Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP__Sunset Huckin'

Well, the new camera is working excellent; 1080p HD video! Here's today's Sunset video. Be sure to watch it in 1080p and fullscreen. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP__Then No Ma-Ma Huckin'

I went out to Largo's temp field today and flew my 60" Edge 540T EXP with a few friends of mine and had a blast. The camera was being stupid, however, and was randomly cutting out, so we got a couple one minute clips before giving up... but here's the video we did manage to get. Special Thanks to Shawn's not-so-smart phone for the name of today's video!



--Tom K.

Lazy Huckin'

I flew my 60" Edge EXP today. Just another lazy day in paradise:) Enjoy!



--Tom K.

The Extra's Back!

Hey Everyone. My Extra EXP looked a little lonely and dusty sitting on the rack in my dad's office and I decided to take it out to the field today and fly it to start off my winter break from class. Boy, I forgot how much fun this plane was! I don't think it will be sitting lonely on the rack anymore. Going back to my old Extra was almost like buying a new plane... I definately had a blast today, not to mention the conditions were nearly perfect. Overcast skies made the camera go a little funky, but we managed to get some at least semi-decent footage. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

60" Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP__First Film

Well I played around with movie maker on my dad's computer (the new Windows 7 version) and I got the basics figured out. However it will be good to get back with the old one once I get my computer back.

But anyway, here's the first video of my new Edge. It's awesome! Setup article coming soon!



--Tom K.

Update

Hey Everyone. Sorry I haven't been much fun lately, but my computer with my video editor is in the repair shop and I haven't heard from the guy in a while. Hopefully I'll get it back soon. Until then, let me give you a quick update about what projects I'm working on.

First off, I'm almost done completing my flight setup of my new 60" Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP with Savox SH-1250MG servos and a Motrolfly 4315-480kv motor swinging a 16x8 XOAR prop on 6S. The Motrolfly provides an insane amount of power. The Edge flies amazing! I'm off this week so I'll probably get the Knife Edge mixing set up soon (it doesn't need much). Finally the Savox servos are running great! Smooth, quick, and plenty of torque. It's a pretty sweet setup if you ask me. Once I get my computer back I'll do my regular Savox and setup article and video highlighting the features of the setup I'm running.

I'm using 6S 3300mAh batteries and I get about 5:30 minutes of flight time with about 20-25% of the battery left flying hardcore 3D & extreme aerobatics. However that's not a final time yet as I'm still in the setup stage and am still setting up my ESC, so the flight time may change/get longer. I've been using Sky Lipo 6S 3300mAh 30-60C batteries, and later tonight or tomorrow I'm going to solder my connectors onto the new Gens Ace 25C 3300mAh 6S battery that arrived in the mail earlier this week.

Once we get this project out of the way, I'll get started on my next: an Electrifly Citabria. That article will most likely be on modelairplanenews.com. Hopefully I'll get my computer back soon and I can get back into the flow of things.

--Tom K.

Huckin' in the Wind!

Well, today was windy. 15mph gusting to 25, and not predictable at all! At least it was a dead crosswind! Enjoy!



--Tom K.

IT'S FOAM!

It's easy to fly without the fear of crashing when the thing you're flying...
IS FOAM!



--Tom K.

Pop Top Instructional Video

I've received many requests for an instructional video on how to do the "Pop Top."  Here it is, good luck!



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP__Sunset Huckin'

As we build and wait for equipment to arrive for my 60" Edge 540T EXP, I'm still huckin' it up with my 48" Edge 540T EXP. This is such a great flying plane! I'm running Savox SH-0257MG servos on the ailerons and rudder, and a Savox SH-0255MG servo on the elevator. A Motrolfly 2820-750 680kv custom wound motor pulls it around easily with a 14x7E APC prop powered by Sky-Lipo 4S 2650mAh 30-60C LiPos... It's awesome!



--Tom K.

*New* Extreme Flight 60" Edge 540T EXP

After purchasing two of the Extreme Flight 48" Edge 540T EXP's I couldn't wait to get their new 60" version. The 48" already flies like a bigger plane, so I can't imagine how well this flies. I received it yesterday and managed to film an un-boxing review last night. I finished up the editing this morning and it was just posted a few minutes ago. I'm pretty sure we're going to go with Savox servos and a Motrolfly 6S setup on this plane. It's gonnna be awesome! Check it out!



--Tom K.

Twisted Hobbys Xtra Slick__Night Huckin'

So I saw Twisted Hobbys' video of the new light kit they came out with for the Xtra Slick, and I had to get one just to try it out. Now that I have it, I can honestly say it is completely awesome! It weighs 1.75grams and I can bet almost all the weight is in the 3" wire lead that goes to the receiver, because the wires that run the length of the wing to the sesame seed sized LED's are ultra small.

The LED's are super bright! Two blue lights get hot-glued to the bottom half of the SFG and two white ones to the top half. They shine back on the plane illuminating it as if it was daytime. With this kind of setup, you don't have to fly by light strips, and they get confusing, "Okay... so red's on the top, blue's on the bottom... they point towards the front so I should pull up and... whoops..." Yeah, confusing. But not with this setup.

Unfortunately, my camera isn't all that great so the quality is rather poor, but it came out okay despite the quality. Pink Floyd makes it all better :). This was taken in my front yard about an hour ago. The only thing about flying in the yard is we have this gigantic tree in the middle of it and the branches reach down to about 10-15ft so I have to fly under them. Check it out!



--Tom K.

