E-F1: List of Recommended and Approved Components

[RSmith]

There has been a lot of interest in the new Electric Formula One pylon racing event. Many old veterans to pylon racing as well as new guys that have never raced before want to give the event a try. We have seen the recurring inquiry on many internet forums that asks "what kits are available and what are the key components that are approved or recommended for the event?" To this end, I have compiled a list of the approved and recommended key components that make up an electric Formula One model. As time goes on and more kits and components are approved or proven to be successful, I will try to keep the list up to date.


Randy Smith
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NMPRA Electric Formula One - List of Approved and Recommended Components

Approved Motors
Event rules state: All motors shall be approved for use by the EF1 Committee prior to their being entered in competition.
As of Feb-2011 the following motors are approved

E-Flite Power 25 1250kV outrunner motor Product number: EFLM4025B
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/De ... =EFLM4025B

Turnigy AerodriveXp 25 SK Series 35-42 1250Kv. Product number: SK3542-1250
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... oduct=7072

Arrowind 2820-07, 1300 Kv motor. Product number: BH-1834
http://www.brodak.com/shop_productdetai ... uctID=9066

OS Brushless Motor OSMG9525, 1200 Kv motor. Product number: OMA-3820-1200
http://www.osengines.com/motors/

Great Planes Rimfire EF1 Race 35-45-1250kV Outrunner BL. Product number: GPMG4630
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wt ... LXDGMS&P=7

Hobby King NTM Prop Drive Series EF-1 Pylon Racing Motor 1300KV / 930W
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... _930W.html

OS Brushless Motor OSMG9524, 1200 Kv motor. Product number: OMA-3820-1200
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...9524&search=Go


Approved Propeller
Event rules state: Propeller shall be the APC 8 x 8 Thin Electric Propeller, part number LP08080E
http://www.apcprop.com/ProductDetails.a ... e=LP08080E


Recommended Batteries
Event rules state: Lithium Polymer (Lipo) chemistry, maximum four cells, maximum battery pack weight is 325 grams
There are numerous manufacturers and sources of distribution for batteries that meet this requirement.
Two common battery packs used to date are:
Turnigy 4S-2650mah 30-40C
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... oduct=9266

Thunderpower 4S-2700mah G6 Pro Power 65C
Part #: TP2700-4SPP65
http://thunderpowerrc.com/html/G6ProPow ... teries.htm

Thunderpower 4S-2700mah G8 Pro Power 70C
Part #: TP2700-4SPF70
http://www.thunderpowerrc.com/2700-mAh_4

Dinogy 4S-2600 65C
http://performancerclipos.com/page8....ct=3&category=


Recommended Speed Controller
Event rules state: Minimum 60 amps capacity, Retail price cap of $150 USD, BEC is optional

Turnigy Plush 60A Product number: TR_P60A
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... oduct=2166

Castle Creations Phoenix 60A Product number: PHX-60
http://www.castlecreations.com/products/phoenix-60.html

Castle Creations Phoenix Ice Lite 75 Product number: 010-0070-00
http://www.castlecreations.com/products ... x_ice.html

EFlite 60Amp Pro Switch-Mode Controller Product number: EFLA1060
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/De ... D=EFLA1060


Approved Kits
Event rules state: All designs, past and future inclusive, shall not be entered in competition until three (3) accurate views or photos of the model and the full-scale prototype aircraft have been submitted to the NMPRA EF1 Approval Committee and approved.

ARF kit:
LR-1A Pogo Product number: EFL4200
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=EFL4200

EFlite Shoestring Product number: EFL4205
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=EFL4205

Nitroplanes Miss Dara Product number: 28A05-Dara-Kit
http://www.nitroplanes.com/28a05-dara-kit.html

Great Planes Proud Bird Product number: GPMA1260
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXCPFP&P=ML

Hanger 9 Sundowner 36
http://hangar-9.com/Products/Related...PRA%29%20Setup

Airborne Models Outrageous and Scarlet Screamer
http://www.airborne-models.com/html/pro ... ductID=163

HobbyKing Invictus
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__ ... _ARF_.html


Laser Cut Wood Kits:
Wagner Solution from Archie Adamisin
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...1469465&page=2

Little Toni and TomCat from SuperTRC.com
http://www.supertrc.com/results.asp?category=14

Nemesis from Red Jensen
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1385632

Fandango from Doug Sewell, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
http://www.dslaserworks.com and the contact email is doug@dslaserworks.com

Miss Lynn and Thunder Chicken from Matney Models
http://www.matneymodels.com/vixen.html

Polecat from RBC Kits On-Line
http://www.rbckits.com/shop/index.php?_ ... ductId=672

[RSmith]

The kit for Miss Lynn is now available from Matney Models.

http://www.matneymodels.com/vixen.html


Randy

[RSmith]

It appears that this site does not allow upload of .pdf documents.
As a reference, the 2011 rules for Electric Formula One can be found here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthre ... 305&page=2 Post #19

After these rules were published, the Arrowind motor was approved as stated at the beginning of this thread.
http://www.brodak.com/shop_productdetai ... uctID=9066


Randy

[ceandra]

Where can we get a list of the latest approved planes and components? I know there are Shoestrings approved, but none on the list. We have a lot of interest in our club, but the newbies need to be able to see the latest approved items.

