Official Nexa 1800mm Douglas C-47 - ARF Thread

[jbaartz]

Douglas C-47 1800mm (70.8") Wingspan - ARF from Nexa - NXA1012-001


The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front-line service with various military operators for many years.

The Nexa Douglas C-47 is a 70" wingspan electric scale series warbird, constructed primarily from balsa wood and covered with a fuel-resistant covering. This ARF requires assembly and installation of your choice of servos and power system, and includes painted pilot, antenna and other scale details. The large battery hatch affords ample room for either electric or gas setups. To complete the scale appeal of this C-47, the model includes electric retracts and scale struts. Impress at your flying field with this iconic stunner!

Fully Covered and Detailed The Nexa Douglas C-47 comes fully covered including simulated panel lines, rivets, nomenclature and weathering detail.

Scale Details Throughout There is no shortage of scale details with this C-47 including split flaps, painted pilot, electric retracts and metal main struts.

Prehinged and Installed Control Surfaces All control surfaces come out of the box fully prehinged and installed for your convenience.

Impressive Size Yet Easy To Transport To add to the array of scale detail, the Nexa C-47 comes with a 70" wingspan but the wings are easy to remove for transport.

FEATURES:

• Complete Balsa and lite-ply construction for rigidity and durability
• Covered from tip to tail in scale details including weathering, printed simulated panel lines and rivets
• Fiberglass cowlings for strength and durability
• The hand-painted pilot is ready for your added cockpit details
• All control surfaces come out of the box pre-hinged and installed for convenience
• Large battery hatch allows for your chosen electric or gas setup

INCLUDES:

• Nexa Douglas C-47 1800mm (70.8") Wingspan - ARF
• Electric retracts, wheels and struts
• Fuel tank, hardware and servo trays

REQUIRES:

• 6 Channel radio - select a minimum 6 channel radio from our Radio Collection
• 6 Channel receiver - select a minimum 6 channel receiver from our Receiver Collection
• 2x Brushless outrunner motors - we recommend the Admiral GP2 3520-950kV Brushless Motor Multi-Pack (2 Motors)
• 2x 45 Amp brushless ESC - we recommend the ZTW Mantis 45A ESC with 5A SBEC Multi-Pack (2 ESCs)
• 4x standard servos for ailerons, elevator and rudder - we recommend the Hitec HS-85BB High Torque Micro Servo Airplane Multi-Pack (4 Servos)
• 4x standard 9g servos for flaps - we recommend FOUR of the Hitec HS-55 9g Micro Servo
• TWO 3 Cell 11.1V 5000 mAh LiPo Batteries - we recommend TWO of the Admiral 5000mAh 3S 11.1V 50C LiPo Battery with EC5 Connector
• 1x standard and 1x reverse electric propellers - we recommend APC 10x7 Thin Electric Propeller - Black and APC 10x7 Thin Electric Pusher Propeller - Black
• 3 Cell compatible battery charger - select a minimum 3 cell (3S) charger from our Charger Collection

Customer Note
Nexa ARF models are constructed out of balsa wood and plywood. These are not foam models. The assembly of balsa wood ARF aircraft requires basic model building skills including the installation of servos, ESC, and motor (or gas engine).
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:

AGE LEVEL : 14 AND UP
SKILL LEVEL : INTERMEDIATE
BUILD TIME : 6+ HOURS

Model Scale	1/16
Wingspan	1800mm / 70.8in
Length	1200mm / 47.2in
Weight	3175.15g / 112oz
CG (Center of Gravity)	100-110mm from the leading edge of the wing's root
Power System	2x 950kV Brushless outrunner motors (required)
Electronic Speed Control	2x 45A (required)
Propeller / EDF	1x 10x7 standard and 1x 10x7 reverse electric propellers (required)
Servos	45g metal gear standard: left aileron, right aileron, elevator, rudder 9g metal gear standard: left outboard flap, left inboard flap, right outboard flap, right inboard flap
Landing Gear	Electric retractable (included)
Required Battery	TWO 3 Cell 11.1V 5000 mAh LiPo Batteries (required)
Required Radio	6+ Channel (required)
Ailerons	Yes
Elevator	Yes
Rudder	Yes
Flaps	Yes
Lights	No
Hinge Type	Nylon
Material	Balsa and light plywood
Skill Level	Intermediate
Build Time	6+ Hours
Recommended Environment	Outdoors

