71" AJ Slick Building, Flying, and Questions

[econpatric]

The canopy hatch is good, but some people have lost their canopy in high speed/high G maneuvers. The plane comes with tabs on the canopy sides and blind nuts in the hardware bag; I strongly recommend you install these...I have them on mine and I would not fly without them. In my opinion, any planes above 60" should use canopy side tabs - i.e. if they are provided, use them!

+1 ...

 

[JK13]

Mike
I have ran the 7940TH for a couple of years in the 71 and 72
They are very fast - and awesome!!
Best way to get very crisp maneuvers and low latency is ultra fast servos - you can really feel the connection!
I would just run a 2S lipo @ 7.4V makes for higher speeds and torque.



Joe

Hello everyone !
Newbie here....strill trying to figure out how this forum works...
Good to know that this 3DHS Slick is so popular......i just got one last week, gonna be my winter project !

I got the brand new version on the 71" Slick (same airframe for gas and electric) and would like to have some opinions about how i'm gonna set it up !
First, the engine...gonna go with a DLE 35RA......seen pretty good comments about this one ! What would the best 3D for that engine ????
For servos i was gonna put the Hitec 7940TH....a little pricey but the speed is good !!!
Any one using dual servos on elevator on this one ? The user manual calls for only one but i got the option of putting one per side....what do you guys think ?
I wanna try the A123 battery technology on this plane, but not familiar with it....i was thinking about one 2300mah...is it gonna be enough for...let's say...3-4 flights without recharge ?
Any tips on setting up that plane ?

Thanks a lot for your inputs guys !!!!

 

[miketek]

Mike
I have ran the 7940TH for a couple of years in the 71 and 72
They are very fast - and awesome!!
Best way to get very crisp maneuvers and low latency is ultra fast servos - you can really feel the connection!
I would just run a 2S lipo @ 7.4V makes for higher speeds and torque.





Joe

Hi Joe !
Did you put 2 of those 7940TH on elevator or did you use just one ? Still dont know if im gonna go with 1 or 2 on elevator.......looks like everyone here agrees that one is enough !

 

[gyro]

Hi Joe !
Did you put 2 of those 7940TH on elevator or did you use just one ? Still dont know if im gonna go with 1 or 2 on elevator.......looks like everyone here agrees that one is enough !

One is definitely enough. If you're concerned, get a slightly beefier servo like a 7955. Then, you could also move it into a 50cc when you're ready.

 

[miketek]

Any of you using a double sevo arm with offset on rudder servo ??
Something like this ?
http://www.thunderboltrc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=122_136&products_id=845

 

[Capt.Roll]

Lots of great suggestions thus far regarding setup.

My 71" Slick is an electric setup but I run a separate pack (Gens Ace LiFe 2S 1800mAh) for Rx and servos. I can get up to 20 six to seven minute flights before the pack is totally discharged; it will take 1720mAh on the recharge. I generally recharge after 12 flights and the pack takes around 1200mAh.

Depending on your flight time I'd think you could get 4 ten to twelve minute flights on the single 2300mAh A123 pack.

Since you are going to run a separate ignition battery, what is your plan to have an ignition kill switch on your TX? Very important to be able to kill your engine when the plane is away from you.

One of the "issues" I've read about is that the Slick may be lacking sufficient construction strength in the wing bolt area. The latest version of the Slick has not been modified in this area so 3DHS must not think there is a problem for the majority of their customers. Apparently during some high stress maneuvers the wing(s) can pull the wing bolt right thru the side of the fuse.

I've not experience or seen this ever happen but there are those that have lost their Slick due to this. There is a modeler on RCG (SteveT.) that developed a side stiffener to address this concern. They seem to be very reasonable in price and his production batches sell very quickly. If I was going to be building a new Slick I'd probably purchase a set for the piece of mind they provide.

Good luck with your Slick..........it will be a favorite in your hangar.

 

[gyro]

Lots of great suggestions thus far regarding setup.

My 71" Slick is an electric setup but I run a separate pack (Gens Ace LiFe 2S 1800mAh) for Rx and servos. I can get up to 20 six to seven minute flights before the pack is totally discharged; it will take 1720mAh on the recharge. I generally recharge after 12 flights and the pack takes around 1200mAh.

