Funtana X 50 electric conversion

[3Deranged]

Converting Funtana X 50 to e-power. Using Himaxx 5030/390, CC80, 6s2p TP 2100's, HS-525MG's all around, 6v reg, and 16 x 10 prop. Tried to maiden the other day. Trimmed real quick, lots of power at 2/3 throttle with 16 x 10 prop. Will try a 17 x 10 too. Dove down and pulled into parachute, plane acted squirrely and saw carbon rods had pulled the epoxy and balsa plug out. Booo! Elevator flexed a lot and I put her down real quick. Back to the shop . I talked to someone else with a Funtana 40 and he had the same problem. Fix was add 2 more carbon rods on top to counter up force. Seems sturdier. Didn't like stock hardware(chuck it) and changed to Dubro. That should stop the sharking around under power. SFGs seem to help with tip stalling so I'll leave those on till I get used to the plane. Ordered taller Fiberlite LG to help with prop/SFG clearance for rougher fields. As soon as I get them installed I'll go back and try this one more time! Hanger 9, hear our pleas, make an e-powered version of this, you know with battery hatches and cooling ducts already there. And please fix the elevator, a piece of flat carbon stock on the hinge line would be a good place to start. Also beef up landing gear mounts as those don't seem too sturdy. My 2 cents.

[jumah]

Congratulations, and we need see a video plz.

[Spaz]

that uper Elevaotor brace would be much stronger if you mounted the top to the fin instead of the fuse.
can we see a pic with the cowl off?

[3Deranged]

Would be nice to land rods on top of rudder, but the most "meat" is located below the rudder. Not much to land rods onto up there. Didn't want to take off covering and add a hardwood block then recover(yet). It'll work for a quick fix. Hey, I shouldn't have to worry about the elevator folding up in the first place, H9 should've had that figured out from the Funtana 40 . I think the X100 has the same problem too. Go figure! Hindsight being what it is, as soon as I pulled the elevator out of the bag I knew I should have put flat carbon stock on the hinge line. But being gullible, I bought the party line and figured H9 knew what they were doing. Not! Lesson learned. I need to go with the gut feeling more often. Will get her up this weekend and wring it out, that'll be a good acid test. You dirty boy, pictures with the cowling off, naughty, naughty!!!
Will try to post some more pics too.
Jason

[3Deranged]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jumah
	Congratulations, and we need see a video plz.

Be a little while before video. Need a little practice before making a real fool of myself. Don't have anyone to shoot video for me anyway. Have had different people try and even with my electric glider they can't seem to keep it in frame, much less any 3D manuevering! Hopefully I can meet up with some more 3D'ers in my area and they can shoot, or better yet let them fly, as my thumbs need more practice. Go to Horizon Hobby and look up the X50 they have lots of video posted. No rolling harriers though....

[3Deranged]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Spaz
	that uper Elevaotor brace would be much stronger if you mounted the top to the fin instead of the fuse. can we see a pic with the cowl off?

Alright, ya talked me into it. Here's some shots. Saved about 3oz. by not using stock Himaxx motor mount and just going with X-mount and 2" PVC standoff with slots for bolts.

[3Deranged]

Got 3 flights in today before thunderstorms put an end to the fun. Gets an A- now with mods. SFG's seem to work well in KE's and harriers both upright and inverted. Really makes plane stable in inverted flight. They also make it float in on landing, probably riding the ground effect bubble. Probably won't take them off for a while now! Nicest plane I've flown inverted. A touch of down elevator so CG needs adjusting but will work on that. Carbon rod mod seems to be holding after a few blenders, walls and parachutes thrown in for good measure. Packs weren't even warm after 7-8 minute flights, so as soon as LG from Fiberlite arrives I'll try the 17 x 10 prop. Vertical could use some more. Hovers are nice and stable and torque rolls easy. Outrunner performed as expected a little lag you have to get used to. Bigger prop will probably help with that. Gear reinforcement worked as I hit a bumpy patch of ground on 1st landing and it took it no problem. Weight well spent. With SFG's on it will float so give yourself some runway on the first couple of landings. Overall a fairly stable 3D trainer for larger electrics. My 2 cents. Will try to get some flights in and post reports.
Keep em' flyin!
Jason

[p sme]

Congrats on the succesful conversion. I am thinking about converting this one as well with the E-Flite 60 motor. Any thouights on this? If you could make a video of yours it would be sweet too. thx

[3Deranged]

