Tactical Ex
Senior Member
=== OP start ===
I am building a simple 15cm wide center section for the versa wing that will allow the placement of the power pod in either direction without changes to the pod or airframe in order to make it truly swappable. When I am done I will make plans available and submit an article.
The center section will allow for 2 power pod placements.
Option 1: Default (Below the wing and tractor style)
Option 2: Pusher (above the wing and pusher style)
My question to the community is battery placement. Should I designate a section on the top that uses rubber bands and Velcro like the normal pod or have a hatch that allows you to place the battery inside the power pod?
There are possible design issues with both ... if it is on top the balance might be a bit tricky but placement and finding CG will be easier. If inside the pod via a hatch underneath I fear for the integrity of the center section but balance might be easier and it will be a simpler build that looks cleaner.
=== OP end ===
=== Completed Project Edit ===
What does it do?
The benefit of this mod is that you don’t have to own an extra set of electronics for your FT Versa if you want it to be a pusher. The adaptor makes the Versa fully swappable in both pusher and tractor mode. All of this is done with ZERO modifications to your power pod. It also give you A TON of space to add various equipment.
Who would want it?
Simply put, this mod is for people who want the FT Versa to be a pusher and it still be a swappable.
Be mindful that I don’t want to take away from the usefulness of the FT Simple Firewall which is your best solution for a pusher FT Versa Wing if you don’t want to add a center section. Please, please, please buy the FT Simple Firewall from the Flite Test store if you need it, it’s cheap and you are supporting Flite Test by purchasing it.
How was it created?
This project started out trying to find a way to mount the power pod on the vanilla version of the FT Versa in a pusher orientation but the mod required cutting into the wing that made it too fragile so it was decided that a center section had to be used. Earlier center sections started out at about 6 inches in width but once the blunt nose conversion kit was release by FliteTest, the same width the blunt nose kit used was incorporated into the design to keep the same CG and make it easier for the FT community to adopt.
Before you get started, make sure you have built the following:
What you will need (not including building tools):
Video on how to build, add optional features and the maiden flight
The plans come in 2 main pieces, the bottom and the top. The sides are built into the bottom piece and are joined with a B style fold. Once the B fold is established the top sits down inside. There are 4 spacer pieces that are used to keep the top in the shape it is supposed to be in while the glue is drying. Once the foam board parts are finished, 2 5cm long bamboo skewers are embedded into each side to reinforce it against stresses and then the wings can be attached.
Downloadable Plans: View attachment PusherPodAdaptorV2FULL.pdf
Don’t forget that you need to switch out the propeller to a pusher style propeller and make sure that it is facing the right direction!
I am building a simple 15cm wide center section for the versa wing that will allow the placement of the power pod in either direction without changes to the pod or airframe in order to make it truly swappable. When I am done I will make plans available and submit an article.
The center section will allow for 2 power pod placements.
Option 1: Default (Below the wing and tractor style)
Option 2: Pusher (above the wing and pusher style)
My question to the community is battery placement. Should I designate a section on the top that uses rubber bands and Velcro like the normal pod or have a hatch that allows you to place the battery inside the power pod?
There are possible design issues with both ... if it is on top the balance might be a bit tricky but placement and finding CG will be easier. If inside the pod via a hatch underneath I fear for the integrity of the center section but balance might be easier and it will be a simpler build that looks cleaner.
=== OP end ===
=== Completed Project Edit ===
What does it do?
The benefit of this mod is that you don’t have to own an extra set of electronics for your FT Versa if you want it to be a pusher. The adaptor makes the Versa fully swappable in both pusher and tractor mode. All of this is done with ZERO modifications to your power pod. It also give you A TON of space to add various equipment.
Who would want it?
Simply put, this mod is for people who want the FT Versa to be a pusher and it still be a swappable.
Be mindful that I don’t want to take away from the usefulness of the FT Simple Firewall which is your best solution for a pusher FT Versa Wing if you don’t want to add a center section. Please, please, please buy the FT Simple Firewall from the Flite Test store if you need it, it’s cheap and you are supporting Flite Test by purchasing it.
How was it created?
This project started out trying to find a way to mount the power pod on the vanilla version of the FT Versa in a pusher orientation but the mod required cutting into the wing that made it too fragile so it was decided that a center section had to be used. Earlier center sections started out at about 6 inches in width but once the blunt nose conversion kit was release by FliteTest, the same width the blunt nose kit used was incorporated into the design to keep the same CG and make it easier for the FT community to adopt.
Before you get started, make sure you have built the following:
- Swappable Power Pod
- FT Versa Wings (Build up to the point right before you join the wings together)
What you will need (not including building tools):
- 1 sheet of Dollar Tree Foam board (Adam’s Readyboard)
- 2x Bamboo skewers
- 1x Plans View attachment PusherPodAdaptorV2FULL.pdf
- 2 servo lead extenders
- 1 or more Pusher type propellers
Video on how to build, add optional features and the maiden flight
The plans come in 2 main pieces, the bottom and the top. The sides are built into the bottom piece and are joined with a B style fold. Once the B fold is established the top sits down inside. There are 4 spacer pieces that are used to keep the top in the shape it is supposed to be in while the glue is drying. Once the foam board parts are finished, 2 5cm long bamboo skewers are embedded into each side to reinforce it against stresses and then the wings can be attached.
Downloadable Plans: View attachment PusherPodAdaptorV2FULL.pdf
Don’t forget that you need to switch out the propeller to a pusher style propeller and make sure that it is facing the right direction!
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