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Multiplex Lentus
- Thread starter Konrad
- Start date
Glenn Beer
Active User
Konrad
FWIW
I don’t own a Lentus but a club member does. He chose to forego the retract as unnecessary weight. We do have a flying site that closely imitates a sod farm. So far the lack of a wheel has not generated the damage you seem to expect.
FWIW
I don’t own a Lentus but a club member does. He chose to forego the retract as unnecessary weight. We do have a flying site that closely imitates a sod farm. So far the lack of a wheel has not generated the damage you seem to expect.
Konrad
Very Strong User
I don’t have a well groomed sod farm to land on. I have a good model in the old Cularis, that shows me the Lentus will not last landing in the same gravel environment. Even with the polycarbonate belly pan, the fuselage on the Cularis needs maintenance to fix landing damage. But the Heron still looks as good as new. I attribute this to the wheel found on the Heron.
So sod farms may work with 2.4kg EPO bellies. But as I don’t have a sod farm I’m forced to use some kind of wheeled landing gear. Heck as shown with the Cularis a belly pan skid doesn’t hold up long to my landings and landing zones. I’m convinced I need a wheel.
So sod farms may work with 2.4kg EPO bellies. But as I don’t have a sod farm I’m forced to use some kind of wheeled landing gear. Heck as shown with the Cularis a belly pan skid doesn’t hold up long to my landings and landing zones. I’m convinced I need a wheel.
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Konrad
Very Strong User
Karlton is why I'm into Multiplex. In the early 90's I got a Multiplex Profi 4000 radio from him. Ever since then I have hated the master slave concept of radio I was forced to use with my Futaba Super Seven. It wasn't until I learned of the mixer output/object based program of OpenTX that we got back any of the power we had with the Profi 4000. Too bad I had just purchased a Spektrum DX9!
What drives you to buy another TX?
What drives you to get another radio? With a new TX program, Ethos on the cusp on entering the market place I've been looking over what has motivated me to get a new radio. Here I will spell out my journey down the path of the computer radio. I'd like to learn what drives you to get a new...
forum.alofthobbies.com
When Karlton closed down in the 90's I got a lot of Tangent (Multiplex) gliders from him. I still have 2 or 3 NIB in the attic.
I was happy to see Karlton is back importing the Multiplex line of aircraft.
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Konrad
Very Strong User
Prepping the wings for paint. While I love the quality of the decals in the Lentus they won't help me much maintaining visual contact at altitude. The key to seeing a TD ship at altitude is using a "dark" color on the bottom of the wings and having as much of the area covered in the dark color. The orange stripes just won't cut it!
I'll be painting the bottom of my wings and the stab in a light coat of red. But prior to that I need to remove the molding flash and do some simple repairs to the TE. I used some new sharp 320 grit sandpaper to remove all the mold lines and flash from the part lines. I also knocked down the steam vent nubs.
While prepping the wings I noticed some of the engineering that went into making the 3m Multiplex Lentus possible. This is something that E-flite and FMS might do well to take note. Multiplex is using a telescopic composite set of spars. That is as you go out towards the tips the spars get smaller and fewer. I hope you can see that at the root the spars are made up of 2 carbon tubes in an aluminum sheath. At the tips (end of the spar) there is only the smaller carbon tube acting as the spar. This is key to how Multiplex is able to build a foam 3 meter with some real soaring performance.
I'll be painting the bottom of my wings and the stab in a light coat of red. But prior to that I need to remove the molding flash and do some simple repairs to the TE. I used some new sharp 320 grit sandpaper to remove all the mold lines and flash from the part lines. I also knocked down the steam vent nubs.
While prepping the wings I noticed some of the engineering that went into making the 3m Multiplex Lentus possible. This is something that E-flite and FMS might do well to take note. Multiplex is using a telescopic composite set of spars. That is as you go out towards the tips the spars get smaller and fewer. I hope you can see that at the root the spars are made up of 2 carbon tubes in an aluminum sheath. At the tips (end of the spar) there is only the smaller carbon tube acting as the spar. This is key to how Multiplex is able to build a foam 3 meter with some real soaring performance.
Tahoed
Very Strong User
Depends on what type of grass you choose to grow.Is there any money in growing grass?
Konrad
Very Strong User
Black and dark blue are other colors I use for the bottom of the TD ship wings.
Now I avoid black on my EPO models, as EPO is thermally unstable. While black on the bottom of wings would appear to be fine. I fear that the wings might be left inverted and exposed to the sun for a few minutes while unpacking the car. The resultant popcorning of the EPO will distort most flying surfaces. I’ve had this happen more that a few times with darker Freewing models.
