40% Turbo Laser (scratch built)

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mr.E
	Sweet engine you have Roger, I bet that thing is awesome power. I do however have a few questions for you. With regard to the boost tabs (sorry, not pot stirring) how much weight are you saving by going with a smaller servo, but using more linkage, control horns, and hinging? My second question is that you stated in order to turn the plane while on the ground you had to use some throttle to get a few gusts over the surface in order for it to turn the plane. I noticed that your aileron tabs are about in the middle of the control surface, how effect are they in high alpha or when hanging the plane on the prop? It seems that they would be out of the 'prop blast' rendering them less than effective. I am not familiar with your type of flying and not sure if this even applies to your style if you are not a "3D'er". I love to do rolling harriers and anything high alpha and it seems that these factors could make the roll more sluggish or ineffective all together given they are recieving less airflow across the given surface.. Lastly, you stated you were using nylon geared servos for your surfaces. When doing snaps and more violent manuevers like snaps are you worried at all that this could strip the servo gears basing on the fact the amount of load generated at such a high rate of speed and short amount of time? Thanks for any insight to my inquiries, Russ

Sweet engine you have Roger, I bet that thing is awesome power. I do however have a few questions for you.
With regard to the boost tabs (sorry, not pot stirring) how much weight are you saving by going with a smaller servo, but using more linkage, control horns, and hinging?

Russ, pertaining to weight ,its not just the servos, but by going to one servo per control surface, you need less battery power, less weight, no match box needed, so you see a lot of weight savings, and less complexity . On a 40% airplane, you can save close to $1000 also, but not going cheap.

My second question is that you stated in order to turn the plane while on the ground you had to use some throttle to get a few gusts over the surface in order for it to turn the plane.
No , this part of throttle blip is when I only had the boost tab servo, and none on the rudder itself. just to show how powerful the boost tab actually is.

I noticed that your aileron tabs are about in the middle of the control surface, how effect are they in high alpha or when hanging the plane on the prop? It seems that they would be out of the 'prop blast' rendering them less than effective.
Don't forget one thing here the ailerons are still the ailerons as you would have in any airplane. In high alpha, there isn't that much air going over the control surfaces, so normally the servo can handle it but also the prop wash will hit the boost tab and help.
For 3D, I would probably put the aileron boost tab closer in.

I am not familiar with your type of flying and not sure if this even applies to your style if you are not a "3D'er". I love to do rolling harriers and anything high alpha and it seems that these factors could make the roll more sluggish or ineffective all together given they are recieving less airflow across the given surface..

Again, the control surface are the same as before, nothing has changed here and the less airflow would be the same whether you have boost tabs or not, so this is a non issue.

Lastly, you stated you were using nylon geared servos for your surfaces. When doing snaps and more violent manuevers like snaps are you worried at all that this could strip the servo gears basing on the fact the amount of load generated at such a high rate of speed and short amount of time?

I am using Nylon gears because this is what I have on this airplane, but I would recommend using metal gears since they are quite standard now. I am not a violent flyer so its a non issue for me but remember one thing, the servos are only telling the control surface what to do, while the boost tab is doing the work.
When I did the larger 35% Yak with the same said Nylon geared servos, I had surfaces balanced to a gram. which is something that should be done anyway.

Also with boost tabs, you don't even need a digital servo, as an analogue is all you need since the holding power is from the boost tab.
My bigger laser has analogues all around.

Thanks for any insight to my inquiries,

You are welcome and I hope this has created a bit of insight.

Roger
Russ

[Mr.E]

Thanks, that was helpful.

[sjmorgan]

Hey Roger

Ive been out of the loop for awhile and havn't been keeping up with the thread. I must say that Im suprised that you have continued with your laser thread .I ended my own laser thread because some people just couldnt stand the fact that other people decided to build a model that some company doesn't produce.

As for the people on this thread that dont know me I build and fly big aerobatic rc planes and have been doing it for some 20 years now,. I normally dont respond to the folks that like to try to make other folks look stupid in their quest to bolster their own self esteem but this time ive got to make an exception.
This thread has really made me simply stop caring anything about flying giants website anymore. The content allowed here has been so childish. Geeeez!!! If you dont want to use boost tabs then for goodness sake dont use them . If you cant understand the concept of using them then quit asking and let people do their thing without all the bashing.
As for myself. When you can come on here and say you have done whats being talked about and can confirm that it doesn't work then be my guest .If you cant then shut up and listen and you might just learn something. To me these threads are for the people that might want to learn something that might make the hobby more enjoyable for them in the future and not for trying to prove how much someone knows about model avation.

