stoat

Some nice shot of the 'cat on here from last weekend...

http://www.evokestudio.co.nz/aircraftevents.htm

Was flying the P40 as well....

gsmith6879

My Feedback: (37)

We just posted a new add for the KMP ARF.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=731820

stoat

Nice. Dunno about "complete" instructions tho... unless you mean they arent missing any pages..

gsmith6879

My Feedback: (37)

Yea, compete instructions are a relative term when it comes to the Chinese ARFs. But these are better than most I have seen.

n8622t

My Feedback: (8)

Hey Chas, dont worry she should be called *****cat by the way she flies youll love it!

stoat

Dirty little 'Cat!

tom_sandiego

Very nice stoat

n8622t

My Feedback: (8)

Stoat, I have now doubt that a battle hardened Tcat would look exactly like yours!!! Looks Great!

Go low if you wanna make a show
Jimmy

stoat

Another 'Cat hits Kiwi skies....

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gh2l0apiyQ&feature=player_profilepage[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hnnlptdd-w&feature=player_profilepage[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdp399PH-2o[/youtube]

chasrb

Looking verrry nice!! I really have to get mine in the air.... I only have the gear doors to get on.

gdwyer

Awesome, hoping to complete mine in the next few months, Sierra retracts and twin Evo 26's.

Hopefully will have it flying around Ireland in July or August.

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grossy2

Hi Guys.
Here's mine. It's ready to go, just awaiting some good weather.
It has a pair of GF-26s in it. Controlled by a Wike twin sync.
Power if from a pair of A123 batterys through a Wike PDS.
AUW 13kg. Using the ESM retract, even there air U/C door actuators and hardware. Works well, but just needs a little help on the first cycl on the day, as they tend to stick a bit.
hope to fly it this weekend.

Cheers
Grossy

grossy2

Well Guy's I tried to test fly it on Saturday.
The day was magic. The best weather we have had for weeks. Clear sky's and a mild breeze down the stip.
Pumped up the retracts, cycled them all good. Started the engines, sounded sweet. Every body loves the sound of a twin and the twin sync works a treat.
Anyway the crowd started to form on the taxi out. All was looking good.
Taxied it out to the middle of the strip, did my final checks, all good. Slowly applied power and the engine spun up nicely. Slowly pick up speed and tracking straight down the middle of our grass strip.
After about 100m with the GF26's sounding great, I was just about to rotate and bang. What the hell, it's on it's nose.......
The nose wheel broke off.
Where the strut joins the wheel assembly, it's held on by a bolt. A bloody big bolt. I estimate 4mm. This does not leave much metal holding the nose wheel assembly on.
Check the photos out of the damage to the retract assy, it even bent the strut. The wheel went through the prop, so i'm also up for a new 3 bladed prop.
Not happy. I did not even get it off the ground!!!!!

Cheers
Grossy

stoat

Bloody Hell! That must have been a huge hole you ran through. It has even ripped the side frames apart. The ESM retracts are a little soft compared to others, but I have had 30+ flights on mine (26 lbs weight) including some hard landings on grass and they have been fine. Maybe a little sloppy, but very reliable. Fingers crossed you can get spare parts.

grossy2

There were no holes it ran into. Just a normal grass strip.
I mate took some photos of the takeoff, once I get them I will post as well.
Looks to be just structial failure, oversize bolt for the job that weekened the strut where it attached to the nose assembly.

Cheers
Grossy

rcnut101

Yep, been there done that. I had a lot of trouble with these gear as well. You can not get parts for them. you have to buy a whole set. I bought Sierra's for my second T-cat. Way better gear. You will never have trouble with those.

grossy2

I've sent the detail and photos to VQ Model, as this is where I bought the retract set.
I'm just awaiting a reply back from them and ESM. Hopefully they will come to the party, as there were new, never flown.

Cheers
Grossy

stoat

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

chasrb

That is why I went with the Sierra gear.

grossy2

Here are the photos of the takeoff roll and then the moment the nose wheel assembly breaks off at the strut.

Cheers
Grossy

stoat

That is just bad luck! As you can see from my videos, I bounced a friends 'Cat on its maiden flight, and it coped no problem. It has since done several flights. Mine has had 30+ flights with various landings from smooth to hard, on strips from tarmac to rough grass - no problem! I have had a good look at my from knuckle and it seems to be ok, no stress cracks so far. I recon yours must have been drilled off center. Pretty common with ESM. Most of the big p40/corsair ar so off center they barely work! Great cheap product but their QC is crap! - I cant afford Sierra gear....... :-(

rcnut101

Grossy,

What props are you using? I have G-26s with 16x8 three blade. Im not sure if it will turn them.

stoat

Rcnut, the vid I posted of the shiney TCat maiden is running DLE 20's on 16X8 2 bladers. Yours being a 26 should cope ok. Just make sure you do plenty of ground running and check engine temp and rpm.

grossy2

The GF26's are swinging a SY 16X8 3 blade. I was getting 7200 out of then on set up and tunning. This was after only about 3 tanks through them.
I've used this prop before on the GF26 in a 68" Extra 260. Swung it no problem. Only thing I noticed going from a 2 blade 16x8 to a 3 blade 16X8, was the Extra was a little slower and the throttle tranision was a little slower. How ever the engine ran smoother and had great pull.
Good news. I just got an email from Tomas at VQ. ESm are gonig to replace the failed retract. Thank you VQ and ESM.
Once I get the replacment I'll let you know how I go. Take 2.

Cheers
Grossy

grossy2

Here's some photos of the engine set up.
sweet little engine the CRRC GF26.

Cheers
Grossy