FTFC20: Build-ruary by Mayan (Build Skill: 4, Pilot SKill: 3 Novice)

[FoamyDM]

You mean a replacement crumple zone?

Yep,like the FT- Viggen replacement nose section

 

[mayan]

Yep,like the FT- Viggen replacement nose section

I'll personally will be looking into some options the next time I build it from scratch.

 

[mayan]

That’s it one last review to do which is the X-29 and I’ll do that later today.

 

[FishHawk]

FT-Build-Ruary:
Howard DGA-6 aka Mr. Mulligan Designed by @mayan Build by @mayan
**DISCLAIMER: HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MAIDENED**
**DISCLAIMER: This model was half built before the challenge started** ​

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Build Rating: View attachment 161484
Fly Rating: View attachment 161485

Plans: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/howard-dga-6-aka-mr-mulligan.88/

I choose to rebuild part of this model because I wanted to test a few changes and how they would effect the flight characteristics of the plane as part of me trying to prefect out the design of this model.

Building this model is challenging and requires some previous building experience with the different techniques used by Flite Test including some of the master series techniques. However with that being said the pieces come together fairly easily with tabs and slots to help keep things lined up. Molding the foam board to shape the fuselage of the model as hard as it might look is also fairly easy because of formers that are used to help keep things nice and tight. The most difcult part of the build is forming and gluing in place the windshield and round front section of the nose. Other than that this model has plenty of room for electronics and can work with different sized servos, batteries, and motors.

** The video bellow is a maiden attempt of flying the model after rebuilding the wing with a higher wing cord, this maiden attempt was unsuccessful but I have flown this model successfully in the past so I'll link to the thread I have dedicated to the model. **
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Here is a video of previous times that I have flown the model successfully, and a link to it's dedicated thread: FTFC20 Howard DGA-6 (Racing) designed by Mayan

Flying this model isn't hard for the most part, but the model still needs tweaking to be prefect and give a prefect flight experience. The most important thing to watch out for as of now with the model is the wing tip stalls that you might experience while trying to make a turn. I have done some design changes that helped reduce the amount of times that this is happening and the effect of it on the plane. Other than that this plane can slow down really nicely but also go quite fast as well as do all your basic aerobatics.

Summing up my expereince with this model a fun to fly plane, that will defenatily WOW everyone at the field. The model itself does need more tweaking to fly prefect and that will be my next project to wrap up, so if this review and plane did spark some interest please follow my dedicated thread about it.

Looks like it is a little tail heavy. Have you tried moving the CG forward 1cm?

 

[mayan]

Looks like it is a little tail heavy. Have you tried moving the CG forward 1cm?

Yep played with it a few time but the plane needs more tweaking that’s my next project to wrap up.

 

[mayan]

FYI I updated all the reviews that I could before the 15th of March anyone wants to read them.

 

[FoamyDM]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! mister 1st PLACE Winner!

I was stunned at your ambitious list. I was flabbergasted when you did it!
I also enjoyed the few build nights we got up together, and were able to talk about this hobby and challenge.

Thank you for participating and bringing so much excitement, inspiration, and fun to this difficult challenge

 

[mayan]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! mister 1st PLACE Winner!

I was stunned at your ambitious list. I was flabbergasted when you did it!
I also enjoyed the few build nights we got up together, and were able to talk about this hobby and challenge.

Thank you for participating and bringing so much excitement, inspiration, and fun to this difficult challenge

Thank you buddy for giving us the opportunity to take part in it . It was super fun and now I have a ton of planes that I can fly crash and repair . I just crashed the Racer bad because of LOS again earlier today so now I have to get it repaired .

 

[ScratchBuildMast]

reserved for Legacy

Did you forget your Legacy or am I forgetting something myself???

 

[Wildthing]

Thank you buddy for giving us the opportunity to take part in it . It was super fun and now I have a ton of planes that I can fly crash and repair . I just crashed the Racer bad because of LOS again earlier today so now I have to get it repaired .

You did a fantastic job

 

[mayan]

Did you forget your Legacy or am I forgetting something myself???

Haven’t forgotten it actually have it all built minus the electronics, need to RIP my Spitfire or Racer to make it fly. Ohh also missing the landing gear.

You did a fantastic job

Thank you buddy.

 

[mayan]

FT-Build-Ruary: Hawk Hurricane designed by @mach1 rc Build by @mayan
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Build Rating: View attachment 160165
Fly Rating: View attachment 160166

Plans: I have a problem linking to them because @mach1 rc hasn't publicly posted them at least not that I know of so I rather get his approval to post them before I do. @Randomkid87 could you please ask him if I can post them?

The reason why I choose to build this plane and make it the first on my list is because @mach1 rc asked if I could test out his design, and I happily agreed to help and give him my feedback.

