Which Biplane?

[Iowa54]

RE: Which Biplane?

I agree with you on the rudder control. My Pandora that I learned on was set up as a low wing tail dragger so I have been learning/using the rudder from day 1. Every time I fly I feel I learn a little something or try something new to my skill level. Sometimes I leave with a smile other times its picking up a broken plane. Either way I learned something LOL And yes That Towel still is a good memory!!

[retiredflyer]

RE: Which Biplane?

I have a Hacker Ultimate Biplane and is a blast. Because it's made of EPP I can lose my inhibitions about crashing because it is so durable. I'm not into 3D but this plane let's you throw it all over the sky and makes you want to try stuff you would never do with other planes.
They are hard to find now but one or two dealers still have them, made in the Czech Repuplic.

[fhhuber]

RE: Which Biplane?

Konrad, The Blue Max came out in 1966. As far as the 3D flying I enjoy watching some of the other pilots doing their stunts etc.. its just not relaxing for me to do myself and that's why I just enjoy scale flying. I enjoy watching Nascar but ,I don't want to be driving 200mph with another car pushing my back bumper. As long as we can all agree that flying is fun and everyone can have there own personal enjoyment out what they chose to fly I'm happy..

The Great Waldo Pepper was the 1975 movie with Robert Redford. All I remember of the Blue Max 1966 was Ursula Anderson and that damned towel.

The question had no judgment associated with it. I often want to know the whys of a particular position.

I have found that many folks progress to the point were they can land and take off and then stop with the skill progression. This is often called the first learning level plateau. The second level is being able to use the rudder for other than taxing. Like right rudder with up elevator inputs and left for down elevator inputs. This opens up a lot of weather conditions, that actually become comfortable to fly in, like cross winds. Also adverse conditions like post stalls are often best controlled with application of rudder.

As a scale pilot I find the command of the rudder is critical with high wing loaded scale model. Not so much with the models that MotionRC sells but other highly detailed (read heavy) models.

By your first post I assumed you were wanting at add some scale features. These often add weight that require skills that are often beyond the first level skill plateau if the model is to last for any time. I mention rudder work not 3D flight.

Scale flight really takes a great deal of skill, as the model can't be blazing by at Mach 2. Rather it needs to be flown through the maneuvers. I don't know how much full size piloting skills you have, but I will tell you there is a lot of dancing on those rudder peddles. The same rudder work on the full-size need to done with the scale (miniature) flight profile to effect scale flight.

All the best,
Konrad
[hr]

I have an SE-5a, a Waco, a Tiger Moth. I love them all, but... NOTHING flies like a Pitts! Doc

Is that an endorsement or a warning about the Pitts? ;-)

All the best,
Konrad

Both...

[PappaBear]

RE: Which Biplane?

Ok  I have a Waco (Dynam)  that I knew the 1st time I flew it  I found my calling LOL   Anyway  I would like to add another one to my little hanger but, not sure what I want next.   Thinking about the Tigermoth ,Albatross, or another Waco  and do a little customizing to it.     Any ideas??? :)

If you like flying the Waco, I think you would like the Tiger Moth. Its nice gentle flying bi-plane with a lot of character. The Beechcraft Stagger wing is another option you might like. An aircraft well ahead of its time and still looks good today. I love the Stagger wing myself.

If you are looking for an aerobatic bi-plane, then the ultimate is probably my favorite. However I think the Pitts has the most character.

Martin.

[Loneflier]

RE: Which Biplane?

I can second Martin about the Dynam Tigermoth. I've had mine over a year now, and it is a great flying plane. It looks great in the air, is easy to fly, can be aerobatic, and slows down nicely for easy landings.  

[fhhuber]

RE: Which Biplane?

I can second Martin about the Dynam Tigermoth. I've had mine over a year now, and it is a great flying plane. It looks great in the air, is easy to fly, can be aerobatic, and slows down nicely for easy landings.  

The cowl is a bit fragile.. If you get one, you need to reinforce the cowl from the inside. I found E-6000 glue and light fiberglass cloth to do a good job. Its the lower front that is fragile, but you need to carry the reinforcement up the sides.

Lay the cloth in place and work the glue goo into it, sticking the cloth to the cowl.. Its kind of a mess to do so wear disposable gloves.
Once dry trim the glue/cloth that covers any openings with a razor knife.