Thanks
Chuck
11H

[DGavin]

The above list is pretty current. Randy's post.

[ceandra]

Dave:

As noted there were Shoestrings at the Nats. Also a Proud Bird.

Not saying they were not approved. Just looking for approved list. Several in my club are interested in Shoestring. Trying to get racing interest for next year, and the EF1 is getting a lot of interest. Our club is more than half electric now.

We (NMPRA) ought to have a complete (dynamic) list of approved kits, one-off designs, and accessories. As this changes, people need to know what they can buy, and CD's need to know what is legal.

Anyone know of Shoestrings available? In fact,t eh front photo on the NMPRA website is of a shoestring EF1, so they must be approved. Granted, might not be a kit yet.

Thanks
Chuck

[DGavin]

I understand horizon will have the shoestring in october. I also heard the Miss Dara will be available around october as well.

[RSmith]

Hi Chuck,
I understand what you and your club are looking for. However, don't confuse approved laser cut KITS and ARFs with approved DESIGNS. The list of approved components that I posted includes the approved ARF's and commmercially available laser cut KITS. This is why you do not see the Shoestring listed. At this time, there are no approved Shoestring kits or ARF's commercially available.

Yes, there were lots of Shoestrings and Proud Birds at the Nats. These were all either a) prototypes of the Horizon Shoestring ARF or they were one off scratch built Shoestring and Proud Bird designs. None of these are commercially available yet. The date for the Horizon Shoestring ARF is October. There is no date available for the Proud Bird ARF and we are not aware of the distributor either.

I am flying a scratch built approved Shoestring that my father drew up from plans. Jerry approved the design and drawings in Phoenix back in February. It is approved but it is a one-off scratch built plane. There is only one in the world...

Having said all this if guys in your area want a laser cut kit that is VERY close to a Shoestring, the Polecat from RBC Kits is essentially a Shoestring with a different cowl and canopy. Granted it is not a Shoestring but the kit is available. Aside from that, you'll have to wait until October for the ARF from Horizon Hobby.

Regarding the list of approved components, I will attempt to keep it up to date and repost it as new components become approved. With that in mind, I need to update the list with the new Thunderpower 65C battery.


Randy

[ceandra]

Randy:

Thanks for the detailed response, exactly what I needed.

From my club member perspective, most will probably want the Horizon ARF version, so having the proposed delivery date, fantastic. People just don't build much anymore.

From a CD perspective, it would probably help to have a managed list somewhere of approved designs, even if some are one-off.

Thanks again
Chuck
11H

[RSmith]

Recommended list of components at the start of this thread updated 8/16/11 for the Thunderpower 65C battery.


Randy

[RSmith]

List of approved and recommended components for E-F1 updated at the beginning of this thread and here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1417305

Updated 9/8/11 for Wagner Solution laser cut kit by Archie Adamisin and also for the EFlite Shoestring.


Randy

[Jim Wolfe]

Hi Randy;
I'll do the short version this time after the first time failed to post.Whats the status of the SK 3542-1250 "replacement" motor, the NTM 3542-1250, as far as being legal for EF-1. HK's site states that the SK is no longer available and has been replaced by a"newer product"

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... duct=17920

Appears from the specs to be pretty much identical , but ???
Thankis, Jim W

[RSmith]

Hi Jim,
The SK 35-42 motor is no longer commercially available. It was approved by the E-F1 committee and will always be approved. ie. If you can find one in a basement or on EBay, you can run it.

The NTM 35-42 is the commercial replacement in the market but it has not been approved by the committee. It is a new part number and, as such, must follow the process to be approved . It is up to the manufacturer or a distributor to supply the committee with three samples of the motor for approval. I don't know if this has been done or if it will ever be done...

The question must be asked to the approval committee whether anyone from Hobby King intends to have the motor approved. I suspect that HK doesn't really care.


Randy

[Jim Wolfe]

Hi Randy;
Your pretty fast, even when your not racing!! In light of what you said, how did the SK get approved, did HK submit 3 of those to the board, or can anyone submit them ??
Jim W

[RSmith]

Hi Jim,
You have a good question there. The Turnigy motor was the first one on the market and samples of the motor were evaluated and approved. I am not aware of the details of who did this or how it was done.

The E-F1 rules state the following:
"Manufacturers wishing to have a motor approved for competition shall submit a minimum of three (3) production examples accompanied by a full set of technical specifications and drawings and a detailed distribution plan to the EF1 Approval Committee. "

My interpretation of this is that an individual consumer interested in having a particular motor approved cannot simply buy three motors and submit them. There needs to be technical documentation and a commercial distribution plan. I guess you would have to encourage Hobby King or their manufacturer to make the submission to the committee. They would have to determine if it's worth their while to do so.


Randy