COVID = Father & Son go into Hangernation

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.
 

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Raspypilot

New member
EDIT... mini mustang using the flite test 20A esc (not 25a). Btw also using lumenier 5x3.7 4-blade prop.... looks great feels like enough thrust.... we'll see soon I hope.
 

Raspypilot

New member
Maiden flight on the mini mustang went well today... it flies perfect, default throws were a bit high for this ol' guy. Looks like 7min on an 850mah 3s is doable.
 

Raspypilot

New member
Sadly the mustang didn't fly again... struggled with take off too much... kept nose diving for some reason. I've since built the vector and floats for the cub. The vector takes off so smoothly and flies very well. Mix rudder with aileron, use a 4s "stick battery" and 2200-2400kv with 20a esc and 3 blade. Took some bic pins and turned them into missiles. Found hot gluing bamboo skewers to the leading and side edges of the wings to improve durability and rigidity... will be doing this on more of my flite test builds. Cub on floats - have 2 successful flights... added some thrust angle on the motor as well, put a prop adapter washer behind the left mounting hole so the motor angles to the right.... really helped with those left twists during takeoff.
 

Raspypilot

New member
Recommended Eflite Kits from our experience. Criteria was ease of build and reliability of take off and flight... fun factor.
MM Arrow - easy reliable daily flyer, recommend coro plast winglets that are flush to bottom of wing (see assassin at crashtest hobby)
MM F-22 - This thing rock, easily our fastest plane, with a 3s 2600kv it out flies many of my 4s 2400 planes. We put a 4s in it once... wicked!
MM Vector - fun build, smart design with nose cone, plethera of room for electronics, rudder w/mix is a must
Original Spitfire - fun to build, some challenge with turtle deck and canopy, rewarding flight stability and scale looks
Simple Cub - Needs some thrust angle, so far great taking off water or hand launch, needs better tail wheel/skid setup.

Not recommended
PunJet - never could sort out it not twisting like a tornado on take off
Sparrow - Vtails rely on surfaces move equally for up/down... it flew fine statically until you move a surface then it torqs over
MM Corsair - Didn't like the battery tray, hard to pack it all in, no luck getting it to take off without twisting
MM Mustang - Really like the build and design, had some initial success but in the end difficult to get it to take off... I want to give it a redo later
Master build Spitfire - Wow this was a tough build, looked good, but honestly didn't fly any different than the original per se, landing gear at this size would be a benefit
Goblin - Finicky flyer, if you can get the CG and throws just right then it can work ok.
 

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OliverW

Legendary member
Recommended Eflite Kits from our experience. Criteria was ease of build and reliability of take off and flight... fun factor.
MM Arrow - easy reliable daily flyer, recommend coro plast winglets that are flush to bottom of wing (see assassin at crashtest hobby)
MM F-22 - This thing rock, easily our fastest plane, with a 3s 2600kv it out flies many of my 4s 2400 planes. We put a 4s in it once... wicked!
MM Vector - fun build, smart design with nose cone, plethera of room for electronics, rudder w/mix is a must
Original Spitfire - fun to build, some challenge with turtle deck and canopy, rewarding flight stability and scale looks
Simple Cub - Needs some thrust angle, so far great taking off water or hand launch, needs better tail wheel/skid setup.

Not recommended
PunJet - never could sort out it not twisting like a tornado on take off
Sparrow - Vtails rely on surfaces move equally for up/down... it flew fine statically until you move a surface then it torqs over
MM Corsair - Didn't like the battery tray, hard to pack it all in, no luck getting it to take off without twisting
MM Mustang - Really like the build and design, had some initial success but in the end difficult to get it to take off... I want to give it a redo later
Master build Spitfire - Wow this was a tough build, looked good, but honestly didn't fly any different than the original per se, landing gear at this size would be a benefit
Goblin - Finicky flyer, if you can get the CG and throws just right then it can work ok.
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