Morris Dancer build

Thanks Kevin but saw your post to late. Job done now anyway.  Fuselage underside completed - grain running crossways - more strength that way especially when picking up the model and holding it too tight.  I have made a hatch where the ESC cables enter the fuselage. Most of my stock of ESC's have relatively short power leads and the extension plug would be internal and difficult to access if the ESC fails or needs replacing for a bigger one. Should not think so as the one I have chosen from my stock is a ZDW Mantis 85 amp overkill. as the bullets are 3.5mm so matches the motor leads.  Me being too lazy to resolder leads.  The Ripmax motor Quantum 25 is 3541 1070 Kv. 3 to 4 cells. The X mount aligns perfectly with the pre-drilled holes in the firewall

Today, I thought I would get on with the landing gear as the wing covering won't be here today.  Saddles fitted but came to a standstill as the copper wire that secures the legs together will not solder. I have tried to two types with two fluxes but to no avail. I think I will have to visit a local man to weld 'em.

Rudder servo fitted. The Macgregor servo slides in neatly with no hacking of around 1.5mm of the mounts in the wing. I used the servo screws without anti-vibration rubbers. Screws are going through 1/4 balsa. Screwed in then back out, a drop of thin CA in the holes and back in again.

While some glueing of the wing tips to cure I thought what else can I fiddle with.  I fitted the ESC, paired up a spare receiver, created a model on my X20R. Plugged in a 3 cell lipo and found an APCe prop 11x5.5.  Full throttle shows 32.5 amps so just over 406 watts. Theoretically prop is turning at 12,500 RPM

Oh!  Knock on door. The wing covering has been delivered

Phil,

I think you're going to be a little disappointed with that motor. I've just looked at what I use and it's about 900w.
www.rapidrcmodels.com/dys-d35484-1100kv-...er-motor-15178-p.asp

Um!  From a quick weigh of the components I estimate 1.5kgs  which is roughly 3lbs. So, in my case that's comes out 130 watts per lb.  Not looking for ultimate performance but on the other hand want some pulling power.  My old Weston Hype 60 was 1200 watts on 6 cells.

I will have another look in my motor stock and see what I can find.  If not them maybe your suggestion.

As it was dry day I took the chance to get outside in the drive and sand down the wing tips and other high spots.  I nearly gave up as the temps was 4C and I could not feel my fingers on the sanding block. Got it done and got back in to the conservatory.  Heater on, wrap hands around a coffee. Can now get the wing covered. Transparent blue and leading edge Oracover mid blue.  Servos installed.

Today I have covered all the tail parts in orange except for the fin and rudder.  I ran out of orange so I decided to cover the rudder in bright yellow like the fuselage.

Another motor arrived today too as per Chris's post earlier.  Bolts straight  on. Gave it a quick test with a 12x8 APC.  Ran it on 4 cells. WOT for a few seconds. 52 amps.  That exceeds the motor spec.  The box it came in says 3 - 4 cells, 43 amps 770 watts.  The sellers website says otherwise.  On 5 cells, 11x7 maybe around 900 watts.

Will play around with cells and props to see what I get.  Although I think anything in 200 watts per lb is adequate to muck about with at Cashmoor.

I will start hinging the bits this week (waiting on 2mm screws to secure horns). 

11x5.5 for 4s
12x6 for 3s
Or 13x6 3s watch the amps
I believe some have run 5s with 10x5.

My trial run-up was pushing it a bit at 12x8 on 4 cells.  The latest motor being heavier I think has helped as on first impressions of a complete dry assembly it was a little tail heavy. Although I thought that 11x 7 or 11x5.5 would be more in the "ball park". (the latter - Americanism)

Yesterday, Tuesday I had fun slotting all the surfaces. Most were easy with a scalpel except slotting the trailing edge of the wing. Hard balsa?  Anyway once all dry fitted time for the CA thin for the wing. All went well sort off. One aileron is slightly further away from the trailing edge than it was when dry fitted.  I think it was eagerly flexing the aileron too much went glueing.

Today, is gluing the tail and setting up the aileron pull pull wires.

And Yes, the guest bedroom is a unofficial store of model aircraft.

Control wires fitting.  I have discovered that "large" horns are too big for the upper elevator.  Rudder gets in the way.  Glad I found this out before gluing in the rudder and tail fin.  After a few measurements I found that the horn cut down so only the first hole is left (18mm from base) will do the job. That will also match the outermost  hole of the servo arm.  Effectively close to 1 to 1 pull.   The horn on the underside not a problem, I just moved the wire down to the first hole.  See images

Job has come to halt.  Cannot find my bag of 2mm clevises that I put somewhere safe.  I bet that when I go and get some more the originals will turn up.  Grrrr...