Lancer to Electric RC

[guitardude]

So a while back I got a "wild hare" to build a Guillows Lancer and convert it to electric. Most of the conversion was fairly easy, until I realized the horizontal stabilizer and elevators were "semi-semetrical". Hummm........how do I make the elevators, well I made a copy of the ribs section on my printer/copier and that gave me a template to work with. Next deli-ma was to find iron on covering that WOULDN'T warp the light frame when I shrank it. That got remedied when I contacted "Stevens Aero Models" and found out that they had an AWESOME product called "AeroLITE". This covering is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME especially if you're used to covering other RC aircraft. I chose the Yellow and Red "Patch Packs" (one Patch pack would probably cover the smaller Guillows models) but I wanted at least two colors on the aircraft.

OK, now to the RC stuff, I used a Rimfire 150 out-runner motor, a 6 amp speed controller, two micro/nano servos, 150 Mha 7.4v LiPo and an "Orange-RX" 2.4Ghz Spektrum receiver. On the first couple of flights the plane was kind of a handful as it CONSTANTLY wanted to veer to the left and it kept climbing unless I pretty much killed the throttle. Got it home and realized Wing incidence was off and the wing was a little warped on one side. Took the warp out of the wing using my heat gun while applying pressure to the wing, then I added a small trim piece of balsa on the wing saddle to correct the incidence. WOW! What a DIFFERENCE in the next flight.

I thought I'd get bored flying this model as I usually fly Nitro fully aerobatic RC airplanes, but this thing is a BLAST to fly. It's like having a baby glider. I can usually get 10-12 minute flights out of it.

So, next Guillows project is the Piper Cub 95 kit #602. I think the challenge there will be to make working "Ailerons", well see.

Here's a pic' of the Lancer and the compartment with hatch I made for the ESC & Battery.

[SpiceMan]

Greetings Guitardude,
Looks like your post has inspired me. Very nice looking bird, and your listing of the flight electronics was very helpful to me ... THANKS
Bought myself a Lancer a few weeks ago, and have been working on her as time permits. All of the "wood work" is done, except the main wing, and she's looking pretty good so far. Originally intended to build her as a rubber powered bird for fun, but have run across some smokin deals on the RC stuff for her ( which will be similar to your set-up ). So I'll be giving it a shot, and see how she fly's.
The fun in this hobby just seems to be non-stop.