Aeroworks 96″ Extra-260 ARF QB™

The plane is on the way…. this seemed like the best engine for the job:

Going with:

JR 8711s all around
Fromeco batteries and switches
Smart-Fly PowerSystem EQ-6
(which has 8 channels, 6 are equalized. The unit also includes an ignition cutoff and either a super or turbo reg on the front)
Kirbys Kustom Vinyl Graphics
Truturn 4″ Ultimate Spinner
ZAP glues
and some DUBRO and www.microfasteners.com hardware

The plane arrived in great shape:

I started with the cowl box. First thing you notice is the plywood reinforcement to protect the precious cargo:

Plywood and double boxed:

‘Monkey’ helped me finish unpacking the cowl:

‘Monkey’ was like “OMG, it’s so nice!”:

‘Monkey’ was all, “Aeroworks and Milano Wine… it doesn’t get any better than this!”:

The wings come with the protective plywood packaging and they are also double boxed:

The wings get wrapped in bubble wrap, too:

The aileron and elevator hinging is already done at the factory. I noticed that the surfaces fall bevel to bevel with no binding and there is no glue in the knuckles of the pre-installed (glued in) hinges. Yes, the hinges are glued in already. The hinge and bevel job looks just great! Here’s a shot of the elevators (remember, these hinges are already glued in at the factory):

The fuse looks beautiful, like it was built by one of the very best builders out there. It is a few ounces heavier than it has to be due to the fact it is setup for a drop-in canister installation. The can tunnel is built and lined with balsa, the formers have saddles cut into them, and the can mounts just bolt on to pre-drilled holes (the can mounts are included, as well). Cans take no extra time on this QB™:

Going Fromeco batteries, regs, switches, etc… but also with the new Fromeco D-Cup. Anyone that has followed me for years knows I’ve worried about the power our servos need, and try to provide it to them. But, what also has worried me is low voltage spikes to the receiver. Those that have paid close attention know that I’ve been running Emcotec Filter Capacitors for the last year, or so. Now I’ll be trying out these new Fromeco D-Cups which are said to have over 100x (or was it 300x ?) the capacity of the Emcotec model. Rumor has it with the D-Cup your plane will stay on a few seconds after you turn it off. This ability to carry the receiver through a low voltage spike from high G and/or high current draw manuevers is just what we’ve been needing since all these how powered servos hit the market:

This is my 5th “QB” and even though the first one was amazingly easy to put together and set a new standard for ARF quality I have to say that they keep getting better and better. More and more features and less and less things that need any improvement. From the aluminum hatch pins to the factory built can tunnels… these things are pretty sweet. So many things, like the cowl mounts… they’re not just glued on pieces of wood that will eventually fall off… then there are blindnuts everywhere u need ‘em, and they’re all SAE, American sizes… pinned motorbox and hard points… more bevel than I’ve seen on any other ARFs and now with hinges running smooth bevel to bevel… sweet covering job, etc. etc. Wonder what’s in store for next year?:

Joe was multi-slacking so I, Monkey, got started on the plane last night. I got out a wing (the thing looks perfect) and started mounting the servos. Going with 8711s all around on this one. JR arms, and the included QB™ control horns:

I see Monkey got on here and talked some smack about getting some work done, but it didn’t take us long to find him in his usual position, i.e., hammered and out cold:

Hey man, I’m the only one doing any work up in here:

‘Course I do like to do a lil’ drink’n whilst I’m work’n, you know what I’m saying, man?:

U know, dremel’n stresses my low back:

Woohoo, thanks for the back rub, Joe Nolasco. I always thought you swung both ways… I kid, I kid… lower, man, lower…

Team Joe heard a rumor this plane comes in at just over 23 lbs. So, I told them to step back and let the Monkey do some cutting. I dremel’d out the two rear trays and also the canister tunnel. Then I removed the landing gear cover and the canister cover, along with their blindnuts. All total, I removed 8oz of material… 1/2 pound, baby. I worked pretty hard, so I went partying after:

Ah, my freak’n head, I’m so wasted…:

I taped on the included DA-85 engine template to the firewall:

I drilled the engine mounting holes and then installed the www.microfasteners.com 1/4×20 blindnuts in the firewall. I used ZAP thin CA to glue the blindnuts in. Man, what would they do without me? They better at least let me fly the maiden!:

You have to chop out some of the firewall for the DA-85. The included DA-85 template shows you where and what to chop out. A jigsaw makes very quick and accurate work of it. Can’t let Monkey have all the fun, so I chopped this out myself:

I wanted to try one of the new www.smart-fly.com PowerSystem EQ-6 units on this plane. They are similar to the PowerExpander EQ-10. The unit is an 8-channel unit and channels 2-7 are programmable. Also there is an ignition cutoff, a built in regulator for the servo power, and a failsafe switch. This unit probably fits the bill for a wide range of plane sizes and power needs. These PowerSystems will be on the market very soon… so I talked Smart-Fly into sending me out a prototype to try:

Thanks Monkey, for displaying the EQ-6 that Smart-Fly sent for me to try:

That Joe, always trying to rob me of my props. Anyone can see that www.smart-fly.com sent in the PowerSystem for me to test!:

Mounted the included aileron control horns, 8711 servos, pushrods, and the included DUBRO ball joints. There’s only the one aileron servo per aileron, so this goes real fast: