Ryan O.
Out of Foam Board!
Edit: A lot has changed in the design process, I've actually based the aircraft on an entirely different balsa plane
My local flying field has an anual "Builders Workshop" that is open for kids at a local Rec and maybe the local hobby shop too this year. Last year they built the Simple Scout, but wanted something their own and more unique. Since many members at the field have a soft spot for vintage and antique RC planes (including me, after all in three days this is my second article about such an aircraft), it would be cool if new members also had connections to the Ugly Stick, Swizzle Stick, Lanzo Bomber, Smoothie, Kadet, Laker, Slowpoke, Kobra, ETC. At a previous event the club president brought his DIY Ugly Stick. That will probably be at at least one of the workshops. I thought of making a foam board scaled down 4 channel Lanzo Bomber. The Lanzo Bomber can use a pretty small motor for its size so scaled down be the right amount it should work perfect with a motor that is smaller, but can be bought in bulk for dirt cheap. The goal is to have the Radio system (either an FRSKY system for slightly more or an old 72mhz system) along with all the electronics add up to 80-85 dollars, and it should be possible. The problem with the Lanzo Bomber is that our field requires a barrel roll to pass the pilot test, and it is better if a student doesn't need to find a new plane to learn ailerons on. Because of this, I need to put ailerons on it (P.S. I really dislike only steering with rudder as well, just personally). They could either go in the center part of the wing, but they then need to overcome the torque of the remaining half of the wing, or on the part that is flared up due to polyhedral. Will I need to decrease the polyhedral to attach the ailerons effectively, or should it be find. Again, ailerons are a must, but it would be cool if I could put one servo in the middle of the wing (like the Bloody Baron). I might attach a paint stick to the wing and stick into the brace that holds the wing along with #64 rubber bands to keep the wing secure. A bonus of the design is that because of the recognizable engine sticking out of the front not being enclosed by anything, I can make a dummy engine for fun, and it should be easily swappable. The last challenge is that it could be tail heavy. I could cut lightening holes or peel back the paper on the inside of the foam board near the back to save weight, after all the plane needs to be relatively lightweight and nose weight is something I want to avoid. The landing gear should be no problem though, they are nice and simple. I might give it a molded wing because it is theoretically lighter because of the removed paper. I will make two prototype wings and compare them. And the best for last, the good old blue 9 gram servos! There have been many foamboard ones of these, and I wanted to try my hand at designing one myself.
My local flying field has an anual "Builders Workshop" that is open for kids at a local Rec and maybe the local hobby shop too this year. Last year they built the Simple Scout, but wanted something their own and more unique. Since many members at the field have a soft spot for vintage and antique RC planes (including me, after all in three days this is my second article about such an aircraft), it would be cool if new members also had connections to the Ugly Stick, Swizzle Stick, Lanzo Bomber, Smoothie, Kadet, Laker, Slowpoke, Kobra, ETC. At a previous event the club president brought his DIY Ugly Stick. That will probably be at at least one of the workshops. I thought of making a foam board scaled down 4 channel Lanzo Bomber. The Lanzo Bomber can use a pretty small motor for its size so scaled down be the right amount it should work perfect with a motor that is smaller, but can be bought in bulk for dirt cheap. The goal is to have the Radio system (either an FRSKY system for slightly more or an old 72mhz system) along with all the electronics add up to 80-85 dollars, and it should be possible. The problem with the Lanzo Bomber is that our field requires a barrel roll to pass the pilot test, and it is better if a student doesn't need to find a new plane to learn ailerons on. Because of this, I need to put ailerons on it (P.S. I really dislike only steering with rudder as well, just personally). They could either go in the center part of the wing, but they then need to overcome the torque of the remaining half of the wing, or on the part that is flared up due to polyhedral. Will I need to decrease the polyhedral to attach the ailerons effectively, or should it be find. Again, ailerons are a must, but it would be cool if I could put one servo in the middle of the wing (like the Bloody Baron). I might attach a paint stick to the wing and stick into the brace that holds the wing along with #64 rubber bands to keep the wing secure. A bonus of the design is that because of the recognizable engine sticking out of the front not being enclosed by anything, I can make a dummy engine for fun, and it should be easily swappable. The last challenge is that it could be tail heavy. I could cut lightening holes or peel back the paper on the inside of the foam board near the back to save weight, after all the plane needs to be relatively lightweight and nose weight is something I want to avoid. The landing gear should be no problem though, they are nice and simple. I might give it a molded wing because it is theoretically lighter because of the removed paper. I will make two prototype wings and compare them. And the best for last, the good old blue 9 gram servos! There have been many foamboard ones of these, and I wanted to try my hand at designing one myself.
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