Official Nexa 1630mm Junkers JU-52 Transport (Balsa ARF) Discussion Thread

[Oxotnik]

Tony, glad that your wife has received her Trimotor. I'll be very interested to find out the improvements that have been made in the Nexa Ju-52. BTW, my VQ Ju-52 also had sheets of extra covering included. If I had my elevator to do all over again, I'd give each elevator half its own servo and not use the U Wire. The decal set for my VQ Splinter Camo included that tail swastika (thankfully), with a warning not to apply it if living in Germany. I'm glad that they did it that way, instead of not including a tail insignia at all.

Oh, and I heard back from VQ-Texas, and they're sending me the gear components that were missing from the box. So, hopefully, I'll have my Tante Ju in the air, a week from tomorrow.

[Twowingtj]

Nexa Ju-52 delivered. My wife is delighted with it. It's packed well and nothing was out of sorts. The elevator hinges are Not glued to the horizontal stab, so the "U" wire installation should be much easier. Motion also included Lufthansa emblems for the tail, extra covering and likely more as yet to be discovered improvements. Well done Motion RC!

[Oxotnik]

Well, I ran into a snag, assembling my VQ Tante Ju. Last night, I went to install the struts and discovered that the piano wire strut supports (3 pieces) are missing. The spring-loaded struts are included, but the piano-wire supports are not. Contacted VQ, and hopefully, they'll send me the missing strut supports. VQ isn't very big on replacement parts; so, hopefully getting these pieces won't be a problem. Having to bend my own would be quite difficult, due to the gauge of the wire and the angles involved. These strut supports are needed to set the front-to-back position of the wheels. They're integral to the struts, not just for aesthetics. Otherwise, my Ju-52 is about 90% assembled.

[Oxotnik]

Oh, yeah, I'd seen that the NTM 2836 would run on 4S, but had still been thinking 3S for some reason. I'll definitely go 4S. I've got even more large 4S batteries than 3S. The motors arrived yesterday. I'll put them on the bench to do some wattmeter and tach tests before installing them into the Trimotor.

[OV10]

Charlie, did you feel like you had enough power with the NTM 2836-1000kv motors? I'm kinda liking the idea of larger motors, if they'll fit. You can always throttle down, but can never throttle up, if 'throttle up' is not an option. LOL

Motion seems to be advocating running three 3S batteries. I've got several 3S-5AH batteries that I run in my 1.8m B-17, and now that I think about it, I've also got four 3S-8AH batts that I run in my Do-335 (paired in serial, for 6S voltage). So, I'm planning to run use them. I'd much rather all motors see the same voltage, rather than dedicating individual batteries to individual motors. I'm also planning to setup up differential thrust for the two outboards. Probably don't need it, but, hell, I have 16 channels. There's no reason not to use them all. LOL

Oxotnik Chuck...…….Look at that first pic I posted of the full flaps show pass and tell me I didn't have adequate power available.
You must have missed where I said those NTM motors were using 4S power which was one 4000mAh brick to the 3 ESC's in parallel.
What ever Motion advocates for power I hope is predicated on fact based flight info (lets see the video) but I'm a little skeptical of their power recommendations. :rolling_eyes:
My experience has shown and the historical power data equations confirms that the 9-10 inch diameter props need to operate in the 14-15K rpm range.
My setup was running 14,800 RPM max (3.7v x 4S x 1000kV)
The recommendation of Motions with a 9 inch prop on a 950kV motor on 3S puts the RPM's at 10,545.
The range of 9-11K rpm is actually the range for a 14" 3 blade prop on 6S 460kV motor like my FMS Tigercat (10,212 rpm) or the FMS P-40B 14" 3 blade prop on 4S 650kV motor (9,620 rpm)
Doing the numbers through eCalc to see what it calls for is most likely your best bet here to determine 3S power capability/usability.

[Oxotnik]

Charlie, did you feel like you had enough power with the NTM 2836-1000kv motors? I'm kinda liking the idea of larger motors, if they'll fit. You can always throttle down, but can never throttle up, if 'throttle up' is not an option. LOL

Motion seems to be advocating running three 3S batteries. I've got several 3S-5AH batteries that I run in my 1.8m B-17, and now that I think about it, I've also got four 3S-8AH batts that I run in my Do-335 (paired in serial, for 6S voltage). So, I'm planning to run use them. I'd much rather all motors see the same voltage, rather than dedicating individual batteries to individual motors. I'm also planning to setup up differential thrust for the two outboards. Probably don't need it, but, hell, I have 16 channels. There's no reason not to use them all. LOL

[OV10]

Love this plane. I have an old Hobby King one that I've tried to fly twice (and crashed twice - its a horrible flyer as I've come to learn). Needless to say, when I saw this, its added to a gotta have list. Looking over the specs and checking inventories, seems the motors and ESC's are out of stock (everywhere). Anyone know what the motor can diameter limit is for this plane? I have three 3536 (35mm dia, 36mm long) motors from another project. Any idea what the limit is inside the cowls?

