Balancing act.

**Cribbs74** Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:55 pm

I built this thing over a year ago and it was a "failure to launch"

It turned out tail heavy and nearly took my daughters head off when released. I hung it on the wall and that's where it's been for the past 12 months.

I decided to take a crack at balancing it without adding an unsightly lead slug on the nose. I filled the medallions backplate with lead solder and epoxy and also the well in the spinner. It looks clean and it now balances at 3/4" from the leading edge.

It had a TD .051 on the nose, but I settled on the medallion as I am running a hard tank. Hopefully the fuel will draw well enough and I can flip the thing around as intended.

I don't know how Brodak ever expected this thing to balance out of the box. It just wouldn't have been possible. If anyone is building a Brodak version and using a TD extend the bearers 1/2"

I took some pictures of the lead work. The backplate is hard to see due to the engine being mounted.

Ron

Balancing act. KFeSMUrl

roddie Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:14 pm

Some longer engine mount screws would add some weight Ron... Smile

(just kidding) Hope all goes well when you decide to fly.

Roddie

**Cribbs74** Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:22 pm

Give me time man! lol!

It's what came with the kit and all I had on hand. I am going to hit the LHS tomorrow for some odds and ends, proper bolts and lock nuts are on the list.

**Cribbs74** Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:35 pm

Just for you Roddie Wink

roddie Mon Jan 13, 2014 11:16 pm

Cribbs74 wrote:Just for you Roddie

Thanks Ron... maybe I'll get some sleep tonight! Laughing

**RknRusty** Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:34 am

I have a Brodak Li'l Satan that I'll build after the Skyray. I think I'll go with the Texas Timers radial backplate mount for the Tee Dee like my other Satan. I had to screw lead to the unused crankcase mounting tabs to balance it. Remember to never give full up when launching, or at least only for a microsecond, or it will loop at zero MPH airspeed. Never into a headwind. A combination of cross/tail wind is my favorite, at least until you get the feel of it.

Instructions for helper: Hold it high, slightly up, slightly out, lines tight... let go and get the heck outta the way pronto.

Then proceed to have fun!

Rusty

JPvelo Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:08 am

When I build satans I load the back of the firewall with fishing sinkers.

Jim

roddie Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:46 am

Harry Higley used to sell 1/2A "Heavy-Hubs" for tail-heavy models. Ron basically made his own when he back-filled his aluminum Cox spinner with lead. My Dad had to use a "Harry's Heavy-Hub" on a C/L Sterling Monocoupe that he built. He put an OS .25 on it... which was a lot younger (lighter) than the engines that the kit was originally designed for.

Roddie

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