FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

I'm more on the southern part of the metropolis, I fly at Jefco and Arvada.

The 6S 2300 will not do it. Not sure a 6S 3300 battery will do it with a 15 inch prop.

Note I'm using 14 inch props and (if the sales data is reliable) a lower Kv motor, 525Kv vs 550Kv.

I think you want to try 5 cell (half of your FAI 10 cell set up). This might work but you will want 15 inch deep pitched props. Let us know how it works. I have a lot of 4200mAh 5 cells I might have to try from some EDF projects. But I really like the 6 cell set up with the Splendor.

My last wooden pattern ship was a Hyperion Katana 63 on 5 cells with an E-Flite 46. I loved the long tail!

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

so, you live in the SF area and visit CO to see family once in a while? If so let me know when you will be at Arvada next and perhaps we can meet. The 2300mah 6S was just to check amps / watts, not to fly with this. I'll get numbers together and see what makes sense. I sent you a PM last night. Did you get it?

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Yes, Check your inbox.

I hope to be back in Denver some time in March. I hope to time it for some spring flying.

[PappaBear]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

I recently bought the FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan pattern plane. I wanted to get some thoughts on it from others who have purchased it. I have not flown it yet as I want our club trainer to fly it first. Even though the plane is only 55 inch wingspan, the plane is huge.

I have an Olympus, in fact I wrote a review on it a few months ago on this forum. It really is a great flying model, and it makes an ideal introduction to RC Pattern flying. I'm using an Admiral Pro 4000mha 6S battery. I've found the stock model, motor, ESC set up has sufficient power for unlimited vertical flight, essential for aerobatics.

If you intend to get into aerobatics my best advice is to get coaching from someone who already flies competition pattern. Your club trainer or instructor may not be the best person to test fly your model. You need someone who can advise you on what trimming adjustments you may need to make to improve the performance of the model. The better the model is trimmed the better it will fly. Which in turn means less work load for you as the pilot. You won't be constantly battling with a badly trimmed model, and you can concentrate on flying aerobatics.

Personally I find flying aerobatics, either Pattern or IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic Club) is one of the most satisfying challenges I know. I well flown maneuver perfectly positioned and on line brings a smile to my face.

Martin.

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

A link to Martin's review.
http://www.hobbysquawk.com/thread-1619.html

All the best,
Konrad

P.S.
Any ideas when they will be back in stock?

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Ran the motor today, 16x10E, 50A, 1000W using Zippy 5000 25C 5S batteries - Colorado altitude. Seems decent. Hope to get out and fly this plane in the next days - weather permitting. Servo gear slop at center is concerning, but it will be fine for a while. Should the plane fly great, may consider replacing the servos.

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

We had a nice day in Colorado today and I got a chance to take out the Olympus. This was my first experience with a Canalyzer and all I can say is OMG!! I started with dual rates set up on the rudder to 100%, 80% and 60% - and these were all too much! While I have not finalized anything after 4 flights, my rudder now moves about 1" - and that holds Knife Edge. It's very touchy on any rudder correction in level / inverted flight - it's going to take me some time to get use to this. I set ailerons similar, 100/80/60 % and 60 seemed to be good - I realize this tells you nothing but travel seems fairly normal. I set up 15% aileron at the end for a one roll rolling circle and it was too much - and they barely moved! Elevator was left at 100% but played with 80-100%. The 16x10 prop performed great with hardly ever hitting full power and a throttle curve of 60% at the 1/2 stick mark. Having not flown for a while my hands were certainly damp with sweat but it was not too bad. Landings were easy. The extension on the gear is 'iffy' as to effectiveness - one wheel sort of shakes back and forth on landing - so I need to look into this. KE was not bad, but me overcorrecting on the rudder was not helping. I tried slow rolls and 4-points with no rudder and it was decent - adding 3-5% rudder was amazing. I do think the 10 pitch prop may be too much as looking for torque issues and engine offset, the plane would do 1/4 torque roll before accelerating upwards. I am going to reduce the pitch to a 8 and see how that goes. Also, if you have not flown a Canalyzer before you are in for a surprise as the '2 wings' make it look funny in the air based on what I am use to looking at. It will take some time for me to adjust. The Stall was perfect, both wings falling at the same time. I do have aileron trim in for level flight and will make changes to correct this in the next days. It's not bad but I want to correct it.

Given I have not flown for years, I'd rate the plane a 7 right off the board (as a small pattern plane), and the pilot a 4! Over the coming days I'll be making adjustments to the plane and see how well I can make this plane fly. My CG is at 7" back from the front of the wing and it seems fine but as I fine tune it, I may push it back a bit more to the 7.25" mark - as recommended.

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

OMG!! Isn't that the truth!

I love seeing these birds performing a knife edge loop.

You are mentioning dual rates a lot. I like to cut down (or set) my full throw for what I will as max in whatever flight mode I'm using. This is to gain (keep) some servo resolution. Then to maintain some air of "smooth" control I up the expo until I get the "Feel" I want. I've learned to use the Expo as much as I did the dual rate of old.

I know you will be pushing the CofG aft and a lot further aft than you initially thought. The point shown in the manual is just to help the novice pilot get past the first gross trimming flight. So don't be afraid to shove the CofG aft (in measured steps) by a large amount.

