Conversion to Electric!

The decision to go to electric started last August 2010 while Tom was talking to some of the club members at the Sky Ranch Flyers club.  After a few conversations, and a lot of help from Mike Donovan at www.aero-model.com, we were ready to go
and started the conversion in March 2011.
Here is our newly installed equipment, available from www.aero-model.com. 
Click on each item which will take to its product page.
 
Hacker Brushless A50-14L

 

 Hacker A50-Motor Mount

 

 Hacker X-80 Opto Pro 3D ESC

 		Thunder Power Thunder Power 18.5v 3900mAh 25C Batteries.
Used 6mm bullet connectors to attach all components together.
       

Step 1:  Remove the Nitro Engines
Step 2:  Pull the tray as well
 

Step 3:  Remove glow plug driver wiring
Step 4: Say goodbye to "glow".
 

Step 5:  Remove sheeting from under each nacelle.
Step 6:  Remove ribs and front block
 

Cleaned up and ready for some cutting
We did both sides at the same time
 

Step 7:  Cutting begins.  We measured in 3/4" front
and back of the nacelle
 
Step 8:  The side cuts are flush with Ribs 8 & 9.

Opened!
Step 9:  Glue in 3/4 " blocks front and back.
 

We like our clamps!
Finished look of the new blocks in place.
 

Another view of the blocks in place
New Firewalls to mount the engines on.  Notice the
blocks for attaching the engine cowlings to.
 

Step 10:  Build the battery tray.
Here is the batteries in place
 

 
Notice the bottoom of the tray ventilation holes.
 

this aluminum screen was purchased for $24 from
Menards in their hardware department.
 
Almost any form of screening will work.

Port Battery compartment in place
The battery compartments will attach with 1/4 20
nylon bolts.  One front, one back.
 

1/4 20" T-nuts (blind nuts) are installed front
and back of each engine nacelle.
Notice the balsa blocking to lift the batteries to
allow air circulation.
 

The installation of the ESC's in the nacelle. 
Remove the rib.
 
another picture of removed rib.

Glue in a 1/4" piece of lite-ply
Mount ESC to lite-ply.
 

Mount engines