FT Tiny Trainer - BUILD

[Adambybee80]

Sorry to ask, since im sure this has been answered multiple times but im new to everything rc plane related and was wondering what type if foam to get to build this? Im trying to go as cheap as possible due to never flying before and have no one with experience to talk to. Also, when printing the plans, do the tiled plans need to be printed somewhere special to get the right size or is just a regular printer good? Thanks in anvance, and if anyone is cool enough to help with future questions please message me on here or add me

 

[BridgeInspector]

Sorry to ask, since im sure this has been answered multiple times but im new to everything rc plane related and was wondering what type if foam to get to build this? Im trying to go as cheap as possible due to never flying before and have no one with experience to talk to. Also, when printing the plans, do the tiled plans need to be printed somewhere special to get the right size or is just a regular printer good? Thanks in anvance, and if anyone is cool enough to help with future questions please message me on here or add me

The foam board is ADAMS brand foam board that can be found at doller stores, like Dollartree, and is often refered to as Dollartree foamboard (DTFB). There is also some Walmarts that are carrying ROSS foamboard that can work also. Stay away from heavy foamboards like Elmers as it will make the FliteTest builds too heavy to work as designed.

The tiled plans can be printed on a regular printer and there is a scale on the plans that you can check to make sure your printer is not changing the size of the printouts. You may want to try just printing the page with the scale on it first to check your printers accuracy then scale accordingly.

 

[Torf]

Also, when printing the plans, do the tiled plans need to be printed somewhere special to get the right size or is just a regular printer good? Thanks in anvance, and if anyone is cool enough to help with future questions please message me on here or add me

If you are printing tiled plans using Adobe Acrobat, here's how you ensure your plan prints at the right scale: Under "Page Sizing and Handling", click the "Size" button to make sure you see the right options, then make sure "Actual size" is selected. Orientation should be either Auto, or Portrait. Print page 1 only. Other PDF viewers will have options to print 100% or actual size or 1:1 or whatever they call it in that package. You can confirm the scale with a ruler and page 1 of the plans. Once you have the setting correct, then print the entire set.

I think you'll find that this forum is really patient and helpful, so my advice would be to post any questions right in this thread. Usually you will find a lot of good info and common questions in the official build video threads, but if you can't find what you are looking for, just ask the forum!

Since you are starting out, I recommend purchasing the FT Power Pack A. That takes a lot of the unknowns out of finding the electronic components.

 

[Adambybee80]

Thanks to both of you. Hopefully going to be putting this bad boy together soon, whenever the power pack gets here. One more question, what would be a good inexpensive transmitter to use with this? I dont realy want to drop a lot of money into my first one in case i dont stick with the hobby, but one that will get the job done with ease

 

[ika]

I just maidened a scratch built Tiny Trainer (with 3 channel wing). Wind was substantial but the plane flew nicely! Great design. I had to put quite a bit of rudder trim to get it to fly straight though. A friend looked at my plane and noticed that the other wing tip had a bit more undercamber. I'll try to heat up the second crease and add a bit more to the lesser undercambered side to see if that fixes the issue. Moral of the story: really pay attention to symmetry - especially of the wingtips since the long moment arm will have a large effect on the plane if there's any asymmetry there.

 

[dayve]

Tonight was my maiden maiden with the Tiny Trainer. First plane I've ever built. First plane I've ever flown. Although there was some wind, it was flying beautifully with a 1600kv Blue Wonder and a 6x3 prop. It could have used a bit of right trim, but I'm too much of a noob to take my hand off the stick. Between me not paying close enough attention, and a big gust of wind, I got too close to a big tree. I thought I was going to clear it, but I just snagged the top branches. It ripped the wing right off. The rest of the plane tumbled in slow motion down through the tree, so I got back all the expensive pieces. It's just the trainer wing, so I'll build a new one tomorrow and take another crack at it. Maybe I should spend less time painting these things until I stop breaking them so much.

