TBM Sbach 342 20 cc Thread
#101
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Lenox Township, Michigan
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm just glad they placed my motor mount facing forward at the front of the plane.
My mount was so bad (lack of glue, big air gaps, mis-fitting parts) I decided to remove most of it and start from scratch.
I had mentioned earlier that this plane is definitely not for beginners. Too me, it's been a lot of extra and needless work, but I think I can turn her into a nice flying machine when I finish her up.
I have learned a valuable lesson though: Before I ever buy another ARF, do a thorough check of all the related reviews and on-line threads before purchasing. I just did this on the Hangar 9 Inverza 33. Not perfect, and a little pricey, but it looks pretty good from where I stand. Plus, Horizon Hobby has always responded to my emails............can Ya hear that TBM ?
Joe M.
My mount was so bad (lack of glue, big air gaps, mis-fitting parts) I decided to remove most of it and start from scratch.
I had mentioned earlier that this plane is definitely not for beginners. Too me, it's been a lot of extra and needless work, but I think I can turn her into a nice flying machine when I finish her up.
I have learned a valuable lesson though: Before I ever buy another ARF, do a thorough check of all the related reviews and on-line threads before purchasing. I just did this on the Hangar 9 Inverza 33. Not perfect, and a little pricey, but it looks pretty good from where I stand. Plus, Horizon Hobby has always responded to my emails............can Ya hear that TBM ?
Joe M.
#102
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine came with the blocks, did not come with a mount. Did yours? I pulled my DLE 20 along with the (Hanger 9?) mount off of my Funtana 90, and found if I used the 1/8" aluminum spacer i would be ok with the cowl. I had a Great Planes 1.80 mount but it would not work.
I needed 2 1/2" 8-32 bolts to make it all the way to firewall. Not that easy to find.....
I needed 2 1/2" 8-32 bolts to make it all the way to firewall. Not that easy to find.....
#103
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, reviews are your friend. This last two weeks I had to take back a LG 60" TV that seemed like a good deal at 6am when I got off work but when I got home, and hooked it up, if the picture was darkish you could see the LED lighting all around the edge of the picture. The reviews all pointed this out if I had taken the time to read. This week I almost bought the wife an electric range (Samsung) but when I read the reviews the stove had burned down a house, blown the door completely off on the oven clean cycle, numerous wiring fires, and Samsung could not give a ****. Not sure why these companies are ruining their hard fought good reputations with this crap. Kinda like TBM.....
I have spent a lot of hours on this plane repairing some manufacturing defects and trying to figure out the parts and info they did not. I still think it's going to be a great flier, But I've been wrong before...........
I have spent a lot of hours on this plane repairing some manufacturing defects and trying to figure out the parts and info they did not. I still think it's going to be a great flier, But I've been wrong before...........
#105
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: West Islip N.Y.
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine came with the blocks too, but i see N83mc didnt need to use them.
I have the G. P. 60-120 mount which looks like what he used.
I hope you're right this time with it being a good flying plane. If not then at least i could use the components in a revolver.
I think shes going to fly nice.
I have the G. P. 60-120 mount which looks like what he used.
I hope you're right this time with it being a good flying plane. If not then at least i could use the components in a revolver.
I think shes going to fly nice.
#106
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Lenox Township, Michigan
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#108
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Lenox Township, Michigan
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Now that I've got through some of the difficult repairs and mods. on mine, she's actually starting to look pretty good to me.
Joe M.
#109
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Lenox Township, Michigan
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tailskid,
I almost forgot. How does your fly, and did you use the recommended 4 7/8" initial CG point ?
I'm still looking for a Sbach CG guinea pig.
Joe M.
I almost forgot. How does your fly, and did you use the recommended 4 7/8" initial CG point ?
I'm still looking for a Sbach CG guinea pig.
Joe M.
#112
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We'll know soon. For the record, I've never bought an ARF that didn't need most of what I've done with this one. Change out hardware, add some glue, reinforce now rather than repair later. Maybe more on this one because it's my first gasser and I'm worried about the higher vibration level. And after doing this for 35 years I know what works and what won't. But if you've done some building, it's nothing you haven't done before, just wish the instructions were better. CG calculator is probably something we should do on our own to verify the design anyway. The design of the plane seems very good, and I bought a second one-no sense in wasting all this time that I've invested in sorting this one out. The next one will be a breeze. I love the way these type of planes fly-Extras, Edge, Yak, MX2-just neutral handling. You realize how much work it is to fly a Cub after getting used to one of these (to me).
#113
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: West Islip N.Y.
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Depends on what one considers alot of work.
As rekit said somethings are what i would do to an arf anyways.
The wheels will work if you use a set screw that sinks in to the collar. I changed them out because of how hard they are and i prefer dubro wheels.
My wings aligned well but the wing tube was a tight fit, to tight actually.
I went over glueing what and where it needed it.
ant rotation pins for the horizontal stab needed to be worked some as these were tight also.
The tailwheel i believe was missing something to make it function. I just used something to make it work from my parts bin.
Some had issues with the landing gear angled aluminum not being at 90 but rather ar 87 degrees. It is possible to get at the screws without cutting the covering to fix this if needed.
If you really like the specs on this and dont mind doing some work i'd go for it, but as far as tbm i wouldn't purchase any other items or expect any C.S.
I sent them an e-mail and never heard back.
As far as flight performance we dont know yet.
Hopefully soon.
There are other brands as well close to the specs of this one. The choice is yours to get what brand you prefer to go with.
As rekit said somethings are what i would do to an arf anyways.
The wheels will work if you use a set screw that sinks in to the collar. I changed them out because of how hard they are and i prefer dubro wheels.
