"Balance Bug" CG Plane Balancer

[Alpha]

What an interesting device, I haven't seen that before for RC.

[PappaBear]

I can't really comment on any of the cg balance devices as I have never used one. I've always used my fingers and never had a problem at any time. It may not be pin point accuracy of a purpose made machine, but it is close enough to fly the model and adjust after flying. Either more weight forward or rearwards.

Martin.

[PappaBear]

Hi JohnnyJet,

I've seen the device you are referring to, and you are quite right the full size are balanced this way. Yes it is a great tool for balancing large models which can be difficult to do.

Martin.

[xviper]

I've always used my fingers and never had a problem at any time.

:saywha Best wash your hands before dinner. LOL
(Punch line to an old adolescent joke .......................... "By the grace of God and with a little help from these two fingers, I got it all back in." If you don't know the joke, it's OK. It was a groaner anyway.) :Poo:

[bill34207]

Well call me foolish, but I am going to pony up the cash for the EZ Balancer Lite. Heard back from the owner and he said that they have accurately balanced planes weighing less than 1lb.
I plan on buying more planes in the future, so I will put it to good use for sure....

http://www.ezbalancer.com/id74.html

A friend of mine has the bigger version of this one. I've borrowed his a time or two (when working on bigger planes) and it works very well. Personally I think they are over priced especially the one for the larger models. If it was the same price as the "Lite" I'd buy one. :)

[JFandL]

I have the EZ Balancer plus, I do have aircraft that top out at 69 lbs. and wing spans of 120 plus inches. Its a must for very large aircraft. For the smaller aircraft I use the GP CG machine which does good for small airframes.

[fhhuber]

For large aircraft I use 3 scales. Prop the plane up level if its a taildragger. One wheel on each scale and a little math and you know the CG

[Twowingtj]

For large aircraft I use 3 scales. Prop the plane up level if its a taildragger. One wheel on each scale and a little math and you know the CG

That method also gives you a read on lateral balance as well.

[fhhuber]

Many forget that CG is a point in 3D space.

And when dealing with Pattern competition aircraft it does matter in all 3. CG too high or low causes roll with rudder in knife edge.

[Pogo]

i made this years ago and it's very easy to use when balancing larger models. I had the stuff on hand so cost was zero. :Cool:
Tom

[Pogo]

Here's a closer though blurry shot of the pivot.
Tom

[Grossman56]

Good job Pogo, I've been thinking of doing that as well, nothing fancy, just give me the CG.
I have a Great Planes balancer that works fairly well, but there's nothing like wrestling with it then you're trying to hover a 1600 mm airplane above it while trying ti get the rulers to stay in the right position.
Many a colorful metaphor has been created while attempting this......

Grossman56

[boomer108]

Ah yes the GP balancer dance.LOL

[MikeT]

Ah yes the GP balancer dance.LOL

Been there done that.

Mike

[Pogo]

Good job Pogo, I've been thinking of doing that as well, nothing fancy, just give me the CG.
I have a Great Planes balancer that works fairly well, but there's nothing like wrestling with it then you're trying to hover a 1600 mm airplane above it while trying ti get the rulers to stay in the right position.
Many a colorful metaphor has been created while attempting this......

Grossman56

Yes, I like simple. The pivots only go maybe 20 degrees forward and back so the model won't slide off- it's stable enough that I've shifted batteries around with the plane on the balancer , for example this 13 lb. B-17.
Tom

[Pogo]

[BILLY BOY]

Well call me foolish, but I am going to pony up the cash for the EZ Balancer Lite. Heard back from the owner and he said that they have accurately balanced planes weighing less than 1lb.
I plan on buying more planes in the future, so I will put it to good use for sure....

http://www.ezbalancer.com/id74.html

This looks much better than the Great Planes machine that I have. I think the GP is grossly overpriced and a bit finicky.

[F22trainer]

This looks much better than the Great Planes machine that I have. I think the GP is grossly overpriced and a bit finicky.

'Grossly' is an understatement- you can make a more accurate one with some good aluminum tube, some aluminum angle, some rubber tips and a few threaded studs with knobs.

[BluesDragon]

I've had great success utilizing the GP balancer with each of my planes..and I'm pretty OCD. If pictures on the wall are outta balance, even slightly, I will notice and have to reset them. Most of the time I can eyeball the center within 1/16-1/8 of an inch. Drives the wife crazy(er) then me! So far, I've yet to have to trim my elevator(s) much at all. Have done the 'GP balancer dance', but now I just get my son to stand by the tail end while I set my rulers to specs. With the Corsair, I was able to get it right on manufacture's suggested range of 85mm-90mm. Wheels up at one point and wheels down on the other. Works well enough for me. ;)

[bob_stan]

+ 1 for a home-made Vanessa CG machine. If you do any kind of modeling or building at home you probably have all the ingredients just lying around the workshop. Works great.