The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

[Ben]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

So umm yeah I flew it. First flight was pretty good. A little trimming but other than that pretty good. It flies heavy but then again I have a four speaker MrRc sound system in it. Power is pretty good. I think that is attributed to the smaller size prop and getting some more rpms out of it compared to the 1700mm 6s FMS planes. The plane landed nice and slick. Yay. Second flight. Excuse my language but I had my head up my ass. So, the wheels are a wee bit small and it could use a bit of forward rake. Why I didn't put three washers under the back mounting plate of the retracts is beyond me, but oh well. Anyway knowing its wanting to nose over I have to use max elevator to taxi and get it going down the runway. Got that check. The next step is once you get it moving is to get off that elevator so you don't lift off early and tip stall. Yeah, got that to. Well, I was in la la land did not come off that elevator until to late. Yeah, tip stalled it on take off. I haven't tip stalled a plane since my first nitro powered corsair three years ago. Anyway that's what I did. Sad thing is I knew I had effed up and I was coming off that elevator about the same time she started to lift, but to late. I guess the only thing I can pat myself on the back over is I didn't do anything dumb like let off the gas. I fought it and got it level before it impacted at the edge of a bean field. Only damage is to the gear. Actually just the struts I think. So, at least I didn't let it cartwheel down the field wiping out wings and ripping crap out of everywhere. Anyway, total pilot error. Other than retracts failing or a dead stick resulting in hard/short landing I haven't actually crashed one in just bout two years. Streak is over Ben. Back to work lol. Anyway here is my other skyraider I flew today. New engine so still getting some run out but over all its pretty good flier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6WzDc_GnY

[Flygirl]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Here is some pics. Just in case it doesn't go well tomorrow lol.

LOL! That cracked me up... :)

[Ben]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Here is some pics. Just in case it doesn't go well tomorrow lol.

LOL! That cracked me up... :)

Sometimes you just get a gut feeling about some things. Well, that was my gut feeling lol

[Flygirl]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

This is really nice job with the paint.  You are going to love how this plane flies.

Thanks! By the way. I coated it with Modge Podge Hard Coat. No more minwax or epoxy for me. That is what I will be using. It dries to a harder coat than minwax and with just one coat. A couple coats and your right there with epoxy on hardness.

Hmmmm I could use something like that on my RV Jet. Does it dry clear Ben? The wing tips on the RV Jet plane are pretty thin so the foam crushes and deforms easily. The hot steam and water trick works to get it back to shape but I would prefer it to be a bit more hardy. 

[Ben]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

This is really nice job with the paint.  You are going to love how this plane flies.

Thanks! By the way. I coated it with Modge Podge Hard Coat. No more minwax or epoxy for me. That is what I will be using. It dries to a harder coat than minwax and with just one coat. A couple coats and your right there with epoxy on hardness.

Hmmmm I could use something like that on my RV Jet. Does it dry clear Ben? The wing tips on the RV Jet plane are pretty thin so the foam crushes and deforms easily. The hot steam and water trick works to get it back to shape but I would prefer it to be a bit more hardy. 

Yes it does dry clear. Also, it does not create the gloss look. I guess if you want the gloss look a coat of minwax with the modge podge over it. It comes out as a white paste but dries quickly. Although the product says 4 weeks cure time! I think they mean maximum hardness. The main thing is you want to get the modge podge hard coat. Make sure it says hard coat on it. What its really designed for is people who put a puzzle together then want to seal it all in place as a picture.

[Flygirl]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Thanks you sir!

[Pheonix]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Thank you sir!

I just ordered some and will see how it works out.  Thanks for the tip.

[peterswolf]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Just catching up in the forum, I maidened my HSD A-1 a few weeks ago, I'll copy and paste my maiden report here:

Anyone on the fence about this one BUY IT!!!!!!

The HSD Skyraider was absolutely fantastic to fly. It has a lot of torque on take off with the 6S power system, so be ready for a lot of right rudder and ease the speed up for a nice scale take off. I marked the CG at around 80mm from the leading edge, only slightly nose heavy. Once in the air this plane is as stable as they come, only needed a couple of clicks of aileron to trim her out for level flight on half throttle. Speaking of throttle, this plane has so much power I very rarely went above half throttle, in fact I was able to flying her nice and scale below half throttle, but it sure is nice to know you have that extra power when needed. I did a quick run on full throttle and she had unlimited vertical, took off like a rocket! Now landing was a treat. She is a heavy bird so she does come in a little hot, but with full flaps deployed she slows down real nice, easy to get her on her mains and the rudder authority is great to keep her straight down the runway. I was able to gently put the tail down and have her come to a complete stop just short of the end of the runway. Very scale! This is a beautiful plane and I give it 5 out of 5 stars! As well, the experience of purchasing from Dragon Hobby USA was amazing, Alex and Yanci are great people and support their products 100% Thanks again for such an outstanding plane!!
I wish I was able to get video of the flight, maybe next time if I can find someone to video me while flying.
I’m running a GensAce 6S 4400 35c battery(743grams), pushed as far forward as possible, and an extra 42grams of lead at the very front of the battery tray. I might try and find a slightly larger battery and take out the weight, but she does fly nice with the setup for 5 minutes no problem. This made the CG a little bit nose heavy just in front of 80mm.
One thing I had to do before I maidened was replace one screw on each retract that attaches it to the wing. When the pin comes down if the strut does not rotate perfectly the pin would get stuck on the screw head. This caused the retract to lockup about halfway retracted. I wonder if this was happening to yours but the retract had enough power to push through causing the pin to slide out? I put in flat head screws and the further dremeled until it was nice a flat so that if I held the drug straight while retracting the pin would get caught on anything.
** Note for future reference, from RCGroups, a member was saying the pins that rotate the gear were loose, best keep an eye on that.

[Rocketeer]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Greetings,

Thanks for the info.
I've been looking forward to getting the newer version.

Have there replaced the pull-pull steering system with a linkage rod setup as promised?


Bill L.
In Okla.

[peterswolf]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Greetings,

Thanks for the info.
I've been looking forward to getting the newer version.

Have there replaced the pull-pull steering system with a linkage rod setup as promised?


Bill L.
In Okla.

Hi Bill,

There is no pull pull steering anymore at all, thank goodness!

Pete

[Rocketeer]

RE: The 1600mm A1 Skyraider Returns!!

Greetings Pete,

Thank goodness indeed!!

I have the starmax version and while it's a good flyer, I have always had a dislike for their steering design.

Thanks for the update.


Bill L.
In Okla.