Brett_N
Well-known member
....And what I learned with 2 builds.
First off, a HUGE thank you to everyone's favorite Swede for the design, and of course Sponz for making the freebie build plans.
My experience as a "5 month in flying 2 or 3 days a week..."
BUILD IT - BUILD IT NOW! I've buddy boxed a couple of Avanti's and Hawker EDF's, but hands down, the Viggen made out of $5 in DTFB out fly's both (for a newbie.) On a 4S, this is the only EDF at our flying field that will hover!!
Now, what I learned after building 2 of them.
1 - SKIP THE 64mm and go right for the 80mm EDF. HUGE difference in flight performance. Self hand launching is a breeze (hold the upper fuselage, firewall the throttle, and it's gone) with the 80, but difficult with the smaller one.
2 - I stole the covering idea from Experimental Airlines site (youtube it) - basically start with DTFB but strip the paper and re-cover with packing tape.
- it's tedious, but after building 2 identical models, one with regular FT build and one with the EX, I can un-scientifically say there is a major difference in structural stiffness, and neglible impact on weight.
3 - Spend extra time and tack with hot glue, but seam-seal with Gorilla Glue WHITE. I shaved almost 75g off the AUW based on the plans, with the big powerplant. My 80mm EDF with a 60A ESC came in 25g lighter (with gorilla glue white) as the 64mm EDF with a 40A ESC built with hot glue. I didn't pre-weight the EDF powerplant, but I'd say that's pretty good.
4 - Diff & Expo - on a spektrum setup, I had 100%/25% and 80%/25% D&R - both worked well, low rate for takeoff and landing, high rate for high speed passes, etc.
Flying impressions:
Now, to be honest, my hangar is 99% high wing Cubs, A Bushwacker, The new Maule, and all sorts of assorted stuff. I've never flown a low wing. Ever. I've flown the foam off my FT Delta, assorted Nutballs, and some wings that are all RET based, like the Viggen.
Flight 1 - Wheeled Runway Flight - I used CHEAP (banggood) EDF landing gear. Itty bitty little wheels, and our flaying runway is dirt / clay. It worked OK to takeoff, but on landing I ben t ALL 3 of the landing gear wires. No big deal, everything survived.
Fying - UNBELIEVABLE - rock steady in 10mph crosswind. Big banking turns and high speed, no frills, screaming by passes on low D&R like I was flying a Timber at 1/4 the speed. 100% throws? An EDF that will hover, with some work
totally controllable, ALTHOUGH, like any EDF, give yourself plenty of vertical height. With this design you can recover from just about anything, but, still, give yourself some height.
Flight 2 - new battery, wheeled takeoff - No Bueno. Couldn't get the wheels straight enough and she wandered all over the runway.
Flight 2.5 - took the wheels off and my buddy hand launched. He gave it a good toss and back in the air (and he lost his hat)
Flight 3 - Hand Launch - and when I mean hand launch, I mean SELF hand launch. Hold the jet by the "spine" behind the battery hatch, peg the throttle, and off she goes. Now - again I built 2 of these. The 80mm will go like a .......... the 64, well, I can't self launch it..... it needs another person.
Flights 4, 5, 6 7 were all un-assuming.
As far as the EDF units - I'm using the cheap-o Amazon Primer one for like $28 and a 60A ESC. My small unit is the cheapo Amazon 64mm for like $20 or whatever. Go big, or stay home.
At the end of the day, I'm just like 99% of us and love building, flying, fixing, repeat. But - you gotta build a Viggen. Don't be afraid of an EDF - this thing is as docile as...well I dunno....it's pretty close to flying a Versa Wing. And I encourage you to try the packing tape (Dave Brothers on Amazon? 10 rolls for $28) covering and GG White.
First off, a HUGE thank you to everyone's favorite Swede for the design, and of course Sponz for making the freebie build plans.
My experience as a "5 month in flying 2 or 3 days a week..."
BUILD IT - BUILD IT NOW! I've buddy boxed a couple of Avanti's and Hawker EDF's, but hands down, the Viggen made out of $5 in DTFB out fly's both (for a newbie.) On a 4S, this is the only EDF at our flying field that will hover!!
Now, what I learned after building 2 of them.
1 - SKIP THE 64mm and go right for the 80mm EDF. HUGE difference in flight performance. Self hand launching is a breeze (hold the upper fuselage, firewall the throttle, and it's gone) with the 80, but difficult with the smaller one.
2 - I stole the covering idea from Experimental Airlines site (youtube it) - basically start with DTFB but strip the paper and re-cover with packing tape.
- it's tedious, but after building 2 identical models, one with regular FT build and one with the EX, I can un-scientifically say there is a major difference in structural stiffness, and neglible impact on weight.
3 - Spend extra time and tack with hot glue, but seam-seal with Gorilla Glue WHITE. I shaved almost 75g off the AUW based on the plans, with the big powerplant. My 80mm EDF with a 60A ESC came in 25g lighter (with gorilla glue white) as the 64mm EDF with a 40A ESC built with hot glue. I didn't pre-weight the EDF powerplant, but I'd say that's pretty good.
4 - Diff & Expo - on a spektrum setup, I had 100%/25% and 80%/25% D&R - both worked well, low rate for takeoff and landing, high rate for high speed passes, etc.
Flying impressions:
Now, to be honest, my hangar is 99% high wing Cubs, A Bushwacker, The new Maule, and all sorts of assorted stuff. I've never flown a low wing. Ever. I've flown the foam off my FT Delta, assorted Nutballs, and some wings that are all RET based, like the Viggen.
Flight 1 - Wheeled Runway Flight - I used CHEAP (banggood) EDF landing gear. Itty bitty little wheels, and our flaying runway is dirt / clay. It worked OK to takeoff, but on landing I ben t ALL 3 of the landing gear wires. No big deal, everything survived.
Fying - UNBELIEVABLE - rock steady in 10mph crosswind. Big banking turns and high speed, no frills, screaming by passes on low D&R like I was flying a Timber at 1/4 the speed. 100% throws? An EDF that will hover, with some work
totally controllable, ALTHOUGH, like any EDF, give yourself plenty of vertical height. With this design you can recover from just about anything, but, still, give yourself some height. Flight 2 - new battery, wheeled takeoff - No Bueno. Couldn't get the wheels straight enough and she wandered all over the runway.
Flight 2.5 - took the wheels off and my buddy hand launched. He gave it a good toss and back in the air (and he lost his hat)
Flight 3 - Hand Launch - and when I mean hand launch, I mean SELF hand launch. Hold the jet by the "spine" behind the battery hatch, peg the throttle, and off she goes. Now - again I built 2 of these. The 80mm will go like a .......... the 64, well, I can't self launch it..... it needs another person.
Flights 4, 5, 6 7 were all un-assuming.
As far as the EDF units - I'm using the cheap-o Amazon Primer one for like $28 and a 60A ESC. My small unit is the cheapo Amazon 64mm for like $20 or whatever. Go big, or stay home.
At the end of the day, I'm just like 99% of us and love building, flying, fixing, repeat. But - you gotta build a Viggen. Don't be afraid of an EDF - this thing is as docile as...well I dunno....it's pretty close to flying a Versa Wing. And I encourage you to try the packing tape (Dave Brothers on Amazon? 10 rolls for $28) covering and GG White.
