FT Mini Arrow

[eeck62]

I built an Arrow finally. Still need to maiden it. It may be a couple days. I’m working nights and waiting for the wind to quit.

I put a flight controller in it to hopefully reduce the effect of the wind. Also, it gives me return to home if I get too far out. I used the widened center pod from somewhere in the first 13 pages so I can fit a 3s 1300 mah. I am going to leave the pod open for now.
Matek F411 flight controller
RunCam Mini Eagle
TBS Unify Pro Race VTX
True RC Side feed antenna
Spektrum Quad receiver
Emac 5 g servos
Race Day Quads M8 GPS

 

[eeck62]

Oh, and I forgot, I commissioned my son (6 1/2) to do the art work.

 

[Keno]

Oh, and I forgot, I commissioned my son (6 1/2) to do the art work.

Son name? Picasso

 

[CapnBry]

I built an Arrow finally. Still need to maiden it. It may be a couple days. I’m working nights and waiting for the wind to quit.

Looks great! What have you got powering it? Is that an F pack motor and 5" prop?

I've now smashed my Arrow into the ground twice pretty hard. First time there was no damage, but the second everything just sort of fell apart. A little hot glue and it should fly again, but I think it has one more good hit before it rips in half. Both times I was doing rolls at an altitude of 4-5m and lost it. I'm running about an 80% success rate on those low barrel rolls.

 

[eeck62]

I have two motors for it. Right now it is a 2306 by 2650 kv with a 5x4.3x3 prop (slightly larger than F-pack). Should be pretty fast. I also have an 1806 A-pack motor and some Li-ion batteries that I want to try for longer run time. I am hoping to cruise around some ridges or by the ocean, just need to make it past the maiden flight.

4-5 m is too low for me to do rolls. I did put my Scout into the ground from 4-5 m when I thought I nailed inverted flight. Actually, I got the inverted flight down, just not good at getting out of it. A little hot glue and the Scout was back in business.

 

[synjin]

I’m finally putting my Arrow back together. Mine did rip in half on a...uh...high angle landing. I’m adding 2” to the nose of the Arrow to help with balance. Even with a 3S 800maH battery I had problems balancing it before. It will have to named Cyrano now...unless it crashes or flies badly, then it will be named Pinocchio.

Edit: Here is the Arrow after modifications and reconstruction. I'll give it a toss into the air tomorrow.

 

[CapnBry]

I’m finally putting my Arrow back together. Mine did rip in half on a...uh...high angle landing.

Oh these things love high angle landings!

I think I put mine back together wrong though?

I got the most flights by far out of this iteration of FT Arrow, probably 12-15 1400mAh packs, 11-15 minutes each. Something about the design seems begging to be flown at high throttle and low altitude though, and given that only 95% of my barrel rolls maintain altitude, there's a pretty good chance this thing is going down in the swamp every time it goes out. Definitely fun though and attracts a lot of attention since it is flippin' loud.

@synjin is that fanfold foam? It looks really clean.

 

[mrjdstewart]

luv me some Arrow! hands down one of my fav FT designs.

 

[Brett_N]

Mine had a high-alpha landing this morning too - with the wrong side of the alpha down. I can tell from experience, ROSS foamboard (from Walmart) is more brittle than Adams board from $Tree. Nosed in, sheared the wing. Duct tape should fix it

 

[CapnBry]

luv me some Arrow! hands down one of my fav FT designs.

It has to be the loudest FT design too. I flew my Mustang first and it just makes a WOOOSH noise as it goes by, then I bust out the Arrow and drowned out the sound of lawnmowers and leafblowers with it screaming across the sky.

 

[Mode 1]

I love the Arrow. just installed radio gear in another one tonight. Plan to build a third to use for night flying.
As Capn, pointed out, they do indeed bark.

 

[CMS_1961]

In regards to he broken arrow;

I brace mine up with a cut wooden yardstick you can get at any ACE or most hardware stores. Never had an issue and never broke one!!!

I brace it across the span and also lay one fore and aft in the battery compartment--the right yardsticks are super light and strong--lite ply would work too.

 

[bennmar02]

I build an arrow out of cardboard. It flies great with A pack and 3s battery

 

[RickyG]

I wasn't able to finish the LED mods at FliteFest2019, but was able to get them finished when I got back. I used white LEDs on the front and back of each spar and 6 leds on each wing tip. I also removed the paper from the inside of the wing. It came out fantastic and orientation is really good.

Ricky

 

[eeck62]

RickyG,
The lights came out really well ! I am assuming you left the paper on the outside, was it the brown FT foam board or white DTF? Thanks

 

[RickyG]

I had the brown FT foamboard and only removed the paper on the inside. I thought about removing it on the outside as well, but it's really REALLY bright and I don't think I need to.

Ricky

 

[eeck62]

I added some afterburner LEDs. I got a good maiden yesterday. It is my first wing, so much fun! The arrow flies great!

 

[Jonathan Ott]

Just curious if anyone has done a (smaller) 50% or 75% scale Mini Arrow?

I mean, like it's 29" stock, has anyone done a 14.5" (50%) or 21.75" (75%) build with thinner (1/8") foam board (Hobby Lobby has 1/8" foam board...or has anyone been able to source anything thinner)?

Thanks!

Jon

 

[Schiksie]

Finished mine yesterday, used the most ugly color scheme i could think off ha ha.
It seems a bit tailheavy but will find out on the field how much

 

[Jonathan Ott]

It's... interesting...😁