 

[ika]

Grats on you first flight! Even with that ending, it sounds like you're off to a good start. My first flights in January this year were very short and damaging to the airplane. It's hard to get any stick time in the beginning due to the crashing

The Tiny Trainer is a great choice for a first plane!

 

[dayve]

Grats on you first flight! Even with that ending, it sounds like you're off to a good start. My first flights in January this year were very short and damaging to the airplane. It's hard to get any stick time in the beginning due to the crashing

The Tiny Trainer is a great choice for a first plane!

Agreed! I hope you get your wing straightened out. If not, it's only about $.50 worth of materials to build a new one. That's why I like these DTFB planes.

I wanted a decent flight time, so I'm running a 1000mAh 3S in mine. At this rate, I'll get 3 or 4 flights out of it before I even need to recharge! Although, I think I will go order a 10-pack of props from BangGood or GearBest or something. I'm clearly going to need them.

 

[roversgonemad]

Although, I think I will go order a 10-pack of props from BangGood or GearBest or something. I'm clearly going to need them.

Are you running a prop saver? You can get quite a few more mishaps out of a prop if you have a prop saver. Also, the flexible GWS propellers are great for learning. They can take quite a bit of abuse before being completely ruined.

 

[Torf]

One more question, what would be a good inexpensive transmitter to use with this? I dont realy want to drop a lot of money into my first one in case i dont stick with the hobby, but one that will get the job done with ease

I sort of jumped in with both feet and bought a new Spektrum DX6. That led me to take a look at the DX5e when my son wanted to build a plane to fly with his dad. It was $60 at the time, and included an AR610 receiver which costed $40, so I looked at it as a very serviceable $20 transmitter. In the long run the receiver is a very good 6-channel unit and works with the rest of the Spektrum line if or when you decide to upgrade.

Not sure it's a great recommendation, or ideal for any particular purpose, but it appeared that FliteTest liked their Spektrums and that they were popular, so being a total newbie that was the route I took. I love the DX6, and my son is happy with his DX5e.

Drawbacks to radios this cheap is that they don't usually have much flexibility or programming. Despite this, it shouldn't stand in the way of you getting into the hobby!

 

[Torf]

Although, I think I will go order a 10-pack of props from BangGood or GearBest or something. I'm clearly going to need them.

Early this summer, soon after I started flying my first plane, I told people: "I'm not addicted to flying, I'm addicted to ordering props off the internet!"

 

[dayve]

Are you running a prop saver? You can get quite a few more mishaps out of a prop if you have a prop saver. Also, the flexible GWS propellers are great for learning. They can take quite a bit of abuse before being completely ruined.

Yes, I'm using a prop saver. In this case, I probably killed the throttle a second or two too late. They're good for letting the prop tilt as you belly land on the lawn. There's only so much they can do when you try to use your prop for a wood chipper, though. It's all part of learning.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check out the flexible props.

 

[ika]

Thanks to both of you. Hopefully going to be putting this bad boy together soon, whenever the power pack gets here. One more question, what would be a good inexpensive transmitter to use with this? I dont realy want to drop a lot of money into my first one in case i dont stick with the hobby, but one that will get the job done with ease

I've been very happy with the Turnigy 9x V2 (stock firmware). Cost was about $70, it has all the programming features I've needed so far & has a display. The receivers are also inexpensive. The drawback is that this transmitter is not compatible with most RTF models. On a plus side, I can upgrade the firmware if the stock firmware starts being too limiting - I just need to solder a programming connector in it. I believe the Turnigy 9XR has the programming connector in it to begin with.

