Cessna 170 Laser Cut Kit Build ( # 302 LC )

[SpiceMan]

A few more pics ... she's almost done.

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[shawn32671]

Very nice build...great job.

[SpiceMan]

Very nice build...great job.

Thank you Shawn.

[Mitch]

My Compliments to a job well done! The weight looks VERY respectable... GREAT JOB!

[SpiceMan]

Thank you Mitch.
I'm thinking that the respectable weight is due to the plastic ( Microlite ) covering. Strong stuff, and no painting required.

[Sai1704]

It looks great with the box art, although I prefer to go with a more catchy colour scheme that is easy to identify while flying. I had a question - did you use the kit wood for building the tail surfaces? Cause it's thick and heavy and I wasn't going to take any risks using it ( it so happens that both my previous models were too tail-heavy and had a great difficulty in flying). So I just sanded it down a bit to make it thin.

[SpiceMan]

It looks great with the box art, although I prefer to go with a more catchy colour scheme that is easy to identify while flying. I had a question - did you use the kit wood for building the tail surfaces? Cause it's thick and heavy and I wasn't going to take any risks using it ( it so happens that both my previous models were too tail-heavy and had a great difficulty in flying). So I just sanded it down a it to make at thin.

Hi Sai,
Yes, I used all the stock balsa from the kit ( without any modifications ). I believe that my finished plane will be "tail heavy", however, since I've set it up with a removable nose cowl, I'll be able to add the necessary weight inside the nose area to balance it. I'll probably post pictures when I get to that point, to show what works for me.
And you're right ... balance of the bird is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, if you expect it to fly.

[Mitch]

Hi to All,

REMBER: Compound Interest... and that Tail Moment. moment = weight x distance. Sai is right on track. Every gram one can save in the tail will be 3 or 4 grams of balancing clay in the nose!

If I use the Guillow tail parts I will sand then down (slightly). Every time you change ANYTHING something else will NOT fit correctly. Then I remove some material from the INSIDE of the D and C parts to make a scalloped look.

Mitch

KEEP BUILDING, KEEP FLYING, KEEP HAPPY

[SpiceMan]

Compared the Cessna to my RC E-flite Carbon Cub. Almost tempting to build another Cessna as an RC, with similar light weight radio stuff and electric motor on board.
Both just happen to have the same size Prop too.

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[SpiceMan]

Okay ... so back to the real world now ...
Rubber motor is now installed, and ...
According to the Guillow's plan, the balance point for this bird is 30 mm back from the LE of the wing. Assuming that this is correct, I determined that an additional 14 grams of weight was needed to balance the airplane. Added 2 lead weights ( 7 grams each ) inside the cowl, securing them with double-backed tape.

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[SpiceMan]

She's all level now at the balance point.
Total flying weight adds up to be 67 grams, and ready to maiden.

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[shawn32671]

great looking and great job with the build

[SpiceMan]

great looking and great job with the build

Thanks Shawn.
Hope to maiden her within about a week.

[Bill Gaylord]

Adding the 14gms of weight needed to set the CG should pay off. I've learned to be as liberal as necessary with it, although I cram it as far forward as possible to minimize the amount. Some people are so conservative with adding ballast that the plane crashes from an aft CG. It would be good to see more info recorded on balance points, as I believe the plan points may be a bit aft. I know for rc flight they are often aft, although the lighter rubber power plane will probably be more tolerant. I fly the C150 at around 25mm which works well, but of course it's a heavier rc plane. BTW, I'm a big Microlite fan, and the C150 was one of the first planes where I used it on the wing and tail feathers. Sure lighter than most iron-on film coverings.

I'm sure you would enjoy building another for rc flight, as you mentioned. The C150 is one of the easiest, most relaxing planes I have to fly on rud/elev, and I'm sure the C170 would be very similar. I just got back from flying this evening, and let my flying buddy fly my 4ch rc Guillows Fairchild 24 with a small bl motor/Spektrum brick/separate liner servos for ailerons. He really enjoyed the flight, and the 24" Guillows high wing jobs seem to be lovely fling subjects for micro rc.

[SpiceMan]

Thanks Bill. Got any pics of your C150 Feel free to post here if you like.