My wings aligned well but the wing tube was a tight fit, to tight actually.
I went over glueing what and where it needed it.
ant rotation pins for the horizontal stab needed to be worked some as these were tight also.
The tailwheel i believe was missing something to make it function. I just used something to make it work from my parts bin.
Some had issues with the landing gear angled aluminum not being at 90 but rather ar 87 degrees. It is possible to get at the screws without cutting the covering to fix this if needed.
If you really like the specs on this and dont mind doing some work i'd go for it, but as far as tbm i wouldn't purchase any other items or expect any C.S.
I sent them an e-mail and never heard back.
As far as flight performance we dont know yet.
Hopefully soon.
There are other brands as well close to the specs of this one. The choice is yours to get what brand you prefer to go with.
Last edited by Bcolici; 12-12-2014 at 05:17 AM.
#114
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Lenox Township, Michigan
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've had many ARF's over the past 40 years. With any ARF I always expect to do some added work, but this particular model (mine at least) has been really bad.
I can and will do the repairs, but what has really ticked me off is the lack of customer service if a problem does arise. Guess I'm spoiled by the excellent customer service I get from Horizon Hobbies, Tower Hobby and a lot of other RC related companies.
My personal advice...........stay away from this one.
Joe M.
I can and will do the repairs, but what has really ticked me off is the lack of customer service if a problem does arise. Guess I'm spoiled by the excellent customer service I get from Horizon Hobbies, Tower Hobby and a lot of other RC related companies.
My personal advice...........stay away from this one.
Joe M.
#115
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ended up with 2- 5 cell nimh at the front and balanced at 5.25". I'm going to add another battery and switch in parallel and that should balance it at 4.75 or so. I like the idea of redundant batteries and switches. Red Schofield has an article on it.
#116
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: West Islip N.Y.
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Im going to try and keep it somewhat simple.
1- li-fe 2s 2100 mah battery with two power leads to 2 swithches.
1- tech aero ibec.
If i need more weight up front i can always add another battery.
1- li-fe 2s 2100 mah battery with two power leads to 2 swithches.
1- tech aero ibec.
If i need more weight up front i can always add another battery.
#119
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After thinking about it if I'm going to have two batteries and two switches I'm gonna go ahead and put in two receivers. I've already got them laying around so I'll have half a plane on each system. Futaba 7C. There will definitely be video---ground and onboard.
#120
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It came with pin type hinges however they seems to be a low cost poor quality brand so I used Robart pin type hinges. Also just an FYI the control horns they provided did not have any of the plates that are shown and Bill from TBM said he would send some which he never did so I purchased some from Pilot to do the installation correctly. One other item to look out for is poor glue joints. I went over everything I could reach with CA. Going back to one of my original question I would like to know if your manual shows a starting CG location or starting control surface deflections? Mine did not. I used the numbers for a Pilot Sbach of similar size. I don't believe TBM ever did a flight test and they have no idea how to prepare a manual. My airplane is complete now and looking forward to the maiden flight. Good luck with your build. Please let me know about your manual content.
#121
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine was missing the plates also but I have no idea what good they would do so I didn't worry about it. The strength is where theyre epoxied down in the wood. Be sure and check where your wing anti rotation pins are --make sure they protrude a little ways into the fuselage. The wing should suck on in, there should not be a gap between the wing rib and where the wing bolt plate is. Mine were too tight.
#122
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've mentioned I'm concerned about vibes, these are some of my solutions that have worked well for me. I think it was Sullivan that made Nyrod (Goldenrod?) for long control rods for 40 size planes.This is the splined inner rod. I still use it like a nylok bolt on canopy and cowl bolts. Just epoxy a piece in the cowl and use servo mount screws or better yet the allen head ones. On my canopy I went all the way across with the nyrod-that way if it comes loose from one side, it is still attached to the other side. Or you can use dowel or carbon fiber with fuel line pieces on the ends. I havent tried that yet, I think it would be ok for electrics. For the wing bolts, I removed the metric blindnut and used a 10-24 one. But first get a bolt and locktite it in the blindnut, then insert it from inside the wing. Now you have a stud that you can use a nylock nut on. You can also use a regular nut and drill a hole for a hitch pin or cotter pin.
Last edited by rekit500; 12-17-2014 at 08:47 AM.
#123
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: West Islip N.Y.
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine was missing the base plates as well for the control horns.
I dont know what they do either so i just grinded down the end that goes into the control surface to shorten them up, otherwise they are a bit to long and buldge out at the other end. Test fit and then epoxied in place.I put the ball link in place to make sure it fit well while letting the epoxy cure.
Thanks for the updates and tips rekit.
very much appreciated.
I dont know what they do either so i just grinded down the end that goes into the control surface to shorten them up, otherwise they are a bit to long and buldge out at the other end. Test fit and then epoxied in place.I put the ball link in place to make sure it fit well while letting the epoxy cure.
Thanks for the updates and tips rekit.
very much appreciated.
#124
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
More progress and pics. They left us a nice place to put shelves for rx's, and holes for locking bars over the tank and ign. module. (Hey, glad I had on clean socks <G>).
#125
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: crosby,
TX
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is not the tank that came with it, it's a little smaller. Also I ordered some Viton 1/8" tubing from Dudadiesel, seemed like a good price. What works for a good fuel line clamp? Most Viton on ebay was from China.....I'm gonna redo my clunk line-my planes spend a lot of time upside down or sideways. Also have some new batteries coming, again-cheap insurance. I've got most stuff nylocked or locktited. I need to do my metal servo arm bolts I guess. They're gonna be hell to undo one day....Anyway. time to get past the holidaze and on with the flying!