Eam 62" C-130

[salmonpinko]

Hi Firemanbill, has it gone maiden yet?

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by salmonpinko

Hi Firemanbill, has it gone maiden yet?

Oh yes! Yes indeed. New nose and all. She is really a great flier. Had flown it a couple of time with the new nose on but this past weekend was great.

Ask all the folks who attended Hodges Hobbies Fly in last weekend! Got 5 (I think) Really good flights in while there. I had a lot of good compliments on her. From her slow lumbering takeoff, just like the real thing, to how realistic she looks in the air, to the very scale appearing landings.

A very nice bird indeed and with the new nose even better!

One tip though, don;t try to takeoff in short wet grass... The last morning of the fly in I wanted to get one more flight in but the grass grew from friday evening when they cut it to sunday morning I guess and the wetness from the dew just made all those little clippings get up in my whell wells and bog it down enough that she didn't want to take off.

When I get the video from tape to computer I'll post it. She reall looks good in the air.

[vax6335]

Bill, what size are the wheels? I would love to get one of these for a first multi engined project, but we don't have a paved runway at my field. And all the old fools there are against one for some dumb reason, so it looks like we won't get one for quite awhile. Also, how does the size compare to a GWS C-130?

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by vax6335

Bill, what size are the wheels? I would love to get one of these for a first multi engined project, but we don't have a paved runway at my field. And all the old fools there are against one for some dumb reason, so it looks like we won't get one for quite awhile. Also, how does the size compare to a GWS C-130?

4.5" on the mains x 4 and 3.5" on the nose wheel x 2.

And its bigger than the GWS model by a long shot. 44" span on the gws model and 62' on this one.

It does fine in the grass as long as it's not wet. I also just noticed this morning that one of my elevators had come loose form the linkage. That may have happen on that 12 hour drive home as I don't reacll seeing that the last morning I tried to fly it. It may have been though and that may have bee what kept it from lifting off.

I would highly recommend it for you. It is a very stable easy flying plane, it handles the wind quite well also.

[salmonpinko]

I'm glad to you have success in this plane. I'm eager to watch your new video.

[FlightMedic]

Hey Bill awesome job and great video. I'm completing my .60 scale P51 "Marie" electric conversion with retracts soon and can't wait to fly her. I'm thinking about building a 160 Transall and wondering how the multiengine thing works with electrics.

Mike

[firemanbill]

Thanks Mike. I love the P-51 as well. I have the GWS model and it flies really well also. I would love to build one of the bigger ones as well with retracts and all! I bet yours is sweet!

My 130 has brushed motors so setting it up was really easy. The motors are all wired up parallel and run on one Castle Creations Griffin 55 amp controller. With a 3s lipo I ended up pulling around 4.5 amps per motor. Since I maidened it back in may I have not had a single issue with the motors. I would have to say it is a very reliable setup. She is just as strong today as she was on day one.

[FlightMedic]

Sounds great although i'm a total brushless fan now......lol. I will post some pics of "Marie" when she is done. I've done some ground handling practice with a small battery and she handles great on the ground although i've heard some bad things about weak landing gear. I'm hooked on the .60 size and larger. Would love to find a F-82 Twin Mustang to build. I have a GWS Corsair with a Eflite outrunner that flies awesome but needed something bigger. Thanks for the info.

Mike

[firemanbill]

Yeah I'm all brushless now as well except for the 130. the thought of 4 esc's and the wiring of all that kind of kept me from upgrading it that way.

She works fine this wway though so I figure I'll keep it that way til the motors burn out and then I might go the brushless route with it.

I'll have to save a lot of pennies for that though

[salmonpinko]

It would save the brush motor if only there are parts avaliable to replace the worn brushes. I'm wondering if there are any serviceable brush motors in the market.

[C130 Load]

Bill,,
Do you still fly this C130?
I most definitely will get one of these when I learn to fly again. I was a Load on one from 83-95.
I have read the whole thread and I really like what I see and what you and others did with this EAM kit.
What paint did you use on it?
Thanks
Ed

[firemanbill]

Hi Ed, Thanks for the comments. Yes I still fly her. She is in the shop for new brushes in the motors currently but she'll be back out in the spring.

For paint I used the Testors water based acrylics, diluted 50/50 with water and airbrushed on with my Badger gun.

I don;t know if I put these links in before but here is a couple of onboard videos.

R/C C-130 onboard video

R/C C-130 onboard video

I retired from the USAF myself. I still work on Langley AFB , just civil service now.