Savox SH-0257MG Servo Rundown

Savox SH-0257MG

I’ve been using Savox Servos in all of my planes for almost a year now, and they have been completely incredible from start to finish. My servo of choice for all surfaces on my Extreme Flight 48” EXP series of planes has been the SH-0255MG. This servo provides 54oz/in of torque, and is an all around tough servo. I’ve decided to mix it up a bit and see if I can find a better combination, and I think I found the best yet!
I decided to go ahead and get three of the Savox SH-0257MG servos for the ailerons and the rudder. Why? Well, Extreme Flight recommends the Hitec HS-65MG servos for the surfaces. The HS-65MG provides 31oz/in of torque and 0.11seconds speed. The SH-0257MG servos by Savox provide the same amount of torque, 31oz/in, only at a faster speed of 0.09seconds! That seemingly miniscule difference in speed may not seem like much, but when you are doing advanced precision and 3D maneuvers, you can feel the difference.

Also, the Savox SH-0257MG is digital, has an aluminum case, and still costs less than the Digital Hitec HS-5065MG… which still isn’t as fast. And for the elevator, of course I went with my trusty SH-0255MG servo which provides the torque needed to swing the big elevator up and down without blowback, or the need to widen the servo mounting hole like you would with the Hitec HS-85MG… plus it’s faster.

For a motor, I went with the Motrolfly 2820-750 with 680kv. This thing running on 4S batteries and a 14x7E APC propeller has an insane amount of power, torque, and plenty of vectored thrust. The big prop provides plenty of thrust during post-stall maneuvers to enhance control authority and precision, and also has tons of power when it comes time to rip out of a hover! It will go from a hover a few inches off the ground to out of sight in a matter of seconds!

Flight Review

As soon as I took off I could notice the difference. The SH-0257MG servos are wicked fast and insanely precise! Super swift movements mixed with digital precision really make for a great servo. Also, the SH-0255MG in the elevator kept up quite nicely while using Extreme Flight’s extended servo arm . It had tons of torque, an insane amount of throw, and I really felt confident because everything was so solid and locked in.

The Motrolfly had the Edge off the ground in just a few feet and shooting towards the clouds with ease. Plenty of torque and thrust from the big 14x7 prop keeps me in complete control in all aspects of flight; and when I need a boost of power to get me out a too low, too slow situation, it has the reserve right there waiting and really comes through. The motor pulls about 45 amps on 4S with the 14x7E and spins about 8300RPM’s… plenty of thrust on a 3.5 pound airplane!

Wrap Up

All in all, I think this is truly the best setup I've tried yet for this airplane. Now dim the lights, cue the music, sit back, relax, and enjoy!

 

Specs:
Dimensions(mm): 22.8X12.0X25.4
Weight(g): 14.0
Speed(@4.8V sec/60): .13
Torque(@4.8V oz-in): 25.0
Speed(@6.0V sec/60): .09
Torque(@6.0V oz-in): 30.6
Gear: Metal
Bearing: 1BB
Case: Aluminum
21 Tooth Spline

--Tom K.

LiPo Fire

Check out my blog over at Model Airplane News' website for my flaming LiPo story. Just go to modelairplanenews.com and click on "blogs" and "featured"... then just click on my name and you'll see a short lead in to my article. Click on the title and away you go into the hot, orange world of flaming LiPos!

--Tom K.

Edge #2

After purchasing an Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP 48", I decided it was one of the best planes I've ever flown, so I decided to get another. The first one is my dad's anyway. So the second time around I went with one of the best power combo's and equipment setups for this plane.

For a motor, I'm running the Motrolfly 2820-750 with 680Kv and a 14x7 on 4S 2800mAh G-Force 30-40C LiPo packs. It pulls about 45 amps and turns 8300RPM. This provides insane power and plenty of propwash from the big 14" prop and it literally rockets out of a hover.

I wanted a really precise handling plane, so I went with Savox SH-0257MG servos on the ailerons and rudder because they have 31oz/in of torque and 0.09 seconds speed. They are digital and incredibly precise and fast. On the elevator, since it requires a servo with more torque, I went with the Savox
SH-0255MG. This provides 54oz/in of torque at 0.13 seconds speed, and is still incredibly precise because it is a digital servo.

Otherwise, I'm using my trusty DX7 with an AR6200 receiver. Everything runs smooth and required minimal Knife Edge mixing. Here's the video from yesterday. I think my dad started filming on the third flight. The plane is so new it still doesn't have any decals. After this weekend, I'm going to go over it once more with the trim iron and then apply my custom vinyl decals by Flip Flop Graphics.

Enjoy!



--Tom K.

New Runway Huckin'

Well I took out my 3D Hobby Shop Velox, dusted it off, and brought it out to the flying field today. After one flight I felt right back at home with it. I'm working on inverted harriers (about time) and they are just too easy with this plane.

Anyway, here's the video. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

RC Clubs... Way Cool

Well, today was just another example of how awesome RC clubs are. After a day of flying our friend and flying buddy, Lou, invited us over to his house for a cookout. He really knows his way around a smoker and the food was amazing. Having a buddy like Lou is just another reason why RC clubs are pretty awesome. Not only do you have people around you that enjoy RC flying, but you also make good friends who are always looking out for you. Thanks Lou for the dinner! It was awesome!

--Tom K.

New FPV setup

Hi Everyone! I was on the way back from the field today after being chased out by an approaching storm and I got to thinking about the FPV (First Person View) setup on my LT-40. If you go back in the archives of this blog, you'll find a few of my amateur looking videos taken from the side of my LT-40's fuselage. I was thinking about how to make a forward facing platform for the camera without making it too complex.

My first idea was to build a right triangle piece that would be glued to the side of the fuselage with some dowels so the flat piece would face forward and... too complicated. My second idea was to create an "L" shape piece, then cut a hole in the front windscreen, slip the piece in, and glue it to the top of the hole and... better than my first idea, but still too complicated.

I liked the "L" shaped cradle idea, and my dad helped me construct one. We then decided to test fit it to the top of the fuselage right behind the wing. I placed the camera in the cradle, turned it on, and recorded a short clip of me waving at it from the front of the plane. I then plugged it into my computer and upon review, the view was pretty decent. There was a little bit of the top of the wing in frame for reference, a little bit of the prop was visible so you can tell which way was straight forward, and it was easy to mount.