The build itself is not complicated but does include quite a bit of work with poster board so if you don't feel comfortable with poster board masking I recommend you get some practice working with that. I did have some issues with the tail boom either because of a mistake I did or because the plans need some fine tuning but a part from that everything else went along just fine. Unlike the original design I made the wings removable by copying the technique used on the Spitfire. My guess for the estimated build time on this build is 6 hours, working without long breaks. More about the build process can be found on later posts.

I'll give this build an overall build rating of challenging just because the plans are not a 100% fine tuned and thus requires a bit of thinking and working around problems, however once the plans will be finalized this plane will easily fall into the moderate build level category.

The first few moments of the maiden were cut out of the video as my flying was sketchy and the plane needed some trimming, once I dialed it in she flew great. The model does require speed to stay air born and stable, it can slow down but only so much before it will stall on you. One thing that I noticed is that the model will want to wing stall on you on tight turns so be aware of that and prepared to deal with it. I do have an idea of how to fix that and I believe that copying the poster board wing tip trick like in the FT Racer should solve the problem or at least help with that. I am rating the flying of this model as hard because of the wing stalls that will cause a less exprienced pilot crash.

Overall to sum up my exprience with this model I will say that this is not a plane for a new builder or pilot but is defenatly a fun plane for the more exprienced.

After abusing this model I had to put it to the ultimate challenge!!!

 

[FoamyDM]

After abusing this model I had to put it to the ultimate challenge!!!

That is some good flying. Your daughter is adorable. I'm glad to see she enjoys filming this for you.

 

[mayan]

That is some good flying. Your daughter is adorable. I'm glad to see she enjoys filming this for you.

Did you watch with the subtitles?

 

[FoamyDM]

Did you watch with the subtitles?

apparently I was not thinking I could, but I pieced together the gist. I did it Mystery science theater 3000 style. You guy were hilarious!

 

[mayan]

apparently I was not thinking I could, but I pieced together the gist. I did it Mystery science theater 3000 style. You guy were hilarious!

You should watch with subtitles I am sure you’ll enjoy it even more!

 

[FoamyDM]

You should watch with subtitles I am sure you’ll enjoy it even more!

You are right it was even better. Great Flying and your daughter's commentary was charming.

 

[mayan]

FT-Build-Ruary: FT X-29 Build by @mayan
**DISCLAIMER: HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MAIDENED**
**DISCLAIMER: This model was half built before the challenge started** ​

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Build Rating: View attachment 161611
Fly Rating: NOT RATED YET

Plans: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1oVzwqWwGZbcTBkUEYtWExHUWs/view

I choose to build this model because I have never done an EDF model before an this seemed like a good place to start, simply because from past experience with Andres Liu's designs they are just perfectly planned out.

Building this model as hard as it looks isn't hard to build and most of the build is actually quite straight forward and uses the basic FT building techniques. The part that I found to be the most difficult was making the poster board tube around the EDF and then fitting it into place. Since I don't have any experience with EDF's this model was stressful to build, and a lot of questions came up while I was building. The thing that made this model more complicated to build in my perspective is the fact that the electronics are not accessible after the model is built, so if you need to change a ESC to something stronger you have to cut into the model to get to it. I for example had a problem that the ESC that I secured to the fuselage wall got disconnected from the side and I just couldn't get to it to secure it back in place. Other than that this is a big model to build so make sure you have room to store it and a way to transport it to the field, is hard for me to transport and store. There is also a group build that we have going related to this model if your interested you can check it out here: X-29 Build - Swept forward in the fun.

FLY EXPERIENCE: CAN'T RATE AT THE MOMENT

The plane as of now isn't in flying condition and needs some repairs, to be able to fly again but it was put aside at the moment because I need to revisit this with more attention.
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I don't really want to sum up my experience with this model because I didn't get the option to experience flying the model. I will come back to edit this post once I manage to get the model to fly. In the mean time I will say that this was a great experience so far that is still to be revisited in the near future.

The first time I built the X-29, as part of the FTFC20 challenge, it didn't fly because I burnt the ESC that was connected to it.
You can read more about that here: FT-Build-Ruary: FT X-29 Build by @mayan.

After a long time of wanting to get this model flying but not having an ESC a friend invited me to his flying field to come take one, so I built the most of it at home and went to finish it off at the field as well as maidened it there too.
Here is that video.

 

[mayan]

The first time I built the X-29, as part of the FTFC20 challenge, it didn't fly because I burnt the ESC that was connected to it.
You can read more about that here: FT-Build-Ruary: FT X-29 Build by @mayan.

After a long time of wanting to get this model flying but not having an ESC a friend invited me to his flying field to come take one, so I built the most of it at home and went to finish it off at the field as well as maidened it there too.
Here is that video.

This is true a very unique model one that my knees kept shaking each time it went up into the air