GWS Tiger Moth maiden and review

[Scotty909]

New build is progressing

[Scotty909]

My Tiger Moth needs just a few minor adjustments and it's ready to fly. I'm running a Himax 2505-4266, 6 to 1 gearing with an APC 11x7 SF prop through a Castle Thunderbird 18 amp esc. On the wattmeter at Wot it was pulling just a hair over 19 amps with 163 watts. I'll just back down my throttle travel and I should be good to go. I'm not sure when I will be able to maiden it as it is snowing out at the moment

[stevecooper]

Originally Posted by Scotty909

My Tiger Moth needs just a few minor adjustments and it's ready to fly. I'm running a Himax 2505-4266, 6 to 1 gearing with an APC 11x7 SF prop through a Castle Thunderbird 18 amp esc. On the wattmeter at Wot it was pulling just a hair over 19 amps with 163 watts. I'll just back down my throttle travel and I should be good to go. I'm not sure when I will be able to maiden it as it is snowing out at the moment

SWEET! , bubsteve

[Scotty909]

Thanks Steve, I just hope it flies and I don't crash it.


Scotty

[Wrench66]

Not to pull the thread off topic......
IF you can imagine some other cool planes the TM could be bashed into, as I did with a Pico model that was unloved, I could see a Fairchild PT19 trainer in the fuse shape.
So I built my own wing from blue foam folds and a different shaped tail. Goes to show that lots of models can be made into something else just as cool with a little imagination It will still always be a Moth.....just a little different Mono Moth is all.
Bub Steve, I know you'll like this

--Ray

[fhhuber]

Originally Posted by Scotty909

My Tiger Moth needs just a few minor adjustments and it's ready to fly. I'm running a Himax 2505-4266, 6 to 1 gearing with an APC 11x7 SF prop through a Castle Thunderbird 18 amp esc. On the wattmeter at Wot it was pulling just a hair over 19 amps with 163 watts. I'll just back down my throttle travel and I should be good to go. I'm not sure when I will be able to maiden it as it is snowing out at the moment

Very pretty Tiger there...

These are typically sweet flying aircraft very reminiscent of high wing trainers with a bit of added aerobatic capability.

Don't limit your throttle range... just manage your use of the throttle stick until you change the prop.

Get a little less dia or pitch...
or a little less blade area (E instead of SF) could put you under the 18 amp rating of the ESC.

The ESC is actually safer pulling a little over max amps at full throttle than being at a mid-range setting with a prop that can pull more than it is rated.
Its hard to explain, but its due to how the ESC's "chop" the voltage and current to control the motor power.

You'll have abundant power for anything the Tiger can do even with a lower load prop.

[Scotty909]

Originally Posted by Wrench66

Not to pull the thread off topic......
IF you can imagine some other cool planes the TM could be bashed into, as I did with a Pico model that was unloved, I could see a Fairchild PT19 trainer in the fuse shape.
So I built my own wing from blue foam folds and a different shaped tail. Goes to show that lots of models can be made into something else just as cool with a little imagination It will still always be a Moth.....just a little different Mono Moth is all.
Bub Steve, I know you'll like this

--Ray

Wrench, It's interesting that you post this. Nice plane! A fellow flyer posted this link in a reply to my plane on another forum.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852003

I have another TM 400 kit and a Pico kit plus other parts from other scrapped planes and my mind is spinning with ideas of what to do with them. I've been wanting to try an EDF on something. Check out the edf albatross in that thread.

"Imagination is greater than knowledge" Einstein

Scotty

[Scotty909]

Thanks for the info Fhhuber, I have some 10" props on order and will more than likely use one of those on it's maiden flight. I took one of the 11" props and cut it down about an inch and after getting it balanced it was pulling about 15 amps at about 130 watts.. After I get used to flying it I will play with different gearing and props to suit my kind of flying. I might put floats on this one and that was my reasoning for trying the 11" props. I hope the weather breaks soon so I can do some flying!

Thanks again, Scotty

Hide Signatures

[Wrench66]

Thanks for the link, Scotty....those are some imaginative planes!
all the best,
--Ray

[Lancer31]

Originally Posted by Wrench66

Not to pull the thread off topic......
IF you can imagine some other cool planes the TM could be bashed into, as I did with a Pico model that was unloved, I could see a Fairchild PT19 trainer in the fuse shape.
So I built my own wing from blue foam folds and a different shaped tail. Goes to show that lots of models can be made into something else just as cool with a little imagination It will still always be a Moth.....just a little different Mono Moth is all.
Bub Steve, I know you'll like this

--Ray

....I see the aircraft pictured, in the Pico TM;

[stevecooper]

Originally Posted by Wrench66

Not to pull the thread off topic......
IF you can imagine some other cool planes the TM could be bashed into, as I did with a Pico model that was unloved, I could see a Fairchild PT19 trainer in the fuse shape.
So I built my own wing from blue foam folds and a different shaped tail. Goes to show that lots of models can be made into something else just as cool with a little imagination It will still always be a Moth.....just a little different Mono Moth is all.
Bub Steve, I know you'll like this

--Ray

Oh Heck ya, Can I do mine like that? she's need a facelift,,,,,bubsteve

[Scotty909]

After seeing the video from this link I'm dying to put an EDF in a Tiger Moth.

http://z8rc.com/2012/12/lost-plans-o...batros-z-viii/

[stevecooper]

Originally Posted by Scotty909

After seeing the video from this link I'm dying to put an EDF in a Tiger Moth.

http://z8rc.com/2012/12/lost-plans-o...batros-z-viii/

Good Link,, Thanks, Bubsteve

[pizzano]

Now that's thinking outside of the box.......

http://z8rc.com/2012/12/lost-plans-o...batros-z-viii/

Like the duel aileron set-up.......outside top wing, inside lower wing.......makes sense!

[mclarkson]

Krazy!

[Scotty909]

Well I finally got to give my Tiger Moth it's maiden flight. I've got permission to use a private airport nearby and headed over there this morning. I did all the preflight checks, set it on the runway facing the wind and throttled it up. It tracked strait as an arrow and lifted off in about 15 feet. Once I got it up I was nervous as hell and just did a few circles around the field and started to trim it out. It needed a bit of right trim on the rudder and a bit of down elevator and I was soon flying hands off strait and level. It might be a tad tail heavy as it would climb at quite a bit as I gave it more throttle. I had no problems taking off and landing on the short grass and touch and goes were a lot of fun. I love the way it flies. I ran two batteries through it and the wind started to pick up so I thought I would head home and fly my Mudbugs in the back yard. Had a great day of flying