My dad then made some triangle braces for the cradle, and we attached it to the fuse with some Velcro and a wood screw. It looks a little rough, but my dad said it reminded him of R2D2 riding in the back of the Starfighter in Star Wars. It isn't all to aerodynamic, but nothing a few clicks of down trim won't fix in flight... and when you think of it, bombers in WWII had observation domes poking out on top of the fuse and they flew fine.

Anyway, here are a few pictures. We'll see how it looks next time I bring the LT-40 out to the field.

This picture is of the camera sitting in its cradle:

This one is of the cradle itself:

Now I have a question for my viewers. If you recognize the camera in the picture as the one you own, if you could let me know how to set the date/time stamp that would be great. Please let me know at toms3dhuckfest@yahoo.com or by leaving a comment. Thanks!

--Tom K.

Summer 2011 Compilation

Hey Everyone! School starts up again tomorrow so unfortunately summer is over. I decided to edit together some scraps from different videos from over the summer and make a compilation video. Here it is!



--Tom K.

Huckin' Back Home!

Well, MCRC is open again after the very expensive runway renovation provided completely through donations. Many thanks to all who donated their time and treasure to this project! Now we have a beautiful flat runway that is about 110" x 500" with 200" of overrun on each side if I remember correctly. It's completely amazing!

So, we decided to test out the new runway and I grabbed a few flights on my Extra 300 EXP. Here's the video! Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Twisted Hobbys Xtra Slick__A Foam Sunset

I took the Xtra Slick out today and decided to get some video. My friend Shawn, also known as Gravitycheat online, was kind enough to man the camera and got some great footage while I was flying. Shawn is one of those creative people who when handed a camera will do their best to make it look good. From jogging along with the plane in Knife Edge, to rotating the camera for some dizzying torque rolls, it all contributed to the video making for some amazing footage! Thanks Shawn!



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP__Black Magic Huckin'

Well I decided to experiment a little bit with my setup on the Edge, and here's what I came to. Last year in 2010, I flew a lot of Giant Scale (1/4 scale) planes to start flying in IMAC. When flying the bigger planes, it is best to use a small amount of expo because the surfaces have such a big effect that having a lot expo can make it harder to make crisp, precise maneuvers.  I decided to start backing the expo (from around 70%) down and I found that around 40% for ailerons and elevator and 30% for rudder works well. With less expo, you feel more connected to the plane because your inputs are immediately felt in the air.

After changing my setup, I saw that my snaps were smoother and more precise, as well as my point rolls and slow rolling turns. Also, harrier rolls (also knowns as "rollerz" or "rolling harriers") were easier to do as the tail surfaces were responding quicker giving me better, faster control. This allowed me to increase the nose up attitude of the plane to slow the roll rate. In the video below, I do a mix of 3D and precision maneuvers. Sure, my precision isn't that good as I'm a little rusty, but I was satisfied with the setup changes, and this is where they will stay. I even changed the setup in my Extra to the same and it flies a lot better also.
Here is the video of my Edge with the new setup:



--Tom K.

Tuesday Huckin'

Today we went out the the field and got some video of my Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP. This is such a sweet flying airplane! It does awesome precision and flies on rails, then crank the throws (81 degrees of elevator to be exact) and it turns into a 3D monster. Check out today's video! Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP

Well today the dark clouds finally subsided so we had some decent lighting to shoot some video in... if only the camera quality was better. Don't worry, we're working on it! Anyway, here's the video. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Huckin' Before a Storm

I went out to the the field and met Shawn (GravityCheat) at the gate just as he was leaving... last one out. I took out my 48" EF Extra EXP to fly, plugged in the battery, then looked up at the rapidly darkening sky and discovered the reason why my dad and I were the only ones at the field. So, we packed up the balsa plane and equipment so if the storm rolled in too quickly we wouldn't be scrambling in the rain and wind to pack everything into the car... I've had more than my fair share of those. I wasn't too pleased with not being able to fly, but the storm seemed far enough away that I could get a flight in on the foamie before leaving... and if I was wrong, packing up the small plane and battery would be childs' play and could be done in about a minute.

I pulled the radio back out of the car, grabbed a 2S 450, plugged it in and flew as my dad filmed. I wasn't halfway done with the flight when my dad shut the camera off yelling "Okay, let's go". I was about done having fun anyway because the plane wasn't going anywhere... forward at least. I plopped it onto the ground and held full down to hold it there as the wind picked up to gale force. I proceeded to run to the pits and car to pack up the batteries and plane. The winds continued to pick up and while running to the car, cautious not to let the foamie fly from my grasp, my hat blew off! I quickly started packing everything up as my dad ran after my hat. Once everything was put away, we grabbed the camera once again to shoot some B-Roll of the approaching squall.

And now, your featured presentation:


--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP

Since I've been flying the Edge a lot recently, I felt like I was somewhat neglecting my Extra... so today I brought it out to the field and grabbed a few flights. It took a little getting used to as the Extra and Edge are completely different flying airplanes. The Extra is much faster than my Edge and likes to harrier at higher speeds. It also snaps faster than the Edge, so getting used to the faster reflexes required behind the sticks was a bit of a wake up call. After one flight, however, I felt right at home with my trusty Extra.

Here is today's Extra EXP video. Dim the lights please...



--Tom K.

Quick Edge Video

Here's today's Edge video. I'm really starting to get comfortable with this plane... but it's hard not to because it's so stable. The camera quality isn't the best on this flight, however, but it came out OK. Hope you like the Beatles!



--Tom K.

THUNDER HUCKIN'

As we sat around at the flying field examining the quick moving squall to the East, of all things to do, we decided to fly. Maybe not the smartest idea... but made for some decent video! Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Edge 540T__First Official Beatdown!

