Assembly of Aeroworks 50CC Ultimate ARF (Black, Red and Yellow)

[spock5643]

After looking at the instrument panels available I decided to make a custom one for the plane. Using a high definition AI file of instruments drawn by my friend bahman we laid out the dash and then using photo-paper printed the complete dash with a Black background. I choose to use cherry as the face in 1/32 veneer stained with Minwax Cherry 225 final coat of statin urethane. Using the drawing as a template drill out a 3/32 ply backing attach the drawing to the back with contact cement. Paint the inside of the circles black and this will give you an shadow box effect. If you do not want to use photo paper you can laminate a thin piece of lexan sandwiched in between to give you the glass face look. Cut out radio and various parts that you want foward and laminate them to 1/16 ply paint the edges black and then glue them to the face in positions shown on your drawing. Its time consuming but I believe it gives the plane a unique look without much weight gain. There are sites that have switches and other gadgets to make your own dash if you choose to get that detailed. I will install a 30% Aeroworks helmet head in the Maverick scheme with the blue painted black to finish out the cockpit. Ok enough diversion back to the build. Contact me via PM if you are interested in the instruments and building your own.


-Rick

[spock5643]

The rest of the build was uneventful and done to the manual. I am going to create a photobucket and place all the build pics up. With plane in hand its off to the field for the maiden. Range check and double check CG take a few photos and its off to the air. I am the ugly one pushing the plane to the runway. The pilot is Mike from California hobbies and you can here use discussing flight information over the wind. Take off was uneventful and with one click of down she is flying hands off. She was flying so good the plan goes out the window of just puttsing around 10 minutes. Flat spin and rolling harrier(need to take out some aileron ) was a blur the comment was it was to fast to keep up. Knife edge pulls to the belly and will add mix for that. The landing provide to be interesting as we ran out of elevator on low rates nothing broke just little bounce. Second flight will be today and we plan on leaning out the motor just a tab and check the changes I made to surfaces. I am going to change the cabane screws to 3/4 inch long as upon inspection two were missing after maiden. All the rest of them were still tight so did I leave them lose or did they vibrate out is still up in the air. I will error on the side of caution and lengthen them.

Click on the video header to view the video.

YouTube - Mike of California Hobbies test flight...

Conclusion:

Kit quality is a 10 and other than the little issues noted everything was fine. Color scheme is highly visible and its can be seen even by the visually challenged such as myself. I will post more about flight characteristics after today, given what I have seen so far I have no doubts this will exceed my expectations. I would not hesitate to recommend this a a first plane for somebody going to giant scale.

-Rick

[ggroyal1117]

Hey Rick,
I am days away from the maiden flight of my 50cc AW Ultimate(black,red,&yellow) with the Evolution 58 gx2 engine. I have a question about the prop. What do you think about using a Xoar 24x10? I have been flying the 50cc AW Extra 260 with a DA50 and CF 22x8 prop for about one year and it is the best plane so far. I used a couple of wooden props before switching to CF. Thanks for posting the photos and the video. The instrument panel looks great.

Thanks,
George G. Royal

[anders e]

hey.
i have one of these comming, but i like some more flight information.
I have had severel aw planes, but love the look of this

someone have more videos too? Please............

[ggroyal1117]

It is not the best video, but it shows the basics.

YouTube- Aeroworks 50cc Ultimate 20-300

[anders e]

Thanks

Do you think i can use swb-arms 1,5'' on the outer holes? I have some of them.
Or should i go for the 3rd hole? (total of 4)

[spock5643]

I used 1.25 SWB in the outside hole and the top hole in the horn this gave me 45 degrees plus. You could use the 1.5 in the outside hole and get more but you are tacking away the mechanical advantage by going longer on the arm than the control horn. I try and stay 1 to 1. You did not say what servo you are using so the amount of torque is paramount to this as well. Believe me this thing at 3D rates rolls faster than you want and you will end up backing some out.

[anders e]

Thanks. I use hitec TG. I probably try the 3rd hole on the 1.5''.
It will be about 1,25 i think

[anders e]

Mine is ready

[FBaity]

Question,

If a DA-50R and Slimline Pitts muffler are used will the firewall modification be required.

[spock5643]

No the cylinder on the DA 50 R is taller than the 3W and no modification is needed. I sent several emails to Aeroworks specific to this issue. The mod should be a 45 degree cut but that would be very difficult to do after the motor box is already built.

-Rick

[FBaity]

Spock,

I never did see the detailed flight information.

[spock5643]

Its on page two with a video of the maiden. All in all I only have about 3% Rudder to elevator mix for a small pull to the belly in knife edge. I have 4 % of differential in the ailerons more down than up just to smooth out the rolls on low rates. Could use some mix rudder to ailerons but I just fly with my thumbs. Small amount of mixes and I would give it two thumbs up as pretty neutral.

[FBaity]

THX

[spock5643]

One thing to note the ailerons are super sensitive and need to be toned down in high rates. Rolling harriers are a blur if you don't. Low rate elevator needs to be bumped up a little in low rates from what's in manual. I use flight modes and low rates are basically used for landing. I use medium rates for IMAC and then High or 3D rates on a 3 way switch. I do not use differential in 3D rates. I am using a JR 10X so my setup differs from a 9103 due to difference in the programing. I missed the setup by 1 click of down elevator I could fix that by half a turn on the links just have not done it. I will be changing to a 42% Products power panel on 7.4 volts and then a Zeus batt eliminator for the ignition. I will post the updates to thread and we will see if I can get it to < 16 pounds (stay tuned) The 3W is a TOC motor that they no longer make and its 400 plus rpms over a DA 50 on a 23 x 8.

Rick Clayton
CTO
RC Solutions
rickdclayton@gmail.com