Originally Posted by kyleservicetech
Hi Chellie
1:30AM, you stay up later than my wife and I! (Wifey stays up to 2 or 3 AM. (Severe back pain issues. Don't ask!)
In this day of ARF's, the actual building of a model has changed. Right now, I'm finishing up converstion of an old 130% scratch built version of the Limbo Dancer model of about 10 years ago.
Previous power was a vastly overloaded geared Astro 05 motor on 10 Nicad cells. I actually cut a dozen 1/16 inch diameter aluminum fins that were pressed over the 05 motor to keep from melting it.
The new power system is a Hacker A40-10L motor with 6S1P A123 cells. Cut over a pound of weight out of it with the new power system.
Now, just waiting for the A123 cells to show up from
http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/servlet/StoreFront. These guys are a little more expensive than direct from China, but they are located in Ohio, not half way around the world. Their main business is rebuilding battery packs from just about any battery operated power tool.
Hey, the sun's out! First time in near two weeks around here. Got to go flying.
Glad to hear that you have some good weather to fly in, its been windy out my way for weeks, gusting to 70 mph at times, the micro balloon and epoxy is old school, used to do that over 30 years ago, most of the new people getting into this hobby, will never experience building with balsa, and tissue paper or silk span and dope or forming fillets for their wings, its a dying art form
I like the A123 cells, I will be starting to use them in my larger planes, my smaller and medium planes i dont think would benefit from using A123 cells, as they are a little heavier than a lipo for the same power, but i like the fact that they charge up real quick, so you dont have to buy 3 pack to keep flying the same plane while the lipos are charging, and thats a savings right there
Take care and have fun, Chellie