So now that the first few flights on the Edge are done we took it out to the flying field today to get some flight video... and that's just what we did. I experimented with removing the SFG's and I kind of like it. Here are my reasons for experimentation and my findings:

First off, the Motrolfly 2820-750 with that 14x7 prop lacked the forward speed I was looking for. Since the SFG's are so huge, I figured they were creating drag whenever the tail wiggled and waggled adding up to un-needed drag that slowed the airplane down. Also, I was curious to see how the rudder authority decreased without them. I mean, the SFG's are so huge, they had to be doing a lot of work... no? And finally, I heard on one of the online forums that one person took off his SFG's and wing rock decreased... which is hard to believe when you think of the aerodynamics aspect of things, and also the fact that there is no wing rock when the SFG's are on... so technically there can't be less than nothing, right?

So the first flight I took off, went vertical, and decided to do some vertical point rolls. The first thing I noticed was that it was rocketing upwards faster than it was with the SFG's installed, so that was step one in proving my drag theory. Also, when I gave the aileron inputs for the vertical point rolls, they seemed much more crisp, clean, and precise than with the SFG's on. Then I nosed over to pick up speed and decided to do a high speed racetrack pattern around the field to continue to experiment with the forward speed. I found that the speed did significantly increase making part-one of my experiment a success.

Next, I decided to try out some high speed Knife Edge (KE) passes. So I built up a head of steam at full throttle, put it on its edge (no pun intended) and gave my normal rudder input. Of course, without the SFG's and with an almost un-noticeable amount of rudder input, it started to sink. Not wanting to try anything weird as it sank towards the ground in the hot, humid, and thin air of Florida in mid July, I leveled the wings and flew out to the East. Next time around I gave more rudder input and managed to keep the aircraft from sinking... and I still had less than half rudder input applied. Apparently, the SFG's just add so much side area and lift when on KE, that it makes for a nearly un-realistically easy flying airplane... not particularly a bad thing, however. But even with the SFG's off, the Edge still performed Knife Edges almost flawlessly. The only flaw is when a lot of rudder is given, the aileron coupling does some weird stuff... but nothing a few percent of rudder to aileron mix can't fix.

Last on the list was the harrier test. This was to test two things: One, to prove or disprove the phenomena brought up on the forum. Two, to see if removing the SFG's will increase the forward speed of the aircraft to keep up with the pace of the music I intend to use in my videos.

So I brought it down from high altitude on the East side of the runway in an elevator and gently transitioned into a harrier. First thing I noticed was that there was a slight hint of wing rock; this immediately countering the event brought up on the forum. This was as I expected because the aerodynamics of it didn't add up logically, even in theory. As I continued to harrier around, I found that wing rock was not a constant problem, but mostly came into play when changing directions or decent rates (like during an elevator to harrier transition).

Last but not least was the harrier speed test. Upon pulling up to my 45 degree AOA ideal for my harriers, I almost immediately noticed that the plane was moving faster than with the SFG's installed. I was pleased with this outcome.

In conclusion, I am pleased with the flight performance of the Edge without the SFG's. I will continue to experiment with KE mixing and maybe some alternative SFG designs... but for now, it flies great!

Dim the lights please...



--Tom K.

Edge 540T SH-0255MG Servo Review

As a follow up to my Unboxing review of my New Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP, I only see it fit to write a flight review on this amazing aircraft and its setup.

Set-up:

After getting a few flights in on the new Edge, I realized that the set-up I am using has got to be one of the best setups for this plane. For a motor I'm using the Motrolfly 2820-750 with their FM-80 Amp ESC and U-BEC. This power combo provides enough power for 3D, and an extreme amount of torque and vectored thrust thanks to the big 14x7E APC propeller. For servos of course I am using a Savox SH-0255MG servo on all surfaces. These are outstanding little powerhouses with 54 oz/in of torque on 6 volts. Not to mention they provide the torque and speed needed to adequately swing the huge elevator around without having to modify the servo hole for a larger servo.

 

The Servos:

I'm using Savox SH-0255MG Digital micro servos on all control surfaces on the Edge. They run cool, provide insane torque, are quick, and the ones in my other planes are lasting a long time. Again, like with the Extra 300 EXP, people have been experiencing Blow-back (which is when the servo gets "blown back" by the air pushing the big elevator) with the Hitec HS-65MG and are replacing the 65MG with the larger, more powerful HS-85MG. The only problem is since the HS-85MG is a physically bigger servo, you would need to open up the servo hole to get it to fit in the airframe.  However, with the SH-0255MG you don't have that issue because it is just about the same size as the HS-65MG, mounts in the same mounting holes, provides 23 more ounces of torque than the 65MG and five more ounces of torque than the 85MG, is .01 seconds faster than the 85MG, and is digital making every movement the servo makes extremely precise.

Some people have tried the Hitec HS-5065MG, which is the digital equivalent to the HS-65MG. However, it still does not provide the torque needed to swing the big elevator, and is more expensive than the Savox SH-0255MG.

Based on these facts, it was a no-brainer for me to go with the SH-0255MG's once again.

The Airframe:

The Edge was astonishing from the get-go. Beautiful red, white, and blue color scheme, big control surfaces, and an easy build. The build probably took under five hours, and the setup took a couple of hours and it was ready to go.

On the maiden flight I took off and had it trimmed in about 30 seconds. A few clicks of elevator and aileron and it was flying true.  I landed and moved the battery around to adjust the CG to my liking and took off again. Knife Edge (KE) mixing was minimal, and almost unnecessary. The Edge flies straight and true.

The Edge is incredibly solid in the air, yet extremely maneuverable and nimble. It spins itself into a knot and stops on a dime. The big stable Edge wing design allows it to land at next to no airspeed. Also, there was no wing rock whatsoever with the big SFG's (Side Force Generators) installed. I have not flown the Edge without them.

