Tiny Twister - 2021 EZ/Micro Build Off

[FlyingTyger]

Here's my entry for @GrizWiz's 2021 EZ/Micro Build Off.
This is an idea I have had for awhile now for an aerobatic indoor aircraft. The gym we have available for indoor winter flying is quite small, so typical depron aerobats don't have much room to manuever.
Wing span will be 18". I have a 5 gram outrunner I plan to use with a Spektrum UMX Rx/ESC board.
I will be using 3mm Midwest Cellfoam for the airframe with some carbon reinforcements.
Hopefully it will come out looking something like this:

 

[GrizWiz]

Here's my entry for @GrizWiz's 2021 EZ/Micro Build Off.
This is an idea I have had for awhile now for an aerobatic indoor aircraft. The gym we have available for indoor winter flying is quite small, so typical depron aerobats don't have much room to manuever.
Wing span will be 18". I have a 5 gram outrunner I plan to use with a Spektrum UMX Rx/ESC board.
I will be using 3mm Midwest Cellfoam for the airframe with some carbon reinforcements.
Hopefully it will come out looking something like this:
View attachment 198998

Cool!

 

[FlyingTyger]

Started cutting foam on this project tonight. I am using some 3mm Midwest Cellfoam I found in the back corner of my LHS.

And I was able to get some of the fuselage pod assembled.

 

[GrizWiz]

Started cutting foam on this project tonight. I am using some 3mm Midwest Cellfoam I found in the back corner of my LHS.
View attachment 200095

And I was able to get some of the fuselage pod assembled.
View attachment 200096

Looking good!

 

[FlyingTyger]

Main fuse pod assembly has been completed. The wing was then cut and gently heated with a heat gun. Once warm, the airfoil was formed into it by rolling a pipe over it with a blanket underneath. The wing was slotted for a carbon spar then trimmed and glued to the fuse pod.

 

[GrizWiz]

Main fuse pod assembly has been completed. The wing was then cut and gently heated with a heat gun. Once warm, the airfoil was formed into it by rolling a pipe over it with a blanket underneath. The wing was slotted for a carbon spar then trimmed and glued to the fuse pod.
View attachment 200626
View attachment 200627
View attachment 200628
View attachment 200629

Sweet!

 

[FlyingTyger]

Empenage

Tail feathers cut out.

The stab was then bent into a vee, and a jig held it at the correct angle while it was glued to the aft end of the carbon boom.

Then the boom assembly was glued into the fuse pod. The wing was blocked up to ensure proper alignment.

Ready for the next step.

 

[FlyingTyger]

Landing Gear

The landing gear was bent from some 0.030" piano wire. It was then sandwiched between two formers and all was glued into the fuse pod.

On its legs for the first time.

 

[GrizWiz]

Landing Gear

The landing gear was bent from some 0.030" piano wire. It was then sandwiched between two formers and all was glued into the fuse pod.
View attachment 200784

On its legs for the first time.
View attachment 200785

Very nice! I hope it flys well. I am probably not going to be able to finish in time for the the contest. I am in the middle of moving and have very little time. I will most likely judge though.

 

[FlyingTyger]

Very nice! I hope it flys well. I am probably not going to be able to finish in time for the the contest. I am in the middle of moving and have very little time. I will most likely judge though.

I am hoping to wrap this one up tonight but am not sure if I will get it flown by Wednesday.

 

[GrizWiz]

I am hoping to wrap this one up tonight but am not sure if I will get it flown by Wednesday.

There are not very many people in this contest so I can extend the deadline if needed!

 

[FlyingTyger]

Control horns were cut from 1/32" ply and glued into the surfaces.

Control surfaces were hinged using some white packaging tape.

Electronics installed and the control rods run to the tail. Wheels were installed and retained using some plastic stoppers stolen (along with the wheels) from an E-Flite UMX.

Getting close now!

 

[Monte.C]

Control horns were cut from 1/32" ply and glued into the surfaces.
View attachment 200801

Control surfaces were hinged using some white packaging tape.
View attachment 200802

Electronics installed and the control rods run to the tail. Wheels were installed and retained using some plastic stoppers stolen (along with the wheels) from an E-Flite UMX.
View attachment 200800

Getting close now!

That looks great!

 

[GrizWiz]

Control horns were cut from 1/32" ply and glued into the surfaces.
View attachment 200801

Control surfaces were hinged using some white packaging tape.
View attachment 200802

Electronics installed and the control rods run to the tail. Wheels were installed and retained using some plastic stoppers stolen (along with the wheels) from an E-Flite UMX.
View attachment 200800

Getting close now!

Very nice! What thickness depron are you using?

 

[FlyingTyger]

Very nice! What thickness depron are you using?

It's 3mm Midwest Cellfoam. Midwest's version of depron.

 

[GrizWiz]

It's 3mm Midwest Cellfoam. Midwest's version of depron.

Thanks 😊

 

[Taildragger]

Control horns were cut from 1/32" ply and glued into the surfaces.
View attachment 200801

Control surfaces were hinged using some white packaging tape.
View attachment 200802

Electronics installed and the control rods run to the tail. Wheels were installed and retained using some plastic stoppers stolen (along with the wheels) from an E-Flite UMX.
View attachment 200800

Getting close now!

clean and looks great!

 

[FlyingTyger]

FLIGHT READY!
Still needs some trim colors added to it, but it is officially flyable. Final weight came out to 73 grams (2.5oz) with a 2S 300mah battery on board.

 

[GrizWiz]

FLIGHT READY!
Still needs some trim colors added to it, but it is officially flyable. Final weight came out to 73 grams (2.5oz) with a 2S 300mah battery on board.
View attachment 200943

View attachment 200944

Very nice. I hope the maiden goes well!

 

[GrizWiz]

maiden yet? Judging will start soon!