Depending on your flight time I'd think you could get 4 ten to twelve minute flights on the single 2300mAh A123 pack.

Since you are going to run a separate ignition battery, what is your plan to have an ignition kill switch on your TX? Very important to be able to kill your engine when the plane is away from you.

One of the "issues" I've read about is that the Slick may be lacking sufficient construction strength in the wing bolt area. The latest version of the Slick has not been modified in this area so 3DHS must not think there is a problem for the majority of their customers. Apparently during some high stress maneuvers the wing(s) can pull the wing bolt right thru the side of the fuse.

I've not experience or seen this ever happen but there are those that have lost their Slick due to this. There is a modeler on RCG (SteveT.) that developed a side stiffener to address this concern. They seem to be very reasonable in price and his production batches sell very quickly. If I was going to be building a new Slick I'd probably purchase a set for the piece of mind they provide.

Good luck with your Slick..........it will be a favorite in your hangar.

I've got a slick with well over 500 flights of hard and heavy 3d abuse (I actually bought it with 500 flights!)

Anyway, it's wing bolts are still intact and sturdy. I trust the 3DHS design, and don't think any extra stiffening is necessary. With THOUSANDS of kits sold, (and the design of the plane just updated) I'm quite sure they'd have modified the design if necessary.

Not knocking the actual aftermarket product as I don't have one, I'm just saying i think it's a little bit of hype marketed as "insurance"

To each their own! Any new owner will love their Slick regardless!

G

 

[Capt.Roll]

I'm sure there are some pilots that would give you an argument; it may be hype but it has happened to more than a few pilots according to posts in the 71" Slick thread on RCG. RCG is about as gun ho 3DHS loyalists as you'll find.

 

[miketek]

Lots of great suggestions thus far regarding setup.

My 71" Slick is an electric setup but I run a separate pack (Gens Ace LiFe 2S 1800mAh) for Rx and servos. I can get up to 20 six to seven minute flights before the pack is totally discharged; it will take 1720mAh on the recharge. I generally recharge after 12 flights and the pack takes around 1200mAh.

Depending on your flight time I'd think you could get 4 ten to twelve minute flights on the single 2300mAh A123 pack.

Since you are going to run a separate ignition battery, what is your plan to have an ignition kill switch on your TX? Very important to be able to kill your engine when the plane is away from you.

One of the "issues" I've read about is that the Slick may be lacking sufficient construction strength in the wing bolt area. The latest version of the Slick has not been modified in this area so 3DHS must not think there is a problem for the majority of their customers. Apparently during some high stress maneuvers the wing(s) can pull the wing bolt right thru the side of the fuse.

I've not experience or seen this ever happen but there are those that have lost their Slick due to this. There is a modeler on RCG (SteveT.) that developed a side stiffener to address this concern. They seem to be very reasonable in price and his production batches sell very quickly. If I was going to be building a new Slick I'd probably purchase a set for the piece of mind they provide.

Good luck with your Slick..........it will be a favorite in your hangar.

I was not planning on having a kill switch.......any suggestion on good ones i should get ???

 

[gyro]

I'm sure there are some pilots that would give you an argument; it may be hype but it has happened to more than a few pilots according to posts in the 71" Slick thread on RCG. RCG is about as gun ho 3DHS loyalists as you'll find.

Rex, a vast majority of them are also members here, so I'm sure they'll politely contribute to this discussion if they feel compelled.

As for the airplane, my supposition is that the problem some experienced might arise from "overpowering" the airplane? We keeping adding bigger and bigger power systems (gas or electric) and pushing airplanes harder and harder with even more aggressive maneuvers.
I'm not saying that kicking out 2800-3000w through a 71" Slick isn't fun, just that might be a little more contributory to airframe stress than a "flaw" original design.

But who knows, I don't design them, I just fly 'em... And my 71" seems fine. Like I said, to each their own. I think its awesome that someone who makes little parts for fun has stepped in to meet the needs of the community, if that is the case.