FT Mini Guinea Build
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LooseBruce
Senior Member
Finally got up my Mini Guinea for some fun
High Flyers,
This morning the winds were calm finally , not raining. I had flown my Bloody Wonder twice and it went great both times.two flights and two great landings. each flight about 10 min. This gave my the confidence to get out my Mini Guinea and fly it also. I had had it up for a couple of short flights this winter. Broken props in the extreme cold but it took off well in the snow. Each flight ended in a crash though.
This morning it all changed. The Mini Guinea flew like it was on rails. I had dialed down the throws until the ailerons barely moved, the elevator moved only a little and the rudder barely moved at all on low throws (this was partly because it is influenced by the differential thrust), I flew it at first with a 3S 1000mAh battery and set my timer for 4 minutes but forgot to activate it until a couple of minutes into the flight. This has SO MUCH POWER. It easily flies on only a fraction of the throttle.
The next flight I took out my nose weight and put in a 1.8Ah 3S. It balanced out perfectly. Perfect is how it flew also. I am using the eMax 1806 2280KV motors with some unidentified black very stiff 5 1/2 in props.I got BOTH of the brand new Max motors on ebay for a total of $17.00!! I haven't seen that deal again but I wish I had bought more. It flew for 6 minutes and I still had plenty of battery left. BTW, I bought 2 of these batteries at a swap meet for $1.50. A combat flyer said they were still good but didn't have as much punch as he needs for combat anymore. They were marked on the side as 2 years old and fifty flight. They are Turnigy NanoTech. I wish I had bought all he had.
The wind was starting to come up so I only tried a little with full throws. It would loop and roll quickly. This is new territory for me so I was cautious. I could not get it to flat spin but I was pretty chicken and have lived to tell the tale.I have no qwheels but love how the wide body lands on grass. Very gentle. Nice!!!
WHAT A FUN PLANE,
Thanks Flite Test,
LooseBruce
High Flyers,
This morning the winds were calm finally , not raining. I had flown my Bloody Wonder twice and it went great both times.two flights and two great landings. each flight about 10 min. This gave my the confidence to get out my Mini Guinea and fly it also. I had had it up for a couple of short flights this winter. Broken props in the extreme cold but it took off well in the snow. Each flight ended in a crash though.
This morning it all changed. The Mini Guinea flew like it was on rails. I had dialed down the throws until the ailerons barely moved, the elevator moved only a little and the rudder barely moved at all on low throws (this was partly because it is influenced by the differential thrust), I flew it at first with a 3S 1000mAh battery and set my timer for 4 minutes but forgot to activate it until a couple of minutes into the flight. This has SO MUCH POWER. It easily flies on only a fraction of the throttle.
The next flight I took out my nose weight and put in a 1.8Ah 3S. It balanced out perfectly. Perfect is how it flew also. I am using the eMax 1806 2280KV motors with some unidentified black very stiff 5 1/2 in props.I got BOTH of the brand new Max motors on ebay for a total of $17.00!! I haven't seen that deal again but I wish I had bought more. It flew for 6 minutes and I still had plenty of battery left. BTW, I bought 2 of these batteries at a swap meet for $1.50. A combat flyer said they were still good but didn't have as much punch as he needs for combat anymore. They were marked on the side as 2 years old and fifty flight. They are Turnigy NanoTech. I wish I had bought all he had.
The wind was starting to come up so I only tried a little with full throws. It would loop and roll quickly. This is new territory for me so I was cautious. I could not get it to flat spin but I was pretty chicken and have lived to tell the tale.I have no qwheels but love how the wide body lands on grass. Very gentle. Nice!!!
WHAT A FUN PLANE,
Thanks Flite Test,
LooseBruce
LooseBruce
Senior Member
Went out again tonight for two 8 minute flights. It felt so stable that I tried multiple loops and rolls. The rolls still need some work but 3 loops in a row were easy as pie!!
finally I set the throws for the center of the sun (100%). YES!!! it will flat spin!!!. Not exactly like the Flite Test guys spin but definitely violent and out of control like a satellite shot out of the sky with a laser.It is kinda like a goofy wiffle ball. It is just amazing what it does. And the recovery worked also!!! Ya gotta love that.
A really FUN plane. Now I gotta drop something.
LooseBruce
LooseBruce
Senior Member
I fly from a hay field and SOP is to cut the power and glide in to a landing.This plane glides very well.
LooseBruce
LooseBruce
Senior Member
Since I was flying at a small fraction of full throttle I have switched to 2200mAh 2S batteries. I still have more than enough power for my style of flying. I am using some Thimble Drome 6 X 4 props now because I broke one of my 5 inchers.
This is one FUN airplane!!
Thanks Flite Test.
BridgeInspector
Flite Test Groupie
I have enjoyed my MG so much I decided to make a miniMG (75% of the Mini Guinea) too.
JLT_GTI
Member
The MicroGuinea
Also i see that you have horizontal stab "flexing" problems too
BridgeInspector
Flite Test Groupie
The MicroGuinea
Also i see that you have horizontal stab "flexing" problems too
Yes, from various causes, mostly hanger rash and some steep take offs that tail rubbed asphalt. The nose repairs are numerous as well, at least another short stick of glue added during multiple nose jobs.
LooseBruce
Senior Member
Best CRASH of the day!! Out of SIGHT!!
Well I finally had a serious problem with my Mini Guinea. I have crashed it several times and did appropriate repairs. It was getting fairly "soft" all over. Especially the wing tips and the tail areas.The other day I was flying as a front was moving in (when will I ever learn?). Not too windy on the ground but I was getting tossed around in the air. I just couldn't get it under control well. I was looping up and to one side when I applied throttle. This sent me downwind at great speed.I think if I had the 3S batteries I MAY have been able to penetrate the wind better but control was a major issue in any case.
To make a short story even shorter before I knew it it was out of sight downwind. There are a lot of trees and a lot of fields between myself and where the plane must have gone down. I was sure it was lost forever. Even so I started on my trek to look for it. I would have to have amazing luck to find it that far away.
Luckily my wife was walking our dog ( 2 mile walk) down the road a half of a mile away!! She heard something and a loud "POP". (Gotta love that nose on the MG). I had packing tape wrapped around the nose so it took a LOT of force to blow it open. She could see it through the trees. Whoo Hoo I met her walking down the road and was amazed that she had seen it. She took me right to it.
Here is a picture after I got it home.
Here is
It was borderline repairable but I have already built a new wing. The only piece really worth saving is the fuselage.
In the air soon again I hope.I am so glad I didn't have to buy all of the electronics again.
LooseBruce
Well I finally had a serious problem with my Mini Guinea. I have crashed it several times and did appropriate repairs. It was getting fairly "soft" all over. Especially the wing tips and the tail areas.The other day I was flying as a front was moving in (when will I ever learn?). Not too windy on the ground but I was getting tossed around in the air. I just couldn't get it under control well. I was looping up and to one side when I applied throttle. This sent me downwind at great speed.I think if I had the 3S batteries I MAY have been able to penetrate the wind better but control was a major issue in any case.
To make a short story even shorter before I knew it it was out of sight downwind. There are a lot of trees and a lot of fields between myself and where the plane must have gone down. I was sure it was lost forever. Even so I started on my trek to look for it. I would have to have amazing luck to find it that far away.
Luckily my wife was walking our dog ( 2 mile walk) down the road a half of a mile away!! She heard something and a loud "POP". (Gotta love that nose on the MG). I had packing tape wrapped around the nose so it took a LOT of force to blow it open. She could see it through the trees. Whoo Hoo I met her walking down the road and was amazed that she had seen it. She took me right to it.
Here is a picture after I got it home.
Here is
It was borderline repairable but I have already built a new wing. The only piece really worth saving is the fuselage.
In the air soon again I hope.I am so glad I didn't have to buy all of the electronics again.
LooseBruce
Maxstravaganza
Junior Member
Are the tiled plans on A4?
LooseBruce
Senior Member
Well I finally had a serious problem with my Mini Guinea. I have crashed it several times and did appropriate repairs. It was getting fairly "soft" all over. Especially the wing tips and the tail areas.The other day I was flying as a front was moving in (when will I ever learn?). Not too windy on the ground but I was getting tossed around in the air. I just couldn't get it under control well. I was looping up and to one side when I applied throttle. This sent me downwind at great speed.I think if I had the 3S batteries I MAY have been able to penetrate the wind better but control was a major issue in any case.
I found the problem that caused some previous crashes and the final crash. I put the servos in my new wing. At one point the aileron servo which had been noisy rotated all the way in one direction and "locked " in that position.This would cause exactly the flight response I was getting. I am sure this is what caused the crashes. I freed it up and forced in back into position. I worked for a little while and then locked up again. It is being replaced. I should have done it sooner. When I am going to stop learning things the hard way?
LooseBruce
Had my maiden flight today - quite windy and the plane got thrown around quite a bit with a 500mah battery. After getting things trimmed out, I upped the battery to an 800mah, and then 1.3mAh pack. Lots of fun and very easy to fly even with the wind. That said, I got overzealous and tried to look at my phone while flying since I had invited a friend to come out...I ended up losing orientation and nosing it straight in....
I was able to then see how easy it was to repair. A little packing tape and I was back in the air. Now to finish up my full size version.....and tiny trainer....and FT Cruiser.....and FT 3D....and.and.and...Wow this hobby really snowballs.
I was able to then see how easy it was to repair. A little packing tape and I was back in the air. Now to finish up my full size version.....and tiny trainer....and FT Cruiser.....and FT 3D....and.and.and...Wow this hobby really snowballs.
LooseBruce
Senior Member
Congrats on your flights. it just sneaks up on you doesn't it ? You are flying having a good time and suddenly something goes wrong and before you even get nervous about the problem WHAM... its over.
Good Luck,
LooseBruce
LooseBruce
Senior Member
Mini Guinea is really Phoenix Rises from the ashes
Here is my resurrected Mini Guinea. I saved the fuselage and power pods and wing nacelles only. New paint scheme on the top to differentiate better for orientation.
Same pilot. The crash really wasn't his fault though he had practiced it many times!
Maidened it yesterday and it flew perfectly. Is is easy to fly and both fast and slow.I think I will still add some lights. I like to fly right after sundown while it is still light out. However, too often the plane looks like a black silhouette. I couldn't get it to flat spin even though I can get almost full throttle on one motor and very little on the other. Perhaps if I increase the throw on the rudder???
Thanks for lookin,
LooseBruce
Here is my resurrected Mini Guinea. I saved the fuselage and power pods and wing nacelles only. New paint scheme on the top to differentiate better for orientation.
Same pilot. The crash really wasn't his fault though he had practiced it many times!
Maidened it yesterday and it flew perfectly. Is is easy to fly and both fast and slow.I think I will still add some lights. I like to fly right after sundown while it is still light out. However, too often the plane looks like a black silhouette. I couldn't get it to flat spin even though I can get almost full throttle on one motor and very little on the other. Perhaps if I increase the throw on the rudder???
Thanks for lookin,
LooseBruce
Attachments
LooseBruce
Senior Member
New LED lights on my Mini Guinea from BangGood 5V
Hi Flyers,
I just flew my FT Mini Guinea with about $2 US worth of Led lights on it.Here is a link to the lights
http://www.banggood.com/100cm-LED-Strip-Light-TV-Background-Light-With-5V-USB-Cable-p-956702.html
Exceptionally cheap and run at 5 Volts as opposed to the usual 12 Volts.They even come with a USB attachment to make them easy to test. I run them off of the battery balance plug. Just be sure to use two wires that are next to each other so you only attach across 1 cell. I cut the lights often at every three lites and then wire them together with wire-wrap wire which is extremly light.
This installation used about half of the white lights that come on one strip.
I really like these,
They are smaller then the typical 12 volt lights but still more than bright enough.
I also bought a roll of blue and they are very bright.
I really like how they shine through the foam and packing tape.
LooseBruce
Hi Flyers,
I just flew my FT Mini Guinea with about $2 US worth of Led lights on it.Here is a link to the lights
http://www.banggood.com/100cm-LED-Strip-Light-TV-Background-Light-With-5V-USB-Cable-p-956702.html
Exceptionally cheap and run at 5 Volts as opposed to the usual 12 Volts.They even come with a USB attachment to make them easy to test. I run them off of the battery balance plug. Just be sure to use two wires that are next to each other so you only attach across 1 cell. I cut the lights often at every three lites and then wire them together with wire-wrap wire which is extremly light.
This installation used about half of the white lights that come on one strip.
I really like these,
They are smaller then the typical 12 volt lights but still more than bright enough.
I also bought a roll of blue and they are very bright.
I really like how they shine through the foam and packing tape.
LooseBruce
JLT_GTI
Member
Mmmm... but while that works you are draining one cell more than the others wich will cause the battery to take way longer to balance charge later..
If they run at 5V the ideal solution would be to feed them by the 5V output from one of the ESC BECs .. usually only one is used (to power RX and servos) to avoid issues so the other should be free
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LooseBruce
Senior Member
It is true that this method drains one cell more than the others but the current draw is minimal. I haven't noticed any problem yet though I don't monitor how long it takes to balance/charge a battery. I am adding more lights to some of my planes. I think I will try splitting them across different cells.It is easy enough to do.Instead of cutting off the wires that I don't use now I could put a group of lights across each cell fairly balanced.
These lights are most effective at dusk where it is just a little too dark to see orientation. You cannot see them in the daylight. I have however found a crashed plan in the deep dark woods easier because it had lights on during the day.
LooseBruce
JLT_GTI
Member
ha.. finally managed do the flat spin with the MG..
not much easy with the tiny 1306 motors in 5030 props but it did it (you need to pull full elevator up and bit of luck).. people in the field found it hilarious
tougfht we have in the site really tall grass (like 70cm or so) i didnt dared to land it spinning despite encoraging from mates
With 1806s and 6030s it really must spin like crazy
not much easy with the tiny 1306 motors in 5030 props but it did it (you need to pull full elevator up and bit of luck).. people in the field found it hilarious
tougfht we have in the site really tall grass (like 70cm or so) i didnt dared to land it spinning despite encoraging from mates
With 1806s and 6030s it really must spin like crazy