[Pacro]

Is there any info on the retract setup, I have an old VQ version with no retracts but would.love to try and upgrade

[xviper]

Is there any info on the retract setup, I have an old VQ version with no retracts but would.love to try and upgrade

If you go to the product page for this plane at MotionRC, you will see more information. https://www.motionrc.com/collections...escription-tab
You can look at the spare parts list and see what the retracts and parts look like. You can also go to "support" on that page and see the build manual and see some stuff about the retracts.
Lastly, you can go to the Nexa C-47 thread and see a bunch of pictures posted that may show you something useful.

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-airplanes/rc-warbirds/280843-nexa-douglas-c-47-1800mm-70-8#post300401

[Pacro]

Thanks, but I'd like to buy the setup, right now MRC only has the electronic retract and not the struts which is what I want

[xviper]

Motion appears to be the only authorized distributor in N. America. You can click on the “notify me when stock is back” and wait. Or, you can contact Motion and ask them when stuff will be available.

[djmoose]

I'd love to hear some flight reports.

[xviper]

I'd love to hear some flight reports.

Since the last post on the other C-47 thread, I did get the plane finished and maidened it. The very first flight was a disaster. It's a bit weird to get it rolling straight as it tends to weather vane and wander all over the runway. As a result, I gave it lots of throttle to try and take off as soon as the plane was pointed down the runway after one of those "wandering minstrel" rolls. Well, it got airborne but way too soon. There wasn't enough airspeed for it to actually fly and it dropped a wing and smashed nose first into the ground. After waiting for a couple of weeks to get new parts, I fixed it up really well so you can't really see that it was damaged.
The re-maiden was so much better as I figured out how to get it rolling straight and true and build up sufficient airspeed before letting it take off. Even still, it does tip stall very easily if the power is down in a turn. I experimented with the stall up high and witnessed first hand why it crashed the first take off. My plane is built as a 4S power system and it's somewhat underpowered but adequate. I think it would have been better (for me) if it was built as a 6S system. It's a very heavy plane, quite draggy, so needs to be flown at high throttle, especially when doing banked turns. If throttle is kept 3/4 to full all the time, it's flies quite well and is very stable. I'm using a Spektrum AS3X RX with gains optimized for this plane. I will fly it again probably next week and see if I can fly it with the gyro turned off. If it will, I'll put in a non-gyro RX as I can use the Spek in another plane.
One thing that has been a little problematic has been one retract. There are some articulations in the strut assembly that the grub screws simply can't hold things solid and on two landings, one retract collapsed. Since the wheel doesn't fully retract anyway, no damage was done. I've since reinforced the mechanism with glue on the screw threads and even used epoxy on the parts that should not move or bend. Will see next time out how that holds. All in all, I quite like the plane and it'll stay in my collection till I crash it real bad.
It's stunning to see both on the ground and in the air. From a distance, it looks like the real thing. I'll see if I have the time to get a video next time I fly it.

[djmoose]

Thanks for the flight report. I saw a real one at the Cleveland Air Show yesterday and....well, you know how it is...even if you've already loved a plane...when you see one in the air...I was like...I need to re-consider the Nexa. The problem with the C-47 (my opinion) is that there aren't many really good flying ones (RC models). Even the Top Flite C-47 / DC-3 seems to have had similar descriptions of flight performance.

This might be a plane that is destined to be successful flying model as a real big foam version. Keeping the overall weight down...messing with the wings to help with stalling.

[xviper]

I have had two Dynam ones. First one was the DC3 Skytrain. The second was their C-47. Both were quite decent flyers but I got rid of the DC3 to get their C-47 and I got rid of that one for the Nexa C-47. Quite frankly, the Dynam ones flew better but could also have used more power. The Nexa C-47 really needs more power but can be flown quite satisfactorily if due consideration is given to flying it at high throttle positions. If I were to do it again, I'd go with bigger, higher KV motors, keeping it 4S or go for 6S power.