[C130 Load]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

I retired from the USAF myself. I still work on Langley AFB , just civil service now.

I didn't retire it was my "Part Time" job but it sure didn't feel like it I was flying all the time back then. Between active and reserve I had 13 1/2 years and then BRAC happened.
I couldn't leave my regular job so I had to just give it up.

How does the foam take to sanding?

BTW I did see those videos earlier today. Very nice the second one reminds me of looking out the paratroop door window which I did a lot.

[firemanbill]

funny how that BRAC stuff works huh? Just doesn't make sense sometimes...

It sands pretty easily. shaping the nacelles and the wheel wells and such was pretty easy.

I am considering redoing the whole thing, she has quite a few field dents as well as hangar rash that need filling. A company called wow planes has a 2 part foam surface sealer that looks very promising to harden her up without adding much weight at all.

http://www.wowplanes.com/index.php?cPath=46

I have their B-25 that is waiting to be built that I plan on using that stuff on as well.

Same guy that designed my C-130 designed that B-25 as well

[C130 Load]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

funny how that BRAC stuff works huh? Just doesn't make sense sometimes...

Yeah I really liked flying but Chicago Politics prevailed. Daley wanted that side of O'Hare.

Originally Posted by firemanbill

I am considering redoing the whole thing, she has quite a few field dents as well as hangar rash that need filling. A company called wow planes has a 2 part foam surface sealer that looks very promising to harden her up without adding much weight at all.

http://www.wowplanes.com/index.php?cPath=46

I called the guy at WOW and he said they redesigned the product to make it easier. I asked him about the bad reviews on his site and he said they were trying to put it over paint which wont work.
He also said to seal it first with micro lite Spackle or the like and that you could use a product called Durhams Water Putty which you can buy at hardware stores.
http://www.waterputty.com/pages/view.htm

Originally Posted by firemanbill

I have their B-25 that is waiting to be built that I plan on using that stuff on as well.

Same guy that designed my C-130 designed that B-25 as well

Can't wait to see that. There's a guy that lives near me that was pilot on one of those during WW2

[firemanbill]

Yeah if you use the product right it works well.

The guy that designed mine, Keith Sparks, wrote a book on building with foam. His website is

http://www.parkflyerplastics.com/

Get his book! Man he makes some awesome stuff, and he'll show you how to do everything he does.

[whatala]

Hi all,
I just found this site about the EAM C-130.
I am building this bird right now.
You guys still fly yours?
Jason

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by whatala

Hi all,
I just found this site about the EAM C-130.
I am building this bird right now.
You guys still fly yours?
Jason

Hey Jason welcome to WattFlyer!

I do not fly my 130 anymore. I flat wore that thing out. Man it was a fun plane. Good luck with yours and I hope you stay with us. Post some pics and let's see her fly!

[whatala]

Bill,
Sure I will. Man, alot of work, especially sanding part.
I will post some pics along with the build process.
Jason

[whatala]

Hi all,
Here what I have done so far. I got the main wheels, elevators, rudder, the wing assembly, painted with gloss white, added balsa ailerons for more floating. The instruction to attach the wing to the body is not very solid to me. How did you all did that? The instruction shows to glue a balsa to body and drill holes, and kit provided 2 plastic screws to use. To me, it may be very weak. I still get the nose landing gear install, nose assembly, wing to body... Hope to finish soon if time allows

[firemanbill]

Man it's been so long I really don't remember how I did my wing attachment. I'll pull it out of the attic tonight and look. I'll take a few pics for you... if it's still there. I'm pretty sure it still is.

Yours is looking great!

[LowThudd]

I was looking into the GWS kit, but I think I will step up to this instead! Great looking plane!

[firemanbill]

There is a lot more building to this one than the GWS. It is more on the Kit side than an ARF for sure. Well worth the effort though.

[whatala]

I have the GWS built 3 or 4 years, still flying great.
But, I lile this one much better. Mre time to build though

[road king 97]

Originally Posted by whatala

Hi all,
Here what I have done so far. I got the main wheels, elevators, rudder, the wing assembly, painted with gloss white, added balsa ailerons for more floating. The instruction to attach the wing to the body is not very solid to me. How did you all did that? The instruction shows to glue a balsa to body and drill holes, and kit provided 2 plastic screws to use. To me, it may be very weak. I still get the nose landing gear install, nose assembly, wing to body... Hope to finish soon if time allows

Who makes the kit ? I think park flyers pastics has one but not sure if this is it or not. joe