ZeroGravity Pitts Python 42"

[sackohammers]

Hello,

I'm building this wonderful electric ARF and thought I would share. This is a unique

plane - very high quality ARF.



Here is the box:




The components:



Hacker A30 10XL motor
Hacker X55 SB Pro ESC
Hitec HS-65MG Servos
Spektrum AR6100e Receiver
XOAR 14X7 Prop
MaxAmps 3S 3000 mah battery

[sackohammers]

Hinging the Ailerons:




Setting up the cabanes:




Hinging the elevator:

[05prostock]

Very nice ;D
Do the aileron connecters use the plastic z bend things?

[SCC]

Hammers.
Great looking plane. Good to see pics of the build. Keep them coming.

I recently read the build and review thread on RCGroups after you mentioned this plane in an earlier thread.
It is impressive.

[sackohammers]

Thanks SCC. Yeah, that thread is choc full of information. I thought I'd share it over here. I should probably link that thread so people really interested in this plane can find out more.

Here it is:
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=710402&highlight=zero+gravity+python+pitts

Prostock,
I'm not sure what you're looking for. If you use the exact term I might be able to answer. Zbends are usually reserved for control rods. By connectors do you mean the hinges (like shown above)? Or do you mean the control horns? Control horns are where the control rods connect to control surfaces such as ailerons, rudder, elevator. The control horns on this plane are carbon fiber. They're black and look pretty sexy. They're also very strong and light-weight. I'll show pictures when I get to those steps.

[05prostock]

I'm talking about small z shaped plastic pieces that (on some planes) you put the carbon fiber rod in when connecting to rudder, aileron, elevator...

[sackohammers]

That is called a control horn. They aren't Z shaped on this plane. They are carbon fiber on this plane.
Z-Bends are a specific type of bend you put into a control rod.

The bend at the end of the control rod pictured below is a Z-Bend:

[05prostock]

Right, but I got a RC Universe Bipe and it said that those were z-bends.

Personally, I will never use them. I broke way to many trying to set everything up.

[sb352]

Beutiful looking plane sack
cant wait to see some vids.
looks powerfull enough to make down here to San Antonio

[sackohammers]

The carbon fiber control horns:



Installing control horns:




Setting up the rudder and rear landing gear (notice the pull/pull control horns for the rudder):

[sackohammers]

Elevator Servo and Linkage:



Aileron servo and linkage (lower wings):



Rudder linkage (pull/pull):



Rudder servo and linkage:

[SCC]

Great pics Hammers.
It's certainly a quality bit of kit. The carbon control horns are a nice touch and the covering in all the pics looks perfect.
I have not seen those pins used before when inserting hinges. Is that your idea or do they come with the kit?

[coougarr]

Very nice looking pictures Sack. Can't wait to hear how she flies.

[sackohammers]

They're called "T" pins. Now, when I was a kid in the 70's my mom had those pins and she called them Macrame pins (a type of knitting). You can buy them at any sewing shop, hobby shop, or even tower hobbies and great planes, etc sell them. They're widely used when kit building. If you go up to the Kit Building section on RCU and look at the pictures, they use them to hold down their plans, and to hold the balsa down to the work surface when gluing. They also use them when hinging (which is where I got the idea). It ensures that exactly half of the hinge will go into the control surface and the other half into the wing/stab. When you're moving things around, trying to glue, etc, they can shift around, the pins keep the hinges where you want them. They also make sure there is a consistent gap along the entire hing line. It is the first time I've used them and I found it to be very helpful.

Also:
This guy here:
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9242358&postcount=1910

Bought some Great Planes Kwik Stripe, 1/16" black, part number GPMQ1460 and accented his lines.
He also covered the outside wingtips with black (over the yellow). This makes it a little closer to the full sized Python that this is a model of.

I think the pin striping sets off/accents the colors even more.

[mararra]

Sharp lookin Bipe! I notice you're usin pull/pull on the rudder, did you find it difficult to setup? Thinkin about tryin it on my Page Super Cub I'll be buildin next fall. Keep up the good work, AND BY ALL MEANS post us a vid!

M