FT Bloody Wonder - Scratch Build

[Craftydan]

I noticed you mentioned adding weight to move the CG. Most pilots just move the battery to adjust the CG so you're using what you have to have on the plane, and not adding what amounts to dead weight.

Good catch Xuzme!

Trafficked,

My motor is heavier, but the natural balance (w/o battery) should be slightly forward of the recomended CG -- adding the battery around 1/4 to 1/2 over the CG should move it back to the sweet spot. Otherwise, space gets pretty tight in the front of the pod for a battery and ESC, especially a 4S.

Would be a shame to need an extra 1/2 oz of ballast for no benefit other than CG . . .

 

[xuzme720]

Good catch Xuzme!

Even a stopped watch is right twice a day! It was bound to happen eventually!

 

[Craftydan]

Even a stopped watch is right twice a day! It was bound to happen eventually!

I prefer the blind hog analogy, myself, but mostly out of resemblance . . .

. . . That and a working clock that's wrong once will never be right -- which teaches us the true value of working

 

[Flynn]

Good job, Flynn! A good thing to be good at right away is landings, so keep at it!

Thanks xuzme! I'm really enjoying the FT planes! My BW stays in the air for 12-15 mins. Waiting on some more batts. I've been using a 1600mah that is thin and fits nicely.

 

[Craftydan]

Flynn,

If you've got the thrust to spare, you'll like the step up. It flies heavier, so wind hardly touches it, I've got plenty of time at WOT if I want, and it stays up longer than I care to, so I land when I'm ready, and not before! Really liking my 2200's!

BTW, if you're motor can take it (and you feel ready for the extra juice), might consider stepping up the prop. I'm flying a 10x10 currently on my 200w motor spinning 900kv, with great speed and gobs of thrust to spare. You motor might not be able to throw a 10" prop, but it will likely throw something bigger than a 7x6 -- food for thought . . .

 

[Trafficked]

Good catch Xuzme!

Trafficked,

My motor is heavier, but the natural balance (w/o battery) should be slightly forward of the recomended CG -- adding the battery around 1/4 to 1/2 over the CG should move it back to the sweet spot. Otherwise, space gets pretty tight in the front of the pod for a battery and ESC, especially a 4S.

Would be a shame to need an extra 1/2 oz of ballast for no benefit other than CG . . .

Yeh the NTM2826 I am using is mounted behind the firewall costing me an inch of leverage. Any way it flies nice now or rather it flew nice. After 5 landings and multiple fly-bys loops and stall I tracked past the Australian sun got lens burn and sought refuge in a tree. Kookaburras and crows went every where. Nothing 10minutes a stick of hot glue and 3 icecream sticks can't fix.

 

[Craftydan]

Good! She's supposed to be a combat plane! Don't let her use some silly tree as an excuse to stay out of the air!

Glad you were able to get her to fly well. Let us know how the re-maiden goes!

 

[Flynn]

Dan, Thanks man. The motor im running is an e-flite park 370 1080kv. Next time I get to the field I'm gunna try a couple different sized props. You've got a 10x10 on that! That's awesome!

I do like the way the thinner batts fit inside. I really love the 2200mahs also. I've been running them in the BB and the Versa. Where did mount yours on the BW? inside?

 

[Craftydan]

I do like the way the thinner batts fit inside. I really love the 2200mahs also. I've been running them in the BB and the Versa. Where did mount yours on the BW? inside?

No landing gear, so the battery goes inside. It's a pain finding balance, but I've got the velcro on the bottom, so I'll ballance on the outside, then when I'm happy, I'll switch sides on the battery and plug everything in.

E-flight's site recommends up to a 10x4.7, but that's probably for a 2S. If you've got a power meter, run it up slowly on the bench (watch those fingers!) and make sure it stays under the 9A speced. My motor is rated up to 18A, and the 10x10 was pulling around 13A -- Probably a bit much for the park 370, but you've got a good chance a fast 9" prop will stay under 9A. A watt meter will tell you for sure (without burning anything up )

 

[RigoArevalo]

As a video testimony and example, here is the vid of my BW maiden flight, any and all input is welcome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJTOuFLBpKo

Here is part 2 as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9AzkXF6OM

 

[Trafficked]

I love this plane rebuilt the pod out of 5mm corflute/corroplast (thats 1/4 inch for those imperialists) Added an extra inch to the fuso to shift the CG. This bought the build to 750gram flight ready. It moves nice now. The corflute/corroplast gets a harmonic at high speed as the air forc is forced through the holes it only encourages me and my mate to fly it faster as the note varies with the speed. We were so excited during the re-maiden that I forgot to put the retaining skewer in the back and mid flight the pod down. Looked like its butt was hanging low cut the trottle and still had aileron and elevator. We made an unplanned arrival in some thick shrub. Retrieved the plane, checked it over everything was fine so we put it up again. AND we figured how to buddy box so we can teach our other mate how to fly XD. I flippin love this hobby and Flitetest and the FT community so much fun.

