AXI 2820/10 turning Graupner 12 x 6 folder
Model Motors 40e controller
Battery 12 x 1300 Sanyo SCR
Span 1800
Foil RG15
All up weight approx 1500g.
Fuse and Fin - glass
Wing and Tailplane - hollow moulded glass/balsa/glass.
After I purchased this model I took it home, charged up the batteries, and tried to get the motor to go. It just vibrated. I took it back to the shop and they got the previous owner to replace the controller. I hope this isn't a bad sign for the future. They checked the current draw and it was 44 amps.
Now reading up on R/C groups it seems that you should only bargin on a 10% reduction at most in the air as the motor unloads so this combination is still a bit on the high side. Motor is rated at 42 amps for 60 seconds.
This model isn't as efficient as some of the modern hotliners. With this power set up it goes near vertical at a decent pace. High speed passes are not as fast as I had hoped. The energy seems to bleed off quite fast. It is possible to maintain your height if there is some lift around but its going to take a decent thermal to make it go up! A rudder would help with the thermalling.
Motor gets quite hot and if you squeeze the batteries in your hand it is uncomfortable. I really need to lose a cell or an inch of diameter on the prop.
For the price I paid it gives you a taste of what a hotliner is like.
Update Jan 2006
I have changed the prop to a aeronaut 10 x 8 and dropped to 11 cells. I think I prefer this set-up as model has higher airspeed under power although doesn't climb so steep. I also spent some time tidying up the leading edge. Although generally speaking the model is well finished, the leading edge was terrible, with a large seam or flat spots. Also sealed the aileron bottom side. I feel the overall performance is considerably better now.
Update March 2006
This must have been damaged by the previous owner. There was a slight external split, which I thought was just the veneer coming off, but obviously it went much deeper. Moral of the story if you have a 2nd hand model you don't know the full history of check it out thoroughly and keep checking it.