Electric Edge 540T - New Pro Ject

[Tony Smith]

While in attendence of the BMFA Nationals, I came across a stand selling 26cc 'Gas Models' these range from 68" to 70" Extra/Sukhoi/Edge/Yak.
On closer inspection of the Yak, it looked exactly the same as one I owned a few years ago being marketed by an American company.What also struck me was they where some 40%-50% cheaper......
The Edge 540T impressed me, I do have an affection for the 540, plus Edge540 models always seem to have a tad more wing area than the Extra/Yak.
I thought this model could make for an electric conversion, and had a ponder till Sunday afternoon saw me hand over £170 and a big box was heading back to 'Base Camp' where it was all out for an inspection with my fellow campers, the build and finish quality is as good as anything we have seen and owned, the hardware was very good, some 'proper stuff' for petrol motor planes.
Back home I started to work out what would be required, the nearest model to the Edge was the Extreme Flight 70" Extra and the 70" AJ Slick.
A quick surf around found some useful info.
We have opted for -
Scorpion 4035/380 / 20x8 APCe
HobbyWing Pentium 150amp ESC
6s5000mah PolyPower Lipo from RobotBirds.
(Jurys still out on powering the RX)
As it's a 'gasser' kit, I will have to make up my own battery mount, and get the mangle fired up to make some Ali stand offs for the motor.No real aggravation for a 70" kit that is over 55% cheaper than other 70" Electric models in the market...............
A few pics from the importer Stratford Models of the Edge 540T.

   
   
   
More to follow.........

[Richard]

I too like the look of the Edge 540s I had to get the measuring tape out to visualise what 70" was, its 1780mm in new money. Thats huge, the 20x8 prop driven by 6s5000mAh is going to make a very big blender

Oh look, its got a toilet roll holder in the middle... is that a step up from the bicycle clips

[Tony Smith]

After a massive clear up of the hanger...we have made a start...
   
First time consuming job, is to work out the stand off length to attach the electric rotating mass....after much measuring and checking..once..twice..and a third.....
A stand off of 55mm with a 4mm thread will do the job..
   
Out with the mangle, and some Ali bar stock....
   
Some time later...4 natty stand offs, time for some basic geometry and get it all mounted to the firewall.

[Richard]

Are you sure thats the right motor, you could fit a few more in that cowl?

[Tony Smith]

Yep...that motor is big enough, bit deceiving really, hold it in you hand and you think..blimey... thats a big motor....it weighs 430gm.



   
This is the method I use to get the motor spot on in relation to the side thrust built into the fire wall, the thrust line should be on the centre of the prop hub, just slide the whole assembly across till it lines up, mark it..sorted...

   
Motor duly mounted using large washers either side of the firewall to spread the load, very solid.

Next the battery tray.

[Aeronut66]

Looking good Tony - top work from you as always. Keep the posts coming

[Tony Smith]

Time to sort some mounting for the 'House Brick' Lipo, and the rest of the onboard paraphernalia, decided on a longest as possible mount from F3 to F5, made the mount from 3mm Lite Ply, beefed up the formers underneath to give me a good suface area for the battery mount to bond to.
The destructions show 1 servo for the elevator, 1 servo for rudder, not too keen on that, so we have opted for 1 servo per elevator 'half' and the rudder to go 'closed loop/pull-pull'. the fuse sides being generic has servo cut outs both sides, so mounting 2 servo's will be easy.Just have to work out and cut a slot for the closed loop wire to exit.
Rudder servo mount made from 3mm Lite Ply.
   
   
Should all fit somewhere in there.....

[Tony Smith]

Ah... right....just finished 5 - 12 hour mind numbing night shifts, my ability for rational thought and cognitive abilities have returned, so it is back to plot......
Still on the fuse.
   
Servo's in and exit slot for closed loop sorted..x2
   
Removed the film from the bottom of the fuse, just makes it all easier for access, the servo leads have been 'tied' to a former to stop it all flapping about and hitting the rudder cables.
   
Extension leads on, connectors heat shunk..
   
Just about done,35meg this one, aerial tube runs right down to under the fin post.

[Tony Smith]

Time to sort the wings -
   

Hinge slots were very accurate, which made lining up easy.
Pic shows the 'strip of hinges' the Brown fuzzy bit.... is a bit of 3M 'Scotchbrite type pad' used for keying car bodywork, this is used on the bevel edges of the false TE and the Aileron LE to remove the shine on the covering film where we will apply some more film to create a sealed hinged line.
   
'Mind the gap'......this is the best line up to accommodate the amount of aileron throw required.
   
Gap minded.....a 20mm strip of film, folded, layed in, small tack iron used to seal,.....all well worth the effort....
   
Wings on, time to get the Elev and Fin lined up and glued in..sorted..

[Richard]

Nice aileron detail

Hope it don't stop that whistling noise you can get when doing some fast manoeuvres