Arcfyre
Elite member
So I scratch built a shiny new FT goblin with a hot little 2206-2600kv motor and a brand new 40A ESC (overkill, I know). Dialed in expo, reflex, elevon mix, etc etc. All the CRAP checked out. Prop and motor spinning the right way.
Took it out for the maiden, got a good launch and headed out over the lake (my practice area) to wring it out. During the climbout, the plane entered a steep left bank, and despite adding power and giving right elevon control input, the bank steepened, the nose dropped, and the goblin hit the water at a 90° angle at almost full power.
The prevailing winds eventually blew the wreckage to shore, revealing my ROOKIE MISTAKE: I forgot to glue the control horns in. The friction of the foam holding the horns in was apparently enough for setup and CRAP checks, but as soon as they were exposed to flight loads, they popped right out of the foam and I had no control. So yeah. Don't do what I did.
The airframe is a total loss. The foam that wasn't crunched on impact was warped by the water. The impact was so severe that it forced the battery through the foam nose (the nose was still attached, but had a battery-shaped hole in it) so that's gone. The servos, RX, and ESC were all treated with corrosionX and were salvaged. All in all not terrible, but completely unnecessary. Aaaaand here I go cutting out goblin parts again.
Took it out for the maiden, got a good launch and headed out over the lake (my practice area) to wring it out. During the climbout, the plane entered a steep left bank, and despite adding power and giving right elevon control input, the bank steepened, the nose dropped, and the goblin hit the water at a 90° angle at almost full power.
The prevailing winds eventually blew the wreckage to shore, revealing my ROOKIE MISTAKE: I forgot to glue the control horns in. The friction of the foam holding the horns in was apparently enough for setup and CRAP checks, but as soon as they were exposed to flight loads, they popped right out of the foam and I had no control. So yeah. Don't do what I did.
The airframe is a total loss. The foam that wasn't crunched on impact was warped by the water. The impact was so severe that it forced the battery through the foam nose (the nose was still attached, but had a battery-shaped hole in it) so that's gone. The servos, RX, and ESC were all treated with corrosionX and were salvaged. All in all not terrible, but completely unnecessary. Aaaaand here I go cutting out goblin parts again.