EraJomppa
RC Enthusiast
Okay, more progress every day but I'v been too lazy to actually update the thread
I now have the tail section glued and tail servos attached. Also I attached a tail wheel.
The motor is now attached as well and I made a little test run to make sure it runs ok. Apparently not. I got this motor for free last year at a flying event and I didn't come with the C-ring on the shaft. So now it is held in place solely by it's magnets and when I turned it on and gave a little throttle the bell wanted to take off by itself.
Fortunately my friend has extra 5 mm shafts with their C-rings attached so he sent me couple and they will arrive next week.
Also I checked and my servos are already here in Finland so I will probably get them monday or tuesday. After that it's pretty much just waiting for a good weather and it's maiden flight time!
But here are some of the things I'v done so far:
The tail servos test fitted.
The linkages. I didn't want to cut the rods or servohorns down just yet. Maybe after I'v flown it once and made sure they work nice and no adjustments are needed.
Here's how the servos are attached. I found this to be the best way.
Tailwheel is attached to the rudder with a plastic straw. This way if it takes a big hit etc. the straw will probably break and wont burn out the rudder servo. The straw is only glued from the very tail and the metal rod guiding the wheel goes only about half way the straw.
Standing on it's own 3 wheels!
This is what I'm concerned. The landing gear is too sloppy. This is only under it's own weight (batteries included).
I'm hoping criss-crossing the rubber bands will give more strength. It still is quite sloppy. I'm afraid it might affect the take offs and landing especially when flying it FPV.
I also found more problems... This is not because the slot is crooked, it's because I allowed the tail form it's own shape and only glued down the bottom and hoped that it would form equally on both sides. It didn't. Also I glued in the formers and that made a little bit worse.
But with this top piece I forced the tail into alignment. There is slight strain inside the structures, but I don't think that will cause any issues.
I used too small piece... D'oh! Oh well I will redecorate the top of the plane anyway so I will fix this part as well.
Motor fitted for the first time. I used 3 mm Plywood piece in the front to strengthen the fuselage and act as a firewall.
Here's how it looks. I used another 3 mm ply piece where the screws will go. This should be plenty enough for the size of motor I'm using.
BTW These are probably not the screws that I will use in the end. For one, I found only 3 of them...
I put the ESC to the bottom, I forgot to take a picture before I sealed it inside. It is there with the 5A BEC that will power the plane (no BEC on the 70A ESC).
I made small exhaust looking exits for the cooling air.
Here is the current front with the ESC cooling hole. I will probably make it more nice looking and perhaps add a ducting.
Here are the insides so far. I have the power wires coming from the front and BEC and ESC wires coming from the side. I will next make some supports to hold the sides together. The structure is really flimsy without a permanent top piece.
I now have the tail section glued and tail servos attached. Also I attached a tail wheel.
The motor is now attached as well and I made a little test run to make sure it runs ok. Apparently not. I got this motor for free last year at a flying event and I didn't come with the C-ring on the shaft. So now it is held in place solely by it's magnets and when I turned it on and gave a little throttle the bell wanted to take off by itself.
Fortunately my friend has extra 5 mm shafts with their C-rings attached so he sent me couple and they will arrive next week.
Also I checked and my servos are already here in Finland so I will probably get them monday or tuesday. After that it's pretty much just waiting for a good weather and it's maiden flight time!
But here are some of the things I'v done so far:
The tail servos test fitted.
The linkages. I didn't want to cut the rods or servohorns down just yet. Maybe after I'v flown it once and made sure they work nice and no adjustments are needed.
Here's how the servos are attached. I found this to be the best way.
Tailwheel is attached to the rudder with a plastic straw. This way if it takes a big hit etc. the straw will probably break and wont burn out the rudder servo. The straw is only glued from the very tail and the metal rod guiding the wheel goes only about half way the straw.
Standing on it's own 3 wheels!
This is what I'm concerned. The landing gear is too sloppy. This is only under it's own weight (batteries included).
I'm hoping criss-crossing the rubber bands will give more strength. It still is quite sloppy. I'm afraid it might affect the take offs and landing especially when flying it FPV.
I also found more problems... This is not because the slot is crooked, it's because I allowed the tail form it's own shape and only glued down the bottom and hoped that it would form equally on both sides. It didn't. Also I glued in the formers and that made a little bit worse.
But with this top piece I forced the tail into alignment. There is slight strain inside the structures, but I don't think that will cause any issues.
I used too small piece... D'oh! Oh well I will redecorate the top of the plane anyway so I will fix this part as well.
Motor fitted for the first time. I used 3 mm Plywood piece in the front to strengthen the fuselage and act as a firewall.
Here's how it looks. I used another 3 mm ply piece where the screws will go. This should be plenty enough for the size of motor I'm using.
BTW These are probably not the screws that I will use in the end. For one, I found only 3 of them...
I put the ESC to the bottom, I forgot to take a picture before I sealed it inside. It is there with the 5A BEC that will power the plane (no BEC on the 70A ESC).
I made small exhaust looking exits for the cooling air.
Here is the current front with the ESC cooling hole. I will probably make it more nice looking and perhaps add a ducting.
Here are the insides so far. I have the power wires coming from the front and BEC and ESC wires coming from the side. I will next make some supports to hold the sides together. The structure is really flimsy without a permanent top piece.