mrjdstewart
Legendary member
so, maybe i have been in a bit of a foul mood lately, or maybe i just really wanted to build a AC-130 replica. you can decide for yourself... 
anyways, downloaded the plans and set to work.
first stumble came when i tried to use cheap spray paint on the DTFB and the paper started to peel off. i have been shooting paint onto DTFB w/o issues for quite awhile but have always used either the Rustoleum 2X, or the Krylon Colormaster. so long as you start the spray off the foam, then move on it has never caused a problem. luckily it only messed with a few pieces and i was able to quickly recut them to replace the damaged pieces. i then went and got real paint and all was good.
the next thing i had to do was design the guns i wanted. i knew i wanted to mimic the AC-130 and it's gatling guns, and i wanted to go overboard. i wanted this plane to have a stupid amount of fire power. so i went to tinkercad and started working. if 1 gun was cool, 5 would be epic! so i designed 3 diff models. 1 for the wings, 1 for the fuselage, and 1 for the nose. i then designed the wing mount pod after getting frustrated with making it out of foam.
the 3D files can be found at thingiverse. feel free to use and modify to your needs.
side guns... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3277225
wing guns... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3287992
wing pods... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3287994
nose gun... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3287991
wheel skirts... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3292781
i know people will think i am crazy for painting it haze gray but hey, it's supposed to be sneaky! i did add some green just because i like to make things look cool and i thought it worked with the gray and the green props. and yes, i got lazy and just used a bunch of "O"'s from a decal set for the windows.
i am running 2 Hobby Sky 2204-2300kv, 5x4x3 props, 2x 12A ESC, and a 3S-1300 battery, currently with a 6-channel Orange Rx. it is currently setup with differential thrust and the plan is to jump to a 8-channel Rx so i can go diff thrust, flaperons, and still be able to have a channel for the back drop door. i currently don't have the door cut open but it will. i just ordered 24 mini parachute jumpers to stuff in the back.
i maidend the plane today and could not be happier. it has MORE than plenty power and my biggest fear of overwhelming the 12a esc was not an issue. i think my mod of running them outside the pods and in the direct flow of air really helped this. it also simplified the wiring and kept me from having to cut extra holes in the wing and fighting to stuff it all in.
i flew it 2x today and like i said was tickled pink with it. not only is it powerful, it was able to handle the wind w/o issues and required almost no trim. the flat spins due to the diff thrust were epic!
next will be designing some wheel pants for the back wheels, then just fly the wings off it.
today was our clubs winter party and we had multiple twin motors at the field which is pretty uncommon. Rasterize was there with his full size Guinea and we were able to do a couple passes in formation which was cool. at one point in the day the only planes in the air were all twins, very cool!
if you have ever thought about building a twin, i would highly recommend this one. it's easy to build, cheap, and very capable.
hope you enjoy!
laters,
me
anyways, downloaded the plans and set to work.
first stumble came when i tried to use cheap spray paint on the DTFB and the paper started to peel off. i have been shooting paint onto DTFB w/o issues for quite awhile but have always used either the Rustoleum 2X, or the Krylon Colormaster. so long as you start the spray off the foam, then move on it has never caused a problem. luckily it only messed with a few pieces and i was able to quickly recut them to replace the damaged pieces. i then went and got real paint and all was good.
the next thing i had to do was design the guns i wanted. i knew i wanted to mimic the AC-130 and it's gatling guns, and i wanted to go overboard. i wanted this plane to have a stupid amount of fire power. so i went to tinkercad and started working. if 1 gun was cool, 5 would be epic! so i designed 3 diff models. 1 for the wings, 1 for the fuselage, and 1 for the nose. i then designed the wing mount pod after getting frustrated with making it out of foam.
the 3D files can be found at thingiverse. feel free to use and modify to your needs.
side guns... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3277225
wing guns... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3287992
wing pods... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3287994
nose gun... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3287991
wheel skirts... https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3292781
i know people will think i am crazy for painting it haze gray but hey, it's supposed to be sneaky! i did add some green just because i like to make things look cool and i thought it worked with the gray and the green props. and yes, i got lazy and just used a bunch of "O"'s from a decal set for the windows.
i am running 2 Hobby Sky 2204-2300kv, 5x4x3 props, 2x 12A ESC, and a 3S-1300 battery, currently with a 6-channel Orange Rx. it is currently setup with differential thrust and the plan is to jump to a 8-channel Rx so i can go diff thrust, flaperons, and still be able to have a channel for the back drop door. i currently don't have the door cut open but it will. i just ordered 24 mini parachute jumpers to stuff in the back.
i maidend the plane today and could not be happier. it has MORE than plenty power and my biggest fear of overwhelming the 12a esc was not an issue. i think my mod of running them outside the pods and in the direct flow of air really helped this. it also simplified the wiring and kept me from having to cut extra holes in the wing and fighting to stuff it all in.
i flew it 2x today and like i said was tickled pink with it. not only is it powerful, it was able to handle the wind w/o issues and required almost no trim. the flat spins due to the diff thrust were epic!
next will be designing some wheel pants for the back wheels, then just fly the wings off it.
today was our clubs winter party and we had multiple twin motors at the field which is pretty uncommon. Rasterize was there with his full size Guinea and we were able to do a couple passes in formation which was cool. at one point in the day the only planes in the air were all twins, very cool!
if you have ever thought about building a twin, i would highly recommend this one. it's easy to build, cheap, and very capable.
hope you enjoy!
laters,
me
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