FT Simple Storch - BUILD

[ttprigg]

Glad you like it. It is a design that I have been working on for several months now. I took it to Flite Fest and got it signed by most of the Flite Test employees. Bixler loved it, and long story short, it is going to be the first community designed plane to get a speed build kit and be sold on the Flite Test store. The plans will be released for it for free, just like the Flite Test designed planes. Flite Test even had it in the background of the Storch build video. Josh Bixler also talked about it in pod cast #41 last week. I'm pretty excited about it.

Great Job! - I just noticed it in the background on the build video. You should be excited! I guess I will have to wait and go ahead with the storch-

 

[Jaxx]

Thanks Jaxx!

My Storch is powered by the Suppo BL-2717/7 1250kv motor with a 9x4.7 SF prop and a 2200mah 3S. It had more than enough power for me. Not quite unlimited vertical, but close.

Thanks for the info. I'll be using a 9x5 GWS style prop on mine. I will probably go with the NTM Prop Drive 28-26 1200kv. I like more scale power. Not really big on the unlimited vertical, because more power usually equates to less flight time per battery. I flew my Bloody Wonder (I love that plane) with a Blue Wonder motor. At times I got 20-25 minutes out of a 2200mah 3S.

Looking forward to building the Bloody Baron. I looks like a fun plane.

 

[nlit3n]

Just finished up the frame. I still crash a lot so I am fan of colored packing tape. All the decals were printed up and taped on. I still have to drop the electronics in. I'm lookinf forward to the maiden.

 

[SP0NZ]

...I flew my Bloody Wonder (I love that plane) with a Blue Wonder motor. At times I got 20-25 minutes out of a 2200mah 3S.

Looking forward to building the Bloody Baron. I looks like a fun plane.

I learned how to fly on the FT Bloody Wonder with the Blue Wonder (hexTronik 24g) last spring. It wasn't my first plane, I tried the Nutball, Flyer, and Delta first. But, I really learned how to fly with the FT Bloody Wonder and for that reason it will always be special to me. Designing the Bloody Baron was really a tribute to that. So much so, that I wanted to make sure that it would fly well on both the Blue Wonder and the "Beef". I've had four different motors on it so far and they have all done really well. I think that with a 24g motor, a 1000mah 3S and throws dialed down, it could easily be a persons second (or even a first) plane.

 

[Craftydan]

My work area is a wreck but she's assembled and ready to maiden



Even had to drag in the folding table to get the extra length for this wing . . . she's HEAUGE!

overall plans to plane took two days, including creating templates and installing lights:



. . . and finished *way* too late to fly, so a little fun taxiing in the driveway with the lights changing

Maiden is this evening, Lord willing and the creek don't rise

 

[brian79cj]

I know this question has been asked and answered all over this post but I am still confused. I am new to flying it's been 2 months. I almost have my Storch done when my wife decides she wants to fly and have her own Storch. I have her's glued together and getting ready to paint it all the girly colors( pink, graphics). I have a few extra parts but need a motor and esc. I'm putting an order together from Hobbyking and can't figure out what motor to get. She is going to need a complete plane. Motor, ESC, prop size? It is confusing to order from them, not sure of sizes, connectors, prop adapters. My plane was easy, I just ordered the kit from Lazertoys but don't need the full kit and want to order some other things while I'm at it. Any help would be appreciated and remember I'm new to this. Specifics would be great.

 

[mactek]

I am building a storch from scratch and was wondering if a 2822/12 1800kv with 20amp esc will work temporarily until i can free up the funds to purchase the recommended power setup. I will be using a an 8x4.5 prop.

 

[nlit3n]

What size rubber bands work best for the wing?

 

[OrangutangSurfer]

Add Floats!?

Has anyone done this yet? Floats on the Storch?

I found a DIY float post on RCgroups http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147465 I'm not sure if it's worth doing, floats aren't that expensive. either way I have been wanting to give a try at a water plane and I remember a FT episode where the old fogey had floats but I think the Storch would be a much better option. In addition I think I can stick with the stock landing gear and get some grub screw style wheels stoppers and make the wheels easily removable then attach the front float mount to the gear, all i will need to do is add in a rear float mount on the plane and I should be able to switch between the two in a matter of minutes!!

It takes me forever to build a plane with a toddler, a preschooler, work and school i don't technically have days off haha. So if anybody gets to this before I do let me know how it goes. I'm going to minwax the plane to help prevent any water damage I can but I'm determined to have something to take to the lake that I can fly off the water.

-Jes

 

[rossmort]

Successful maiden tonight. NTM 2826 1200kv with 9x4 prop gave me plenty of power although will be making a pod for a DT 750. I used only flaperons and the plane took off in just a few feet with some wind. I need to make my slats and/or do some tuning as I came close to spike the plane a few times while playing with the flaperon button while up in the air. Overall, the plane flew just like my apprentice s. I was amazed how stable it was. Now to add lights....