 

[Yaroslaw]

Very cheap and easy radio - $50 FlySky i6. Computerized, 20 models in memory, a lot of advanced features included. Cheap receivers - $10-14, built in telemetry. Most capable radio for the money. Haven't tested range myself, but reports state 700-800m on stock (short range "parkflyer") receiver. That's plenty

 

[rockyboy]

I was very happy with the Turnigy i6 (clone of the FlySky i6) as a starter radio in the FT Tiny Trainer. Plenty of room for multiple models, great park-flyer range, very affordable. I've since moved up to the Taranis, but would be happy to sell you my i6 and (2) receivers cheap. Send me a PM on the forum here if you're interested and I'll send you pictures.

Thanks,

 

[dayve]

Very cheap and easy radio - $50 FlySky i6. Computerized, 20 models in memory, a lot of advanced features included. Cheap receivers - $10-14, built in telemetry. Most capable radio for the money. Haven't tested range myself, but reports state 700-800m on stock (short range "parkflyer") receiver. That's plenty

What he said. I couldn't find a better fit for a budget, first radio. It's no multi-hundred dollar Spektrum/Futaba/Graupner/etc., but it's a really nice radio for a first-time flier on a budget. I think it fits in well with the Flite Test ethos of just getting people flying. Heck, I could buy a 2nd i6 (that comes with another receiver) for what some people pay just for their 2nd receiver. That could allow me to buddy box with my kids/friends to get more people into the hobby.

 

[TooJung2Die]

Different motors, different batteries.

I built another Tiny Trainer. The first glider wing 3 channel was getting shabby so I built another one. This time I used a BE1806 2300KV motor, 6030 propeller and 1000 mAh 2s battery. All very similar to the recommended power pack. AUW is 12 oz. I found I couldn't run the battery down to where the alarm sounded without it becoming hard for me to control. There wasn't enough thrust to keep it moving without stalling. It was sluggish. I broke my last 6030 prop on a sloppy landing after it tip stalled too close to the earth.

So I put on the only small prop I had, a 5050. Then I put in the new 3s battery I just got. What a difference! It's a different airplane with the 3s. I expected it to be a bit faster but with a smaller prop I didn't expect this kind of speed. I love it. Half throttle is like the 2s was at full and a fresh charge. It is much easier to fly when there's power to spare.

The four channel sport wing Tiny Trainer has a 2212 1400KV motor, 30A ESC and swings a 8060 prop. With a 2s battery, AUW is almost 15 oz because the power pack is about twice the weight of the 3 channel airplane power pack and there are two additional servos. With the power to use a bigger propeller the performance with a 2s battery is the same as the smaller motor with a 3s. The extra weight makes the airplane easier to handle when there's wind. I had a 9" prop on it for a while and it had no problems with over heating any of the components.

So far I'm beginning to think the extra weight of a larger motor and a big prop is a better way to go. You may have to add weight to the tail but with the extra available power it won't make a difference. I like not having to run full throttle all the time. I can't wait to see what the 3s battery does in the 4 channel sport wing Tiny Trainer.

I'm going to play around with the 1806 motor on the 3 channel some more and see what it's like with a 6" prop and 3s battery. I have a 2212 1000KV motor and I think it's going to replace the little 1806. I love these Tiny Trainers and I'm learning a lot from building and flying them.



Jon

 

[TooJung2Die]

I tried the 4 channel sport wing TT with the 3s battery this morning and all I can say is Holy Smoke! I'm not nearly a good enough pilot to do it justice. It can do a straight up vertical climb like a rocket. I'm not complaining, I'm going to enjoy the challenge of learning to fly an airplane beyond my current piloting capabilities. These Tiny Trainers never stop amazing me. It started off as a docile trainer this first time pilot could build, fly, land and fly again. Now the same basic airplane is a very fast (for me) aerobatic trainer. Thank you Josh for designing such a versatile airplane and making it so available.

Jon

 

[FatsGW]

This is my second tiny trainer (crashed the first one) that I've built to train my friend to fly with.

I have 4 half used spray cans of different colours and kinda got inspired by parrots and colourful feathers...




Paint job is not that good. Hard to do gradient on such a small surface with a big can.

 

[rockyboy]

I bet that's going to look great in the air FatsGW!