The boost tab thing really shows how close minded some people really are these days. I started using them for one simple reason, MONEY!!!!! I figured out that I could do this on my big planes and not have to use multiple expensive servos on each surface and still fly hard 3d and get by with it.I still use high powered servos just not as many of them and the result is less money, less complexity, less batteries, less everything and still go out and have an enjoyable time flying my planes. Most everything we use and fly wasn'n designed by some college educated aeronautical engineer somewhere simply because their isnt much money to be made in that area of aviation. And as for kits and such. HUH !!! Im not spending $1300 for a box of wood, a cowling , gear, canopy and some plans when I can spend $400 and do it myself just as good. If people think that planes are substandard because someone chooses to have something that doesnt come from a factory then good for them. I bet if some manufacturer came out with a 40% laser kit or ARF it would be the best flying airplane mopney can buy and you would also see the big dogs flying them to do the promotional thing thats always done with something new. MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!

Your thread has been great Roger and you should be proud of the acomplishment you have achieved. Its a great feeling when you have done something few other people can. Enjoy your Laser Roger. I wont let you down if taken care of.


Scott Morgan

[raptobob]

hmmm

[BILL BLOSS]

WELL said Scott, and thanks to Roger for keeping this going.

[forgues research]

Thank you to all for the vote of confidence, I promise I will post the maiden flight as soon as our flying field cooperates. That is assuming all goes well LOL

Roger

[jack strickland]

Hello to all you Laser builders/lovers, the enclosed pix are of the current mod to the landing gear attachment area of my current 40% Laser. This was done because of two landings (soft) in tall grass, removed the gear, and caused minamal/severe damage to the belly of the plane. While it is not a difficult repair, it was felt this system was much stronger. The system has been used on the 1/4 scale Stearman for 19 years, and a lot of rough landings, and has not failed once. Please pm me, or post your ideas/comments, positive of course. regards to all. Jack

No. 1 shows the necessary gussets, fore and aft added to the secondary firewall. On the plans this bulkhead is 1/8-- 5 ply plywood, if the 1/8 ply is already used, the bulkhead must be reinforced with another1/8 plywood doubler ( in front towards the engine).
No. 2 --different angle.
No. 3 same
No.4 --aluminum angle installed
No. 5-- gear installed

The rest of the superstructure will be added next. As you can see the damage was real bad, also poked a small hole on the bottom of the port wing and knocked the firewall out, broke a 32-10 Mejzlik prop, thus the mod. Please contack me if you need need any more explnaition. Cheers

[jack strickland]

Sorry, forgot a small detail. The gear is slanted forward about 8 degress. This was done because the plane was somewhat light on the tail wheel, and the plane could tip over while being taxied on grass, or a tough terrian. Bill Bolss is responsible for this idea, and it has helped a lot with this problem. It would be better to slant the gear forward, or move the gear toward the front by 3/4 to 1 inch while in the building stage. Positive comments on this modifcation will be welcome.
Cheers and happy flying.
Regards to all

[Rod]

Hi Jack mods look effective. I have found a piece of sheet rubber under the gear (inner tube will do) and rubber washers under steel washers on the inside of the mount really goes a long way to saving the gear. It obsorbs the initial landing shock, really works.

[jack strickland]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Rod
	Hi Jack mods look effective. I have found a piece of sheet rubber under the gear (inner tube will do) and rubber washers under steel washers on the inside of the mount really goes a long way to saving the gear. It obsorbs the initial landing shock, really works.

Hi Rod, thanks for the tip, will try that.
Regards
Jack

[forgues research]

For those who remember the bad looking canopy on my 40% laser, I have improved it . let me know if its better......
Roger

[Rod]

Yep, way better lloks very nice. How did you tint it?

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Rod
	Yep, way better lloks very nice. How did you tint it?

Actually what I did, is remove the other plastic part, and installed a canopy from a Hangar nine Sukoi, I had destroyed. , and it was tinted from the factory...

Roger

[dm8221]

Hi Roger
The canopy looks sharp that being said, is the turbo laser ready for its maiden. Look forward to some video of the first flight.
Cheers Don

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by dm8221
	Hi Roger The canopy looks sharp that being said, is the turbo laser ready for its maiden. Look forward to some video of the first flight. Cheers Don

yes it is , hopefully this week end

Roger