UK Foamboard FT Flyer Evolution.

unklian

New member
Hi Again
Still loving the FT Flyer however......
With UK Foamboard, mine are gradually evolving from the light, indoor, floaty
planes shown in the Original FT video, to heavier, more powerful planes.
Certainly not indoor flyers any more.
Number 10 is almost completed......It starts here......

One of my early Flyers, I finally managed to make an RC plane that flew but it seemed "heavy".

P1060522f.jpg

Adding a larger motor (and of course battery) seemed to help but then it floated even less.
So I added a 4" wide strip between the two wing halves......

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Power mad, Huge battery & Motor, Voltage monitor / beeper, Keyfob camera in mount
which could be fitted in any of 4 directions. Lots of strong tape now.
Oh yes, ......Stronger undercarriage.

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My next thought was to integrate the tail better with the wing centre section
by mounting it on top of the fuselage, this meant re-designing the fin of course......FT Flyer Number 9.

P1060888f.jpg P1060890f.jpg

Lastly......After I had tried varnishing foamboard in the past to make it waterproof,
I found it warped with the "grain" of the foamboard. To ensure the wings both warped in the same
direction (and it also makes cutting out easier), I re-designed the wings slightly.
The chord at the fuselage is the same, the wingtips have a longer chord and the wings
each have a span of 1/2 the width of an A1 foamboard sheet. This gives them the same area.

P1060896f.jpg

Now flying (When the weather in the UK improves) with......
NTM Prop Drive Series 28-26A 1200kv / 286w (short shaft version)
8x6 APC prop.
1300mAh 3s LiPo
Keyfob camera in simplified mount.
"Old Fogey" 3mm wire undercarriage with 70mm wheels.

A flight with FT Flyer Number 8.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KdGpDPqPig

Thanks again to all at Flite Test for getting an old duffer back into
a great hobby.

Ian.
 
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DavisMadScience

Junior Member
Now this is cool

I love the progression from little indoor to massive outdoor. It seems to be the way of things with this hobby. Like rolling a fist sized snowball down a hill, eventually you get a house sized monster. Ain't it grand? ;)
 

unklian

New member
Still building them......

I love the progression from little indoor to massive outdoor. It seems to be the way of things with this hobby. Like rolling a fist sized snowball down a hill, eventually you get a house sized monster. Ain't it grand? ;)


Now onto builds number 16 & 17......
The high tail didn't work out well. probably thrust angles.
Anything nearing full throttle would result in a steep climb.
Back to low tail then......

17s.jpg 1617s.jpg

Modified again.
Wings are 1/2 width of A1 foamboard each side, 16" chord, 5" tips.
Tail, 12" wide, 8" chord with 1.5" elevator.
Fin, 6" high, 8" long with 1.5" rudder.

Weight with camera & voltage warning, without batteries (1300mAh 3S) 17.25oz.

Flight time (mixed flying) From fully charged to 3.6v per cell......13 minutes.
 
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daxian

Elite member
hi unklian...
i think i found a lighter board in the uk ....230 grams for a1 sheet ,cant remember what the weight of the west foam was but i think it was way more than that ....????
 

Daffy Punk

New member
Lighter FB?

hi unklian...
i think i found a lighter board in the uk ....230 grams for a1 sheet ,cant remember what the weight of the west foam was but i think it was way more than that ....????

Interesting - where did you find it? I have a few FT planes built with Westfoam, have now started making them 120% and 3S in place of 2S but would love to find some lighter foamboard.
 

daxian

Elite member
@dogfightuk....a lot easier ,i do find one side easier to come off than the other though ...test and plan accordingly!!!