E-flight Tensor

[jmess]

Hi, I pretty new to eletrics, and I'm getting ready to build my E-flight Tensor for the Fall/Winter flying. What is a good power system for this plane? I do have some stuff from a plane I recently aquired:

Jeti 08-3P speed control
Nippy Black NB 0508/73 brushless motor
Kokam 7.4v 700 mah lipoly battery

I assume none of this is powerful enough for the Tensor, but I realy don't know.

Jeremy

[Foamiesrfun]

Hi, I pretty new to eletrics, and I'm getting ready to build my E-flight Tensor for the Fall/Winter flying. What is a good power system for this plane? I do have some stuff from a plane I recently aquired:

Jeti 08-3P speed control
Nippy Black NB 0508/73 brushless motor
Kokam 7.4v 700 mah lipoly battery

I assume none of this is powerful enough for the Tensor, but I realy don't know.

Jeremy

Hey there Jeremy.I belive the Tensor is about the same size weight as most of the foamies such as the E flight ultimate and Trubrute...I myself like Himax I would use the Himax 2015-4100 motor with a 6.6:1 gear ratio and a Castle creations 25 amp speed controller with some 850 3 cell Poly quests. It would fly it rather well with a either 12x6 prop or a 11x6

but thats just me.

[prodigypilot]

Jeremy -- The Tensor is only an 8-9 oz. (all up weight) airplane. A better sutup would be a axi 2208/34 and a 2s lipo. A 10x3.8 prop should give it perfect power-to-weight ratio for all 3D. The Jeti 8 amp speed controller is perfect for this setup. That nippy black should be roughly equivalent to the axi, so you might try using that motor and see how it flies. Your battery is perfect - nice and lite.

[Foamiesrfun]

Jeremy -- The Tensor is only an 8-9 oz. (all up weight) airplane. A better sutup would be a axi 2208/34 and a 2s lipo. A 10x3.8 prop should give it perfect power-to-weight ratio for all 3D. The Jeti 8 amp speed controller is perfect for this setup. That nippy black should be roughly equivalent to the axi, so you might try using that motor and see how it flies. Your battery is perfect - nice and lite.

Sorry,I am not experienced with that model,But I do have the Tribute and the set up I told him is what I plan on using on it.happy flying.:cool:

[Thwack]

Jeremy, I have a 9 oz Tensor and I have the AXi 2208/34 and it is quite a combo! I have flown it many times on both two and three cell packs. I usually use the 2 cell indoors with a 9x5 or even a 10x6 Hyperdrive prop, and outside a 9x5 Hyperdrive on 3 cells works best for me. I was using the APC's, but after trying the GWS Hyperdrives (which are made for direct drive), I never went back! If you fly outside, this plane tips over really easy on the ground in even the slightest breeze, so pick days with no wind, or very light wind. On three cells and the 9x5 Hyperdrive, I pull around ten amps, so the Phoenix 10 is what I am using. Plus it is lighter, smaller, cheaper, and easily updated with the castle link! The Tensor is great, and very capable plane and I hope you enjoy yours like I enjoy mine. Hope this helps.
Good Luck,
Mark

[Mike Parsons]

I flew mine with a Himax 2808-980. 10x5 APC and a 3S 1320 TP pack. Loads of fun. Here is a video of the maiden. Tensor Maiden 10mb (http://epowerflight.com/Media/sample/Tensormaiden.wmv)

[Thwack]

That is cool Mike, I have that same Hi-Max motor, and I flew it few times on mine and liked it fine as well. I also have a fellow clubmember with a E-flite 1080 kv outrunner (the E-flite recommended motor for the Tensor) and it flys great as well. I think any of those three are very similar in power.

[Mike Parsons]

Thanks Thwack. Yep, I think any of those motors will work fine. It is a fun plane. Watching the video made me want another one :)

[Foamiesrfun]

I flew mine with a Himax 2808-980. 10x5 APC and a 3S 1320 TP pack. Loads of fun. Here is a video of the maiden. Tensor Maiden 10mb (http://epowerflight.com/Media/sample/Tensormaiden.wmv)

Like allways,Nice flying.Maybe one day I will be as good as you Mike.I know you never seen me fly but I'm pretty sure I'm the best 3D pilot out of the PCMA and DCMA club At least with electrics. Not that I'm bragging or anything.:D

[Mike Parsons]

Thanks Chris. I just bang the sticks...the plane does the work :).

[Crash Test Dummy]

I flew mine with a Himax 2808-980. 10x5 APC and a 3S 1320 TP pack. Loads of fun. Here is a video of the maiden. Tensor Maiden 10mb (http://epowerflight.com/Media/sample/Tensormaiden.wmv)

I have a Tensor in process of being built. My question is this...I have a Himax 2816/0890 outrunner that I thought might fly the Tensor. What do you think. Is this motor too big and heavy for the Tensor.

