Funtana X 50 electric conversion

[EDFrules]

Anyone doing or have done a electric conversion of the Funtana X 50? Curious to see other peoples setups. I'm using Himaxx 5030/390, 16 X 10
APC, 6s2p TP 2100's, CC80, and HS 525MGs with a 6V reg. Got 1250 watts@ 60.5 amps on a test run up. Plane came out the same as Funtana 40 e-version at 6.5 lbs. Beefed up landing gear with plywood and kevlar. Made inlet/outlet cooling holes and battery hatches. Don't like tailwheel assembly or control hardware, will be upgrading everything to Dubro. Will maiden as soon as I have a day off. Can't wait Let's see some pics!
Keep em' flyin'!

[EDFrules]

Finally got her up in the air. Butt loads of power from 16 x 10 prop! Trimmed real quick, dove into a parachute and could see elevator flex.Booo! Put her down real quick and sure enough the carbon rods popped out, epoxy plugs and all. Back to the shop. Put 2 more carbon rods on top to cancel out up flex. Seems a lot sturdier. Experienced some sharking around probably due to junky stock hardware and elevator flex. Will change out to Dubro. If you plan on wringing this plane out, deposit the stock hardware in the circular file and upgrade before you find out the hard way. Hanger 9, if you're reading this-please make a lightened e-version as this one is made for glow and you have to hack this one up to make battery hatches, cooling ducts and the like. And for pete's sake fix the elevator! Some flat carbon stock on the elevator hinge line wouldn't be a bad place to start. Way to much flex for a heavier 3D plane. Talked to someone with the Funtana 40 and he had the same problems. I would have thought H9 would have addressed these issues before marketing a newer verison. Didn't like the clearance with the SFG's and larger prop so I'm getting some taller carbon gear(ad said carbon but I got alum.) from Fiberlite to deal with that. Will try again in a couple of days and hopefully it will perform as advertised. The SFG's do seem to help with the tip stalling though. I'll fly with them till I get used to the plane, then try to fly without. My 2 cents.
Keep em flyin!

[Mike Parsons]

EDF,
Thanks for the report! I am going to be reviewing this plane with an E-flite 60 on 6S. I am just waiting on the airframe to arrive, so I can get started.

[EDFrules]

Dang it! I didn't want to be the first one to do a review on an e-powered version! I was hoping someone else would have done that! Anyway good luck with the conversion. Look forward to hearing your results with the E-flite 60. I've got a 17 x 10 to test out too. Won't fly it without the longer gear though. Still hasn't arrived, but I'll try and get it in the air as soon as I get the fasteners tightened!

[Mike Parsons]

Somebodys got to be on the bleeding edge

I have taken down your key points and will look at them as I get into it.

[EDFrules]

I quess you have to go out on a limb sometimes, that's where the fruit is. I'm sure you're a more experienced modeler than I am, so I'm sure you'll figure out the stuff I didn't. Look forward to hearing your build.
Regards,
Jason

[Mike Parsons]

Originally Posted by EDFrules

I'm sure you're a more experienced modeler than I am, so I'm sure you'll figure out the stuff I didn't. Regards,
Jason

Dont be so sure

[EDFrules]

Saved 3oz. by not using Himaxx motor mount.

[EDFrules]

Got 3 flights in today. Carbon quick fix for elevator seems to be holding up. Threw in a few violent moves, blenders, walls, parachutes and the like to see if it could take it. So far so good. SFG's make inverted moves rock steady. Also plan on a little extra runway when landing, they make the Funatana a real floater. Overshot landing on first try and hit some bumpier ground, LG mods held up. Weight well spent. KE's easy, will try some KE loops soon. High rates(70% expo) take some getting used to. Seemed to fall out of high alpha moves easier probably just me. Outrunner performed as expected -a little lag to get used to. Packs were barely warm after 7-8 min. flights, so as soon as the taller LG from Fiberlite comes in I'll try the 17 X 10 prop. Vertical could use the extra watts. Still adequate. Hovers nice and stable and torque rolls are easy. Can't wait to kick up some dust! Overall very comfortable with plane after first few seconds. No sharking around with the Dubro hardware and elevator bracing. Overall a fairly stable 3D trainer for larger electrics. Grade improved to A- with mods. My 2 cents. I'll try and get some more flights in and post results.
Keep em' flyin!
Jason

[EDFrules]

Worth the wait for the LG. Tried 17 x 10 prop and got 1450 watts @ 67 amps. Now hovers at 1/2 throttle and vertical is happenin'! Much more pleased with power output now. Longer LG keeps tips of SFG's from scrapping grass and plenty of prop clearance now. Will wring her out more after packs are broken in. Fun, Fun!!
Keep em flyin'!
Jason

[Mike Parsons]

Awesome! Glad to hear it keeps getting better Jason

[EDFrules]

Originally Posted by Mike Parsons

Awesome! Glad to hear it keeps getting better Jason

Thanks Mike, be looking for your review too.

[EDFrules]

Had someone crunch 2 ribs picking up plane(thanks buddy!) and since bottom covering seam behind wing on bottom of fuse kept coming off, I recovered with some yellow and black checkerboard I had laying around. Looks nice in flight too. Had nose overs with longer gear and wheel pants on. Cut gear down 1/2" and removed wheel pants. Seems better now. Fiberlite gear has some flex so I've ordered a stiffer, shorter set of LG from Graph Tech for comparison.
Keep em' flyin'!
Jason

[Mike Parsons]

Jason,
I had a chance to maiden mine yesterday. Man this thing is a blast. Some quick observations.

