Newbie to foam Uzi XXL questions

[Capleton]

Hi Guys,

In the coming weeks/months i will be asking lots of dumb questions concerning buying/building an Uzi XXL as i want to step my flying up a notch and start learning some 3d stuff. Ive never built such a thing before and have no idea where to begin.

I have read the review and build threads for the plane on here by HeyDick and Ronniemlrc (good stuff lads ) and will hopefully start my own build thread once ive ordered the bits and pieces... Herein lies the problem though-
I cant seem to find a retailer for the Uzi XXL in the UK so i guess i'll have to order from overseas. If anyone would happen know where to get one here in the UK id much appreciate a contact.
So my first questions are, and i apologise to everyone for my ignorance;
What tools will i need for the build and what eletrics do you recomend for a novice 3d'er? Ive only a very basic knowledge of the way the parts work, so an explanation for why the bit suits the bird would be brilliant.

Many thanks
Cape

[Uncle Brett]

Hi Capleton, welcome to the Giants.
Let's see....If you are ging to build it with the modifications that Ronnie and myself did, you'll need:
(2) 24" pieces carbon rod or flat stock, (doesn't matter what you use, either round or flat) for fuselage.
(4) 36" pieces carbon rod or flat stock for both wings.
300-350 watt outrunner motor. I use a Hacker A30 16M but any equivalent motor will do.
35-45 amp ESC
3-4 mini servos. I've done different servo combos on different Uzi's. I've used 2 wing servos, 1 per aileron (HS 81's or HS 65's) and I've used a single servo for the ailerons (HS 81 and even a standard size servo). The simple set up is using a single servo for the ailerons. The other two servos are for the elevator and rudder and I've always used HS81's because they're cheap and powerful but any servo will work as long as it has at least 25 oz of torque.
(2) 12" servo extensions, (3) if you're going with 2 aileron servos.
(1) small piece of scrap EPP foam if you're going to make a center wing cabane and for keeping the elevator pushrod tube out away from the fuselage to keep it more inline with the elevator servo and elevator control horn (more of a straight shot instead of having a bend in the pushrod).
Household GOOP or Shoegoo, 5-30 min epoxy, foam safe CA and kicker.
I think that's about it. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

[Capleton]

Thanks for the quick response Heydick.
I have now managed to souce a supplier for the Uzi in the UK (in case there are any other brits looking for one www.flitehook.net is the way forwards) and have got one on order.
I think im going to go with your suggestion Heydick and get the hacker A30 16M and 4 HS81's to help the ailerons cope with the load but as far as the reciever and battery are concerned ive not got a clue...
I have been told that it is good to try and match the reciever with a suitable battery but i dont really know what this means and wouldnt know where to begin. At the moment all i have got is a futaba 6eax with no crystals, so would i need to get a reciever that corresponds to the TX?
As far as the reciever goes I was thinking a 5 channel would do but dont know what type would be good to go for. Also if you could recomend a specific ESC that would work well in conjunction with your suggestions it would be dandy.
Again many thanks for the help.

Cape

[Uncle Brett]

Any 5-6 channel receiver will do. It's not necessary to match the receiver manufacturer to the transmitter manufacturer, just make sure that the receiver you get is a "Negitive Shift" or has "Auto Shift" capabilities. I like Berg recievers, but like I said, any reciever will do; Hitec, Futaba, JR, Corona etc. I have no idea what "matching the receiver with a suitable battery" means, unless you're talking about disabling the speed controller's internal BEC and using a seperate receiver battery pack to power the servos. All small ESC's have an internal BEC (Battery Elimation Circut) so you can power the servos with the main battery source instead of using a seperate receiver battery. As far as the batteries go, You'll need to run 3s 2100-2200 mAh lipos that are at least 15C. Thunderpower Prolites, or better yet, IMO, FlightPower EVO Lites are great batteries and will last many cycles.
ESC's are also a matter of personal preferance. You can't go wrong with Castle Creations for two reasons: they're great products and their service is second to none, but I've also had good luck with the Torque Airboss, Hacker, and E-flight ESC's.

[Bomba]

I Capleton, Im not a guru on the radios stuff but this may help you when you complete your equipment.

1.- So if you are planning to get a receiver for your 6exa you have to get negative shift.

2.- On the other hand when your purchase your crystal, for the transmitter there is no problem, but for the receiver there are dual conversion and single conversion.

I have the 7CAP and I bought a receiver very cheap, but did't work with the normal dual conversion crystal. So I bought a single conversion compatible and it work great with my foamy and my 7cap.

cheers

[Capleton]

Thanks again for the advice guys, im afraid im in need of more though!
I now have a complete and working setup apart from the motor... In the end i went for the potensky 200w motor as i was offered a deal by the suppliers here in england, however im beginning to regret this as the shaft is way to short to support a prop and it is also to wide to fit one on anyway! Is this a common thing with motors? I must need some sort of shaft adaptor (the shaft is 4mm) but i am unsure of what to go for. I will be using a 11" slowflyer prop and the hole in the middle of it is about 2mm wide. Can you guys reccomend the product i need as i have now had a completely built bird for 3 weeks and only the lack of a working motor is stopping the maiden! Frustrating to say the least!
Any help would be brilliant.

Cheers
Cape

[Major3d]

With a larger motor and two servoes for the alierons, will adding another elevator servo make it too heavy?
How does everyone glue their aliron rods? Using pop sticks on both to align them?

[Xpress..]

You will need a prop adapter for that motor. Also, use an APC 11x4.7SF prop with that motor, to get good power.

Any one of the 4mm adapters on this page will work: http://www.hobby-lobby.com/propadap.htm
They're towards the bottom

Also, I would go with 2 aileron servos, to produce the most torque, and also to allow easier programming with the radio. You can program in differential to get a perfectly axial roll with it. This is also the simplest way I have found. I hate single aileron setups, as they don't allow you to setup differential, so one may deflect up more then the other one deflects down, creating differential.

Good luck though! And don't stress soo much over getting the thing absolutely perfect. It's a big foamy, and it will take a tong of abuse from it being EPP. Foamies generally fly great, even if something may be slightly off with them.

[Major3d]

Here is mine