XB-70 Valkyrie: FT Style

[Mid7night]

SOOOO....today I got to paint! I borrowed my dad's EZ-up, taped on some thin plastic side walls to keep the wind out, and sprayed on the base white coat. This will be the majority of the paint job, since I'm recreating the first Valkyrie airframe. It will also have most of the markings, and the black nose and wing hinge areas.



PRO TIP: When painting in a booth, MAKE SURE you wear a mask (I did), safety glasses (I did) ... and a cover-all jumpsuit of some kind ... (I didn't)

This is what happens when you stand in a spray booth without anything covering your arms or head XD



LUCKILY I just got straight in the shower, and MOST of the paint dust just rubbed right off with hot water. Soap and shampoo got the rest out, so I look my age again.

 

[Mid7night]

OH YEAH! I almost forgot, before painting today I did another taxi test, this one at slightly higher speeds, in hopes of testing the drag chutes. Well, I tested the chutes. The door opened, but the chutes didn't actually DEPLOY. So I need to add a positive "ejection" force - probably a simple rubber band.

Regardless, it's good to learn that I need a small improvement, and also good to see how well the landing gear handle! I was pleasantly surprised!

Thanks for checking in, stay tuned!

 

[Jetcrafter_2000]

Once i build a waterrocket and it had a parachute in it.
I used a thin sodabottle to ejekt the parechute.
That´s the video to this mecanism.
It always ejected but one time ( the last time ) :black_eyed: the parachute didn´t work.
From were did you get your perachute?
I build my own parachute and it works great, the failture in the end was because i folded it the wrong way.
Thats my DIY parachute:







It has a diameter of 1.5 meters (4,9 foot) and its made out of a rescue blanket.
Its light and strong but you have to be careful, that there are no scratches in it.

Anyway, i hppe it was helpful for you.
Jetcrafter2000

 

[Jetcrafter_2000]

Sorry for the attached files at the end, i can't delete them

 

[Mid7night]

Thanks for the parachute advice, that's a really great idea making it out of a rescue blanket!

I got mine from a rocketry source, Top Flight:

http://topflightrecoveryllc.homestead.com/thinmil.html

I got 3 of their 18" Thin Mil chutes. I'll go into more detail on my "rubber band release" when I've tested it and recorded some video. I won't actually be using a mousetrap.

 

[Sotm]

Number of and type batteries

Ben what was the total battery count of each type and size that you are using?

 

[Sotm]

BTW Ben I posted some neat holes saws in my follow up to your F4 if you want to cut lightening holes!

 

[Mid7night]

Ben what was the total battery count of each type and size that you are using?

Six Hyperion 5000mAh 4S. Those are just for EDF power, besides the Rx and aux-power batteries. I'm going to draw a power and wiring diagram that shows how everything is hooked up.

I updated the 3rd post on the first page with a parts list, including links and quantities:

http://forum.flitetest.com/showthre...kyrie-FT-Style&p=369782&viewfull=1#post369782

 

[PsyBorg]

Not sure if you saw my question in your skype or not Ben but I will further ask about the gear on your fast taxi test. How much an issue can or would the rear trucks twisting and being torqued like that effect the ability to take off? I know it would be added stress and possibly damage the mount over time but wondering if that would bleed off power for take offs as well since you have to counter steer.

 

[Mid7night]

Sorry Bill, I didn't see your Skype till you mentioned it here.

The sound you heard is the wheels chattering on the axles, because as you said, there are no bearings. That can mostly be fixed with a little graphite for the axles.

The skewing of the trucks is more of a steering challenge for me, not really a big hit to the takeoff roll. On that high-speed taxi I don't think I pushed it much past half throttle, so I've got plenty of "oomph" left.

Let me also be clear, in case anyone else is concerned or wanting to ask: The wild back-and-forth in the video was COMPLETELY "Pilot Induced Oscillation", I do not think that behavior was indicative of the alignment of the wheels at all. I failed to set my steering rate to "LOW" prior to the test, which is something I always usually do prior to takeoff of a wheeled-aircraft (C-17, F-4).

 

[Sotm]

Six Hyperion 5000mAh 4S. Those are just for EDF power, besides the Rx and aux-power batteries. I'm going to draw a power and wiring diagram that shows how everything is hooked up.

I updated the 3rd post on the first page with a parts list, including links and quantities:

http://forum.flitetest.com/showthre...kyrie-FT-Style&p=369782&viewfull=1#post369782

Could you save weight using 3 4S 6000 instead each powering two edfs on opposites sides?

 

[Sotm]

Wheel URL is no good, Error 404!

 

[Mid7night]

Could you save weight using 3 4S 6000 instead each powering two edfs on opposites sides?

Probably, but mostly because that's the equivalent of only 3000mAh per motor, less total capacity. 3 x 6000 = 18,000 vs. 6 x 5000 = 30,000.

Wheel link should be fixed now. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[Crow929]

Ben,

First off, that bird is a beauty! Great job so far, I can't wait to see her fly.

Secondly, have you tested raising and lowering the gear with the fans running? I'm concerned since the gear is open to the low pressure zone, the suction may be too great for the servo opening the door to overcome. There will be a LOT of air trying to enter through the gear opening. I'd hate to see you not be able to lower to rears while in the air. Just some thoughts.

 

[Mid7night]

Ben,

First off, that bird is a beauty! Great job so far, I can't wait to see her fly.

Secondly, have you tested raising and lowering the gear with the fans running? I'm concerned since the gear is open to the low pressure zone, the suction may be too great for the servo opening the door to overcome. There will be a LOT of air trying to enter through the gear opening. I'd hate to see you not be able to lower to rears while in the air. Just some thoughts.

Thanks for joining!

No, I haven't done that particular test yet, but you're not the only one to suggest it. I have cut back the door a bit, so there is a gap at the rear of the door, it no longer makes a nice 'seal' on its perimeter.

It shouldn't be a hard test do though, and now that the Valkyrie is staged in my dad's garage I have a bit more room to work.

 

[Mid7night]

Quick update, mostly pics. I was able to spend a little more time today working on the canopy lines, and took some pics with the wingtips on after painting the black accents yesterday.

Also, I weighed myself and then me and the airframe to get a full-up flying weight: 24lbs!

 

[JamesWhom]

I am so much looking forward to seeing this thing (hopefully) in person. Amazing job.

 

[foamtest]

Where are you going to maiden this beast at?

 

[Mid7night]

Where are you going to maiden this beast at?

I'm going to fly it at the same place I maidened my C-17, Prado Airpark in Corona, CA.

Currently, the plan is to fly the first weekend in February, either the 3rd or the 4th.

 

[foamtest]

Sounds good, and make sure you have a 15 person camera crew with you! JK but we all want to see this thing fly and I can't wait to see the video for it!