FT Mini Scout Build (Mighty Minis)

[ttprigg]

Fabulous!

 

[brian79cj]

As soon as I saw JB's Mini Scout design I knew exactly what I wanted to do. With it's classic early 20th century look and feel, I knew I had to dress it up in some lozenge camouflage, I also knew the exact version I wanted to apply. I had run across a pic of this funky Austro-Hungarian lozenge camouflage on a Aviatik (Berg) D.I. and used it as my guide.
View attachment 35548
From there it was on to Illustrator where I opened the scout PDF plans and used them to create my graphics.
I then printed them on tissue paper (tutorial to follow one day), removed the paper from the front and back of all the parts and then using 3M 77 spray, sprayed the part and carefully applied to the tissue paper (also another future tutorial).
Here are the results:
View attachment 35553 View attachment 35550 View attachment 35551 View attachment 35554 View attachment 35552 View attachment 35555
I added a few details (cockpit. spandau machine gun, wheel coverings, radiator and wing support wires) to finish the look.
I used a 1700 kv blue wonder type motor since it was all I had and mounted it permanently in the front being sure to to have a little right thrust built in. I used a 10 amp esc, a micro receiver (no case or shrink wrap) two 5 gram HK servos, an 800 2S and stuck a 7X5 ACP prop on the front. I checked the CG and it seemed really nose heavy, so I mounted the battery to where it almost touched the servos.
How did it fly? Well, not so great. It seemed to take a lot speed to stay up there and would pull to the right as well as pitch up and stall to the right as well. I have some video but it's so blurry it's almost useless. (11 year old camera girl)
It finally sustained so much damage (torn wing at the root, broken engine mount) that it would not fly anymore. :black_eyed: Unfortunately I'm a better graphic artist than pilot!
View attachment 35557
So it's back to the hangar for repairs and improvements. I have since added some carbon fiber to the wings (they were a bit floppy) and a FT recommended motor and prop are on their way which will be mounted on a mini power pod this time. I will also be making darn sure she is nose heavy!
My next project will be posting the graphics in an 11X17 format so others can print if they want as well as a sheet for the new fuse topper, guns and wheel coverings.
After I get this guy squared away, I plan on giving it an Billy Bishop SE5 make over!
Later!
Stephen

I love the look of this plane. Awesome!!!!
I will be looking out for your article on tissue printing and application.

 

[herk1]

Wow, Stephen -- what an amazing, beautiful job at dressing out your Scout! Such attention to detail -- you even took the trouble to line up the lozenges between the cardboard cowling and the foamboard. What type of foamboard did you use? If you used DTF, I presume that you removed the paper first, then spray-glued on the printed tissue?

Both the motor and the battery you used are more than double the weight of the motor and battery that I used in my Mini Scout build, so it's not surprising that your Scout was nose-heavy and high wing-loaded (resulting in the need to keep the speed up). And as for the tendency to pull up -- I think I can see the reason for that in your photos. When a power pod is used in the build, the top front of the pod sits against an extra thickness of foam which results in a hefty downthrust angle. It looks as though the way you mounted your motor did not give it any downthrust angle (looks like it is pointed straight out). It's possible to compensate for that with an elevator-to-throttle mix.

 

[Rasterize]

Thanks guys for the kind remarks!

Brian - I have been meaning to do those two particular tutorial/articles for a long time. I have some time off in a few weeks maybe I should start making plans.

herk1 - I used regular dollar store foam board with the paper on both sides removed. The fuse and vertical stab seemed rigid enough but the horizontal stab and wings needed some stiffening.
Thanks for you last paragraph. You were spot on in everything and explained the performance I was experiencing during the maiden. I can't wait to apply your suggestions and get it back in the air.

Thanks again!
Stephen

 

[newt_596]

I needed a plane for our club's monthly indoor fly so I decided to build the mini scout the night before the event.
Printed out the tiled plans, cut her out and followed the build video (mostly). Due to time constraints I left off the turtle decks.

