Alpha 2.0M build "log" (mostly questions)

[Doc J]

About to maiden my electric Alpha/Typhoon/Dream, can anyone give me some guidance on CoG/all moving tail incidence set up please? I understand these two values are interrelated, I'd just prefer to start somewhere in the correct zone rather than to get a surprise on maiden! I have a good amount of experience , so would be looking for a more rearward CoG and hence less tail negative incidence.

Hey Tony.

The setup will be very similar indeed to the Typhoon.

I have attached the orginal Typhoon manual I wrote a VERY long time ago when I designed the original.

It should still be OK.

I dont think you will get any big surprises from this "pulled and pushed" version. There are at least 5 versions of it flying.

Good luck, and please let us know how you get along.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Tonys1100s]

Hey Tony.

The setup will be very similar indeed to the Typhoon.

I have attached the orginal Typhoon manual I wrote a VERY long time ago when I designed the original.

It should still be OK.

I dont think you will get any big surprises from this "pulled and pushed" version. There are at least 5 versions of it flying.

Good luck, and please let us know how you get along.

Cheers,

Doc.

Thanks Doc,
Manual mentions setting the elevator to 'neutral' but doesn't define where that is! I've read elsewhere about having the mould line of the leading edge of the elevator 63mm above the bottom of the fuselage, but this seems to give a lot of 'up' elevator at neutral...just doesn't look correct....

 

[Doc J]

Thanks Doc,
Manual mentions setting the elevator to 'neutral' but doesn't define where that is! I've read elsewhere about having the mould line of the leading edge of the elevator 63mm above the bottom of the fuselage, but this seems to give a lot of 'up' elevator at neutral...just doesn't look correct....

I think you might need the advice of another Typhoon owner there, Tony. If I had a model in my hand I'd soon be able to tell you how to do it - but alas.

Buuuuuttt....hmmmm...Maybe this might work:

1. Make a couple of foam V-stands so that the assembled model can wedged-in horizontally on a table.
2. Set up the model so that the wing LE and TE are in a straight parallel line the the tabletop - as though the model was flying level in other words.
3. OK, now move to the back of the model, and with the wing at zero-zero as you have just set up, measure the difference between the AMT LE and TE.
4. Adjust the AMT so that the wing LE/TE, and the Tailplane LE/TE are ALL level to the table top. Zero-zero - Zero-zero.

Now set up your CG with a bit of extra lead to be taken out later.

Please dont worry about all the crap you might read about needing rigging angles or angles of attack etc. Thats rubbish.

I designed the original wing and its wing sections so I know exactly what they will do.

Thinking...Man....what I do for RCRCN/TJIRC.
Anyway I'd rather see you guys flying and having fun - even with a copied competitors model, than taking home a smoking gutpile because the manufacturer has not tech backup.

Please let me know how you get along.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Tonys1100s]

Great, that's what I was looking for...thank you

 

[Doc J]

Great, that's what I was looking for...thank you

Just as an afterthought, Tony, the Typhoon was not designed with an AMT. It was one of the changes made to my designs by RCRCM to make production easier, then followed by the later copiers.

AMT tailplanes dont work very well so I dont use them.

CAMBER, CAMBER, CAMBER,

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[gnichola]

Doc said 0 incidence and for me on the Alpha that was center of the bump on rudder as seen in this post: https://forum.alofthobbies.com/index.php?threads/alpha-2-0m-build-log-mostly-questions.1895/page-3#post-52588 I started with 80mm cg and it just flew straight out of my hand, and really required no trim.

 

[Doc J]

Thanks for the response @Doc J The aircraft is a TJIRC Alpha 2.0, and I only called it a Typhoon as in one of my early posts in this thread I asked if there was a manual for it, and I was told it was the same as the Typhoon. The instructions I linked to above are basically the same instructions I found in numerous places with the only difference in that particular link, being you on the cover photo (that is you isn't it?)
Anyway, as to my maiden setup, I will turn up the aileron travel some, and drop my flaps to 50% or so of the aileron travel.
One last question. There is a round "bump" on the front of the rudder that the elevator travels over as seen in the images below. I am trying to make a guess to "center" as the center on the slot and the center on the bump are not the same. Currently I have chosen center of bump as the 10mm travel suggested sort of matches "bump travel". I would like to avoid big surprises on my maiden so I am thinking that I could check the incidence at my current center. My question is what should I be looking for at center? 1-2 deg?
View attachment 19070
View attachment 19071

Thats is me on the cover. No idea why.

No incidence needed. Zero-Zero.

If you put incidence in, you will reduce the performance of the model.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Hill Hobbit]

Hi Tony, the method Doc J advises to set your Dream at 0-0 wing to tail would be the way to go, unless you have a Robart incidence meter.

The figure of 63.5 from the fuz bottom to the centre of the AMT’s leading edge at the root ONLY applies to a genuine Typhoon as far as I know. The Dream/Alpha fuselage is different for a start, then the AMT might well be mounted at a different height from the Typhoon’s.

Please contact me via pm for further information re my advice regarding cg etc. I won’t put put anything on here anymore about cog’s that make models perform at their best. Hey ho…

Cheers
Jonty

Still regularly flying a now 11 year old Typhoon!