[xviper]

I am sad to report that my Nexa C-47 has been retired. I took it to the field today and the very first flight of the day, it did what this plane typically does - it lifted off the ground due to ground effect and was NOT ready to fly. After leaving ground effect, it stalled, dropped a wing and went in nose first. One retract even collapsed just rolling down the runway. It's a very poor design although they do look good. Damage was significant although easily fixable. However, I've decided not to fix it. It has been a tremendous disappointment for me. It looks so nice in the air and actually lands quite well. It simply will not consistently take off without drama and this takes all the fun out of it. It's a well made kit and the quality is extremely good. If all I wanted was a beautiful static model, I would be happy with it. It's a love/hate kind of deal. I love the looks of it but I hate the way it has to be babied just to get off the ground safely. In retrospect, the C-47 to have is the Dynam one even though it's just a cheap "foamie".
Thinking back to when I had the old HobbyKing C-47, I don't feel nearly as bad about the Nexa version as the HK one was far worse in quality and flight characteristics.

[JennyC6]

I am sad to report that my Nexa C-47 has been retired. I took it to the field today and the very first flight of the day, it did what this plane typically does - it lifted off the ground due to ground effect and was NOT ready to fly. After leaving ground effect, it stalled, dropped a wing and went in nose first. One retract even collapsed just rolling down the runway. It's a very poor design although they do look good. Damage was significant although easily fixable. However, I've decided not to fix it. It has been a tremendous disappointment for me. It looks so nice in the air and actually lands quite well. It simply will not consistently take off without drama and this takes all the fun out of it. It's a well made kit and the quality is extremely good. If all I wanted was a beautiful static model, I would be happy with it. It's a love/hate kind of deal. I love the looks of it but I hate the way it has to be babied just to get off the ground safely. In retrospect, the C-47 to have is the Dynam one even though it's just a cheap "foamie".
Thinking back to when I had the old HobbyKing C-47, I don't feel nearly as bad about the Nexa version as the HK one was far worse in quality and flight characteristics.

Bit of a shame you couldn't get yours to take off properly. I've been eyeing this thing for ages as I've always been fond of this airframe, always wanted one in my collection....and I fly exclusively fuel. I'd probably be using a pair of Saito 40s for power as they'll swing a 10-7-3 prop like a boss. Use one on another plane, turns that prop at 9500 static all day long. 3.45lbs static thrust, pitch speed 68mph. Two of them should be plenty for a C-47 of this size. Thrust/weight ratio around 1:1 and plenty of airspeed available.

If you couldn't get the thing to fly on electric when it should have more power than it knows what to do with what hope do I have getting it aloft on nitro?! Oh well.

[RandyS45]

Anyone have detailed assembly instructions for Nexa C47? The one that came in the box are severely lacking. I think it’s a cool model but I’m stuck with getting wiring for motors into the center section. If I had known it would be so difficult I would not have bought it

[Carlos G]

Hi All,

My friend has finished building one of these models and has asked me to do the maiden on this Nexa C-47. He is a very accomplished builder and has many sucessful models under his belt. After seeing all the comments in this thread and the thread #10, we will be carefully checking the wing for wash in/washout, CG, control throws, etc before attempting a test flight. I also watched the video of the VQ maiden and it seems that if you get all the details sorted out before you fly, you may stand a chance of being sucessful.

From what I have witnessed, the Nexa ARF models need to be carefully examined before starting a build. They are good looking models, however their attention to detail can bite you if you are not paying attention. In the case of this C-47, the left hand nacelle was closer to the fuselage than the right. That wasn't noticed until the ARF had already had been started. My friend didnt notice the problem until he tried installing the propellers. The left side was hitting the fuselage while the right had about a 1/4" clearance. There was not really any way to shift or center things up due to the nature of the center wing construction. He ended up trimming the left hand prop tips until it had cleared, and then matched the right hand prop to it.

After we make all of our double checks of everything, we will go and see what happens. Wish us luck.