overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

My wife bought me this plane for Christmas, it is a Phoenix Edge 540 1.20. 65 inch wingspan. I figured I will do a thread on it.
After unboxing plane looks very good, nice covering, looks pretty well built. weight of plane as you see it in the picture is
4lb 12oz. Not horrible but not the lightest. Setup will be:

DLE 20 with Stock exhaust
(5) Futaba 3051HV servos
(1) Cheetah 3000 mah LIFE battery (RX & ignition)
Hitec Optima 7 RX
(1) Miracle double switch
Tech Aero IBEF
10 OZ tank.

I will be cutting the pilot and canopy floor out, Changing all the pushrods to carbon fiber with Rcconnector rod ends and using
dubro 4-40 hardware, Dubro heavy duty servo arms.

with all hardware I am looking at approximately 8.5 pounds without lightening, I will consider using a 2100mah battery (-4oz), and no
spinner. and hopefully save 2 or 3 ounces removing the pilot and canopy floor.

Cpt Crash

My Feedback: (12)

I also have one of these waiting for some bench time. I'm planning to use a nitro 1.20; yours should be a rocket with a DLE 20... I've just looked it over briefly, but like what I see so far.

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

I just loose assembled it, nothing is glued yet. I was going to use my 120ax, but since there are no local hobbyshops around here
and Nitro is so much I decided on gas. I may head to the hobbyshop an hour away tomorrow and pick up my pinned hinges
and some other odds and ends so I can start building. I did cut the canopy floor and measure the stab and wings, plane is
square within 1/16th inch

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

Started getting some work done on the EDGE. Drilled out all the tail surfaces for robart hinges. Hinged the left side elevator.
Realized I only had 5 hinges so I am at a standstill for a few days. I am out of work with a back injury so progress will be
slow, due to lack of funds. I always complain about not having time, now I have time but no funds.

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

No update ?I have one sitting in a box at home.

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

Proteus, I just hinged the rudder yesterday. I have been enjoying this semi warm winter and flying a lot. I will be getting into the assembly soon

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

Chris,
HiI guess introductions are in order,my name is Rich Johnson and I live north of you in Elizabeth,NJ.Thanks for the update,I plane on putting my 540 together sometime this summer after I finish aCap231 and my Sig Hog Bipe.Ithink Phoenix modelshas a pretty nice ARF with the 540,do you plan to beef -up the firewall for the DLE-20? Rich

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

Rich, I am thinking about epoxying a piece of 1/8th ply to the firewall, and wrapping the edges with glass. It seems to be a nice ARF pretty light
and the linkages aren't horrible, the wheel pants are huge, and the tailwheel looks like it belongs on a 33%er

I actually grew up in GreenBrook a few towns over from Plainfield. I used to work at Sansones auto mall, on 1 and 9 Rahway. I moved south
to get away from the congestion, OOPS it found me..

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

LOL know the area well, live for a short time in Dunellen nj in the early 90's left the stateand move south,NC and FL by 1995 I wasbackin NJ....It's like the MOB once you're in you can never leave....You're spot on about the hardware looks ok,I would bet the screw heads are going to be soft and strip easily,but we'llsee.
I was a little nervous about the use of hot glue onthe enginefirewall blind nuts ,butdidn't find any morewhere else where hot glue was used,which made me feel better .As for the firewall,I'm going to dothe same thing and than "pin the firewall with small finishing nails.I'm going to use my DLE-20 or a Zenoah G-20 engine.I know the Zenoah is heavy but I really like the engine and the 540cowl willcertainly accommodate the engine nicely. Rich

Cpt Crash

My Feedback: (12)

Hey guys, a caution about the ailerons. I put mine together and found a couple of very minor glitches. My wing tube is too long by about an eighth of an inch, so I'll have to cut it down. Also, watch the inboard corners of the ailerons. You need enough of a gap so that at full deflection, that corner doesnt catch the fuselage. I'll have to slide one of them out a bit and cut off/trim the outboard end. Otherwise, everything's ready for assembly.

mach2

My Feedback: (5)

anyone have any flight reviews or videos of this plane? I wanna know how it flys....

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

CPT, My tail elevators and stab was a bit crooked, I had to sand it a bit and cock it to get it square in the fuse. The left elevator half sits
closer to the fuse than the right. all measurements are ok , so I will leave it. I was lucky my ailerons are fine.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PALdLw_HqRc

Here is the only video I have found of this plane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PALdLw_HqRc

ameyam

Hey guys,

I had my eyes set on this airolane for sometime but didnt take it because I thought it was more pattern than 3D. From the video, I can see it has big control surfaces and seems to float in which is quite surprising for its size. Awaiting your flight reviews before I buy it

Ameyam

mach2

My Feedback: (5)

yeah, it looks like its a good flyin plane. Not too thrilled about the color scheme....