I have to ask what are the benefits of using trim sheets? I use paint to add color. But I have concerns that as the paint dries and shrinks (And just about all paints shrink) that the surfaces will warp. This is why I also paint the top of my wings (components) with a mat clear coat To balance the forces on the wings.
This all goes under the heading of understanding the limitations of the material one is using. This is something that many EPO model manufactures don’t yet understand.
Now I avoid black on my EPO models, as EPO is thermally unstable. While black on the bottom of wings would appear to be fine. I fear that the wings might be left inverted and exposed to the sun for a few minutes while unpacking the car. The resultant popcorning of the EPO will distort most flying surfaces. I’ve had this happen more that a few times with darker Freewing models.
I have to ask what are the benefits of using trim sheets? I use paint to add color. But I have concerns that as the paint dries and shrinks (And just about all paints shrink) that the surfaces will warp. This is why I also paint the top of my wings (components) with a mat clear coat To balance the forces on the wings.
This all goes under the heading of understanding the limitations of the material one is using. This is something that many EPO model manufactures don’t yet understand.
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Raymond Gaskins
Very Strong User
I have been looking for a moderately priced and “good” performance thermal sailplane to enjoy while psyching myself up to get started on a more involved fiberglass ship I bought earlier this year. Based on this thread, I just ordered a MPX Lentus kit and will be following this thread with interest. BTW, I ordered it from Mr MPX based on your recommendations and stateside shipping.
Raymond Gaskins
Raymond Gaskins
Konrad
Very Strong User
You made a great choice! This model is perfect for what you are doing. It flies like a real 6 servo TD glider. Is stiff enough to be flown in light to moderate slope conditions. And while NOT a trainer it is durable for landing practice. Did you go for the retract option?
I think it is also an economical 3 meter model at $700. Most of my 3 meter ships are in the $1k plus price range ready to fly. Some folks disagree when looking at the other larger foamy gliders. But all of these non-Multiplex EPO foamy gliders fail both in structure and performance rather spectacularly as to make their purchase a waste of money.* I'm thinking the FMS 3000mm Fox and the E-Flite Radian XL at 2.9m.
*FMS does have 2 foamy gliders larger than 2 meter that fly well the old (ROC Hobbies) V-tailed 2.2 meter and the 2.5 meter ASW-17.
I think it is also an economical 3 meter model at $700. Most of my 3 meter ships are in the $1k plus price range ready to fly. Some folks disagree when looking at the other larger foamy gliders. But all of these non-Multiplex EPO foamy gliders fail both in structure and performance rather spectacularly as to make their purchase a waste of money.* I'm thinking the FMS 3000mm Fox and the E-Flite Radian XL at 2.9m.
*FMS does have 2 foamy gliders larger than 2 meter that fly well the old (ROC Hobbies) V-tailed 2.2 meter and the 2.5 meter ASW-17.
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Raymond Gaskins
Very Strong User
Konrad,
I did go with the retract option even though the extra weight may affect performance a bit. However, I do not plan ROG as I fly out of a somewhat rough grass field and I do want the larger folding prop, so I think that is a reasonable trade off.
I have owned a Radian and a Radian XL and I was underwhelmed with their performance out of the box. I even made the changes that the producer of Radio Carbon Arts suggested on his website, and this improved flight performance some, but I retired both of these planes and took a sabbatical from RC soaring while pursuing full scale soaring, mostly in the Sierra Nevada mountains out of Minden Nevada.
I love full scale soaring a lot but I got too old to really enjoy the long days in the cockpit and energy expenditures that go with it not to mention the cost.
As you well know, after many hours on the transmitter sticks, it’s as if you are astrally projected into the cockpit of your RC sailplane, even without FPV.
Thanks for your excellent advice!
Best,
Raymond Gaskins
I did go with the retract option even though the extra weight may affect performance a bit. However, I do not plan ROG as I fly out of a somewhat rough grass field and I do want the larger folding prop, so I think that is a reasonable trade off.
I have owned a Radian and a Radian XL and I was underwhelmed with their performance out of the box. I even made the changes that the producer of Radio Carbon Arts suggested on his website, and this improved flight performance some, but I retired both of these planes and took a sabbatical from RC soaring while pursuing full scale soaring, mostly in the Sierra Nevada mountains out of Minden Nevada.
I love full scale soaring a lot but I got too old to really enjoy the long days in the cockpit and energy expenditures that go with it not to mention the cost.
As you well know, after many hours on the transmitter sticks, it’s as if you are astrally projected into the cockpit of your RC sailplane, even without FPV.
Thanks for your excellent advice!
Best,
Raymond Gaskins
Konrad
Very Strong User
So true, and we don’t have to deal with the motion sickness often associated with FPV flying.
Wow, I’m actually having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that I’m an internet influencer. (LOL
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