 

[eaflyer]

Rigo when you mounted your engine did you put any downward thrust and or angle to the right?

As a video testimony and example, here is the vid of my BW maiden flight, any and all input is welcome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJTOuFLBpKo

Here is part 2 as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9AzkXF6OM

 

[okolloen]

Just wanted to share one of my flights with my Bloody Wonder. This is a really fun thing to throw around the sky.
Tiny motor, but being light weight it still flies great. I've only been flying for two-three months, but I got a feeling I'm hooked

 

[Flynn]

E-flight's site recommends up to a 10x4.7, but that's probably for a 2S. If you've got a power meter, run it up slowly on the bench (watch those fingers!) and make sure it stays under the 9A speced. My motor is rated up to 18A, and the 10x10 was pulling around 13A -- Probably a bit much for the park 370, but you've got a good chance a fast 9" prop will stay under 9A. A watt meter will tell you for sure (without burning anything up )

I don't have a watt meter yet but thanks for the advise. I swapped the prop for an 8x6 and, due to another bad baby blender landing, I had a couple of 25c 2200mah's left over. I figured id jam one in and after finding the CG, I couldn't believe I got 20-25 mins of flight time! I really think that E-flite motor is an efficient motor. Man, I had some fun! Many thanks to flitetest and the community.

 

[bowtech2]

Just finished this one, waiting on a few ordered things to finish up.

 

[Jaxx]

As a video testimony and example, here is the vid of my BW maiden flight, any and all input is welcome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJTOuFLBpKo

Here is part 2 as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9AzkXF6OM

Rigo,
Great videos! This plane is awesome isn’t it? I love flying mine in the wind, especially when I have the 3S 2200 onboard. It’s cool when I’m flying into the wind and it just sits in one spot. For me, the sweet spot is an 8X6 GWS style prop. I drill out the hub with a drill press so that I can use the props with a prop adapter. I also cut the motor shaft so that the prop adapter sits firmly against the bell of the motor. I believe one of the reasons this is such a fun plane is because it’s so versatile. There a so many ways to configure it that it can be made to satisfy many different flying styles.

 

[Jaxx]

Just wanted to share one of my flights with my Bloody Wonder. This is a really fun thing to throw around the sky.
Tiny motor, but being light weight it still flies great. I've only been flying for two-three months, but I got a feeling I'm hooked

Great video. Isn't that motor amazing?

 

[jhitesma]

Starting to think it may be time to build a new BW. A few more repairs and the Popsicle sticks on mine are going to weigh more than the foam board!



Most of the damage on mine has happened in the air flying solo. I keep finding new and exciting ways to rip the power pod out tossing it around in high G maneuvers.


First time I ripped the pod out I tore through the foam of the pod itself. So I reinforced the area of the pod where the skewers go through with some popsicle sticks and old hotel room keys.

Guess that worked since last time the rear skewer ripped through the outer and inner fuselage sections and tore 4" of the inner section off. Bummer was somehow the RX got pulled free from both the ESC and the servos - so it fell separately from the plane or pod (which ended up about 50' apart from each other) and I wasn't able to find it

This plane is literally too much fun

 

[xuzme720]

A rubber band around the fuse and the pod at the leading edge of the wing might help the pod stay put better. It looks like the foam is able to flex pretty good on yours now (it looks older with all those wrinkles!) so a little support in the center might help keep it together a little better.

 

[jhitesma]

I'll try that.

I think the big problem though is the two flexy sections in front of the wing. Those have been there for awhile but have been getting progressively more flexy - which is why I added the sticks last night.

I think what's happening is they're flexing in flight under high G's and that's letting the front pod skewers slip out leaving just the rear to support it which is why the rear keeps getting ripped out. Hopefully the combination of the new sticks and a rubber band will keep it in. Should know later today...even if it's windy I usually toss the BW up into the air. Though my "field" sometimes gets so windy that even with the big motor all I can do is let it hang there in the air in one spot fighting the wind