To sum it all up I couldn't be happier with the way the Edge came out. Extreme Flight did an excellent job designing and manufacturing the aircraft, Motrolfly makes an excellent motor, and Savox provided the most precise and strongest servos on the market for this size range and price.  I highly recommend this setup for anyone purchasing one of these magnificent airframes!

Dim the lights please...

--Tom K.

Huckin' at the Park

Okay, we'll be back to flying balsa stuff as soon as the flying field becomes... un-flooded.  But for now, we're huckin' around at the local park. Enjoy!





--Tom K.

Slickinsaneness II

It was so much fun last week that my dad and I had to get one. We had Gravitycheat put it together and help up set it up and it flies AWESOME! I highly recommend it for anyone looking to home in on their 3D skills. Here's the video from today! Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Slickinsaneness!

Hey Everyone! For some reason I did not upload last week's video of the Twisted Hobbies Xtra Slicks that "Doc" Austin and Shawn (Gravitycheat) were flying. I was manning the camera and apparently it was "Kill the Cameraman" day... so here is the video form last week!



--Tom K.

Summer Huckin'

Well it's the first day after the Summer Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere and we decided to spend it out at the flying field! Thanks to Austin for playing "Cameraman" for the day.



--Tom K.

Just Huckin' Around

We made some modifications to the Side Force Generators (SFG's) on the 3D Hobby Shop Extra 300 SHP and decided to give them a try. They are more rounded and poke out in front of the leading edge of the wing. They really make a difference!

The are very easy to make. Some 1/16 balsa, some self adhesive covering bought from the LHS, and then the stock SFG's just go right over them! Very simple and make a significant difference. Here's the video from today! Enjoy!



--Tom K.

S'more Wind Huckin'!

Yesterday when we took the new Edge out we also had the Extra. We only got 22 seconds of Edge video, but we managed to film one and a half flights on the Extra. Here's the video. I hope you like the Beatles!



--Tom K.

*New* Extreme Flight Edge 540T EXP

I was so impressed with my Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP that I just had to try another plane in their EXP series. My dad and I decided on the Edge 540T EXP. This is supposed to be the easiest 3D plane between the Extra and MXS, and we've always liked Edges, so it was a no-brainer.

We are almost done with the build and only have a few more hours to go (mainly setup) before we'll be flying it. Yes, we... it's my dad's plane, however I feel I'll be begging for a lap more often than not. So far we are extremely impressed with this plane: extremely light and very stylish.

For setup we are using a Motrolfly 2820-950 motor with a 13x6.5 propeller with their 60 Amp ESC. We'll be running a JR Spektrum AR6200 RX with my DX7 TX for guidance. And of course we will be using Savox SH-0255mg servos all the way around.

Here is the unboxing video. Stay tuned for some flying videos! Enjoy!



--Tom K.

More Wind Huckin'

It was pretty windy today but my Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP with Savox SH-0255mg servos handled it quite nicely. Here's the video!



--Tom K.

Huckfest Practicing

The 2011 Huckfest is next week at the RCACF field over on the East coast of Florida and I'm going!  Here's me practicing today so I don't look like a noob :).  Enjoy:



--Tom K.

Luvin' 4S in the EXP

A good friend of mine "Doc" Austin recently gave me an APC 12x6 to try on my EF Extra EXP.  The prop I was using was a Turnigy Wood Light Electric 12x6 prop, and I wasn't getting the performance I was expecting; it was good, but not great. After about 3 seconds in the air with the APC prop I felt a HUGE difference! Not only was there more power, but the airflow around the plane and its control surfaces was smoother, and I could FEEL it. I was utterly amazed!

Anyway, here's the video. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Aircraft Review

I was recently sent an e-mail with an article request. The gentleman who contacted me requested a comparison between the 48" Precision Aerobatics Extra 260, 47" 3D Hobby Shop Extra 300 SHP, and 48" 3D Hobby Shop Velox VR-1.

All three of these airplanes are extremely capable. They all can perform anything from pattern, to harrier flight, to extreme 3D. However, they all fly completely different and call for a different level of skill behind the sticks.

The Precision Aerobatics Extra 260 has a wingspan of 48 inches, and is the lightest in this 48" balsa wood class. PA uses their "Fiber Fusion" design to add strength, and keep the weight down. This is accomplished by using light wood along with strong composite and carbon fibre material to add strength. The PA Extra is the mildest and easiest to fly of the three in my opinion. The roll rate is less than the 3DHS planes, and the plane is also much lighter making for a wing loading of about 10 as stated in the manual. But, because of this lightness, the 260 does not perform as well in wind as the 3DHS planes; so if you live in an area where high winds are a constant, the 260 is probably not the best choice for you.

As a result of the lighter wing loading and reduced roll rate, the PA 260 is the most docile of the trio. I find the slower roll rate of the 260 a bonus because it makes rolling harriers much easier. Also, the lightness of the plane means that wherever you are in the air, if you have a little throttle going when you give control input, the input is immediate and precise.

The PA 260 is a very durable airplane, but not bulletproof.  Since the 260 is the lightest of the three, it has less mass and therefore less momentum when it hits the dirt. The 260 can withstand minor incedents quite well, and can absorb tough landings. However, the wheelpants are rather flimsy and may be the first things to go. The separately sold carbon fibre wheel pants are both stylish, and stronger than the fiberglass ones. Replacement parts are available on the PA website.

The 3D Hobby Shop Extra 300 SHP requires a step up in skill from the PA 260 as it is heavier and more capable. The SHP has a faster roll rate, and can tumble harder than the PA 260. I have found that in harrier flight the SHP excels, as well as in KE flight and other extreme 3D maneuvers. But since the SHP weighs more and has a higher wing loading than the PA, thought must be put into how you are going to exit a maneuver. It still pulls out quickly, but if you aren't giving it your full attention, things could get messy.