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

ameyam,


According too" Robert" at Phoenix Models the Edge 540 performs best with a OS 120 2 stroke engine for 3D flying or a DLE-20.Btw I can't confirm that the Robert responding to my question asked is" Robert Loc" founder of Phoenix Models,but if itis,that's a nice touch to hear directly from the owner. If you have more questions,I would suggest you go too: http://phoenixmodel.com/Default.aspx...CatId=15&id=40 and ask your question directly, response time is usually within 48 hours. I pasted a copy of their youtube mass marketing video of the Edge540for you. Cheers: Rich Johnson


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=ueEXCkrksdM

ameyam

Rich,

no firm is going to tell everyone what the shortcomings of their models are. Thats what we all want to know and why this forum exists.

Thanks for the information anyway

Ameyam

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

ameyam,

Your absolutely right,a Manufacture is not going to inform you of faults or short coming of their products and "yes" this board and others like it is a good source for answer you seek. The only reason I directed you to their site ,was your question about the aircraft 3D capabilities,I can't answer your question because I don't fly 3D yet. Again general question about recommend power plant and acrobatic capabilities the manufacture is a good source. Sorry I was unable to help. Cheers: Rich

ameyam

Het Rich, no offence meant

Just want some flight info

Ameyam

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

Ameyam,
No worries, no offence taken,I do truly apologizes if I was a little curt, I didn't intend it .I have some planes that I need to finish before I start this one,when I do start mine I will post my comments and give a review on an other thread,this one overbored77 started,sorry Chris for going off topic. Cheers: Rich

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

Rich, if you want to just add your build right to this thread. it can be the official Phoenix Edge
540 1.20 thread.

Ameyam, only pattern planes fly pattern, thats why you don't see Scale aerobatic planes
flying in pattern competitiion (except in the sporstman class), I have had a few smaller edges and they aren't bad flyers, but like any of the .40-.90 size edges, extras, caps, yaks,
they always come out too heavy and fly heavy, and if you build them light they never
have enough engine to perform power hungry maneuvers. What I like about this plane is after
removing the pilot, and cockpit floor, no wheel pants, and getting rid of the huge tailwheel,
I will be using a LIFE 2300, for radio and ignition, and should come out about 8 pounds dry,
I am going with the smaller 8OZ tank, whick puts me at 8.5 pounds ready to fly. that is
more than light enough for the DLE 20.

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

Chris,

Ok, cool with your permission I'll contribute to the thread.[8D]

I fly mostly sport acrobatics a few knife edges,some spins and loops a hammerhead once in a while. I'm just getting back into the hobby after a 20 year hyenas,so I'm working on improving my pattern flying and than I'll buy the 3D airplanes the Edge540 looked like a good choice for what I'm doing now. I lookforword to your future posts and the sharing of idea's and exchange of information. Quick question on your fuel tank, I take it your going to place your fuel at or as close as possible to the aircraft CG? I'm using a large mouth plastic 8 ounce bottle made by Nalgene plastics http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23739&catid=658 just wondering if you ever use one? Thanks again Rich

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

Rich, here is the the tank I am using in my Edge http://www.3dhobbyshop.com/Fourtitud...t_p_16016.html

Since I have gone gas I only use clear tanks so I can see my clunk and lines. Yes, i will be building a lightweight floor to hold
the tank centered on the CG

Cpt Crash

My Feedback: (12)

Making progress with the Edge; it's actually a pretty fast build. The engine install went easily; I'm using a GMS 1.20 mounted horizontally with a Bisson Pitts muffler. Prop is APC 16x7. Wings are hinged, servos installed, horns and linkages installed, done. I put on the landing gear and now need to epoxy in the stab, hinge the elevator and rudder, install tailcone servos, tailfeather horns and linkages, and cut the cowl.

I found a bit of a warp in the right wing; will try to knock that out with the heat gun. Also, the wood in the tailcone where the tailwheel bracket screws in seems soft. I'll try a longer wood screw and wick in some CA to strengthen it. The landing gear legs are heavy; if weight is a serious concern, that's one place where carbon fiber would really shave some heft quickly.

proteus_X3

My Feedback: (16)

Cpt Crash,

 Thanks for the update. I purchase my Edge 540 at the end of January of this year and it has carbon fiber main gears,the tail gear is blue anodizes aluminum. I should add that on the box in the list of feature,is states "aluminum landing gear",maybe Phoenix upgraded the ARF this year ? What servo are you using on your model? I'm going to install Hitec 5625's on ailerons,645's on the elevators and 5645 for rudder. Also you thought on a "pull-pull" for rudder,it looks doable to me. Cheers: Rich

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

capt, looks good. What kind of servos, batteries are you using.

Rich, if you get a chance take a look at the Futaba 3150HV's 180 OZ of torque. i am using them on the ailerons and elevators of my 50cc mx2,
When the Edge is ready for them they will be used for all surfaces. my current setup is using a 3000 mah lipo unregulated for the servos,
a single servo regulator at 5.9 volts on the Throttle servo, and the Tech-aero Ibef which regulates ignition voltage. I think this whole
setup is going into the edge. The servos work very well so far, i have about 15 flights on them, center well, nice and strong.