<DIV>Jerry,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I always use a Dubro 60 size tail wheel ass.: simple and light.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Rodney Tanner</DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR><B><I>Jerry Wilson <JWilsonJr@houston.rr.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Many thanks for all the good advice from the list members. I'm encouraged<BR>to keep working at it.<BR><BR>I think I'll try to move the throttle servo and receiver to the compartment<BR>behind the firewall. I'll have to cut a hatch to get access to mount them<BR>there. Might try to build another rudder and elevators and monocoat them.<BR><BR>Reluctant to dump the bellcrank, but might if above doesn't make enough<BR>difference.<BR><BR>I'm using the Sullivan tail wheel for 5-12 lb. models. Is there a lighter<BR>alternative?<BR><BR>Thanks again,<BR><BR>Jerry<BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: discussion-request@nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org] On<BR>Behalf Of David Lockhart<BR>Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:10 AM<BR>To: discussion@nsrca.org<BR>Subject: Re: Elan trouble<BR><BR>Jerry,<BR><BR>The MK bellcrank was certainly adds 1 oz or more to the tail, perhaps
more<BR>depending on what types of clevises and secondary pushrods your are using -<BR>and such high tech tricky devices are not something you will find Dick<BR>Hanson using. And while glass/paint can be done with minimal weight gain,<BR>it usually does add some weight (call it 1 more oz), and if the paint on the<BR>fuse itself is heavy, that can effectively add 1 oz to the tail. And the<BR>actual weight of the stabs and rudder can pretty easily vary 1-2 oz,<BR>depending on the builder (heavier wood, amount of epoxy used). And, an<BR>adjustable stab can add 1 oz. Tailwheel assemblies could vary by as much as<BR>1 oz. Might be as much as 7.5 oz between different builders and hardware<BR>choices. That 7.5 oz equates to substantially more (as noted by others) on<BR>the nose - maybe 15-20 oz. Dump the bellcrank and take a close look at<BR>linkage hardware and the tailwheel assembly - you might be able to pull 2 oz<BR>off the tail (reducing noseweight by 6-8 oz).<BR><BR>- AND - on the
front end - When the Elan was designed, a YS120 AC was<BR>commonly used - that engine weighed in around 34-35 oz if my memory serves<BR>correctly. The current day YS 120s are, I believe, 1-2 oz lighter.<BR>Unfortunate, but not too hard to see how 12 oz of ballast could be needed on<BR>this plane (or any other).<BR><BR>I would absolutely move the throttle servo forward - bolt it to the bottom<BR>of the tank floor just behind the firewall - this will effectively add 1 oz<BR>to the nose. You might also be able to move the RX and switch just ahead of<BR>the LE of the wing - maybe effectively 1 more oz on the nose. Those<BR>changes, coupled with dropping 2 oz on the tail should get you to the point<BR>of needing well under 4 oz (if any) on the nose. At 9 - 9.25oz, the Elan<BR>will fly extremely well.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Dave Lockhart<BR>DaveL322@comcast.net<BR><BR><BR>----- Original Message -----<BR>From: "Jerry Wilson" <JWILSONJR@HOUSTON.RR.COM><BR>To: <DISCUSSION@NSRCA.ORG><BR>Sent:
Wednesday, June 29, 2005 9:35 PM<BR>Subject: RE: Elan trouble<BR><BR><BR>> Jim,<BR>><BR>> I don't know why it is tail heavy. I was very surprised. CG is noted on<BR>> the plan. Fuselage is painted as are horizontal stab, elevator, and rudder<BR>> which were also glassed. Could be my glassing and paint job is heavy<BR>> although I would not have thought so much weight could be attributed to<BR>> this. Rudder and Elevator servos are over the wing trailing edge as per<BR>> plan. Battery pack has been moved to the firewall. Used Central carbon<BR>> fiber push rod for elevator to MK dual bellcrank and MK control horns.<BR>Push<BR>> pull cable on rudder. Receiver and throttle servo are about at the CG.<BR>><BR>> Jerry<BR>><BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: discussion-request@nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org]<BR>On<BR>> Behalf Of Jim Ivey<BR>> Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 5:24 AM<BR>> To:
discussion@nsrca.org<BR>> Subject: Re: Elan trouble<BR>><BR>> Jerry<BR>> Why is it tail heavy. Maybe you are using the wrong CG point or did you<BR>> put servos in the tail? Is the tail painted. I think figure out why, then<BR>> solve the problem that way instead of adding all that weight.?<BR>><BR>> Jim Ivey><BR>> > From: "Jerry Wilson" <JWILSONJR@HOUSTON.RR.COM><BR>> > Date: 2005/06/29 Wed AM 07:14:53 EDT<BR>> > To: <DISCUSSION@NSRCA.ORG><BR>> > Subject: Elan trouble<BR>> ><BR>> > I have a dilemma and could use some advice from the group.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > After over a year of building I have nearly completed my Elan which is<BR>my<BR>> > first attempt to build a fiberglass fuse pattern ship. It is painted,<BR>> > covered, servos, push rods, and engine (120 four stroke) installed.<BR>> Weighs<BR>> > about 9 lbs. Looks pretty nice.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>>
><BR>> > The trouble is to get it to balance at the CG point on the plan (8" from<BR>> > wing LE) requires 11 oz in the nose.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > According to Dick Hansen's plan the weight should be 8 - 10 lbs. So it<BR>is<BR>> > still within the design range, at ~9.75 lbs. But even if I can figure a<BR>> way<BR>> > to add 11 oz of weight to the nose, I'm afraid the plane will not fly<BR>the<BR>> > pattern well and am having serious doubts completing. My intentions<BR>were<BR>> to<BR>> > fly one or two more Sportsman contests with it and then move on to<BR>> > Intermediate. Would appreciate some opinions/advice from the group:<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Should I try to figure out a way to add 11 oz wt. to the nose securely<BR>and<BR>> > finish the plane?<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Or abandon the ship and move on to something else?<BR>>
><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > TIA<BR>> ><BR>> > Jerry<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>><BR>> =================================================<BR>> To access the email archives for this list, go to<BR>> http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/<BR>> To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm<BR>> and follow the instructions.<BR>><BR>> List members email returned for mailbox full will be removed from the<BR>list.<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> =================================================<BR>> To access the email archives for this list, go to<BR>> http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/<BR>> To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm<BR>> and follow the instructions.<BR>><BR>> List members email returned for mailbox full will be removed from the<BR>list.<BR>><BR><BR>=================================================<BR>To
access the email archives for this list, go to<BR>http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/<BR>To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm<BR>and follow the instructions.<BR><BR>List members email returned for mailbox full will be removed from the list.<BR><BR><BR><BR>=================================================<BR>To access the email archives for this list, go to<BR>http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/<BR>To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm<BR>and follow the instructions.<BR><BR>List members email returned for mailbox full will be removed from the list.<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>