I have obtained an older Carden 118 Extra. The plane has had canisters behind a DA 150 most of its life. I'd like to install a 3W-157 and tuned pipes. This requires a longer "pipe tunnel", and wonder what kinds of issues I'll face in making this happen.
Currently, the "floor" separating canister area from the gas tank area is carbon fiber sheet. Normally I have used just balsa sheet, so not sure if something like carbon is needed? Any thoughtswould be appreciated.

Larry

Every Pipe Tunnel provided by the manufacturer, that I have seen, has always been constructed with either Balsa wood or very lite Plywood. Large areas of Carbon Fiber can be an issue with radio signal reception.

Steve, thanks for the comment. Very good point!

Larry

I think I could make a "tube" to form a recess for the tuned pipes, but make it from fiberglass instead of carbon fiber, so as to not affect the radio reception. More thinking called for on my part.

Larry

My new EF 104 Extra does not have any tunnel, similar to a CARF. My initial thought was it would be a thermal issue for the interior of the plane, but after actually flying it with MTW75 cans with a DA-120, it is not an issue.

Agreed, I've never had a heat related issue with any of the planes I've owned that did not have a pipe tunnel.

I typed "tube", but I meant "tub". There isn't sufficient height available in the area where the rear ends of the pipes would sit. The diagonal bracing is within about an inch of the bottom foam. I was thinking about cutting out the bottom of the fuse where the fuse is sheeted foam, and installing a custom "tub" to replace the foam and balsa, and allow most of the tuned pipes to sit in the tub. So looking at the fuse up-side-down you can see the pipes,but from a side view, just barely see them----if you can understand my poor description.

There are a few build threads on here about what it takes to run pipes on a 118 or 124 carden.

I believe you have to remove and raise the truss work on the bottom of the fuse and of course the foam as well.

Tony

Tony, That is exactly my concern--raising the truss work. I was hoping to not have to do that. I'll search through the build threads.

Thanks, Larry