Baby Blender - Scratch Build

[mordy]

Hi all, I have also started building the baby blender.
I love the new medium of using this foam board, I use many of my balsa building techniques and they work very well with only small adaptation.

I have included some pictures, never mind the smudgy overspray at this stage (its from the black cockpits) the model willl be sprayed like the SE5a in grey and green camo..

I made a couple mods, I used a firewall instead of swappable, I haven't open the inter planar struts (as yet) and reenforced them buy using 4mm dowel in the leading edge, and used an of the shelf undercarriage rubber band mounted.

 

[mordy]

A couple of more shots showing the struts and little tail skid.

 

[sneaky]

Blender and Mini-Telemaster

Here are a few photos of my finished blender. I built this plane several months ago and followed the plans and video exactly. I did have to make a few small modifications to get it working right. I added a partial span wooden spar to the lower wing. And some diagonal skewers to cross-brace the two wings. I angled the main gear forward and used larger wheels to prevent nose over. My first motor was a park 350, but I switched to a larger 400/450 class, 1200kv, 260 watt motor with a 9047 prop - much better. I fly with both a 1300 and a 2200 lipo. The only problem with the 2200 is that it makes it harder to take off without nosing over. The blender is now my favorite model to fly. My only complaint is that take-offs from grass are sometimes still a little tricky.

While waiting for the next set of swappable plans I decided to build a swappable mini-telemaster (can I call it a mini swap-emaster?) from an old set of plans I had collecting dust. It came out pretty good. I maidened it yesterday in chilly NJ. It is not a very exciting plane, but it flew great and handled a few barrel rolls. It is a nice contrast to the blender, which is pretty cool considering it uses the same power pod. I have never owned a traditional trainer, so it will be a good option for guests to fly.

Photos are attached. The only dimension change required for the telemaster plans was to widen the fuselage by 1/8 inch to allow the landing gear to mount inside around the swappable pod.

 

[colorex]

Did you just create a new plane for the swappable series?

 

[sneaky]

Did you just create a new plane for the swappable series?

Well I don't know if the plane is "series-worthy" but it was an interesting build. Maybe it will inspire someone smarter than me to put together a set of plans for a swappable high-wing sport/trainer.

 

[Lynnsabcs]

I have a Baby Blender and Old Foggy almost finished. Is coat hanger wire too heavy for landing gear?

 

[MrClean]

Maybe not too heavy but way to flexible. Get music wire from the hobby shop. Coat hanger is fine for hanging your plane only.

 

[Bolvon72]

He ain't lying about coat hangers, I tried that on my first plane and what do you know, retracts.

 

[MrClean]

Nice

 

[mordy]

Paint finished, now for the fit out motor servos etc.
Looks to cute to fly.

Updated picture

 

[MrClean]

Wow I like it. Waiting on the video. Where'd you get your gear?

 

[mordy]

Wow I like it. Waiting on the video. Where'd you get your gear?

Oh trying to remember, I have had it sitting in my spare parts drawer for years, thought it would never get used, I'm pretty sure it was from tower hobbies, I have seen similar on Hobbyking.
just look for Great Planes Dural Landing Gear .19 or Alloy landing struts 2mm / 32g / 73mm.
Or similar type of thing, even fibreglass or CF would be good as well.

 

[mordy]

Wow I like it. Waiting on the video. Where'd you get your gear?

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__5578__Alloy_landing_struts_3mm_89g_130mm.html

 

[Komm_Klink]

Is anyone running all 4 ailerons??? And how does it work?

 

[lonewolf7717]

WOW mordy....sir i do believe you have skills man! that is one clean looking build and paint scheme....so much so i might as well stop cutting foam now and give up the hobby lol....seriously nice build man.

 

[mordy]

WOW mordy....sir i do believe you have skills man! that is one clean looking build and paint scheme....so much so i might as well stop cutting foam now and give up the hobby lol....seriously nice build man.

Why Thankyou for the lovely compliments, I've been building models for many years now 'bout 37. It's such a great hobby. You always learn something new, this was my first foam building project and I really enjoyed it, I might try adapting some models to foam and see how it goes..

 

[coffeebean56]

Hey all a friend of mine showed me this plane and I want to build it,crash it and just have fun,
so,
heres the poop, i signed up here and Im wondering if anyone would print out a set of plans for me
Ill pay for it and the shipping,
why you ask,
well I'm disabled and stupid,,as in i dont have a printer and wouldn't understand how to do it anyways,
and i dont get out much so itd be hard for me to have a shop do it, and none of my friends understand waht i want
there eyes roll up in there heads and they say WHAT?
I live in Maine, 04106, please email me or answer here if youd do this for me with how much,
thank you
john
and no im not trolling or trying to cause any trouble,
just want some plans for this cool build to work on

Did anyone ever get with you to send you the plans?

 

[flying right]

Flite test inspired scratch built biplane

I just wanted to thanks you for the show. and show you guys what I built inspired by your baby blender.

 

[mkoutnik]

What type/kind of paint are you guys using to paint foam board? Also, what type of masking tape are you using to tape off paint designs?

Thanks.

 

[sneaky]

What type/kind of paint are you guys using to paint foam board? Also, what type of masking tape are you using to tape off paint designs?

Thanks.

The Blender was my first time painting dollar store foam board. It seems like 3-4 light coats of pretty much any spray paint will work fine. I used Testors One Coat Lacquer for my blender. It came out nice, but it required 3 cans - so a bit pricey.

For my swap-a-master I used regular rattle-can Rustoleum - much cheaper. I used a gloss, but a metallic would have been better I think. I also used two coats of Krylon Acrylic Crystal Clear. It definitely makes the finish more durable, but it smells terrible even when it is dry. I am not sure I will use it again.

Here are pics:

http://forum.flitetest.com/showthre...er-Scratch-Build&p=40930&viewfull=1#post40930

For masking I have been using Frog tape. It give a nice edge, but be careful not too push to hard when applying. On the swap-a-master the tape pulled off the paper in a few spots and really made a mess. I am hoping that someone else has a better suggestion for masking foam board.