Easy Star information and Notes
by Irv Stafford

There are now about 45 Easy Star Electric aircraft owners in the club.

What makes this particular airplane so popular?

It is low cost, almost indestructible, flies slow, flies fast, very stable, easy to put together, big enough to see at a distance but small enough to travel with, and just plane FUN!

The plane is sold as an RTF kit that includes everything needed to get into the air including radio, motor and speed control, servos and receiver, and the airframe.  A kit that is just the airframe and motor is also available.  You add the servos, receiver, speed control and battery.  For a more detailed discussion about purchasing options click on: Easy Star Buyers Guide

It will get scuffed up, the nose might get scrunched, the canopy will pop off, and you might have to glue a broken wing back together, but it will keep coming back for more!  The prop is protected by it's location so you should never need to replace it when it does crash.

The speed range is something else.  At full power, you can do an awesome high speed fly- by down the runway then reduce power - head into a light wind and watch how slow you can keep it flying.  The Easy Star penetrates the wind very well so you can fly when other "foamies" have to stay grounded.

Flight stability means that the plane will right itself from ANY attitude if the hands are taken off the stick.  If you get into a spiral dive or the plane zooms up into a stall - just let go of the stick - it will right itself into a straight and level flight path.

All of these characteristics are why the Multiplex Easy Star is the ideal trainer.  Flight time is the only way to learn how to handle gusty and cross winds, become totally at ease in all turning situations, and make those "greased" landings.  The Easy Star will survive the initial learning curve long enough to give anyone the necessary flight time to become a proficient pilot. 

So - If you are a new pilot, get an Easy Star, ask for any assembly hints and mods from other owners in the club, then get the help of an experienced pilot to be your instructor, and be prepared to FLY!  If you are an experienced pilot, you will want one because they are so much FUN!  You can get more information about electric power and batteries by clicking on: http://sdwingmasters.com/epower.htm . ( The " Electric Power" tab)

Now for the FUN part

With so many Easy Star owners in one place could the idea of competition be far away?

How about:

Touch and go (1): Who can make the most touch and go landings in one minute flying time?

Touch and go (2): Who can make the most tough and go skips in one pass down the runway?

Precision Touch and go:  Who can touch down closest to the spot on the runway - three times?

Triathlon: Launch and time starts.  Make 1 touch and go landing then 1 loop.  Come around and make a 2 skip and go landing then do 2 loops.  Come around and make a 3 skip and go landing then do 3 loops and land.  Time stops at the end of the final landing.  Lowest time wins.

(Look - Ma) No Hands: After trimming the airplane - who can keep their hands off the transmitter the longest.

Musical Easy Stars: Who can land first when the music stops?

A number of Easy Stars are launched.  The music starts.  The planes are to be flown in a pattern from one end of the runway to the other.  When the music stops - the last plane to make a proper landing is eliminated.  The process continues until there is only 1 plane left.

Duration: Who can stay airborne the longest after a 30 second motor run?

This might be an "all up - last one down" task.

Pylon Race (slow): Who can make the least number of laps around two pylons in 3 minutes?

Loops (1): Who can make the most powered loops in 1 minute?

Loops (2): Who can make the most un-powered loops  after a 30 second motor run?

World Record Attempt: How many in flight Easy Stars can be captured in one photograph?  The record now stands at 3.

3 Easy Stars in one photo.

It's a record!

NOTE: Click on pictures for a larger view.

The record has been broken. It is now SEVEN!

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A quote by Bob Farnsworth of the Pioneer Valley Radio Control Club in Westfiel Massachusetts.

"Hi Wingmasters, Im sending you a link to our club site. Click on the gallery tab on the left and then Easystar Combat. I took these pictures a couple of weekends ago. There are 7 pilots in the first shot, and I managed to get 6 Easystars in the same pic in the next 2 shots. So, I think we have broken your World Record!

That club website is: http://www.pvrcc.org

Click here for the picture of SEVEN Easy Stars in flight

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If you can think of other ways to pit your Easy Star and flying skills against your flying buddies - send them to me at stafford.irvin@att.net.

 

Current record claims:

 

Irv Stafford claims a record of 1hour and 2 minutes set on April 12.  The Easy Star was equipped with a stock motor and a 1200 ma. NMh battery.

 

 

Jerry Houser claims a record of a 27 turn spin flight set on Aug.12.  This flight was witnessed by Jim Gallacher.

 

Jerry Houser claims a new record of a 30 turn spin flight set on Aug. 13.  This flight was witnessed by Mark Lane.

 

Jerry Houser claims a new record of a 35 turn spin flight set on Aug. 20.  This flight was witnessed by Jim Gallacher, Rex Geivett, and Irv Stafford (among others.)

 

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Construction tips and Modifications

See http://www.mpx-easystar.de/ for more Easy Star info.