The SHP is a durable plane, but yet again, not bullet proof. I have found the landing gear mount to be extremely strong; also the landing gear itself is very strong, however if you really screw up a landing, the CF gear will require repair or replacement. The SHP is also very easy to repair as pretty much every part is sold separately on the 3DHS website. I completely destroyed the nose of the plane in a terrible wreck, but was able to repair it thanks to the complete motor box assembly sold separately.

The 3D Hobby Shop Velox VR-1 is definately my favorite of the three. This plane is completely stable and easy in harrier, yet extremely nimble and aerobatic when you mash the sticks in the corners. I have only flown a select few planes that have this combination of flight characteristics blended together so well. Of course, because of this extreme maneuverability, the Velox requires an upper intermidiate to advanced pilot to have complete control and confidence with this plane at all times.

The Velox will do anything you ask it. Slow rolls, big loops, harriers, inverted harriers, rolling harriers, rolling loops, high speed KE, high alpha KE, KE loops, enemas (pop-tops), KE spins, flat spins, and many other extreme, high G load maneuvers. It also handles the wind extremely well. I've flown my Velox and had fun in thirty mph winds; no exaggeration.

In Conclusion, the Velox is my favorite of these three planes. It is both extremely solid in the air, handles the wind well, and is capable of anything thrown its way. The PA 260 is the easiest to fly, yet still capable of most 3D maneuvers. The PA is also probably the most durable because it is so light, and therefore doesn't have as much momentum when it hits the ground as the others do. The 3DHS SHP is kind of the middle child of the group; good at most everything, easy to fly, yet more nimble than the PA.








Disclaimer:  As of the writing of this article I do not have any affiliation with either company, and all that I say is my honest opinion and/or fact.

--Tom K.

4 cells in the Extreme Flight Extra EXP

I've spent the last few days off from school out at the field experimenting with my Extreme Flight Extra EXP with regards to using a three cell LiPo vs. using a four cell LiPo.  The 4S battery provides the Torque motor with way more power than with the 3S, but makes you use a smaller diameter prop for amp and load reasons. The EXP's are "bigger" planes than the planes I'm used to flying because of the EXP (Experimental Progressive) design and the amount of extra surface area this plane has regardless of the wingspan. Because of this increased drag, regardless of the plane's physical size and weight, you need more power than you normally would on a plane of similar size.

Today I came to the conclusion of using 4S in my EXP because with 3S there just wasn't enough power to pull out of botched maneuvers in any sort of wind, and also didn't have enough verticle punch out of a hover for my taste. Even though the 4S battery requires a smaller diameter propeller, the huge authoritative surfaces of the EXP design provide enough control surface area to make up for the reduced vectored thrust. Sure, in a hover it's harder to counter torque, but it's all about adapting to this new design of planes, and that is what I intend to do.

Here's the video from today of my EXP on 4S. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

3DHS Velox VR-1

Hey Everyone! Here's the flying video from last weekend. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

3DHS Velox VR-1 Savox Servo Review

Hey Everyone!  Here's another quick run-down on the Savox SH-0255mg servos.

I recently replaced the Hitec HS-65MG servos with Savox SH-0255mg servos in my 3D Hobby Shop Velox VR-1.  I was utterly amazed at how much more precise my Velox became after switching servos!  These servos are digital, have almost twice the torque as the HS-65's, are only a few bucks more, and they fit in the same mounting holes!

Installation of these servos is a breeze. The leads coming off the servos are longer than the Hitec's by a few inches, therefore eliminating the need for the tiny, yet expensive servo lead extentions. The SH-0255mg's easily drop into the wing of the velox, and the wire runs all the way out of the wing and into the receiver mounted below the wingtube. 

The performance of my Velox has significantly improved since switching to Savox. The maiden flight with these servos was amazing. A few clicks of trim and that was it.  Also, when I gave a control input, it gave me what I wanted, and held it strong.  Not to mention the servo brought the surface right back to center making the exits of maneuvers much more crisp and clean.

The Savox SH-0255mg servos make your plane handle better, therefore making you look like a better pilot.  No more correcting in level flight because the servo isn't centering. No more sloppy corrections after exiting a spin.  Just smooth, reliable performance.

Below I have embedded a video. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Huckin' in the Wind EXP Style!

Hey Guys! Here's the video from today. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Extra EXP April 3rd Video

Hey Everyone! Got some flying in today. Here's the video:



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Extra EXP Video

Hey Everyone!

Here's the video from today. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP Servo Review

Hey Everyone! I recieved some more of the Savox SH-0255mg servos for use in my new Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP 48". They work great! Let me give you a little background on why I chose these servos over other brand servos for this plane.

The Recommened servos for this plane are the Hitec HS-65MG servos. They provide 31oz-in of torque when powered by six volts. This is okay, however people are experiencing blow-back because the HS-65MG lacks the torque to push and hold the big elevator reliably. Blow-back is also known as the phenomena when the servo stalls because the torque rating is being exceeded. To fix this problem, people are replacing the HS-65MG with the bigger, more powerful HS-85MG. Seems like a quick and easy fix right? Well, not so fast! The HS-85MG is bigger in physical size and modifications to the servo hole need to be made to fit the bigger servo in the airframe.

Luckily, Savox makes a servo that is perfect for this airplane, at an affordable price. The Savox SH-0255mg servo provides 54oz-in of torque on six volts. That is 23 more ounces than the HS-65MG and 5 more ounces than the HS-85MG, all in a compact size that requires no modification to the airframe. The SH-0255mg also has several ground breaking features to improve perfomance, such as the aluminum case, and Digital reliablity. Neither the HS-65MG nor the HS-85MG is Digital, or features an aluminum case for efficient cooling.

