Bird of Time

[xviper]

just a thought, but when it comes to cutting off the nose/scribing a radius it is useful to take a drillbit or pin with a short string and a marker or scribing tool and put the in in at the apex of the nose then scribe a radius and just cut to the line. also saves the nose if you want to tape it back on someday for sloping

I did something like that on my second BoT. The first one was a real hack job but it still worked out OK and it flew pretty good. The second one, I butted the nose up against a vertical surface at 90 degrees and measured back to where I wanted to make the cut. I put a felt pen mark at that point all the way around the nose (rotated the plane) to get all sides. Once I had enough marks to make a near circle, I joined the marks and did the cut with a Dremel cutting wheel all the way around. Then smoothed out the edge of the opening.
Since Aros got the genuine EP version, he won't have to go through any of that with his. We likely won't see many more of these, new in the box, so not too many others will have to deal with removing the nose.

[Cgoffa]

just a thought, but when it comes to cutting off the nose/scribing a radius it is useful to take a drillbit or pin with a short string and a marker or scribing tool and put the in in at the apex of the nose then scribe a radius and just cut to the line. also saves the nose if you want to tape it back on someday for sloping

[Aros]

What a beauty! Thanks for the video xviper ! Looks like a sail-ers dream.

[xviper]

Flew my BoT this morning. Made a short video just for Aros. Normally, videos of sailplanes are pretty pointless as they are generally just floating around very far away and you can't see it in the video anyway. So, I did a shorter flight a bit closer in. Turn off or lower the volume - my flying buddies are gabbing in the background - flying days are socializing days for most of them.

[Aros]

Yay! I had nightmares envisioning myself with a saw hacking the poor thing to bits, lol.

[xviper]

You got the "real" EP version.

[Aros]

Good to know. These are the photos he sent me today...

[xviper]

No, looks like you have the genuine EP version with the nose already cut off. I can still find little lead beads underneath shelves and furniture in my hobby room from where I had to punch out that lead block. I used a "Gliderdrive" motor in mine and it takes up almost all the space behind the firewall (which I had to make and install). There isn't much room to put weights there. There isn't much room where the battery goes (directly behind the motor) either. And right behind the battery is another bulkhead that goes to where the wings sit on top off. Perhaps the EP version balances different and you won't have to add the kind of weight that mine needed.

[Aros]

Good news, the seller wrote:

Hi. I just looked and there are no lead beads inside. The nose is ready to go and has a motor mount installed. There is plenty of room to add weight behind the motor on the inside. You will need to mount the motor and esc. Take a look at the PDF version of the manual for the EP version available from the Great Planes website. I can send you a couple snapshots if you send me your email address.

Here's the manual he sent me. Is this the same you had?

http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma1053-addendum.pdf

[xviper]

I'm pretty sure the EP version still had the nose that needed to be hacked off. But it should be easy enough to check it.

[Aros]

Ugh, that's probably why it was discontinued so quickly - even by E-flite's standards which is saying something - seems like the design for electric wasn't well thought out. I thought the EP meant the nose was already configured for motor/prop? The one I am buying comes with the prop, spinner, motor and ESC. I assume that means it's just in ARF form and I have to chop off the nose like you mentioned. Not looking forward to THAT. Shoot, I may end up keeping it powerless and use it as a sloper or even go old school and invest in a High Start like the old days when I was just starting out in the hobby. Hmmm...

[xviper]

Aros Good find! I just searched for the Bird of Time and it would appear that this is either no longer listed in the usual websites or "unavailable". The biggest "issue" with this plane when converting to electric is that even with the EP version, you still have to chop off the nose (with all the lead beads epoxied inside). Making the cut perfectly straight can be challenging but not impossible. Then, when you've lost all that weight and after you've put in a "heavy" motor and ESC, it's still tremendously tail heavy and with the battery compartment somewhat limited to how big a battery you can use, you have to find a nice way to add quite a bit of weight to the nose. Mine took many, many ounces of lead and when wrapped with white electrical tape, it looks like it's got a big goiter just behind the prop. I don't even notice it anymore, but it's definitely there. Have fun with your build.

[Aros]

xviper I am happy to report I found someone with a NIB BoT EP he's selling me for a good price. Finally! So I will be reading through that thread that talks about the issues with getting the EP to fly well. I believe I recall there were some issues with the EP version.

[xviper]

I saw a Bird of Time at a RC swap meet in Sacramento about 8 years ago, and still regret not buying it! I'm glad you have one in your hangar, Xviper, may she live LONG

Thanks.

[Alpha]

I saw a Bird of Time at a RC swap meet in Sacramento about 8 years ago, and still regret not buying it! I'm glad you have one in your hangar, Xviper, may she live LONG

[Aros]

Hmmm...Okay my chances keep shrinking. Doctor Mike, come on man, you're my only hope.

[xviper]

I tried searching for the Bird of Time and it appears to be discontinued. Bummer! It's a model I have wanted for many years but never got around to ordering one. doctormike ready to sell yours yet?

That's too bad. I guess the more reason to keep mine. I sold my first one to someone who took it to Rio de Janeiro. I missed it as soon as I let it go. I fantasize about it floating around that giant statue of Jesus on top of the mountain. It would be neat to fantasize about one floating around the Seattle Space Needle, but alas, I think I like it to stay floating around the prairie wheat fields.

[Aros]

I tried searching for the Bird of Time and it appears to be discontinued. Bummer! It's a model I have wanted for many years but never got around to ordering one. doctormike ready to sell yours yet?

[xviper]

I've recently built the 3.0m Fox Glider and have yet to fly it but I think it will be a good glider but not as good a sailplane as this BoT. Still have the Mystique RES, Radian XL.

Looking back at this statement, I can now say with more conviction, that the Fox Glider is a poor sailplane. I fly it primarily as a large, sluggish, aerobatic, powered model airplane. The BoT is by far, a much better sailplane than the big Fox. I'll get rid of the Fox long before I get rid of the BoT. Because the XL is a foamie, it's getting "worn out" and looking a bit beat up. It'll probably go before the BoT.

[doctormike]

What great fun, soaring with Vultchers in a circle. They surly know where the thermals are.
Doc