What is your power set up (cell count and size mAh)? Is it still 5 cell @5000mAh?

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Yes, I am using the 5s, 5000 zippy compact. I did not push the cells at all taking out about 2A from them on initial flights. You mention pushing back the CG. Where is your CG? I think 7" is close and I could move back to 7.25" but that will need to be tested. There are stability issues pushing the battery back (changing the CG) like inverted tracking and downline concerns. I'm going to fly the 15x8 later today and see how that does. I'd like to try a 16x8 but I'm having trouble finding one. I have a lot to do before settling on a CG location and final prop size. I did not like loop tracking with the 16x10E but other things could cause that (crosswind) but the 15x8 will tell me quick if the 16" prop was the issue.

As soon as I settle back into flying I'll be able to work on fine tuning it.

Scott

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

I think the manual states to put the CofG at 150mm to 160 mm aft, you are at 178mm aft for the CofG. On the Olympus I think most guys are aft of 190 mm for the CofG. On my Splendors I think I'm even aft of the manual 12mm to 15mm.

I assume that you meant you have taken out 2Ah (2000mAh) of energy from the 5000mAh cells.

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

My manual states 185mm. It's a sticker over whatever the original number was. I could perhaps see 190mm but not much more. Yes, between 1700 and 2000ma on the battery but that was just flying around looking at CG and motor offset. I have the 15x8 on now and will try this for a few flights.

Put a few spacers on the wheel axle so wheels don't rub against the wheel wells. Also installed a 'V' support on the landing gear. Used CF rods and worked well. Picture coming of this.


This shows the "V" gear support. Not really necessary but I feel better having it. (perhaps my landings need some work?)


I'm looking into aileron trim needed for level flight. I think the wing tubes are a bit off but need to look further as the wings plug into the fuselage and perhaps a shim here or there will correct the problem. The sticks are not parallel indicating I have a wing that is not the same incidence as the other. I'll fix this tomorrow. As before, it's not too bad and the plane fly's decent as it, but I'd like to improve if possible.

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Good to learn about the sticker.

What's the issue with the LG? I can tell you that stock they have held up fine to my landings. As I was flying a borrowed ship my flairs weren't the best each time I landed. Not bad but not what a pattern flier would look for in demonstrating full control of his ship.

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Recall I lengthened my gear 1" (.7 vertical) as other posts indicated marginal height for 16" props. Doing so caused a slight back/forth movement on one gear. This more than likely due to the wheel rubbing on the wheel pant which I fixed with the spacer bit the addition of the 'V' carbon fiber secured the gear better and also fixed the issue. I do think the standard gear would be fine and this mod not necessary. I may get the original gear at some point but no rush to do so.

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

I have 8 flights on the plane at this time. I believe the servo gear slop to be excessive for precision flying - but fine for practicing. I have just replaced the rudder servo with a Futaba S3102 which has zero gear slop. I am hoping this eliminates yaw effects I was seeing in flight. I also reduced the right thrust a bit (perhaps by 1/2 normal) - which leaves right thrust, just not as much - as I was noticing heading issues in different maneuvers (could have been the rudder servo gear slop?). I plan to change out the elevator servo and aileron servos as soon as I find a good replacement. I need to eliminate subtle hunting in level flight and get the wings to 'lock on'. Should know in the next days if this worked.

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

How's the power and energy consumption?

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Hey Konrad,
I only have 8 flights on the Olympic and have not really done any detailed power analysis yet - as I have not picked my prop yet. I'm using a 16x8 now and will try the 16x10 again but I'm still setting the CG and getting the servos defined. I have the servos out of the wing waiting for the new ones (arrive later today) so will have in by tomorrow. I'm using the hitech 5085MG which fit perfect into the existing servo housing - but I remove the housings to get the old servos out (by pulling them up from the foam) then put the hitech's in the housing and glue the housing back in. The 8 flights have ranged from 5 min to about 8 min with under 2A taken from the packs - typically 1800ma or so. I have my throttle curve set at 60% with 50% stick (1/2 stick) and I cruise around at 1/2 throttle using 3/4 throttle (set at 80%) for uplines. Once I get the new servos in, I will start detailed trimming and monitor flight times / power closely. I hope this will be next week but I think snow expected so unsure of the next time I'll get out. I don't see how to post pictures here or I'd insert some.

[OV10]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Hello Scott,
To post pics just use the "new reply" button located in the lower right of last thread posting and it will give you an advanced posting screen with an attachments section.
Best regards,

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

In post #30 you did a good job posting photos.

Wow, 1800mAh for 5 minutes. I'm surprised at that with the large props you are running.
But like I said I like to run smaller packs to save weight. And your numbers are supporting that Idea of smaller packs

[Colorado_Scott]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

- suppose I'm getting old - of course, "new reply" and you can insert pictures. The hitech servo is MUCH better than the $10 FMS servos that come with the plane - but the FMS servos are "OK" for the price of the plane and surely allow the plane to fly decent. I'm just looking for the little-bit-extra so I can see how well I can make the plane fly.

[Konrad]

RE: FMS F3A Olympus 1400mm (55") Wingspan - PNP

Are the FMS servos digital? The high refresh rate of the digital amplifier can make up for a lot of "slop" in the gears. Now if the dead band is set too wide well then there isn't anything to be gained.