[Iowa54]

RE: Which Biplane?

I can second Martin about the Dynam Tigermoth. I've had mine over a year now, and it is a great flying plane. It looks great in the air, is easy to fly, can be aerobatic, and slows down nicely for easy landings.  

The cowl is a bit fragile..  If you get one, you need to reinforce the cowl from the inside.  I found E-6000 glue and light fiberglass cloth to do a good job.  Its the lower front that is fragile, but you need to carry the reinforcement up the sides.

Lay the cloth in place and work the glue goo into it, sticking the cloth to the cowl..  Its kind of a mess to do so wear disposable gloves.
Once dry trim the glue/cloth that covers any openings with a razor knife.

Has anyone done the forward landing gear rake? I will be flying off a hard surface mostly but still looks like a good idea

[fhhuber]

RE: Which Biplane?

If CG is right (balance slightly nose down when held right at the rear cabane struts meeting the upper wing) then the landing gear is fine for ROG and landing on pavement.

I never looked where the Dynam instructions said to balance their Tiger Moth. I've had a lot of different size Tiger Moths and ALL have been best with CG the same place relative to the cabane struts.

A bounced landing broke one joint in the plastic landing gear decoration... its hard to see and lets the gear flex more. I've been flying it like that for quite a while with no issues.

I did have the spar pieces ALL come loose from the foam in the wings. Noted the wings bending a lot and glued all of the spars back in place. I expect that will happen again as EPO tends to have glue pop loose.

[Konrad]

RE: Which Biplane?

Has anyone done the forward landing gear rake? I will be flying off a hard surface mostly but still looks like a good idea

Why would you want to do this? Is there a known issue with the model?
Usually the Tigermoths and Piper Cubs are prone to ground loops. Raking the landing gear forward usually exacerbates the issue.

All the best,
Konrad

[Iowa54]

RE: Which Biplane?

From what I have been reading it's done to help prevent nose overs on grass fields. Also the Aussies did it to the original ones in their service

[Konrad]

RE: Which Biplane?

Full size place the LG a bit too far forward to protect that expensive crankshaft and prop at the cost of nice ground handling. As the pilot of the full size is in the aircraft he can sense the tail swing and respond with the rudder, usually a lot faster than the remote located RC pilot.

I like to set the point of wheel contact (in the flying attitude) so that a line from the center of mass to this point would rake forward about 7°.

Wheels too far forward tend to result in ground loops and "bounce back" into the air. Ground loops are as a result of the center of mass swinging outside the wheel tract. Bouncing back into the air is a result of the tail dropping while there is enough airspeed for the change in the wing's angle of attack to generate more lift , with resulting bounce and stall.

I usually move the landing gear aft on many of my model to get those great landings. Tip over is usually a function of inappropriate landing speed, power and elevator.

All the best,
Konrad

[Thosmosis]

RE: Which Biplane?

Super!

https://youtu.be/hKwiBxy1Yws

[Iowa54]

RE: Which Biplane?

Super!

https://youtu.be/hKwiBxy1Yws

Nice Vids.........

Ok I went ahead and ordered the Tiger Moth.. :rolleyes: Now to decide on some detailing. I think I will still add another Waco someday..... :D

[olwarbirds]

RE: Which Biplane?

I with you on the Bipes. I've had from micros up too a 33% ultimate. Love watching the scarfs on my pilots fluttering in the breeze as they do a slow and low flyby. Your going to love that Tiger Moth. One bipe I would suggest you check out after the TM is the FMS Stearman PT-17 its a very fun to fly scale model thats small enough for smaller flying areas but flies alot larger in how it flies and with its heavier LG with large wheels it handles grass and rougher landing areas very well...happy flyn.... DJ

[Iowa54]

RE: Which Biplane?

I got the Tiger Moth all assembled except for adding a receiver and adjusting the control rods. Picked up a few extra parts just incase I ever need them, cowl,landing gear, wing supports. Installing the wires was time consuming with a bit of &#*^&% but all is well that ends well. LOL
I still want to add a pilot and maybe change out the tires as our field is a hard surface. Looks like Wed of this week I might get to maiden it, 30 degrees and 5-8mph winds, For Iowa in Jan that's almost Heaven!! I still need to go over the CG yet, A quick check with a 2200 4s looked to just a bit tail heavy :shy:

[Loneflier]

RE: Which Biplane?