I used a Power Up 250 Slofly 1600kv that I had on hand
10 amp esc
APC 8 x 3.8 WSF prop
500mah 2S battery
2 - 5gr servos
all up weight is 197grams
I did not glue the wing in place in order to allow me to adjust it left or right to trim it in once I got to the gym.
The mini scout was a fast build and flew great in the gym! It flew nice and slow or pretty fast when the traffic allowed.
It is a very stable flier drew lots of attention and interest from other fliers.
I plan to build a new one now with more attention to details and reducing weight. Possibly using Model Plane Foam (MPF) or BlueCore FFF. The new EMAX motor arrived today and is much lighter than the Power Up 250 that I used.
Thinking that I will add ailerons to the next one. They would allow me to keep the wings horizontal while doing slow rudder turns in the gym and possibly allow for some acrobatics out doors.
Newt

 

[matt mountain]

High speed scout with ailerons

Same e-max motor as vids, budget 12 amp esc, 6 chan spektrum receiver, 1x5gram servo on ailerons, 2.5 gr servos on rudder and elevator. 5030 3 blade prop from Hobbyking.

Paper stripped internally on rear fuselage, 3mm foamboard tail, 5mm foamboard fuselage and wing.

On a 370mah 3s, it can prop hang at about 2/3 throttle. It's ridiculous.

Many thanks Mr. Bixler!

 

[fatalerrorstu]

My FT Scout

Hi All,

I just wanted to post some pictures of my my completed scout. Well its actually not for me, it will be present for my father in law for Christmas

Its my first completed scratch build, I am still in the process of building a Storch for myself but that will be a longer project.

So before I painted the Scout I was able to do 2 very short test flights due to wind. It flew OK, but might have been very slightly tail heavy. I hope I fixed it now by moving the landing gear a bit more to the front. The plane is built entirely from 3mm Kapa line foamboard, so it is heavier than the FT stuff I also needed to take the thickness into consideration when cutting it out. I had to remove the paper from one side of the tail feathers and also from other parts of the tail due to it being very tail heavy. I also needed to use a 800mAh battery to get the CG correct, and move the powerpod more to the front. The AUW is 224g so it is a bit heavy for a plane that has this wingspan, but I hope it will be fine.

I have listed the main items I used below, please contact me if you have any questions about the build.

- E-flite Park 250 Brushless Outrunner Motor 2200Kv
http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLM1130

- 2x 5g servo from Hobbyking

- 8g 10A ESC from my local hobby shop

- 6x3 Slow fly prop

- Acrylic paint from the local art shop

Cheers

 

[JamesWhom]

There are some awesome variants I've seen on this thread! I'm currently in the process of building an FT Big Scout which is 200% of the original FT Mini Scout. Nerdnic was kind enough to scale up the plans for everyone to build if you want to build one too. The plans are found in the thread below.

http://forum.flitetest.com/showthread.php?14552-Big-FT-Scout&highlight=big+scout

Just thought I'd let everyone know!

 

[Nathan_116]

do you guys think that this plane, and the other minis, will be able to fly off of the altitude hobbies electronics kit, but on 5030 props instead of the 6030 listed? Should I order the 530 3 blade if anything? the Hobbyking warehouse in the US doesn't carry 6030 props and I don't want to order from the international warehouse as the shipping will be insane for just a few props.

I am planning on running my minis on strictly 2s, as to save the bigger ones for my bigger planes, and basically use them as trainers for others who want to get into flying, so this question isn't just for this airframe, but for the mini's in general.

 

[nerdnic]

Made my dad a scout for Christmas, we had a blast flying them around.

 

[marc60]

Keep on flying with your dad. A year ago, almost at the day, my father was diagnosed terminal. I still mis my spotter.
grts Marc

 

[mikemacwillie]

do you guys think that this plane, and the other minis, will be able to fly off of the altitude hobbies electronics kit, but on 5030 props instead of the 6030 listed? Should I order the 530 3 blade if anything? the Hobbyking warehouse in the US doesn't carry 6030 props and I don't want to order from the international warehouse as the shipping will be insane for just a few props.

I am planning on running my minis on strictly 2s, as to save the bigger ones for my bigger planes, and basically use them as trainers for others who want to get into flying, so this question isn't just for this airframe, but for the mini's in general.

