleaned out both of some foam, but one still need a little trim to make it fit. Again not a big deal. The holes for holding the wings and stabs I like to drill myself, that way I can make sure that the wings fit tight up against the fuse. I too, like the idea of putting the main gear on before anything else for the reason stated in a previous post. I was going to assembly the firewall, but when I made sure the bottom wing was level (0 incidence), one side was and the other was not. This was due to having the struts assembled on one side and the other was in place but not tightened up. So IMO, you have to make sure the wings are fully assembled with the flying wires before assembly of the firewall, that way both wings should be level. The directions are still easy to follow. For those that are brand new and putting this plane or any other plane together, regardless of manufactor, should seek help from a more experienced builder.