Expo Settings For Parkzone FW-190 (recommendations)

[Rocketeer]

Greetings Gang,

Yesterday I maidened my Parkzone FW-190 and basically it went well (meaning it lives to fly another day).

That being said, it was quite a challenge as its flight characteristics and responses were a bit more 'snappy' than I was prepared for and oddly enough it liked to make very smooth and level left-hand U-turns all on its own!?!?!? (I'll work on that).

I would like to add some expo to the control surfaces and I was curious if anyone else has experimented with these on the PZ FW-190 and could recommend a good starting place for the settings?

The Parkzone manual provides data on Dual Rates but not Expo.

Thanks in advance.......

[Loneflier]

Re: Expo Settings For Parkzone FW-190 (recommendations)

Hi Rocketeer,

I have this plane and I set up expos for all the control surfaces on low rate at 25%, and high rate at 30%. This is pretty much my standard set up for maiden flights. Once I fly it a couple of times, I will adjust based on how it feels in the air. If it is extremely sensitive to ailerons, I may reduce throws even more, and up the expo a bit until it flies the way I want it too.

If yours is making level left hand turns by itself, it sounds like you might need to either manually adjust the rudder back to the right a bit, or trim it with you transmitter until it flies straight with no inputs. Make sure you get plenty of altitude when checking all these things, about 2-3 mistakes high. The higher, the better. I can't tell you how many planes that has saved by allowing me to correct the flight without entering into the panic zone!

Otherwise, the PZ 190, like almost all the PZ planes, usually fly really well without a ton of trimming. I love the look of mine in the air, and would like to get the retracts for it, but have read some negative reviews about the FW-190 retracts in particular concerning toe in problems with them from the HH website. Just out of curiosity, did you need to add any weight to the nose to achieve the CG? I had to add nearly 3 ounces. Mine is a bit nose heavy, so I want to remove some weight, just not sure how much.

[Rocketeer]

Re: Expo Settings For Parkzone FW-190 (recommendations)

Greetings,

Thanks for the expo recommendations, that sure gives me a starting place.

I experienced no CG issues at all with my FW-190. I simply put a 2200mAh 3-cell in the nose, closed the hatch, lined it up on the runway and off it went. Actually, all the was required at 1/2 throttle was 2-3 clicks of DOWN elevator. After that, and still working the sticks - although barely - the FW-190 flew level and true. Even off the sticks it still flew level but it executed the most perfectly level left U-turn all on its own. It was pretty weird but, fun to watch. Like there really was a little pilot inside. (i'll work on that).

I also fly a Parkzone Corsair, T-28, T-28D and Spitfire non of which required anything more than a few trimster tweaks once in the air. However, save the Spitfire the Fw-190 seems to be the most sensitive to control movements and landings. Hence, the expo.

Clear Skies

[Randol]

Re: Expo Settings For Parkzone FW-190 (recommendations)

I just flew my PZ FW-190 last night. With 2200's mine balanced good, no added weight, but I have the retracts, so that may affect it. There were some early issues with toe in on the retracts so if you get new stock, they should be OK. Mine had the issue, and it was an easy fix, we're modelers, we can fix almost anything. The second issue is the attachment of the landing gear wing boxes will rip out of the wing if you have a less than perfect landing. Mine have both been removed and re-glued. PZ had used their white RTV adhesive and very little of it, so they were very easy to remove. Other than that, its been a great bird with no problems with the retracts since the fixes. I added some weathering on mine with an airbrush that really makes it look sweet.

Oh, the original question, I'm running 25% expo on the elevator and ailerons. I also had to adjust my rudder push rod so that the tail wheel was strait with the rudder.