If you can get a 6x4, that should be fine on 2S.

 

[herk1]

do you guys think that this plane, and the other minis, will be able to fly off of the altitude hobbies electronics kit, but on 5030 props instead of the 6030 listed? Should I order the 530 3 blade if anything? the Hobbyking warehouse in the US doesn't carry 6030 props and I don't want to order from the international warehouse as the shipping will be insane for just a few props.

I am planning on running my minis on strictly 2s, as to save the bigger ones for my bigger planes, and basically use them as trainers for others who want to get into flying, so this question isn't just for this airframe, but for the mini's in general.

Why limit yourself to Hobbyking? There are tons of places to get props besides Hobbyking. For example:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/product...llers/6x3-direct-drive-prop:-orange-gwsep6030

http://www.amain.com/gws-6-x-3-direct-drive-prop-orange-6/p24194

 

[clancy0below]

Ailerons

I love the scout, I first did a speed build kit and have since built it myself twice. Had a buddy build one as well.
This time I tried my hand at spray painting the plane for my first time.
Not the best looking but I was trying out diff stuff and well yeah. I like it though.

<a href="http://s62.photobucket.com/user/vashman420/media/1231142054_zpszxxvl0it.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/vashman420/1231142054_zpszxxvl0it.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1231142054_zpszxxvl0it.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s62.photobucket.com/user/vashman420/media/1231142042_zpssbimejmo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/vashman420/1231142042_zpssbimejmo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1231142042_zpssbimejmo.jpg"/></a>


I also fly in a pretty tight space with plane eating trees. I have added ailerons for finer controller around those bad boys with the fpv unit. I have placed them closer to the body than the wing tips to just assist slightly with turning. I felt it was more natural feeling for the slow flight than if the ailerons were closer to the tips for more roll. The dihedral can still do its thing as well. I wont build it any other way for fpv in the small park.
I used two 2.5/3 gram servos. Made a tiny Y jack buy reducing the wires down. I used the same wood control horns from FT store.
They are 150mm long and 8mm wide.
I will try to upload a video of some up close flight if weather permits tomorrow.


<a href="http://s62.photobucket.com/user/vashman420/media/1231142040b_zps2bmy9iwi.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/vashman420/1231142040b_zps2bmy9iwi.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1231142040b_zps2bmy9iwi.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s62.photobucket.com/user/vashman420/media/1231142039e_zpss0vocycp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/vashman420/1231142039e_zpss0vocycp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1231142039e_zpss0vocycp.jpg"/></a>

 

[JamesWhom]

These builds are looking great! I still don't entirely know what colour to paint mine yet. Some sort of WW1 German Livery or a Pre WW1 Brown canvas look.

My 200%, soon to be fitted with a GoPro FPV setup, FT Scout so far:

 

[ztoon]

Hi,
Here's the maiden of my Mini Scout, which has to be red of course...
Build with 3mm depron and tape.
2x 5gr servos
10A esc / a1510 motor / 5030 prop
800mAh 2S batt tested
3ch HK Rx
Weight is about 115gr without battery.
Very stable for it's tiny size.

 

[Christopher14]

Dude, that thing is awesome!:applause:

 

[ztoon]

Tried loops with my mini scout today.
Some flex at first.
Then the wings folded on a tight one... but easy to fix
So I added 2 carbon rods and some tape.
I must say today was windy, and everybody at the club was laughing at me when I get the plane out of my car. It is stable, turns well with rudder only, no pb flying. Even with a crash at the end (due to 3mm depron used without spar) nobody's was laughing anymore but me.
Weight is now 122-123gr without battery

 

[Nightfox7]

So I built and maidened my scout today, it went together well! it flies pretty good.

I have a couple questions though, the rudder seems a bit anemic, is this an indication of aft CG? I checked the CG and it was pretty well spot on as far as I could tell.

 

[ztoon]

The rudder seems a bit anemic, is this an indication of aft CG? I checked the CG and it was pretty well spot on as far as I could tell.

Hi,
That could be.
The rudder seems powerful enough even with little throw in my opinion.