CG tool

[Pheonix]

I finally decided to purchase the EZ balancer lite and it is the best investment I have made on this type tool. The machine takes the guess work out of balancing my models. It is easy to use and assemble. Peter at EZ balancer is really helpful if one has questions. Attached is my HSD Zero balanced with the machine. I had difficulty getting the CG right before the EZ lite.

[corsair167]

I finally decided to purchase the EZ balancer lite and it is the best investment I have made on this type tool. The machine takes the guess work out of balancing my models. It is easy to use and assemble. Peter at EZ balancer is really helpful if one has questions. Attached is my HSD Zero balanced with the machine. I had difficulty getting the CG right before the EZ lite.

Is this a Brand Name.....? Where purchased

[OV10]

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

[xviper]

I have similar type of plane balancer. When I first got it, I marveled at its design and how detailed it was (and it was kinda pretty, too). I used it as much as I could but in very short time, I got fed up with it and it now has spider webs all over it. Some planes are very sensitive to where and how they are balanced. Of the 50+ planes I've had (37 currently active), most of these are NOT CG sensitive and balancing on my fingertips is quite enough. They fly very well, sometimes with as much as +/- 10mm either way. Just know which planes to balance upside down and which to balance right side up. If you want to save money, use one of your styrofoam plane boxes, cut down to an appropriate size and shove the pointy ends (not too sharp) of a pencil (with those erasers on one end) into the foam. Plunk the plane's CG spots on the erasers. Real heavy planes shouldn't be done this way as the erasers will put a slight depression in the foam. Those ones, I do by "hand". I've found the heavier and bigger the plane, the less it is affected by a small difference in balance point. For example, my old CZ Cub (2m) and my current CZ T-28 could be out as much as 20+ mm and still fly beautifully. My 1700mm FMS Corsair is also a heavy plane and it's also very forgiving of changes in balance point. The battery can be installed with differences in inches.
Every plane modeler should have one of these, if only to look at it. It might even get the occasional use for those particularly "sensitive" planes.

[Pheonix]

OV10'S link is where to buy. I am doing some re-balancing now and was quite a bit on some that I have not flown yet. Good tool.

[KitBuilder]

I copied the design and made my own for pennies... well maybe dollars :)

[jackcutrone]

I have a balancer from Great PLanes as I recall and I have had a terrible time with it - the planes always seem to slip off. Very frustrating. This seems to have a better approach with long arms to hold the wings rather than a 3/4" foam disc. Kinda pricey though.

[xviper]

I have a balancer from Great PLanes as I recall and I have had a terrible time with it - the planes always seem to slip off. Very frustrating. This seems to have a better approach with long arms to hold the wings rather than a 3/4" foam disc. Kinda pricey though.

Yup, I haven't used my store bought balancer for some years now. It's just too "fiddly". I measure where the CG is, put a couple of spots on the wing with a Sharpie or stick a tiny square of colored tape there and hold it on 2 fingers. Done. I just did this on my UMX A-10 and I also did it on my big Opterra. Both flew very well. You'll always get somebody who comes up and says, "So how many clicks of trim did you need to get it to fly level? Did you use a balancer?" How much trim it needs on the maiden to fly level is NOT necessarily a function of proper balancing. It's more a function of how you set each control surface (via rod length) on the bench.

[Hippie 64]

Hey Xviper2 Does that work good ? I have the Great Planes one and seems that it likes to slide off . Trying to keep one hand on it and adjusting things well I need another hand or two . Also it doesn't like Bi-Planes



Bryan

[JohnnyJet62]

XICOY ELECTRONICA SL - CG BALANCING DEVICE
I thought I would add another perspective to this post. I have the Great Planes CG Machine, and it works well with models that are of modest size. (up to 60 inches or so). Also, I have some rather large airplanes, and balancing with the GPCGM does not work, since it is not capable of supporting the weight of the models. Up until now, I have used finger tips for these models, but it requires at least 2 people.
Recently, I purchased the Xicoy Electronica SL. This is a Balance and Weight Meter device. In a nutshell, there are 3 small round scales (one for each landing gear) which plug into an electronic controller. You have to input some measurements (distance between main gear and nose gear/tailwheel, distance from main gear to CG, and distance from main gear to point at which weight will be added/removed), but once that is done, you set your model on the scales, and it tells you exactly where the CG is currently located. By adding weight to the balance point as displayed on the electronic controller, you can balance your airplane. It is accurate to within 1mm of the CG point.
This is the way that full size aircraft are CG'd, and it makes it really easy to balance larger airplanes. Of course, it works with both Tricycle gear and Taildragger configurations.
The device retails for $299. However, I got mine from Chief Aircraft for $279, and the shipping was free. Here is a link to the site if you are interested: http://www.chiefaircraft.com/xcy-cgcombo.html
I highly recommend this device if you have larger airplanes and you don't mind spending the money. It's the most useful and the coolest "tool" that I have in my hanger.

[corsair167]

Hey Xviper2 Does that work good ? I have the Great Planes one and seems that it likes to slide off . Trying to keep one hand on it and adjusting things well I need another hand or two . Also it doesn't like Bi-Planes



Bryan

I do understand crashing is a landing, but i hate the repairs.......I'm in Ft. Mill and I thought South Carolina would be warmer.

[Hippie 64]

I do understand crashing is a landing, but i hate the repairs.......I'm in Ft. Mill and I thought South Carolina would be warmer.

LOL corsair you must be new to the area if so Welcome !! I grew up around Charlotte and yes it gets cold here . This has been a very mild winter so far . We average 40s-50s during the during the days and 20s-30s at night . The good part is its mainly during Jan and Feb that its the coldest but do worry March will start the warm up .


Bryan

[Pheonix]

I purchased the Xicoy and am having some issues with the measurements using my F7 as an example. I guess I am not sure how to make the measurements using the instructions. Do you know of an example on YouTube? I like this concept and want to get the measurements correct. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks much.

[WW2rcpilot]

I know this is an old thread but if you want easy try a vanessa rig. It is real easy to use and any size plane can be balanced on it. You can find a detailed thread over on RCU, just search vanessa c.g

[Prowler901]

I've read about these, but I haven't yet made one. It looks like a very useful tool. And, I'm out growing the little balancer that I have.

[Pogo]

I built this rig some years ago and it can accurately balance almost any size plane- simple and cheap.:Cool:
Tom

[WintrSol]

The Vanessa rig really shines on models that have the vertical center of mass near the chord of the wing; i.e., it is above the balance point if you have the model upright or inverted. It's the only tool I can use that will easily balance my SabreX, and some 540s are the same, with the battery centered between the wing halves.

[doctormike]

Pogo... That's similar to the one I made, but I have biplanes. I added swinging arms that allow the points to fit up between the wings so that the plane can rest on the CG of the top wing. Doc

[Pogo]

Yes, biplanes sure present their own challenges Doc.
Tom

[dkalwishky]

I built this rig some years ago and it can accurately balance almost any size plane- simple and cheap.:Cool:
Tom

Can you share a picture or two of the stand without planes on it? I'd like to see what you have between the dowel and wing to prevent damage to the wing.