FTFC'18 WWII Focke-Wulf FW-42

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
For the 2018 Flite Test Forum Community Challenge we'll (Psyborg and myself, and anyone else who wants to pitch in) be tackling the Focke-Wulf FW-42

fw42-box.jpg

This canard format medium bomber was designed and wind tunnel tested, prior to things fully going to pot in Europe, but never developed. FW tried to sell contracts for the plane to Germany, Japan, and Russia but didn't close a deal.

I'm planning for this to be done in a Mini size with Power Pack E or F motors (2204 or 2206) so it's simple and affordable to build. Would also like this to have a wide flight envelope from smooth and gentle to powerful enough to deal with a good bit of wind, along with all the best aspects of a canard design being nearly stall proof. I'd also like the build to be simple and fool-proof enough to be a good second or third plane for someone, or even someone's first DTFB build.

Why go for so simple you may ask? 'Cause I want a whole bunch of people to build them! :)

So back to the team thing - once I get a draft design worked up, I'd like to get anyone who is interested to join us in prototyping and testing. The more the merrier when it comes to testing and input.

And, once we get this design well in hand, we'll start working on something really special for FFE 2018 - more news on that as the plan comes together :)

=========================================

PLANS PLANS PLANS!!

And with the included skins, you can make a model that looks like this :)
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Here are the Mini FW-42 v4 Plans and Skins!
View attachment DTFB FW-42 v4 tiled1.pdf
View attachment DTFB FW-42 v4 tiled2.pdf
View attachment DTFB FW-42 v4 skins p1.pdf
View attachment DTFB FW-42 v4 skins p2.pdf
View attachment DTFB FW-42 v4 skins p3.pdf

Build instructions coming soon...

Recommend building with a FT Power Pack F setup, or a 2306 2000kv motor and 6030 props for a nice stable flying experience.
fw42-box.jpg
20171110_224654-800x450.jpg
20171110_224619-800x450.jpg
 
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JimCR120

Got Lobstah?
Site Moderator
Oooh, very intriguing!

I think we should have a little history with interesting facts about each of these that could be shared during Q & A with interested folks. If this goes well we might be able to pull off a sort of flight parade. What do you think?

I'll be watching this one.
 

PsyBorg

Wake up! Time to fly!
I thought a little History write up for these builds was part of the scoring? Ill have to go read it again but I remember somewhere that some history was required since most of these never got made let alone seen any combat. If its not part of the scoring I think it should be for those reasons. Copy pasted material is one or two points. a more indepth write up three to four points and multiple gfx to go with them another point for a five point total on the history.
 

Fidget

Active member
Cool plane! I wouldn't want to be the guy standing in the front turret with no windscreen or any other protection, though. There's FPV, then there's sitting in the nose at 200mph.
 

Hai-Lee

Old and Bold RC PILOT
DO you have an unfair advantage?:p

It looks a lot like a twin engined version of the TT Canard that you flew at Flite Fest!

Oh well at least you have a test bed for figuring out the balance and you already have some flight experience!

Will watch this one to see how you render this one in FB!

Have fun!
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
DO you have an unfair advantage?:p

It looks a lot like a twin engined version of the TT Canard that you flew at Flite Fest!

Oh well at least you have a test bed for figuring out the balance and you already have some flight experience!

Will watch this one to see how you render this one in FB!

Have fun!

LOL!! I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice that! :p

Yeah, I really fell in love the with the flight characteristics of the canard design, and I since I had a really tough time as a pilot with the racer design I did last year, I wanted the complete opposite flying experience.

Also, since we plan to build a monster sized version of this too, I really wanted those good stalling habits - I've seen too many big planes go in for cartwheels when they stall on the base leg turn for landing approach :)
 

Hai-Lee

Old and Bold RC PILOT
LOL!! I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice that! :p

Yeah, I really fell in love the with the flight characteristics of the canard design, and I since I had a really tough time as a pilot with the racer design I did last year, I wanted the complete opposite flying experience.

Also, since we plan to build a monster sized version of this too, I really wanted those good stalling habits - I've seen too many big planes go in for cartwheels when they stall on the base leg turn for landing approach :)

If anyone can do it, you can! I have watched your knowledge and skills improve out of sight in recent months.

This one will be impressive!

Watching!

have fun!
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
If anyone can do it, you can! I have watched your knowledge and skills improve out of sight in recent months.

This one will be impressive!

Watching!

have fun!

Thanks for the vote of confidence! It's all about listening, trying, failing, and learning to try again - eventually something starts to stick in the old brain pan, and anyone can do it :)
 

Hai-Lee

Old and Bold RC PILOT
Should your team get stuck just PM as I might be able to see the problem from a different aspect. PM because I do not need any publicity as it is your build totally!

Have fun!
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
Lots of scheming, but the first draft of the plans are only half baked still.

Should have something ready for an alpha prototype build soon though... getting other projects caught up and cleared out of the way. :)
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
First set of plans shared out with the team for initial feedback...

FW-42_2017-08-07.PNG

This one is sized for Power Pack A or F motors - assuming it folds together like an airplane and not modern art, I'll be planning for some glide testing to confirm CG and then installing some 2204 2300kv motors on it. Might do a KFM airfoil on the canard to add some strength too... really looking for simplicity of build and easy flight characteristic with a 'stand-off scale' appearance.


Hmm.... I might need to add that rudder to the plans in the morning too...
 
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PsyBorg

Wake up! Time to fly!
Whatchu got against rudders? You didn't put em in the first version of the Caudron plans you sent me either hehe. This ain't an old man viagra issue about things that stick up is it? :p
 

Hai-Lee

Old and Bold RC PILOT
Are you fitting a fixed, hinged, or all flying, foreplane?

What are the proposed specifications?

Do you want to keep the parts count to minimum or are you fitting duplicate function servos?

Have fun!
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
Working two projects in parallel here:

A) smaller design with fixed canard, simplistic build and standoff scale, 2204ish motors, small part count, that can be built quickly and flown by a novice

B) monster build significantly taller than I am and harder to get into the car, potentially hot wire foam structures, fiber glassed for strength, with all kinds of operable parts. Going to be visiting @willsonman and @wilmracer 's playbook for this one. :) The scale canard on the FW-42 plans had a hinged control surface the entire length of the canard, so on the big build I'm planning to have the control linkage hidden through the fuselage and move as a single unit, sort of like a torque rod / split elevator setup.

But I'm planning to experiment with an all flying foreplane setup on the coroplast Tiny Combat Canard.... so yeah... lots of plans in the works... it looks like canard season this fall :)
 

PsyBorg

Wake up! Time to fly!
If you are asking if the canard will be fixed or functional the plan is fixed for the small plane "IF" needed will be added after testing. The big build will be functional and probably single servo, bearing mounted common shaft canard. More for trim I assume but possibly set up as an elevator if the big build needs the assist.

Smaller model testing will give us better ideas as far as flight. The addition of gun turrets and bomb bays and all associated FPV and bomb sight stuff will more then likely be the determining factor for the final big build. Will be hard to tell for certain when the two arts of the build are 800+ miles apart during the design process.