	Quote: Originally Posted by p sme
	Congrats on the succesful conversion. I am thinking about converting this one as well with the E-Flite 60 motor. Any thouights on this? If you could make a video of yours it would be sweet too. thx

I'm glad I didn't go with E-flite 60 as that is only rated for 1200 watts and a 16 x 8 prop. I'm hitting 1250(motor is rated for 1500watts) with a 16 x 10 prop and it doesn't have the vertical I'd like. Adequate but not a rocket. As soon as I get my LG from Fiberlite I'll try the 17 x 10 and that should do the trick. AUW will probably come out to about 6.5 lbs so you'd need 1300 watts just to get to the magical 200 watts per pound. For my 3D tastes you need a little more. If you just want to sport fly and hover at near full throttle, the 60 should be more than enough, but I don't think it will provide spirited 3D performance with the recommended prop. Just doesn't seem like it's enough to get you out of a bad spot. It's a bit of a pig and I find you have to really be on the throttle to keep it from falling off at high alpha/high rates. Not a problem if you've got some altitude and you've overpowered the plane. Obviously outrunners aren't the best choice for 3D but the Hacker C50/10L with 6.7.1 gear box is recommended by Esprit Models. Now that would get you some power! My 2 cents.
As far as video goes, I still don't have anyone to film for me so it would be a stationary camera that'd I'd have to just let run and hope I can get the plane into the field of view. Tried that with my jet and it's not so great. If I can get someone who knows how to keep a plane in frame, I'll certainly post some.Not that my flying would inspire anyone! Wonder why Horizon Hobby/Hanger 9 doesn't post video of the E-Funtana X50....

[jumah]

	Quote:
	Go to Horizon Hobby and look up the X50 they have lots of video posted. No rolling harriers though....

No No NO I want show you Maaaaaaaan

[jumah]

	Quote:
	Go to Horizon Hobby and look up the X50 they have lots of video posted. No rolling harriers though....

I want see you ............

[3Deranged]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jumah
	I want see you ............

Here we are.

[SargeNZ]

Hey dude, superb conversion! Do you have any ARF kit component weights? Looks like a good suit for a Hyperion 4025/12 and 5S 3700's (~2800g RTF)

[3Deranged]

	Quote: Originally Posted by MSargent
	Hey dude, superb conversion! Do you have any ARF kit component weights? Looks like a good suit for a Hyperion 3025/12 and 5S 3700's (~2800g RTF)

Sorry, no component weights. I just don't have the time for that. Just build em' and hope to get the time to fly em'! That's why I used a motor with a little headroom as you can't trust the manufacturers to give you the correct data. That would be nice of them to supply such information to the discerning modeler don't you think? But they wouldn't want to contradict themselves in their ads now would they?! The only thing that concerns me is the AUW. I read other posts on the Funtana 40, and that told me to expect AUW of about 6 to 6.5lbs. I'll be able to shave a few ounces off that with the gear mod and using 2 series connectors from FMA Direct, instead of my 2.5 ounces of Deans and wire connectors. I reallly like the way it flies inverted though. This is my first "larger"(to me) 3D conversion and it flies much more stable in the wind than my previous 40" + 3Ders. I think you're going to need over the 200 watt/lb figure for good vertical with this plane. I thought about 5s but that wouldn't give me any headroom for fixes/mods and larger outrunner gives me the option to try different props. I'm sure if you stripped it, lightened some areas and reinforced some spots, used lighter covering and carbon LG without the heavy wheel axles and nuts you could shave off some fat. This is just a 3D trainer for me so I just want it to fly for a while. Everytime I build "light" it breaks usually in flight, and I'd rather have a pig that flies than a feather that adourns the trashbin.
I'm not experienced enough yet to be able to give you any good advice on the 3 series Hyperion. But having said that, more HP is my general rule! What I can't make for in modeling expertise I can use brute force to overcome my poor flying skills! I think I read somewhere, 1s per/lb is a good rule of thumb. It seems to work so I don't mess with it. Sorry I couldn't help you with the ARF weights.
Regards,
Jason
P.S. Nice looking Edge 540. Is that an e-powered version?

[SargeNZ]

Cheers for that. Just reading back over my post I realised that I said 3025. ACTUALLY I meant to say 4025, which is rated for 1100W constant.

Yup thats an 'E' powered 540. It's the Fliton kit and uses said motor and cells with a 15x10 APC E. ~1100 and solid vertical. I am looking to change up to a 16x8 for 3D flying.