Stress Test
Well-known member
@Flyingshark -- I thought about Gorilla glue, I just got some to test out. Do think its lighter than dried white glue?
2021 mini scout challenge!
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Stress Test
Well-known member
Got my new motor and esc today. The motor is tiny, I should have gone for a 10 amp esc maybe it would be lighter...
I cut a firewall out of 1/32 ply, stacked it all in the plane and weighed it.
AND the result is ...........
I guess its time for a diet, a serious diet. I need to lose 7 to 8 grams to make my personal goal. That will cover the control rods and horns and go sub 100 grams.
And it still needs a battery, all I have are 450 3s that will fit it. So many of you, or most of you will be lighter.
But if I drop 1/3 of the air frame weight from my other one it should fly slower and stay in the air!
I cut a firewall out of 1/32 ply, stacked it all in the plane and weighed it.
AND the result is ...........
I guess its time for a diet, a serious diet. I need to lose 7 to 8 grams to make my personal goal. That will cover the control rods and horns and go sub 100 grams.
And it still needs a battery, all I have are 450 3s that will fit it. So many of you, or most of you will be lighter.
But if I drop 1/3 of the air frame weight from my other one it should fly slower and stay in the air!
Flyingshark
Master member
I think if you make sure to only use a little of it, it is lighter. Gorilla glue is definitely messier though. It's just a balance between being overweight and not having a rapid unplanned disassembly.
Man, so close! You could drop 6g by using an emax 12a esc. Here’s a little test I just did:Got my new motor and esc today. The motor is tiny, I should have gone for a 10 amp esc maybe it would be lighter...
View attachment 189806
I cut a firewall out of 1/32 ply, stacked it all in the plane and weighed it.
View attachment 189807
AND the result is ...........
View attachment 189808
I guess its time for a diet, a serious diet. I need to lose 7 to 8 grams to make my personal goal. That will cover the control rods and horns and go sub 100 grams.
And it still needs a battery, all I have are 450 3s that will fit it. So many of you, or most of you will be lighter.
But if I drop 1/3 of the air frame weight from my other one it should fly slower and stay in the air!
Intashu
Elite member
Trim them wires short if you can solder too! a surprising amount of weight is just in excess cabling!
and remove the paper from the inside of the fuse and bottom of the wing too if you're really searching for weight savings!
I got my wings mocked up, one side skin is a little loose so I need to either re-skin it or tighten up the tissue paper... I can't glue the wing together outside of the fuse because of how fragile it is so I need to make a custom dihedral gauge(s) to set them correctly. Tonight I'll get the servo's mounted up and hopefully have a good idea what the final weight will be.. and then adjust accordingly when I find out it's too heavy I'm sure!
I genuinely think had I done the frame out of foam, cut the maximum out of it while still having it structurally hold together, it would have saved me some weight over the Basswood sticks I have (due to the volume of glue required to hold all the pieces together) But at what point am I splitting hairs and I don't got the time to build ANOTHER simple scout right now! I am working on the Viper EDF jet at the same time and I have a cartoon P-47 sitting in line to be built after I finish the jet..
I am beginning to think I have a problem... I may have too many planes! I'm up to 16 in flying condition while building 2 more and a 3rd in line waiting... (I won't even count the number I've retired, scrapped, totaled, and tossed!)
and remove the paper from the inside of the fuse and bottom of the wing too if you're really searching for weight savings!
I got my wings mocked up, one side skin is a little loose so I need to either re-skin it or tighten up the tissue paper... I can't glue the wing together outside of the fuse because of how fragile it is so I need to make a custom dihedral gauge(s) to set them correctly. Tonight I'll get the servo's mounted up and hopefully have a good idea what the final weight will be.. and then adjust accordingly when I find out it's too heavy I'm sure!
I genuinely think had I done the frame out of foam, cut the maximum out of it while still having it structurally hold together, it would have saved me some weight over the Basswood sticks I have (due to the volume of glue required to hold all the pieces together) But at what point am I splitting hairs and I don't got the time to build ANOTHER simple scout right now! I am working on the Viper EDF jet at the same time and I have a cartoon P-47 sitting in line to be built after I finish the jet..
I am beginning to think I have a problem... I may have too many planes! I'm up to 16 in flying condition while building 2 more and a 3rd in line waiting... (I won't even count the number I've retired, scrapped, totaled, and tossed!)
Stress Test
Well-known member
mackaiver
Elite member
thats not a problem thats passion@Intashu -- I am beginning to think I have a problem... I may have too many planes! I'm up to 16 in flying condition while building 2 more and a 3rd in line waiting...
You're just a little more infected than some of us, that's what this support group if for!
GliderFlyer
Elite member
I always think "save it for a swap meet" but there haven't been many swap meets lately...
mackaiver
Elite member
well id lend you mine but eugene is pretty far right now
Samh
Elite member
Portland isnt too far lol. I may just go to Harbor Freight or somethin to get onewell id lend you mine but eugene is pretty far right now
Intashu
Elite member
That's where I got mine (well, Harbor Freight here in MN)! was about $20. Works great for our planes and rockets too.
mackaiver
Elite member
this totally dosent make any of your scout lighter but they might b e that much cooler
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/ft-mini-scout-snoopy-figure.200/
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/ft-mini-scout-snoopy-figure.200/
Samh
Elite member
I just built the wings on my Ultra ultra lightweight scout and they weigh 6g. Just a quick and dirty total using a coin scale. Once I get a gram scale I will get real weight on it, but 6g does seem pretty realistic for its weight. I am very pleased with that weight. I removed the paper on both sides and cut out most of the inside of the wing. I left around 3/8" of foam around the edge with 3/4" in the middle of the wing to get the crease. I then added light weight cling wrap on the top and used a hair dryer to get it nice and tight. I glued the cling wrap to the foam with a purple glue stick. I just have to wait overnight for the purple stuff to dry/ turn not white/clear. I think I am gonna do a similar method for the tail. Then on the fuse I am gonna remove as much foam as possible without making it structurally weak. I will get pictures as soon as I get my phone back
Awesome ideas!
Samh
Elite member
Thanks! They arent my ideas tho. I watched a video on a guy in Europe who made a F3P plane the same way.
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Stress Test
Well-known member
Oops ...
Either this foam board doesn't peel or its because I ironed it but the paper doesn't come off. I went from 56 grams down to 41, about 23% drop in weight.
I'll be on the road for the next 4 days. I hope to have it done late next week and fly it Saturday or Sunday.
Either this foam board doesn't peel or its because I ironed it but the paper doesn't come off. I went from 56 grams down to 41, about 23% drop in weight.
I'll be on the road for the next 4 days. I hope to have it done late next week and fly it Saturday or Sunday.
Stress Test
Well-known member
I'm thinking about glues and looking for different colored cling wrap while I travel. Or tissue paper.
If I see a hobby shop I may check on good, light covering material.
Wildthing
Legendary member
I think most of the coverings will be heavier then cling wrap, stronger but heavier. I would just make a stop at the grocery store and pick some up
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