quorneng
Master member
A few years ago I built a small Depron Venom using a light weight 40mm EDF.
With a span of 800mm it came out below 250g, although such a category was not relevent at the time.
It flies very well so I decided to build a bigger version this time using a powerful but much heavier QX50 EDF with a 12 blade fan.
My 3D printing skills have developed of the intervening period so it has the advantage of an 'aerodynamic' inlet duct.
The inlet, EDF and the short exhaust duct are assembled into a single unit
The whole airframe is almost exclusively 3mm Depron, the small Venom used 2mm, with no reinforcing. Not even a wing spar just 3 Depron shear webs!
The fuselage uses the duct a 'spine' and is built up around it using formers and planking.
In effect the whole plane is a stressed skin monocoque. Never a quick construction method but it is light and remarkably stiff even in Depron.
Why a Swiss Venom? The Swiss airforce used the Venom rather longer than the RAF and even had a display team so I loosly copied one paricular example decorated in red and white. Hopefully it would be fairly easy to see!
With the tip tanks it has a span of 1200mm. With a 1800mAh 3s It weighs 490g.
As a 'hand launch/belly land' on rather rough grass the tip tanks have been removed for the flights so far.
The QX 12 blade fan is beautifully ballanced and is remarkably quiet.
Just a scale point the Swiss Venoms which were built under licence had what was called the 'long' nose to house some extra electronics.
Not very elegant but mine now has one too.
With a span of 800mm it came out below 250g, although such a category was not relevent at the time.
It flies very well so I decided to build a bigger version this time using a powerful but much heavier QX50 EDF with a 12 blade fan.
My 3D printing skills have developed of the intervening period so it has the advantage of an 'aerodynamic' inlet duct.
The inlet, EDF and the short exhaust duct are assembled into a single unit
The whole airframe is almost exclusively 3mm Depron, the small Venom used 2mm, with no reinforcing. Not even a wing spar just 3 Depron shear webs!
The fuselage uses the duct a 'spine' and is built up around it using formers and planking.
In effect the whole plane is a stressed skin monocoque. Never a quick construction method but it is light and remarkably stiff even in Depron.
Why a Swiss Venom? The Swiss airforce used the Venom rather longer than the RAF and even had a display team so I loosly copied one paricular example decorated in red and white. Hopefully it would be fairly easy to see!
With the tip tanks it has a span of 1200mm. With a 1800mAh 3s It weighs 490g.
As a 'hand launch/belly land' on rather rough grass the tip tanks have been removed for the flights so far.
The QX 12 blade fan is beautifully ballanced and is remarkably quiet.
Just a scale point the Swiss Venoms which were built under licence had what was called the 'long' nose to house some extra electronics.
Not very elegant but mine now has one too.
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