CTD

[Mike Parsons]

The Tensor has alot of wing area, but I do think that the 2816 would be pushing it. That is a 200 watt motor. You likely to rip the wings off :)

[prodigypilot]

yeah, the himaxx 2816-890 and a three cell pack will give the Tensor nearly 4:1 power to weight. that's way too much unless you're planning on racing a space shuttle. :)

[torqeroll]

try to build it light, and you will love the tensor indoor or out-side, i fly mine with a little screamer on 850 3 cell, with a hd 9x5. you dont need anything bigger than a castle creations 10 on it. mine came in about 8 ounces.

[daven]

I'm working on one now, and going with the Park 370 outrunner, the Castle Creations 25, and 3 cell 730 Thunder power packs with a 10 x 4.7 prop. I'm pretty knew to this stuff, but think I will be ok.

[proptop]

Hey dave, ya gonna re- paint it green and white?:)

Which park 370 outrunner you talking about KV wise?

[timocharis]

jeremy:

That motor should work fine. But the little Nippy likes 3s a lot; you might want to consider a different battery.

For some pretty good specs, check out:
http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/index_e.htm


Dave North

[daven]

I think its a 1080, no green paint on this thing, gotta keep it light ;)

[daven]

Just about got it finished up, I had some older Hs60 servos that I used on my tribute, plenty of throw, but a bit heavier.

I'll be looking at about 10 1/2 oz with my heavier set up. Won't have time to fly it today, but will maiden tommorrow morning. Looking forward to it, but like many have mentioned, this thing seems pretty fragile.

[timocharis]

Jeremy:

I think you could probably make that setup work, but it would be a bit poochy. The thing is, the little Nippy just looooves 3s batteries. Take a look at the specs on it here:

http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/index_e.htm

(Scroll down to Uberall and find your model).

Your results will be roughly between the 8-cell and 10-cell numbers. Note the output with a 10x4.7 at amps low enough to run very nicely with a TP 730 or even a Kokam 340 3s (which is pretty cheap and very light).

That would be more than enough to give you a thrill. Hover all day long.


Dave North

[tashley]

Nice vid Mike, who's music is that?

[Mike Parsons]

Thanks Tom,
That is Switchfoot (meant to live album) :)

[tashley]

Nice stuff, I'll have to check them out.

[daven]

Gotten a few flights on it so far, and its definately a little different than what I'm use to. Started out with the C.G. too far back, and it was interesting having a plane climb in knife edge (either side) and also climb while inverted. Haven't gotten a chance to straighten out yet, but I do love the sound of the outrunner as compared to the geared drive.

[daven]

I have the cg issue solved, and now its a nice little flyer. Still hard to describe how it flies, but it is definately odd. Very stable, and I will continue to dial in more throw. I know people have said it is fragile, but boy are they right. I have had slight damage on just about every landing (on asphalt) so far. First the tail skid I made broke loose, and on the second flight the fuse broke between the wings. Both easy fixes, but they were not hard landings at all. Basically harriered it to the ground. I may just chop the gear out and land in grass.

[KenK]

I should have my Tensor finished today. It sure is a delicate bird!!!! I have to fly off grass (well mowed /but grass) now it will be off the snow. I wonder how it will hold up to powdered snow???
I did this one without a trip to the hobby shop!!!! I guess my supplies are getting better.
I am useing the:
E-flite EFLM1205 370 Outrunner/
TP 3c-1320 Bat /
ElectriFly SS-25 ESC/
Jr Sport RS6UL Rec. & E-fliteS75 servos..
This is my E-flite Ultimate Bipe setup. I have rebuilt it too many times. I was hoping the Tensor would take it's place but now have doubts about the stength???
Check out attached link! It was great help!!!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=469629

[6inchesinverted]

has anybody had problems with the tail twisting bad enuff to crack or break the foam just behind the horizontal doubler?, mine twisted right off durring a blender, my plane ways about 10 oz. is there a good way to reinforce this area without adding much wieght? i don't want my second tensor to experience the same self berrial the first had on my farm

[KenK]

I moved my gear forward about 1" . Used the servo arms that I cut off for the rudder & elevator.. These I used for the aileron interconnection.. they seem great. I will have to get some photos up.
The thing that bothers me is the fusalage area from the ailerons back!!!
This seems weak as you said. See attached site also as we are not alone.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=506222
This has been a great help with model. I don't think I would have built the Tensor with out this link!!! Thanks guys!!!!!

I am not going to fly this till I do something with that as well as larger wheels. I have to fly off short grass mostly. I saw some wheels at LHS a few days ago & forgot to check them out. I think they were for cars or something but looked light. I used 1-1/2" on my e-FLITE Ultimate & they worked great.
Also with the plane on the table on stock wheels the rudder not the verticle fin hitts??? I was going to try some kind of skid there too

[6inchesinverted]

i just used a small piece of stiff plastic and suck it int the bottom of the fin at an angle. i havn't had any problems with it and i fly off of short grass