Seagull Taylorcraft Electric

having read David Ashby's article in RCMA on the Seagull Taylorcraft electric artf I fancied the model and purchased it.I opened it and was dismayed to find the pilot loose in the sealed cabin and a big hole where he once sat,.Decided to persevere so carefully cut a hole in the cabin floor to extract him but he refused and i couldnt make said hole any bigger.The only option left was to cut the covering at the bottom and I managed to remove him after a struggle between the push rod tubes.I now had a new dishevelled model with 2 large holes in the wrong places and so disheartened didnt excitedly dive in to build it.I left it on the floor of the lounge awaiting inspiration.It arrived in buckets when one evening arrived home to find my son for some reason decided to turn the dining room into a gym cleared everything "UP" in the lounge and pack the Taylorcraft away NOOOOOOOOO.He isnt the sort to treat things carefully i have a number of damaged models to prove it.But recently wanting a couple more models to fly I started on the Taylorcraft,I thought I would fit the motor first and do the damage later.so the motor fitted I offered the cowl up and the motor was over an inch to far in ,HOW.So a bit of misfortune solved the problem.I had a mishap with my foamy Acrowot and destroyed it .On my own going to far and I clipped the ground and it was beyond repair so bought another.so the old one has been repaired but everything is new except the wings.in the Acrowot the motor fits in a metal mount so it now with mount is fitted in the Taylorraft including speed controller so hopefully as it was very powerful enough in the Acrowot it should be sedate enough in the Taylorcraft.Ive used all my spare servos that fit and the batteries are already being used for 2 other models.I just have to find a way to feed the aileron wires through the sealed cabin,fit the receiver and set it up mend 2 holes and Im there so better get on with it.

so that didnt go well,The wiring was ok because I still have the hole goodness knows how you do it without.But ive one aileron servo not working and for the 2nd mode no throttle response.Ive never had problems with Furtaba servos and Im using ones from other models .i have a new one in a box ready for my Challenger I built at Christmas but didnt realise I hadnt fitted a battery or receiver and will use that one tonitel

fitting the wing bolts are a challenge and I will have to take the model fully built as I dont like fiddling about at the field.Fortunately my old truck will take this size model so no problem there.I still will need to fit the wing struts .On his tidying my son lost the instructions so some of it has been a challenge

I agree Eric but maybe Vietnam fingers are a lot smaller.Redid the last nights job but one of the servos has stripped strangely so again tomorrow.Still no throttle response even with new receiver so maybe speed controller duff

managed to get on today after soldering connections on new esc and listening to it for ever programming itself all the electrics are now working fine and only need few jobs fitting cowl repairing covering fitting wing struts about does it Had fun and games last night trying to get a couple of ic ready also.after much head scratching found a number of duff in flight batteries were the problem all quite new so bind them and have new ones on the way.Challenger only need 4 bolts but havent a clue where they are

Well im goinf full ahead this evening to try and complete the Taylorcraft

just the wing supports now how come when you carefully pur the parts in trays in order I finish up scrambling round the floor to find them and who moved the prop

No Eric they all sleep outside this time of year and the forth one isnt popping in he has a serious limp so doesnt come round much,Flew the Taylorcraft think the power is ok but battery tray is rubbish so its gonna be akward but going to use velcro and strap

yes Ive added 40 grams up front given it a bit of down on elevator and need to plan the battery fitment

the only way to get the battery into the right position is with this silly battery tray you slide in so im going to allocate a 3s 2900 specifically for the job anduse cable ties and velcro to get it to the front where it should be.Ive also relocated the speed controller to the side but need to make an extension for the battery lead to be able to plug it in.Il fit the battery in place at home for the first flight as its so akward.Not a good design by Seagul for once.By the looks of it they had other ideas that didnt work as I tried them and came up with this one but ive need ed to strengthen where the screw holds the tray in place as first flight it split

Doesnt seem up to Seagulls usual standards Stephen ??? Any chance of a picture ??

Garry