Spitfire76's Build Log for Eclipson's Model B

InspGadgt

Junior Member
Has anyone made theirs with standard weight PLA? I'm trying to figure out what motor/battery combo I should use with the heavier version of the plane. The website isn't all that clear.
 

Aslansmonkey

Well-known member
Has anyone made theirs with standard weight PLA? I'm trying to figure out what motor/battery combo I should use with the heavier version of the plane. The website isn't all that clear.


The problem with using heavier PLA, like regular PLA, isn't just overcome with a bigger motor. Since the center of gravity is along the wing chord (basically), the heavier material you use the more weight needs to be added to the nose to get it to balance. Remember, these planes are designed to balance when made with LW-PLA, not anything heavier.

Theoretically with enough weight in the nose and a big enough motor you could probably still fly, but you'd have to fly FASTER to stay in the air because the wing size hasn't increased yet the weight it must support HAS. This plane isn't a speed demon.

If you're afraid of LW-PLA and the associated fiddling, use Polymaker Light weight PLA. It prints like regular PLA, but is around 75 - 85% of the weight. My model B is made of this stuff and it flies fine, though I need more throttle than my son does with his LW-PLA version.
 

alank

New member
I have been very busy with some non-RC plane stuff so just got back into the hobby and worked a bit more on the Eclipson Model B. The LW-PLA that I was using was not colored so needed to paint it yellow (Rustoleum, rattle can) and then mask it for some black paint but the lines aren't to clean in places. Also used some "Water Slide" paper for the decals that I was experimenting with awhile back. They are not that sticky so not sure how long they will last. The servo's are installed and I do like having the linkage stoppers on the control horns rather than the servo arms as they are exposed on the outside of the plane so easy to adjust. I plan on starting out with an Aura 5 lite so need to install and configure it. The landing gear does slide a bit so need to secure it.

View attachment 228927
looks great. still printing mine out of Polymaker Polylite prefoamed.
 

Djeverest

New member
There are 2 styles of decals for the Model B and I was planing on using the first one but noticed that the cockpit window decals were missing from both. I've contacted Eclipson and they admitted to forgetting to include those and have sent them to me.
Where do I get the decals?
 

Cave80Man

New member
There are 2 styles of decals for the Model B and I was planing on using the first one but noticed that the cockpit window decals were missing from both. I've contacted Eclipson and they admitted to forgetting to include those and have sent them to me.
1 1/2 years ago I bought the files for the Model B. (Since then, I've built 4 other 3D printed airplanes for a total of 11 planes.) Anyway, I have now printed the Model B and have looked at the decal files that came with the model. Like your decal files, mine didn't include the black windows decals. Eclipson use to have a way to contact them directly with issues, but now they say to just go to the Forum. I guess I could hand paint the windows, but I was wondering if you would be willing the send me a copy of the decal file that has the window decals?