Some owners have decided that a motor replacement will be necessary at some time.  The can 400 motors do wear out and replacing the supplied motor with a brushless motor increases performance a lot.  When setting up for step 2 of the building instructions, think about running the motor wires inside a soda straw.  Then you will be able to disconnect the speed controller, pry out the motor and slide out the wires.  Otherwise you will have to do some digging to get the old motor wires out. (Or leave them in.)

Make sure everything fits well when you get ready to glue the two halves of the fuse together.  The wires must be completely contained in the groves of the left fuse half.  If necessary, carve the grooves out with an Exacto knife.  Also make sure the assembled fuse will be straight.  If all is correct, follow the instructions and use the thick CA and activator to glue the halves together.

When you are ready to glue the wing spar covers (Step 12) do NOT use activator.  Just apply the CA to the spar cover (don't let any get CA get into the spar groove.) and push the spar cover in place.  If you use the activator, you might not be able to get the spar cover seated properly before the CA goes off..

Several planes at the field have the "popsicle stick" mod.  The canopy locking plates tend to break off after several hard "landings".  On one version a short section of popsicle stick is glued to the front underside of the canopy.  Another short stick is glued to the top, back of the canopy.  Another short piece of stick is clued to the fuse at the top of the canopy opening.  A screw will then hold the canopy securely in place.  Another version uses the front popsicle stick glued to the canopy but the canopy is held on with small magnets.               NOTE: Click on pictures for a larger view.

Jerry Houser put magnets on his wings to prevent them from separating if there is a crash.

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We land on a runway really grinds and scuffs up the bottom of the plane so the bottom must be protected.  There is an 8 mill thick Mylar tape material that is sold in the hobby shops to protect the bottom of RC Cars.  It is called "CLEAR CHASSIS PROTECTIVE FILM."  The film comes in a 6.5" x 18" sheet. Cut strips from the sheet that will cover the bottom of the Easy Star from the tip of the nose to the trailing edge of the wing.  Don't forget the tail skid.  Strapping tape can be used but it will need replacing often.  Control horns make good wingtip skids.

There are a number of modifications and/or replacements intended to extend or enhance the performance of the Easy Star.  There are mods to the rudder and wing, as well as replacements of the  motor, prop., and battery.

The rudder mod I used is very easy and improves the slow speed rudder response.  To increase the rudder throw; invert the rudder linkage connector and place the linkage in the next hole on the rudder horn.  (Poke a hole through the elevator hinge line for Allen wrench access.)   A simple way to increase the rudder area is to use two sided sticky tape to attach two business cards to the existing rudder. 

 

 

 

 

I have not seen any wing modifications on club owned Easy Stars, but adding ailerons has been done.  There is a Multiplex sponsored web site at: http://www.mpx-easystar.de that shows many mods including ailerons.

There are several motor, prop, battery mods at the field.

Rex Geivett changed the supplied can motor for a Himax 2815-2000 brushless motor with an APC 6 x 4 prop.  The motor is a physical drop-in for the Speed 400 that came with the plane.  He is now using a 7 cell 1100mah NMh battery.  This combination gives Rex more power and speed without reducing the run time.

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Wil Mathewson has modified the fuse with a raised motor mount to hold the PJS 1000 out runner brushless motor with an APC 7 x 5 prop.  The battery is a 2600 mah 3S1P lipoly pack.  Wil also added wheels.  This combination of motor - prop - battery - wheels makes for an awesome takeoff.  Much more power, speed, and duration.  (The last picture is a movie - it might take a while to load and play.))

              

Jerry Houser installed a Himax 2815-1400 brushless motor powered with a 3S1P lipoly battery pack and with an APC 7X4 prop.  He resolved the larger prop by cutting a slot in the fuse. then reinforcing the area with 1/8" carbon fiber rods.

A very obvious mod is the application of color in the form of paint or trim covering. Back to the top

My plane makes the use of trim covering.

My brother's plane has a mix of trim covering and paint.

It seems that another way the Easy Star shines is the foam used to make it. Not only is it light and strong, it can take any paint you might want to apply to it. Krylon "H2O" spray paint was used on the Club Trainer.  That paint adheres well but it can get a bit heavy.

Julian Schock's 49er Easy Star shows what can be done with a little paint, and a lot of imagination and skill.

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How to make a bomb drop mechanism without adding a servo.

For the Easy Star, I used 2 paper clips.  Straighten one out to be used as the actuator rod.  Pass one end of the rod through the elevator linkage connector with the servo push wire.

Make 3 "U" bends from the other paper clip.  Stick  the U bends  into the fuse.  Use these pictures as a guide.

NOTE: Click on pictures for a larger view.

The bomb will be released when the actuator rod is pulled back with  "full up" elevator.

   

With the elevator at the level position - place the first U bend just behind the end of the rod.

   

With the elevator at full up - place the second U bend just forward of the end of the rod.

Place a third U bend behind the second one to serve as a guide for the actuator rod. 

 

THE BOMB!  It is made using an 8" crape paper streamer glued to a 3/8"id washer - with a paper clip hooked wrapped around the washer.

 

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Note:  There is more to come - check back later!!!