Some other brands such as Airtronics creates similar Digital servos that some people are using in the Extra. However, the Savox SH-0255mg is still cheaper, and features more torque than the Airtronics 94809 servo. Here is a quick side-by-side comparison between these four servos:

Airtronics 94809    Hitec HS-65MG   Hitec HS-85MG   Savox SH-0255mg
Price: $49.99               $29.49                  $30.99                    $32.99
Torque: 39oz-in.           30.55oz-in            48.6oz-in               54oz-in
Speed: 0.1 sec.             0.11 sec.               0.14 sec.               0.13 sec
Digital?: Yes                  No                             No                     Yes

As you can see, each brand has its advantage and disadvantage. But, the Savox SH-0255mg servo has the most torque, for the most practical price.

I personally used to use Hitec HS-65MG's in all my 48" planes, and was planning on using the HS-85MG for the elevator servo, and HS-65MG's the rest of the way around in my Extreme Flight Extra EXP. But after doing my research and comparing different brands of servos, I came to the conclusion that the Savox SH-0255mg is the best servo to fit my aircraft and budget.

Below is a video of my Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP 48" in action with the Savox SH-0255mg.



--Tom K.

Sources:

http://www.hobbypeople.net/index.php/radios-servos/servos/servos/digital-servos/airtronics-94809-micro-digital-hi-perf-bb-mg-servo.html

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLGJ5&P=ML

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=HS-85MG

http://www.savoxusa.com/Savox_SH0255MG_Micro_Digital_Servo_p/savsh0255mg.htm

Extreme Flight Extra 300 EXP 48"

Hey Guys! Here's the video I shot from yesterday. I'm running Savox SH-0255mg servos all the way around. Plenty of torque for every control surface, awesome centering, and wicked fast.



--Tom K.

Extreme Flight RC Extra 300 EXP 48" Unboxing Review

Hey Guys!

I finally got off my rump and edited the video of the un-boxing review I did on the EF Extra 300 EXP 48". Came out pretty good if I do say so myself :). Anyway, Enjoy!



--Tom K.

20th Annual MCRC Dick Coles Memorial IMAA Fly-In

The 20th Annual MCRC Dick Coles Memorial IMAA Fly-In is a three day event held every year at the Manatee County Radio Controllers flying field on the second weekend in March. It is held on the Friday before the weekend, and then the two days to follow. This year we were especially lucky with ideal conditions on the weekend, however gail force winds restricted flying on Friday to only two and a half flights...

Since I attend school, I missed the event on Friday, but I heard that due to the weather I didn't miss much. However I did make it to the event both days on the weekend and had a blast! Saturday morning I was up bright and early and was out at the field by 8:30 A.M.  There were many campers and cars, and even though we showed up before the flying event officially started on Saturday, we still had trouble finding a parking spot! 

When my dad and I arrived we were warmly greated by the smells of morning dew on the grass and the airplanes. We were also greeted by the MCRC President Bill Cryer, by Jim Holloman who was our CD for the event, and also by the high quality sound system and twelve speakers lining the pits playing soft background music.  I knew that I would only be flying the noon time demo with my 48" Velox that day since I do not own an IMAA airplane, but I registered, paid my $10 landing fee, and received my pilot meal ticket and raffle ticket for pilot prizes. The $10 landing fee is worth it even if you don't fly, and pays for itself if you stay more than one day. I then took my plane out of the car and had the safety inspector do his walk around check on my airplane. He gave it the okay and I set it in the shade until noon.

As a volunteer worker for this event, I was assigned to parking duty for the several hours until I needed to get ready for my demo. It started out rather slow but as soon as ten o'clock rolled around, cars were coming in by the dozen and I had to call in back-up. Once my friend Liam got out to the parking area, things got a lot smoother. We parked over one hundred and twenty some odd cars before noon alone!

Back at the concession stand the multiple cooks and servers were busy keeping the crowd full and happy. All went well and we managed to sell out of our food for that day.

Before we knew it, it was noon and time for the demos. As Tony Ianucelli flew his scale model of an MD-500 helicopter with camo colors, scale missle pods, and a .90 size glow helicopter motor, I readied my Velox for my freestlye demo. When Tony finished his impressive flight, I took to the air with Aerosmith's "Devil's Got a New Disguise" playing in the background. After I landed everybody was safe to get out of their "take cover" positions and stare in awe at Troy Hawthorne's giant scale model of the legendary B-17G Flying Fortress.

Troy is an excellent modeler with a lot of building hours under his belt. After he finished assembling his scale ARF, he took it above and beyond what the manufacturer ever dreamed for this airplane. He custom made a bombay with working bombay doors, and a loading hatch on the top of the fuselage so he doesn't have to flip the plane over to load the bombs. Not only that, but he also custom designed twelve replicas of 500 pound bombs to drop from the bombay.

As far as Troy's modifications, we haven't even scraped the surface. He also equiped the bomber with scale retractable landing gear, moving and firing machine guns, and cockpit details using very simple yet impressive ideas. Visit http://www.rcwebclub.com/ to see videos, pictures, and more of his B-17G.

Back to the event; Troy flew his noon time demo and dropped candy for all the kids in the crowd. One lucky winner won a gift card to go White Water Rafting in the Carolinas.

After the noon time demos I went to have lunch, and enjoyed a top of the line cheeseburger combo with a choice of drink at bag of chips. It was all delicious!

As the event wound down the runway was opened to aircraft of all sizes. Later that day we enjoyed a delicious steak dinner that our President, Bill Cryer, whipped up for us along with baked potatoes and several scrumptious sides provided by some of our guests. For only about $10-$12 a person, it was well worth it.

After dinner we all went out in the dark for some night flying. Boy is it cool to see a plethora of lights floating around the sky against the pitch black sky. There were many pilots that flew that night, and I think there may have been a few reports of UFO's in the area...

