Kit:
GAPP (now www.diamonddustrc.com)
Span: 34.5"
Wing Area: 575 sq. in.
Weight: 2 lbs / 9 oz
Channels: 3
Engine: K&B 7.5cc D/F
Radio: Futaba 8UAF
Covering: MonoKote
Dave McD's Diamond Dust
Kit:
GAPP
(now www.diamonddustrc.com)
Span: 34.5"
Wing Area: 575 sq. in.
Weight: 2 lbs / 9 oz
Channels: 3
Engine: K&B 7.5cc D/F
Radio: Futaba 8UAF
Covering: MonoKote
I'm very impressed with this plane! It flys
great! It tracks and grooves beautifully at high speeds.......and also at
ridiculously low speeds. I LOVE this plane!!!....except for one thing.
The only time that I get to fly it at full throttle with the K&B 7.5cc is when it's
going straight up. Full throttle flight any other time causes it to flutter!
BUMMER! BUMMER! BUMMER!
Once I cure the flutter problem, I can't wait to see what it does at full
throttle....going straight down!
UPDATE Sept. 7, 1998:
After trimming off the corners of the elevons, I'm now able to fly
straight and level at full throttle.......but only if I use an APC 9x6 to keep the speed
down. Even the SLIGHTEST full throttle dive results in a flutter. It's still
by far the fastest plane at our local club flying field, but it has much more potential.
UPDATE Feb. 1, 1999:
I called the 1-800-325-GAPP phone number, and got an answering
machine for "Miller Diversified Products" instead. I left a message, and a
gentleman named Don Miller called me back a few days later. It turns out that Don
Miller is now kitting the Diamond Dust for GAPP. We must have talked about R/C
airplanes for over 30 minutes! Don Miller is truly an interesting guy to talk to!
Anyway, during my conversation with Don, I found out WHY my particular Diamond Dust has a flutter problem........and some other Diamond Dusts don't!! It turns out that some of the older Diamond Dust kits were shipped with the wrong size elevons. The elevons are SUPPOSED to be 3/8" thick, and some kits were accidentally shipped with 1/4" thick elevons instead.......which is what I have on mine. FINALLY!!!!........the mystery is solved!!!
However, because of the fancy Monokote color scheme that took me more time to put on this plane than it did to build it, I really don't feel like butchering it up just to replace the elevons. So, I ordered a new DD kit from Don, and I'll just put the K&B 7.5 on the new one instead.
As for the plane you see here, I've already
replaced the K&B 7.5 with a Thunder Tiger GP 42, and I'm having a blast with it!
The TT GP 42 is a very impressive engine! It's power, weight, and handling
characteristics are nearly an ideal match to the Diamond Dust........unless your sole
objective is to go as fast as possible. Even with the TT GP 42, it's still the
fastest plane at our field, and I no longer have to worry about the flutter problem!
UPDATE Feb. 12, 2000:
Back in September of 1999, one of my elevon hinges broke.
Since repairing the hinge involved removing the elevon, I went ahead and removed both of
the undersized elevons. New elevons were fabricated and installed that were 3/8"
thick, which is what the plans show to be the correct thickness.
Guess what??? Since installing the new 3/8" thick elevons............
the flutter problem is completely gone.........
even with the piped K&B 7.5 DF.........
in a full power terminal velocity dive!!!!
YIPPEEEEE!!!!!
The good news is:
the flutter problem with my Diamond Dust is now completely cured!!!!
The bad news is:
I never got around to building that new Diamond Dust kit.
But it's still sitting there.....in the box.....just in
case.......
Comments?
E-Mail me at:
dmcdnld@yhti.net