Rmawer Welcome to the Squawk. As mentioned earlier to Oxotnik back on post #8, I used Hobby King NTM Prop Drive 28-36 1000kV motors.
You should not have an issue using those 3536 motors because the cowls are approx. 3 inch diameter.

[Oxotnik]

TJ, I'm disappointed that you're not gonna put your better half's Ju-52 on floats. :-)

I'm quite far into the assembly of my Luftwaffe Tante Ju. The assembly has been very easy. The printed corrugations on the covering are fantastic. When I first opened the box, I had to take a double take, because at first sight, I thought that the the corrugations were real. The only thing that I haven't liked has been the assembly of the split elevator. A piece of U-bent piano wire is used to connect the elevator halves. You have to drill the holes in each elevator half for the U Wire. The fiber hings are already glued into the elevator. The ends of the U Wire needed to go right where the hinges are. By offsetting the U Wire and finessing it a bit, I was able to get it attached, with both halves of teh elevator ALMOST being level. I was cursing through most of that work, mad that each elevator didn't have it's own servo. Then, after I'd gotten the H Stab and Elevator fully installed, and went to install the servo, I discovered that there was actually a mirror cutout for a servo on the other side of the fuselage, and I could've done individual servos, after all. <cursing, again>. I managed to get the elevator halves aligned closely enough that I didn't want to cutout hinges and cutout the U Wire. So, I've left it as one elevator running the split elevator. If I would've realized that two servos were an option, I woud've gone that route. If you've got the channels available and aren't worried about the extra tail weight of an extra servo, I'd suggest that you seriously consider doing dual servos for the split elevators.

Wings are fully assembled (less the motors) and rudder and elevator are assembled.

Oh, one other suprise...
I'm using EMax ES9256HV servos (19g Micros, 48 in*oz (3.5 kgf*cm) torque at 7.4v), I know that these servos are overkill for this application, but my LHS store owner made me a deal on them that I couldn't pass up). The servos were almost too tall for the aileron slot (the bottom of the servo is pressing against the top covering (no sheeting in this location)). The real surprise, though, was that the servo slots for the rudder and elevator servos are too long for these servos. I had to cut a piece of light ply, to tighten up the slot. It works though.

Photo below shows the U Bend Piano Wire, offset to fit around the fiber hinges in the elevator.



Photo below shows the piece of lite ply that I cut and Sharpied black to over the end of the gap in the elevator servo slow. Had to do the same for the rudder servo on the other side.

[Twowingtj]

Oxotnik Good on you. Being able to get it for that price, in a livery you want is great.

I think my wife is going to go with the livery in post #2 of this thead, minus the floats. https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/thread...uestion.26952/

What do you think of the one you have on the bench?

[Oxotnik]

I ended up getting a Splinter Camo Tante Ju from VQ (when the ran a sale last week, dropping the price to be inline with the Nexa Ju-52 price). I wanted to support Motion, for bringing in new and exciting warbirds, but, in this case, I really wanted the Luftwaffe splinter camo version, versus the civvie Lufthansa. It's on the assembly bench now. Doubt that I'll have it completed by this weekend, but probably the following weekend. I'm going with the 2836-1000kv motors that Charlie recommended.

[Twowingtj]

Rmawer Welcome to Hobby Squawk! I may be able to let you know max can diameter in a few days.

Aunt Ju has been ordered!

[Rmawer]

Love this plane. I have an old Hobby King one that I've tried to fly twice (and crashed twice - its a horrible flyer as I've come to learn). Needless to say, when I saw this, its added to a gotta have list. Looking over the specs and checking inventories, seems the motors and ESC's are out of stock (everywhere). Anyone know what the motor can diameter limit is for this plane? I have three 3536 (35mm dia, 36mm long) motors from another project. Any idea what the limit is inside the cowls?

[OV10]

Thanks, Charlie. As I'd said in an earlier post, I only have one reference point for VQ warbirds, and that was their 59" FW-190A. I ended up really disliking it because the gear stance was horribly wrong and the cockpit/canopy had some really bad scale issues, too. I'm not usually an overly critical scale person, but I kinda am on the FW-190s. I'd also thought seriously about the VQ MC.205, but it looked to have similar scale issues; so, I've decided to pass on it. I've heard really good things about some other VQ warbirds, especially the Dauntless. I'm really looking forward to getting a Ju-52. I wish that Motion was bringing the splinter camo version, but I'll take the Lufthansa civvie version. Trimotors are cool! :-)

I owned both the VQ Dauntless(1540mm) and the P-39(1580mm) also.
My only critiques of concern for those were the dihedral was inaccurately lacking and the wing joining plywood spar splicer was brittle crap.
The Air Cobra now comes with retracts and flaps whereas my version was fixed gear and no flaps.
I think most likely the new rendition of the Cobra is on my check list if Motion brings it in.

