Phil.Taylor Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Time to finally get started on this one - dug it out from the workshop today to see what I've got - bought last year with the Nyx F3F "Garden fly" - first time I've actually put it all together - see pics Its 3.3m span - which makes it 1:4.5 scale - same as my Swift S1 - nice size for transport - F3F-sized HQ 1.5/12 airfoil - low camber so should be good for aerobatics - as per the "Elan Acro" name Don't know what servos are in it - haven't started digging yet - elevator servo is in the fin but no access. May remove the factory-fitted retract unit & servo to save some weight - will never get used anyway Mostly in pretty good non-crashed non-repaired condition - but the one big problem is the colour - or rather the off-colour - its been owned by a heavy smoker / pipe smoker - its well beyond "antique white". I've decided to fly it first, then think about respray - or not - may just add some stripes to cheer it up a bit Some info I found http://www.icare-rc.com/dg303.htm and a video of one flying - shot by Mike E Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wookman Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Nice one Phil. That’s some advanced paint death you have there. That retract doesn’t look straight forward to remove either with all that stuff mounted on it. Still for man of your ingenuity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 First investigations - wing servos are Hitec HS81mg for ailerons & airbrakes - wouldnt be my first choice for ailerons but ok to get it going. Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 I can remember that day Mike took the video of Ali flying,I really funny glider that 303. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 Thanks Les - funny or fun glider? Just weighed everything - 3990g - gives it approx 75 g/dm2 - max F3F loading - wont be floating around! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Sorry Phil FUN Good size that you can lunch it your self as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wookman Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 At that weight it’s going to need a good chuck into a decent blow. Should be quick though. HS 81s on ailerons? I’m with you, HS 85s or better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share Posted May 18, 2020 a happy couple of hours this evening - scrubbing ! its a shade lighter - more of a "Olde English White" now - but mostly, the awful stale tobacco smell has gone (at least on the outside) started with T-cut - too much effort for not enough impact, then sugar soap - didn't do much, then on to the trusty Tesco Cream Cleaner - did the job - good on tea stained teaspoons too... also, had a rummage in the spares box & came up with a couple of Futaba 3150s - will replace the HS81s on ailerons Phil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oipigface Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 Is it lighter now, Phil? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wookman Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 That was some late night polishing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 1 hour ago, oipigface said: Is it lighter now, Phil? Good question - all that grime must have weighed a few grams! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 Minor interlude from removing kitchen unit skirting... Wings now 755g each - didnt record what they were before - seem to remember 756 & 757 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 Reason for removing kitchen unit skirting - to remove the tiles Happy joy - theres old 1970s tiles underneath, so the 90s tiles come up without too much of a fight (mostly) - I think fake terracotta is fine, someone doesn't so they are coming up... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 And back to the DG303 this evening... Stripping out, stripping down - the strange tower-of-power servo mounting unit was fixed with just 1x servo screw - and 2x pipe-clip things - then the retract, nice piece of engineering, well mounted (factory fitted), 4x bolts & out it came. That's 180g weight saved, plus 40g of aerotow servo - thought it would be more like 300g but every little helps. Then the lead shot & chippings from the nose - bits kept falling out despite rubbery stuff holding most of it in - 460g - big lot - hopefully it was nose heavy & doesnt really need that much. General internal tidy-up & the servo tower went back in, just with the rudder servo. So - its all looking much more promising now Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oipigface Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 So you’re down to 3.307kg (about)? Sounds almost flyable! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wookman Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 You fancy flying off the flat then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 3 minutes ago, wookman said: You fancy flying off the flat then? It will get another aerotow release servo for "Devon Glider days" - but that patch is just a wee bit too bumpy for a retract ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 Invested in a new wing servo removal tool today Proper Job ! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 Definite progress this evening - all controls working, centred & throws set. Airbrakes are always fiddly to set up - closed tight without stressing the servo - some have over-travel lock down but these don't seem to (or its very stiff). HS81s on ailerons haven't got much slop & can stay for now. Build quality seems good - plenty of carbon spar-caps in the layup Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted May 25, 2020 Author Share Posted May 25, 2020 All done & ready to go ! Final weight 3880g - now it needs a day with a good westerly blow at a slope with a good landing area. Last few jobs were fiddly - fishing out the lost incidence pin & refitting it, refixing skin to rear spar, rebuilding canopy tray hold-down, fus fit-out under canopy tray, lots of lead... Needs a name - working title "Smokey" Phil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now