I got the Tiger Moth all assembled except for adding a receiver and adjusting the control rods.  Picked up a few extra parts just incase I ever need them, cowl,landing gear, wing supports.  Installing the wires was time consuming with a bit of &#*^&% but all is well that ends well. LOL
I still  want to add a pilot and maybe change out the tires as our field is a hard surface.  Looks like Wed of this week I might get to maiden it,  30 degrees and 5-8mph winds,  For Iowa in Jan that's almost Heaven!!    I still need to go over the CG yet,  A quick check with a 2200 4s looked to just a bit tail heavy :shy:

Hi Iowa54,

I can tell you that I am flying a 2600mAH 4 cell in mine, and added 2 old AA batteries to the inside of the cowl, and she balanced out very nicely that way for me. Love the plane too. Very easy to fly, very stable, and still more than capable of aerobatics with loads of power. She will fly just fine on about half throttle, and look very scale doing it too. Hope you enjoy yours!

[Iowa54]

RE: Which Biplane?

[quote=Loneflier]

I got the Tiger Moth all assembled except for adding a receiver and adjusting the control rods.  Picked up a few extra parts just incase I ever need them, cowl,landing gear, wing supports.  Installing the wires was time consuming with a bit of &#*^&% but all is well that ends well. LOL
I still  want to add a pilot and maybe change out the tires as our field is a hard surface.  Looks like Wed of this week I might get to maiden it,  30 degrees and 5-8mph winds,  For Iowa in Jan that's almost Heaven!!    I still need to go over the CG yet,  A quick check with a 2200 4s looked to just a bit tail heavy :shy:

Hi Iowa54,

I can tell you that I am flying a 2600mAH 4 cell in mine, and added 2 old AA batteries to the inside of the cowl, and she balanced out very nicely that way for me. Love the plane too. Very easy to fly, very stable, and still more than capable of aerobatics with loads of power. She will fly just fine on about half throttle, and look very scale doing it too. Hope you enjoy yours!

Thanks,for the tip. Did you have to open up the fuse for the 2650 battery? I tried a 3000 in mine and I will have to open it up some. Thinking this one might be fun to try a gyro in.

[fhhuber]

RE: Which Biplane?

I carved a bit of foam and use up to a 4S 4400 mah in my Dynam Tiger Moth.

It flies fine on a 3S 2000.

I don't own a 4S smaller than 3300 mah. Out of the packs I have, that is where I get best results.

[Loneflier]

RE: Which Biplane?

I got the Tiger Moth all assembled except for adding a receiver and adjusting the control rods.  Picked up a few extra parts just incase I ever need them, cowl,landing gear, wing supports.  Installing the wires was time consuming with a bit of &#*^&% but all is well that ends well. LOL
I still  want to add a pilot and maybe change out the tires as our field is a hard surface.  Looks like Wed of this week I might get to maiden it,  30 degrees and 5-8mph winds,  For Iowa in Jan that's almost Heaven!!    I still need to go over the CG yet,  A quick check with a 2200 4s looked to just a bit tail heavy :shy:

Hi Iowa54,

I can tell you that I am flying a 2600mAH 4 cell in mine, and added 2 old AA batteries to the inside of the cowl, and she balanced out very nicely that way for me. Love the plane too. Very easy to fly, very stable, and still more than capable of aerobatics with loads of power. She will fly just fine on about half throttle, and look very scale doing it too. Hope you enjoy yours!

Thanks,for the tip. Did you have to open up the fuse for the 2650 battery?   I tried a 3000 in mine and I will have to open it up some.  Thinking this one might be fun to try a gyro in.

I did not have to do any foam carving to fit the 2600mAH 4S battery in mine. It is a Grayson Gold label from Grayson Hobbies. Not sure who makes it for them, but they claim that size is perfect for most all of the Dynam planes that require 4S batteries.

[fhhuber]

RE: Which Biplane?

I tried a 3 axis gyro in mine... it was all fine until the airplane stalled. Then the gyro tried to force the nose up and applied ailerons to oppose the spin... exactly the wrong things to do.

Fortunately it was high enough that I had time to turn off the gyro and recover.

The gyro might help with preventing nose-over on landing. That's hard to judge.

Otherwise it wasn't really noticeable.