13th Squadron's MXS build

[Niez13]

speaking of landing gear, what size wire did you use. I have the 1/8 inch wire from my FT 3D XL build, but it's too large for the holes without some drilling, and I have the wire that I use for my smaller FT models is way too loose.

Yeah I used the 3mm medium thickness landing gear wire from the flitetest store.

 

[mcmoyer]

Everything came out great and clean! I love the added details with removeable cowling and wing attachment. The one thing I will mention is when you bend the landing gear wire, make it a little longer than what I have on the plans. That is if you are using a ten inch prop but either way better safe than sorry.

I'm not seeing the dimensions for the landing gear on the plans. Do you happen to have that handy?

 

[AIRFORGE]

I'm not seeing the dimensions for the landing gear on the plans. Do you happen to have that handy?

On 13thSquadron.com there is 3D print file for the MXS gear mount, but no dimensions for gear wire. Adjusting wire length and wheel size will be key.
(Images from 13thSquadron)

 

[Niez13]

I'm not seeing the dimensions for the landing gear on the plans. Do you happen to have that handy?

Immediately I do not but I will get them up tomorrow on the website. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[mcmoyer]

This is what I went with. It gives me a smidge over 2 inches clearance with a 10 inch prop and the fuselage being level.

 

[Mr Man]

Nice! Can’t wait to see the finished product.

 

[Niez13]

This is what I went with. It gives me a smidge over 2 inches clearance with a 10 inch prop and the fuselage being level. View attachment 246957 View attachment 246958

That is perfect and basically exactly what I plan to put on the website! I am not sure if you glued them on yet but one of the build photos I have shows both sides taped together with a straight unbent landing gear wire. That is just a way to make sure the wheels are pointing straight.

 

[mcmoyer]

I finally had my maiden which was mostly successful and would have been a lot better had I actually set up the battery telemetry alarm. Such a bonehead

 

[Niez13]

I finally had my maiden which was mostly successful and would have been a lot better had I actually set up the battery telemetry alarm. Such a bonehead

Ah man! I was glad everything was going well for the most part there until the landing. I am trying to figure out some the troubles from the video and the only thing I can say for sure is for performance a 3s 1300 or 4s 1300 is the sweet spot. Lightweight for both and 4s has the punch. I am thinking that is where some of the trouble came from with either the nose heavy CG being a 2200mah. However, I hope it doesn't need an angle of incidence on the elevator to account for the nose down because then I would have to alter the design. It is too difficult to gauge over video. And it is interesting to me that the landing gear/wing mount snapped there. It definitely wasn't a soft landing but to me that shouldn't have happened. It gave me some ideas to make both stronger so I might have to go back and add them to prevent that from happening again. The problem with this plane specifically is that is has to be as light as possible but stronger than the average foamboard plane in most areas leading to some interesting design choices. Please let me know if you get it flying/fixed up again and thanks once again for building it!

 

[mcmoyer]

Ah man! I was glad everything was going well for the most part there until the landing. I am trying to figure out some the troubles from the video and the only thing I can say for sure is for performance a 3s 1300 or 4s 1300 is the sweet spot. Lightweight for both and 4s has the punch. I am thinking that is where some of the trouble came from with either the nose heavy CG being a 2200mah. However, I hope it doesn't need an angle of incidence on the elevator to account for the nose down because then I would have to alter the design. It is too difficult to gauge over video. And it is interesting to me that the landing gear/wing mount snapped there. It definitely wasn't a soft landing but to me that shouldn't have happened. It gave me some ideas to make both stronger so I might have to go back and add them to prevent that from happening again. The problem with this plane specifically is that is has to be as light as possible but stronger than the average foamboard plane in most areas leading to some interesting design choices. Please let me know if you get it flying/fixed up again and thanks once again for building it!

quick question, when you built it, did you use DTFB or the MakerFoam? I used the MakerFoam and I'm wondering if it caused the tail to be a little heavier. This was part of the reason I was using a 2200 since it was easier to get the CG correct.

 

[Niez13]

quick question, when you built it, did you use DTFB or the MakerFoam? I used the MakerFoam and I'm wondering if it caused the tail to be a little heavier. This was part of the reason I was using a 2200 since it was easier to get the CG correct.

Ah that's good thinking because I did use DTFB to build mine. I also placed the 3s 1300mah as far back as possible to where it was touching the wing spar.

 

[mcmoyer]

hmmmm...I'm confused now. I was sure there was a weight difference between makerfoam and DTFB, but I weighed them both and they are roughly 116g each.

This is where I placed the 2200mAh battery to get the CG at 80mm from the leading edge. That was my starting point given the 50-101mm range on the plans. The 2nd photo is where my elevator is at after trimming it out for level flight. It feels like I've somehow made the tail a lot heavier though.

The hot glue, securing the landing gear, just popped right off the rail. Guessing the paper coating may not be as good of a surface to adhere to. I'm using some foamtac on the repair so they should be a lot more secure.

At the same time, I'm finishing up my Eclipson Gö 1 Wolf and right after that, I've got the Model 3D queued up. Will be interesting to compare these planes.

 

[Niez13]

hmmmm...I'm confused now. I was sure there was a weight difference between makerfoam and DTFB, but I weighed them both and they are roughly 116g each.

This is where I placed the 2200mAh battery to get the CG at 80mm from the leading edge. That was my starting point given the 50-101mm range on the plans. The 2nd photo is where my elevator is at after trimming it out for level flight. It feels like I've somehow made the tail a lot heavier though.

The hot glue, securing the landing gear, just popped right off the rail. Guessing the paper coating may not be as good of a surface to adhere to. I'm using some foamtac on the repair so they should be a lot more secure.

At the same time, I'm finishing up my Eclipson Gö 1 Wolf and right after that, I've got the Model 3D queued up. Will be interesting to compare these planes.

Interesting, I will have to sit and think about it for a little. I'm sure I got those CG marks from somewhere but the next time I plan to fly my MXS I will have to double check the CG based on how it feels while flying. That battery placement seems forward/nose heavy to me but if it balances where it should balance there shouldn't be any problems.