• I like the flight characteristics without the SFG's more than with.
• This plane floats very well and is more forgiving than the original funtana 40.
• The Elevator is an improvment over the original F40, but there is still a bit of flex on the halves.
• This plane is marketed as either Glow or Electric with a hard push towards Electric. Why oh why isnt there a prebuilt hatch in the top of the airplane. It wouldnt have to be a full hatch, but could be a simple hatch plate on top that is held on with magnents or a spring loaded hatch. It would be well worth paying a few extra dollars as a consumer.

Other than those few things, it really is a good plane. The roll rate without the SFG's is insane. The roll rate is so fast in fact that I couldnt keep up with it in rolling harriers. I had to use low rates .

-Mike

[EDFrules]

Originally Posted by Mike Parsons

Jason,
I had a chance to maiden mine yesterday. Man this thing is a blast. Some quick observations.

• I like the flight characteristics without the SFG's more than with.
• This plane floats very well and is more forgiving than the original funtana 40.
• The Elevator is an improvment over the original F40, but there is still a bit of flex on the halves.
• This plane is marketed as either Glow or Electric with a hard push towards Electric. Why oh why isnt there a prebuilt hatch in the top of the airplane. It wouldnt have to be a full hatch, but could be a simple hatch plate on top that is held on with magnents or a spring loaded hatch. It would be well worth paying a few extra dollars as a consumer.

Other than those few things, it really is a good plane. The roll rate without the SFG's is insane. The roll rate is so fast in fact that I couldnt keep up with it in rolling harriers. I had to use low rates .

-Mike

Great flight report Mike, Thanks! How are KE's without SFG's? I haven't tried without, I quess I should sometime soon. I had to turn my rates down a little too. Tell me about the hatch deal! It would have been a lot easier if they had 2 versions, 1 electric and 1 glow. Lighter built with hatches and cooling vents for electriflyers and a regular version for the glow guys. What power readings are you getting using the E-flite 60? Just curious about your pull outs from hover. Thanks for the input. I'm having a blast with mine!

Jason

[Mike Parsons]

I noticed on KE without the SFG's it requires more rudder than it does with them. Not by much, but just enough.

My thought on the hatch was at a minimum design it into the frame in front the canopy, but leave it attached. For electric conversions, we could simply cut the hatch out and hinge it. A little thin ply hatch built in shouldnt effect the weight by much.

I am getting 1100 watts with the Power 60 and 16X8 APC. It pulls out well from hover. We did two or three verticle drag races for the video. I should be submitting the review this week!

-Mike

[EDFrules]

Cool! I'll look for the video. What did your AUW come out at? Mine came out at about 6.5lbs. I've also got the Graphtech landing gear on and I like them better than the lighter/taller set. No problems with noseovers now.
Thanks,
Jason

[Mike Parsons]

I am at 6.5 too. I didnt notice any clearance issues with the 16X8 and stock gear. Our field is pretty well groomed though. Now the SFG's are really close to the ground and three points are necessary on landings. They do look cool though

[EDFrules]

Here's the 2 LGs for reference. The straight legged on is the Graphtech and the curved leg is the Fiberlite. The Graphtech is 2.5 oz and the Fiberlite is 2oz. Personally I like the Graphtech as it has less flex on landing. Both are a lot better than the aluminum gear and you can save a couple of oz's by using 6-32 bolts and hardware. My 2 cents. Still having a blast with the Funtana. It's proving to be a great 3D trainer for me. It definitly keeps you on your toes and it's stable enough to overcome 10+mph winds. Now if we could just talk H9 into making an all E-version....

[Mike Parsons]

They look pretty good. I am too having a great time with the FuntanaX. I am still not enjoying removing the wing to change out the batteries, but that is my only one real complaint. Not sure if that is even a valid issue since converting to electric is really an "on your own configuration".

After the review is published I plan on creating a hatch on the top like you did.

-Mike

[Mike Parsons]

A couple of photos

[EDFrules]

Originally Posted by Mike Parsons

They look pretty good. I am too having a great time with the FuntanaX. I am still not enjoying removing the wing to change out the batteries, but that is my only one real complaint. Not sure if that is even a valid issue since converting to electric is really an "on your own configuration".

After the review is published I plan on creating a hatch on the top like you did.

-Mike

I've got another fuse for when I rekit this one, so I'll probably make it a 1 piece hatch by cutting thru the middle bulkhead and making it one long hatch. I like accessibility! Nice pics! Looking forward to your review.

[EDFrules]

Had a new friend fly my X 50 today and he said it flies better than his old Funatana 40. He's had a couple of Funatan 40's and a 90 (all glow)never flown an electric Funtana, but he felt the power system and prop were dead on. He never really had to go above 1/2 throttle and liked the up and down lines. He thought it flew much better with the SFG's on. He's much better on the sticks than I am and wrung her out good. Also tried out my new Spektrum DX-6 on it and never had a glitch. Very pleased with system overall. That's the latest update. Now that I have someone better on the sticks, I can shoot some video next time. More soon...

[EDFrules]

Here's my quick and dirty video. This is Blake's first flight with this plane! Check out the RCU video section. Sorry someone help me with the link!

[EDFrules]

Here's the video link:
http://www.rcuvideos.com/view video....c6433c3e2ee63b
Hope this works...
Sorry it doesn't work. Should have paid more attention in computer class....