Raspypilot
New member
Just before this opportunity to work from home and convert the play room into a Flite Test workshop my son had solo'd and we were occasionally hitting up our field 10min away for some grip n rip fun with assassins (www.crashtesthobby.com). Now it's been full throttle, can't wait for the UPS truck to swingby building madness... these are the things an AMA father dreams of. He has accomplished all the things at 13 that I barely accomplished at 30... Thank you Test Flite and the hobby of R/C Planes. With that said there is nothing a seasoned engineer pilot and ambitious Dr. Pepper drinking kid can't build and make suitable for flight. Here are the ones we've built and our learnings/experiences. I have been putting a lot of engineering thought into something I like to call the "Flite Test Tough Series", maybe when all this isolation with our nation is a thing of the past I can swing by and help enhance the build videos/plans.
Simple Cub - Son built 2... 1 lost to water plunge using floats, the other we got a lot of flight time on but eventually the rudder was just too wobbly
Simple Cub - I built 3rd one based on Son's learnings... found ways to strengthen it in several areas, used a Hobby King Navy J3 cub cowl ($8) for replica engine housings... so far flys good if/when I can get it in the air... it has been really difficult to takeoff, about halfway it wants to tq left badly... thinking a right angled thrust is needed on the motor mount (like the mini series). I tried 1200kv motors and 3s 1300s.... doesn't work well. So far a 2000kv with 3s 1000-1300 works well. Also found setting up with flaperons can be handy.
Original Spitfire - By far the best plane to start with, plenty of room for electronics, easy to build, rock solid flight stability and forgiveness. Builds a bit tail heavy so be ready to add 1/2oz up front. We used a 2000kv can motor with 3s 2200 and 40amp ESC. Worked great until we tried to recharge midair with the neighboring powerlines.
Mini Corsair - We didn't have much luck getting this to fly before it got munched, would like to give it another go some day
Mini Mustang - So far the best mini warbird build, it's ready for maiden flight using the Eflite radial 2212b (super smooth and quiet) 25a esc w/XT30 and Tattu 850mah 3s LIPO with XT30... perfect fitment. Builds a touch nose heavy, probably due to not setting it up with rudder (I don't see the need for a mini to have rudder). Don't recommend using sandpaper to rough up for paint, use high grit steel wool. Also found (like on tough cub) to use bbq skewers as servo trays to be structurally helpful for the fuselage and ensure the elevator servo stays planted. For added wing string slide a bbq skewer down each wing half between LE side of aileron servo and the SPAR.... rock solid wing. Elevator rod opening could be bigger, careful when hot gluing the turtle deck to not glue the connection rod (s). ESC and rx all fit nicely under power pod, battery best fits on front edge of wing so keep that in mind when mounting servos (aft of CG
Mini Vector - TBD
Mini Raptor - Ongoing, lots of room and easy to build
Master series Spitfire - Definitely an evolution in technique and engineering, son is still building this so I'm expecting great flight characteristics, this would be a good one to document a retract installation.
What to do with all that leftover Foamboard?? I found it pretty handy to hot glue them into a a nice stack to store knives, reamer, scissors in... could even make some storage trays for screws, horns, zip ties etc.
Simple Cub - Son built 2... 1 lost to water plunge using floats, the other we got a lot of flight time on but eventually the rudder was just too wobbly
Simple Cub - I built 3rd one based on Son's learnings... found ways to strengthen it in several areas, used a Hobby King Navy J3 cub cowl ($8) for replica engine housings... so far flys good if/when I can get it in the air... it has been really difficult to takeoff, about halfway it wants to tq left badly... thinking a right angled thrust is needed on the motor mount (like the mini series). I tried 1200kv motors and 3s 1300s.... doesn't work well. So far a 2000kv with 3s 1000-1300 works well. Also found setting up with flaperons can be handy.
Original Spitfire - By far the best plane to start with, plenty of room for electronics, easy to build, rock solid flight stability and forgiveness. Builds a bit tail heavy so be ready to add 1/2oz up front. We used a 2000kv can motor with 3s 2200 and 40amp ESC. Worked great until we tried to recharge midair with the neighboring powerlines.
Mini Corsair - We didn't have much luck getting this to fly before it got munched, would like to give it another go some day
Mini Mustang - So far the best mini warbird build, it's ready for maiden flight using the Eflite radial 2212b (super smooth and quiet) 25a esc w/XT30 and Tattu 850mah 3s LIPO with XT30... perfect fitment. Builds a touch nose heavy, probably due to not setting it up with rudder (I don't see the need for a mini to have rudder). Don't recommend using sandpaper to rough up for paint, use high grit steel wool. Also found (like on tough cub) to use bbq skewers as servo trays to be structurally helpful for the fuselage and ensure the elevator servo stays planted. For added wing string slide a bbq skewer down each wing half between LE side of aileron servo and the SPAR.... rock solid wing. Elevator rod opening could be bigger, careful when hot gluing the turtle deck to not glue the connection rod (s). ESC and rx all fit nicely under power pod, battery best fits on front edge of wing so keep that in mind when mounting servos (aft of CG
Mini Vector - TBD
Mini Raptor - Ongoing, lots of room and easy to build
Master series Spitfire - Definitely an evolution in technique and engineering, son is still building this so I'm expecting great flight characteristics, this would be a good one to document a retract installation.
What to do with all that leftover Foamboard?? I found it pretty handy to hot glue them into a a nice stack to store knives, reamer, scissors in... could even make some storage trays for screws, horns, zip ties etc.