 

[Rick]

Total old man noob

I have a couple questions. Sorry if I am repeating. There is very little discussion regarding a receiver. I use a DX6i so was planning a 4 channel Spekturm receiver. What is the most common receiver used for the FT Storch?

Also painting. When do most of you paint? before putting together or after is put together...Anyone know what brand of color for the drab green the Germans used on the Storch???

Thanks for any advice sorry if I repeating threads....

Rick

 

[T-Richard]

any receiver that works with your remote will be fine. With a 4 channel you're limited in that you cannot add flaps or have programmed differential. You can have mechanical differential and program aileron and elevator together tho. If you had a six channel you could add flaps and bomb drop etc.

Paint when your almost finished the build, gluing paint on paint is not that strong of a bond

 

[CrashRecovery]

The green I used was a can of cammo green

 

[RussellHamilton]

My work area is a wreck but she's assembled and ready to maiden

View attachment 30742

Even had to drag in the folding table to get the extra length for this wing . . . she's HEAUGE!

overall plans to plane took two days, including creating templates and installing lights:

View attachment 30743

. . . and finished *way* too late to fly, so a little fun taxiing in the driveway with the lights changing

Maiden is this evening, Lord willing and the creek don't rise

The lights on this are amazing! May I ask what lighting system you used and how you set it up?

 

[Joker 53150]

Flight Report - Maiden Flight of the FT Storch

Weather was a bit cold at 45F, but winds were calm enough so I decided to maiden my Storch this morning. I had it set up with both flaps and slats, as I like the look of the slats on this bird and I like using flaps. The take-off went well, but the motor being used isn't too large so the plane was marginally powered, so response on the controls was sluggish at best. CoG would have been better slightly farther forward as well. It soon became all but uncontrollable as the plane was working it's way towards the edge of the field, near a retention pond. Instead of risking a bath for the Storch I dropped it into the unmowed hay field about 100 yards from the take-off point. Damage included a broken prop blade and a small wrinkle in the starboard wing tip.

I flew my Pitts Special for a while and then came home to address the Storch. First, the wingtip was fixed quickly, followed by a slightly larger prop. I also decided to remove the slats to see how it handled. Out to the field for Round 2, the Storch quickly took off. Winds were a little stronger, and the Storch reacted with every gust. In my opinion, this is a great plane for a very low-wind day. Without the slats the flight was much smoother and more controllable. The flaps really slow it down a LOT, to the point it was hovering a few times aiming into the wind. It wouldn't take much to make this plane fly backwards! When it was time to land I set flaps to about 40% and cut throttle to about 30% and ended up with a nice smooth glideslope. The wind gusts were still fighting me in getting a smooth approach, but the ailerons were well up to the task of leveling it out quickly.

There are a few items I want to address on the plane before taking it out again, including some tweaks to my radio programming, checking the paper on the foam to make sure it isn't peeling, and painting the spots were the slats were attached. I'm also going to experiment with a few other prop sizes to see if I can get a little more power from the motor without going to 4S. This should be a fun plane to take out to cruise around on calm days. The wing is so large for this light of a plane you should expect it to get bounced around quite a bit on gusty days.

 

[Joker 53150]

A quick update - winds were calm so I went out to the field for a 3rd time today. I hit the LHS (for the last time, as their customer service is a joke) and picked up a couple new props to try. I found one which gave me 190Watts and 18Amps, a nice little bump from the earlier flights. This gets close enough to the maximum ratings for my motor. In the air that prop made a huge difference as I could cruise at just over 1/2 throttle where the previous props required 3/4 or more. Landings again were very controlled with a little flap added to slow it down.

I did find a weak point in my build - the tail-skid. After 5 landings on a paved surface the skewer and foam are getting very weak, so I'll add a little reinforcement before taking it out again. Otherwise, she's good to go!

 

[T-Richard]

thanks for the update, it's good to here people's experience

 

[nlit3n]

Du-Bros makes a steerable tail wheel that works great for the storch.

 

[Craftydan]

The lights on this are amazing! May I ask what lighting system you used and how you set it up?

The gear is one of the same strips recommended in the latest nightflying episodes -- a 1M RGB strip with an RX controller -- with some specific mods:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__23792__9_Mode_Multi_Colour_Multi_Function_LED_strip_with_Control_Unit.html

Fortunatly the wing is torn apart ATM (the center wingbox split open along the glue joint under the hot Florida sun), so I can take a few picks of the wiring -- far better than a description. I'll try to get those in at lunch time.

 

[irekkin]

smaller motor and 2s for storch

I've been learning on and flying a three channel smash drone. i'd like to move on to a 4 channel and I've gotten the storch built and almost ready. I've been using this motor http://www.graysonhobby.com/catalog...-p-940.html?osCsid=vftsrhn56ev6uddm42o8pinln0 and a 2s to warm up with on the smash drone . I have no problems using a 3s. was wondering if I could do the same with the storch, just to ease into it. the storch minus the landing gear weighs just about the same as the S.D. i'll probably give it a try but was looking for some opinions.