The next day I was a bit behind because of the time change, but the event went on as usual and everyone got their last dose of fun for the weekend before we all packed up, took out the trash, and headed home. Another great event is added to the MCRC record book. Come on out next year! You won't regret it!

Below is a video I created of the event. Enjoy!



--Tom K.

Dick Cole's Memorial Big Bird Fly-In

Hey Everybody! It's the second week in March and you know what that means! The 20th Annual Dick Coles Memorial Big Bird Fly-In is this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! This is an IMAA only event for Bi-Planes 60" or quarter scale and bigger, and monoplanes 80" or quarter scale and bigger. If you live in the United States this is a great Event and since we've been doing it for 20 years, we have it down to a science. There is even a group from the North Eastern part of the US that comes down every year to attend. This is definately one event not to miss!

For more information visit: http://www.rcwebclub.com/. There is a spectator flyer up on the home page. Contact Jim (event CD) or Bill (MCRC President) for more information. Their number is at the bottom of the flyer.

This is a three day event but come on out for whatever day(s) you can make!

--Tom K.

Playin' in the Wind

Today I flew my Velox in the gale force winds... pretty fun actually. Check it out:



--Tom K.

Savox SH-0255MG Servo Review

Overview:

The Savox SH-0255MG servo is a Micro digital servo with metal gears. The SH-0255MG has 54 oz-inches of torque on six volts, and weighs 15.8 grams. It features an aluminum case for cooler operating temperatures, strong metal gears, and the reliability and centering capability of a digital servo. In addition, this servo will fit in most electric 3D airplanes of the 47"-52" size range due to its small size.

Background:

Savox has been in the servo market for quite some time, and is a big servo brand in the RC car market. Although Savox has been in the USA for only a few years, they are emerging into the flight market with their high quality and reliable products.

Specifics: 

The SH-0255MG servo is just one of Savox's long line of micro digital servos. It uses metal gears for strength and reliablity, and featuring 54.2 inch ounces of torque and a cool running aluminum case, this servo is a heavyweight when it comes to lightweight micro servos. Ball bearings keep things running smooth on the inside, and a wide variety of control arm styles and lengths gives the pilot options regarding their personal set-up on the outside.

Out of the Box:

Out of the box, the shipping box that is, you just sit and stare in amazement. First of all, the clear plastic boxes for the individual servos provides you with a clear view of the servo itself, the specifications on the back, and attractive design of the Savox logo. Once you tear open the protective wrapping and pop open the crisp, clear box, you will see the great looking Savox decals and a plethora of servo arms. Next, grab a scissor and cut the thin bungee that holds the servo securely during shipping. Now that you have everything out of the box, take it and use it to organize your flight box.

In the Air:

In the air these servos perform perfectly. They are fast, authoritative, and precise. When you give full deflection, you get full deflection; when you give center stick input, you get center. Not only do they hold center and full deflection, but they hold it strongly and precisely because of the high torque and digital centering veracity.  Having high torque and precision control is essential to 3D and precision aerobatics.

In Conclusion:

In conclusion the Savox SH-0255MG servo is a High Torque Digital Micro Servo that is competitively priced, and compatible with a huge variety of performance planes in the 47-52 inch wingspan market.

--Tom K.

HOLD THE PHONE!

A member or spectator managed to make a decent video of the event. You can easily spot my velox doing and abrupt "z-bend" maneuver to eject the ball. Chili cookoff was also that day. Congrats to Dave G. for making the best Chili! Here's the video:



--Tom K.

Golfing plane

Hey Guys,

Sorry, I didn't get any video of the Golf Event. My dad (cameraman) and I were back to back in the line up and since we were using the same radio, the whole passing back and forth of cameras and radios and planes and golf balls would have gotten hairy. If you are interested in learning how the event was laid out, E-Mail me at toms3dhuckfest@yahoo.com

--Tom Kitt

Golfing or Flying?

I'll be flying my Velox in a Golf tournament tomorrow. Video soon to come ;)

Velox VR-1 Sunday Huckin'

Here's some video of my 3DHS Velox VR-1. Great flying airplane. I got so much footage that I couldn't fit it into one video without it being 10 minutes and boring. Here's both parts!





--Tom

Huckin' in the Wind

Here's the video from today of my Beater SHP.



--Tom

SHP Back in the Saddle

I got my SHP that crashed a while back back up in the air with a new color scheme. We had to repair the right wing, and covered it in red hoping to make the plane more visible. We liked it so much we covered part of the left wing, then the canopy, then the tail... Looks and Flies GREAT! Here's today's video:



--Tom

Throwdown Video

Hey Guys!

The Throwdown at MCRC was AWESOME! We had quite a few guys there and we all had a blast! Check out the video!



--Tom

THROWDOWN!

Hey Everybody! Tomorrow is the 3D Hobby Shop Throwdown at my home field, Manatee County Radio Controllers. Here's the link to the website:

http://www.rcwebclub.com/

If you're local, come on out and join in the fun! Concession will be open and we are expecting at least 20 3DHS pilots and most likely, way more than that. Watch my Aerial videos to see what we have at MCRC. Come on out!

PA Extra 260 with Billy Joel

Hey Guys!

Here's the video from yesterday of my PA Extra 260.



--Tom

Dramatic Chipmunk

Once I saw this I knew I had to post it.

FPV LT-40 Flight

Here's my video from today taken from my LT-40. I think I found the final camera position!

Velox VR-1 video

New Camera Position

Hey Guys!

Here's another "FPV" (first person view) video taken from my electric LT-40. I'm trying new camera positions, let me know what you think! toms3dhuckfest@yahoo.com

Aerial Video

Hey Everybody,

I recently received an aerial video camera and attached it to my electric LT-40. The camera position will be moved to the side of the fuse instead of the bottom of the wing because out of about 30 minutes of flying I recovered about 3 minutes of usable footage... and that's in slo-mo! Here it is:

New Year Huckin'!