[Oxotnik]

Thanks, Charlie. As I'd said in an earlier post, I only have one reference point for VQ warbirds, and that was their 59" FW-190A. I ended up really disliking it because the gear stance was horribly wrong and the cockpit/canopy had some really bad scale issues, too. I'm not usually an overly critical scale person, but I kinda am on the FW-190s. I'd also thought seriously about the VQ MC.205, but it looked to have similar scale issues; so, I've decided to pass on it. I've heard really good things about some other VQ warbirds, especially the Dauntless. I'm really looking forward to getting a Ju-52. I wish that Motion was bringing the splinter camo version, but I'll take the Lufthansa civvie version. Trimotors are cool! :-)

[OV10]

Hearing about a VQ warbird sale, I went to take a look. What caught my eye was the VQ Ju-52. They had both the civvie Lufthansa and Luftwaffe splinter camo. I'd kinda prefer the splinter camo. What surprised me, though, was that the VQ price was $279, as opposed to the Nexa Ju-52 price of $210. I couldn't find anything different different about the VQ version that'd drive it $70 higher (sale price). Any clues why the Nexa Ju-52 is less expensive than the VQ, when both look identical?

https://vqwarbirds.com/product/vq-ju...c2%94-span-ep/

VQ Warbirds price on the VQ line has always been over priced as far as I was concerned and probably a likely reason(assumption) they didn't move very well within that store front.
I have actually dealt directly with Vinh Quang the president of VQ Models and he is a really great person.
He would like to get his hands on older copies of the MAN(ModelAirplaneNews) magazine if anyone is so inclined to help

[Oxotnik]

Hearing about a VQ warbird sale, I went to take a look. What caught my eye was the VQ Ju-52. They had both the civvie Lufthansa and Luftwaffe splinter camo. I'd kinda prefer the splinter camo. What surprised me, though, was that the VQ price was $279, as opposed to the Nexa Ju-52 price of $210. I couldn't find anything different different about the VQ version that'd drive it $70 higher (sale price). Any clues why the Nexa Ju-52 is less expensive than the VQ, when both look identical?

https://vqwarbirds.com/product/vq-ju...c2%94-span-ep/

[Oxotnik]

It does say something about us that seeing a sexy warbird will send us seeking emergency medical attention after four hours. LOL

My wife and I often joke about her needing a new pair of shoes or a purse whenever I get a new warbird, or me needing a new warbird whenever she gets a new pair of shoes. We both agree that there are far worse ways that I could spending my time and my money, than on warbirds.

[Twowingtj]

OV10 thanks for the info Charlie. I'll make notes. It will be a while before this one makes it to the bench. Several others on the wait list ahead of it. We will pick it up as soon as it's available.

Well Chuck and Charlie, we're lucky to have some pretty special ladies. Maybe they figure that there are far worse things we could be looking at on-line .

[Oxotnik]

Let them talk. We are having fun.

This one won't be mine, although it will be in the family hangar. I will do at least the maiden before my bride takes possession of the sticks.

I too would like your thoughts on set up and flight characteristics Charlie.

Kind of a joke between my wife and me is that I'll get a new plane and put a nose-art sticker on it with her name on it, and call it 'her' airplane. When I showed my wife the Ju-52 product page last night, I also flipped through the other Nexa planes coming. She asked, "Why does that one (the P-47 Razorback) say "Touch of Texas" on it? She's a Texas girl. I told her than when I get mine, I'll modify that to "Touch of Texas Sunshine." ("Sunshine" is the pet name that I often call her by). She smiled and said, "That'd be awesome." SCORE!!! I tricked her into giving me permission to buy another warbird! LOL

[Oxotnik]

Thanks, Charlie! So, you think that 5055 6S motors would be too much??? LOL

I showed the Tante Ju to my wife last night and her comment was, "That's cheap. Most of your planes cost $400." Little does she know that a $400 ARF is really a $1200 ARF. Little things like that aren't really that important for her to know. LOL

I think that I may have close to all of electronics needed to outfit the Ju-52 at home already. So, it may actually only be a $210 out-of-pocket plane. :-)

BTW, the Product Page says that this model has retracts. That should probably be changed. LOL