Motorize a throwing Airplane?

[dani203]

Hey guys,

i just had this Idea lately about motorizing one of these balsa or Styrofoam airplanes made for throwing, and i wanted to know if anybody has ever tried that.
I was thinking about something like this:

(http://www.amazon.de/Kindergeburtst...179&sr=8-2&keywords=flugzeug+bausatz+styropor)

Or this:

(http://www.amazon.de/Balsa-Gleiter-...&qid=1456671290&sr=8-1&keywords=Balsa+gleiter)

For a motor i would want to use a coreless micromotor together with maybe a 1-1.5" prop (Hubsan X4?)


(http://www.amazon.de/Ersatzteile-Hu...id=1456672258&sr=8-7&keywords=hubsan+X4+motor)

The motor could potentially be driven by this ESC:

(http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...l_ESC_Brushed_Micro_Motors_EU_Warehouse_.html)

As a reciever one could use this:


(http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...hz_5CH_Micro_Receiver_Telemetry_Capable_.html)

The battery would be a From a Blade Nano QX:

(http://www.amazon.de/HOR-ERSATZAKKU...8&qid=1456671546&sr=8-2&keywords=Nano+QX+akku)

For the controlsurfaces one could possibly use something like these 2.5g servos:

(http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__3714__HobbyKing_2_5g_17kg_12sec_Micro_Servo.html)


Weight:

Motor: ~1g
ESC: ~1g (without cables & plug)
battery: 9g (?)
reciever: 2g
servos: 2.5g * 2 (Ailerons + elevator, we don't need a rudder, do we?)
other stuff ~5g (mounting hardware, wires ETC)
_________________
All in all ~25g



The balsa plane does have 2 big washers included in order to make it more nose heavy, maybe if we leave them out, and try to attach most of the electronics in the Front, we would reach a simular weight & CG?

What do you guys think? is this idea a complete waste of time and money, or is it actually doable? Unfortunatly i think i really lack the skill to actually build it, but i would really like to know if it is possible for someone with a little bit more experience...

 

[NatefromOgden]

There is a long history of guys adding electronics to those Hawk Eye foam chuck gliders so I'm certain it could be done to these models too.

 

[NatefromOgden]

And I would recommend you look at the all-in-one bricks of esc, receiver and servos for the Horizon Hobby Vapor or Champ or similar to simplify the build. http://www.horizonhobby.com/3-ch-rx-esc-w-led-port:-night-vapor-pkzu1152. These are available elsewhere online and used by lots of micro sized airplane modelers.

 

[PsyBorg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrRHxwcK7Z4 They just put this up not to long ago which is right along the lines you are thinking.

 

[hunterisbest18]

this is like a great idea. those throwing planes were always interesting and to make it motorized would be great. I hope you make one!

 

[Tench745]

For something like the little foam guy you would need to go a lot lighter on your electronics setup. The guys who build things in that size often have to wind their own micro-motors and use custom magnetic actuators because servos are too heavy. If you go to a larger balsa glider your equipment would be more likely to work. Something like this is what you're looking at for the little foam guys, though clearly not as complex. http://hackaday.com/2014/11/11/tiny-rc-p-51d-mustang-tips-the-scales-at-3-grams/

 

[rockyboy]

I've seen it done (as in "I looked at it, touched it, and was inspired) - and am in the middle of trying it myself. Build notes and observations of what not to do are in this thread http://forum.flitetest.com/showthread.php?25804-SA-re-Run-Chuck-Glider-RC-Conversion

When you start your project, do post pictures and info here on the forums!