Phantom V3 - DLG - Design Build

[bracesport]

Here is the dry fit - the good, the bad, and ugly!

Actually, not so bad and not so ugly - the servo tray fits in through the fuse canopy and can slide back into position - it will be an interesting push rod install but as just mentioned by 'floatdog' I can consider a pre-built jig - my initial plan was to set my servos into the tray, fix the tray into the fuse, set my adjustable pushrods with a slow cure epoxy.

I am running two batteries - one for the motor and one for the Rx/servos - having the two batteries gives me the nose weight I need without just adding weight - the batteries and the servo tray weigh similarly but the batteries provide a more concentrated forward weight.

I will still try and remove a tad more tail weight - this is a 6 servo, motored, twin battery setup and compared to my old BAMFzilla at 275g I have currently added a further 75g with the added hardware - my fuse is 20g heavier than a factory fuse (not too bad) and my tail is a bit heavy so overall it is looking pretty good.

I have marked the balance point on the fuse with all the gear installed so I can see any improvements as I tweak the tail and add the hardware permanently.

 

[bracesport]

I have tweaked the CAD for the servo tray to help hold the servo wires to keep things neat - I have added two hooks on either side that the wires will pass through - once printed the dry fit will make it clear (I hope)!

 

[bracesport]

I always feel good with new parts on the printer - can't wait to see how they turn out - I am also printing a cap of sorts to convert the servo arms for the tail into rollers.

 

[bracesport]

I tacked the rearward mounting plate into the fuse and did a dry fit of the servos onto the servo frame - the servo arm collars fit well and look great.

 

[bracesport]

Yay it fits (and servo wires are neat)!

 

[bracesport]

I am just tidying up the wing saddle before sorting the push rods - it is a pretty good fit but the front needed some filler - the BAMF wing has a raised front section (mates with the BAMF fuse) that I will remove if the glider is successful.

 

[bracesport]

In the meantime I need to adjust my Tx program for the V tail.

 

[bracesport]

The wing released from the tape and the nose of the saddle is shaping up nicely and I have cut the pushrod outlets - I saw a guy building a massive train layout and he used PVA to secure his wires so I did the same here.

 

[bracesport]

Chipping away on the tail feathers - next, I need to bend up some springs and make the flap push rods - getting there though.

 

[bracesport]

A quick pushrod test - originally I was going to make the pushrod ends separately and glue them into a carbon tube to get the length right - with this test I just made a one piece wire and it works well too - because I am running my push rods internally I need to have guides to prevent them falling inwards out of the control horns - but I also need some flex to allow me to get the wire ends in and out of the horns - I could add collars onto the wire ends once through the horns but they can get lost - I have some ideas to try!

 

[bracesport]

here is the final proposal for the spring system to support the pushrod wires - if there is any unwanted flex I will add a CF tube over the pushrod wires - flaps are mostly stationary and with use are pulling more than pushing apart from holding the flaps stationary.

 

[bracesport]

Here is the dry fit of the tail and the internal pushrods for the flaps on the poly wing - the springs are done for the tail surfaces and they feel pretty good - there is a small amount of play in the push rods sideways so I am going to make the cups a tad smaller and push them further into the fuse closer to the flap horns - the function seems good regardless.

 

[bracesport]

Any progress is progress..

I am starting the fit out of the servo tray with the push rod spring fitted - the pull string wires are attached at the servo end and will be completed at the tail end - well, everything seems to fit including two batteries - there is a GRX8 on board to handle the 6 servos and motor - I am starting work on the pull string outlets in the tail which will get some sleeves added to protect the strings.

 

[bracesport]

OK so in go the taileron pull strings - they need to be attached at the rear as the servos are not accessible for tying off the thread when in place - I fed a rod in from the tail end and CA glued the pull string to it to pull back through to the tail end - all good twice in a row!

 

[bracesport]

I hooked up the tailerons and they are working very nicely - now I can focus on the front end!

 

[bracesport]

I fitted the wing and the the push rods are working really well for the flaps - it is great to have the push wires running internally and they seem well supported by the plastic spring - popping the wire ends into the control arms was a breeze.

The wing surfaces are mostly setup just needing some micro adjustment - new I need to sort out the motor.

 

[bracesport]

I had a niggle getting the motor to run - the answers are always more simple than you think - it occurred to me the GRRX8 might be in SBUS (no CH7 output) - and it was!

FYI - the current manual is incorrect for switching SBUS to PWM - you actually need to use the jumper on pins 1/2 and re-bind it to turn off SBUS (that took some head scratching)!

 

[bracesport]

It is all together now and wow is the canopy tightly packed - I could do better if I hardwired it but it will do fine for a maiden - I need to add some whisker tubes, a lick of paint on the nose, and I might need a tad more nose weight - something to double check tomorrow.

 

[bracesport]

I am tidying up the install - the whiskers are in and the antennas are routed nicely - the ESC is secured - a bit of paint on the nose can't be underestimated at this point!

 

[bracesport]

rough and ready - this will do for the maiden - if it goes well I will build a better one!