FT Mustang - Build Log

nerdnic

nerdnic.com
Mentor

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DETAILS
I completed my build but wanted to highlight some of the deviations I took in the build. Hopefully some of the changes will benefit someone else. :)

Enjoy!

SPECS
Motor
NTM 35-48 1100kv
Prop
10x10 APC
ESC
70a Dynam
Servo
EMAX ES08MA 12g Metal Gear
Battery
45C 2000mah 4S
TX/RX
FrSky Taranis/X8R + FLVS and GPS
Top Speed
85mph
AUW
950g
BUILD LOG
June 28th 2014
After startintg the build log I realized there isn't much point to posting step by step updates to a standard build. My FT Mustang has been completed for a few weeks now but here are some of the changes I made compared to the standard build.

First non standard change I made was to add a huge motor. I am pulling 65a and around 900w out of it with a 10x10 on 4S. My Frsky GPS clocks me at 85mph. The motor has a really nice deep sound to it and there is a faint whistle created from the scoop. It's pretty sick.
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If you're anything like me and have a few planes that look like this after a few high wind landings, then you might appreciate the next change I made.
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I added a BBQ skewer in the under camber score cut for added strength. It has 0 impact on flight but gives the wingtips a much needed reinforcement. I will be doing this on all my builds moving forward.
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As always I've added an aluminum spar. This adds very little weight (25g) but makes the wing basically unbreakable. I have used this design on all my performance builds. On my 800mm Spitfire and Mustang I can take a 100mph 180 banked turn on a dime and the wings don't even flex.
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Next change was to try something new with the 'finish' of the foam edges. There have been a few threads lately talking about using paper tape on the edges to make a clean finish. I like the idea but the ridge of the tape line that is created is not desirable for me. So here is what I did. I left extra paper on the top section of the horizontal stabilizer.
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The end result really impressed me. Folding over the extra paper and gluing it for a perfect finish. No exposed foam, and it looks great.
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This next change was inspired by how quickly my 800mm FT Mustang's scoop was damaged on landings. After just a few grass landings the scoop had large creases where the foam was stressed. This didn't impact flight or anything, but it didn't look good. So I decided to add some reinforcements.
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The extra pieces of foam were just what was needed. No more creases.
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REVIEW
As most you who have built the FT Mustang know, it flies great. I'm not going to cover the standard stuff that FT and others have already commented. I wanted to highlight two points.

High speed flight
At 85mph she handles very well. I would say if anything, the flight performance was better at high speeds than at sub 40mph. My build didn't require any aileron trim and even after many full speed passes spanning over 1300ft or so there is 0 roll. Tracking like an arrow is the common phrase I hear from others and it is a good description of what you see. But man, until you fly a plane that can actually do it, you just don't know.

Extra weight
FT has the Mustang at 453g without a battery and I'm sitting basically double that at 950g AUW. After a dozen or so packs, and even flying with a smaller, less angry motor on 3s, there was almost no performance or characteristic impact from the extra weight. I didn't notice a loss of hover or glide. At 0 throttle and full elevator I don't drop a wing tip or nose and the whole time have full aileron control. She just floats straight down. Landing is not impacted by the extra weight either. I don't land any hotter than with the lighter setup.

END OF MY MUSTANG
I had a mid air with another pilot for the first time in my 100s of hours flying. The other plane came out of no where as I was turning and I got t-boned pretty good.

Right as we hit there was a loud thud and a few pieces of our planes sprinkled down from the sky. I didn't know what happened at first but I knew something was messed up on my bird as I was quickly losing altitude. I pulled off the throttle and gave some up elevator to see if she'd respond. At full stick I was able to keep level flight so I made a straight line toward myself flying cross wind. The impact was a few hundred yards out so my only goal was to bring my plane as close to myself as possible before a potential loss of control. I came in hot and it wasn't the prettiest landing but I got her on the ground safe.
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Turns out the other plane cut my fuse in half. No foam or poster board was still connected. The only thing that saved me was my control rode sheath. I glued a coffee straw inside the fuse for my elevator rode and it was still holding on strong. I have no idea how I still had elevator control of the plane, the tail is literally dangling with 0 stability.

We had a good laugh about the crash and the other pilot walked away with no damage. Oh well, time to rebuild!
 
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Craftydan

Hostage Taker of Quads
Staff member
Moderator
Mentor
Doglover,

you *might* be able to squeeze everything on 2 with scraps, if you nest the wings, but I'd only say might. the SBK is on 3 sheets but has a pod and LOTS of circles for the wheels. hard to say if you'd still have room on the Fuse sheet for the tailfeathers and extra parts.
 

Blenderite

Professional Crash Pilot
The full plans looked like it was 2 sheets. Apparently the full plans are not set to the 30"x20" RB size.
 

Craftydan

Hostage Taker of Quads
Staff member
Moderator
Mentor
That is true -- the FT plans are rarely 20x30".

It's been a big issue when I go to Office depot to print, but so far their large format printer has been able to print them portrait off their spool of paper (32" IIRC) . . . but it's gotten close a time or two.
 

Blenderite

Professional Crash Pilot
Seems like FT would standardize it, but I don't care that much as long as their planes work!!! lol
 

Foam Addict

Squirrel member
Very nice!
Great improvements, I'll bookmark this and return to it on Christmas break when I build another.
 

MT Alex

Senior Member
Great job, nerdnic! What do you use for your aluminum spar? Do you bend it or cut two pieces and attach them?
 

nerdnic

nerdnic.com
Mentor
Very nice!
Great improvements, I'll bookmark this and return to it on Christmas break when I build another.

Awesome! Each new build (I've built FT planes over 35 times now) I try to think of new ideas or tricks that will help improve the plane in some way.
 

nerdnic

nerdnic.com
Mentor
Can you repair it, or will itr be new build?

I'm not sure yet.. It's a pretty fragmented break. I didn't get hit by his prop at all, I think his wing hit me so the break lines are all over the place. I think I might try to cut the fuse in the middle of the scoop and frankenstein a new tail on before I build a complete new one.
 

nerdnic

nerdnic.com
Mentor
Great job, nerdnic! What do you use for your aluminum spar? Do you bend it or cut two pieces and attach them?
Here is the aluminum I use. I get it at Lowes for $4 something and it's 3ft long.
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I cut it in half.
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It's super light, only adding 25g.
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And then cut half way through it with a hacksaw. After that I just bend it until the two pieces meet. If you want more dihedral just make another cut to your desired amount.
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This metal is very flimsy by itself but once you glue it between the foam spar there is no more wiggle. It is very strong and there is no way you can break it. I've had over 4000mah of battery in my FT Spitfire and do full speed dives at 80+ and pull full elevator to shoot back up vertical and it doesn't budge. I'm more worried about my fuse breaking in half than anything else. lol.

Enjoy!
 
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egunderson

Junior Member
sucks about the mid air crash! I witnessed it, it was impressive that she still flew after getting basically chopped i half. Nice work Nic!
 

monterx7

New member
i have an extra ft-mustang frame and really thinking of buying the electronics you used(motor/esc). i know this is an older thread and not sure if you have any other pics of this setup BUT, would you happen to have any pics of the power pod setup with everything crammed in there? where did you put the gps and voltage sensors at?


thanks
 

nerdnic

nerdnic.com
Mentor
I don't have any pictures unfortunately. The pod was deeper then a normal FT pod to accommodate everything. That Dynam ESC can be found other places, let me look and I'll update the link. I also don't use the battery suggested here anymore. I found a better one that I will link.