Lipo Man

This thing is flying pretty well, and the wing loading is pretty low so don’t need all that wing area. So today at the field I sliced the wingtips off - so it’s now down to the design intent span of 1.2m. Flew really nicely - but not massively different. Anyway, this evening I’ve done the last intended modification and added wingtip fences. Will be interesting to see if it flies noticeably differently.

I use generic MG90s - usually sourced from Aliexpress or Banggood. Nearly all my planes are “beaters” and these have never let me down. Link to UK supplier: https://kunkune.co.uk/shop/servo-motors-and-shields/servo-motor-mg90-metal-gear/?attribute_quantity=1pc&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=20611611264&gbraid=0AAAAAoTcFGZWj999Bkr9QN6W_3X8N3GAu&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxJvBBhDuARIsAGUgNfjgA1jZcH3Lf3D-yQ4Ev4ysprLHiqxftPg_H_7IukkV6ZSGu-RuhyEaAhX-EALw_wcB I know the better branded servos have better centre resolution etc. but for a regular club flying model these always seem to do just fine - at least for me.

A few more test flights today in the glorious sunshine. Lessons learned: 1. The added colour helped orientation, but you can’t have too much of a good thing. So - more colour on the nose so I can see it better coming towards me, and some on the underside of the wings, just because. 2. The added landing gear did the job, but the wire is a bit too thin and the wheels tended to splay out to the sides. I did a “temporary” fix by using a rubber band as a brace across the gear to keep the wheels closer together. I suspect that solution will last as long as the model - it doesn’t look particularly smart but it’s very light and it works. 3. It’s a bit tail heavy. It’s quite pitch sensitive but it does a really nice flat spin. Added some nose weight and that improved it quite a bit, at the expense of less flat spins. I’ll lengthen the nose on version two to get rid of the ballast. I got a clubmate who is a much better pilot than me to fly it, and he suggested the change - it certainly helped.

An evening listening to the football whilst sticking some self adhesive vinyl has improved visibility significantly!

Had a little spare time this afternoon, and decided this thing flies well enough to deserve landing gear. Hot glued two bits of pine (!) inserted into the fuselage to give hard points, and bent up some 2mm wire to make legs. Found a steerable tail wheel in the spares box. Hopefully I’ll have time to test it out this weekend!

I have worked in the automotive industry for most of my professional life. The fears over battery life are misplaced - there are plenty of EVs out there with huge mileages and batteries still going strong. I bought a used EV four years ago - battery is still like new (admittedly I rarely use big fast chargers). My opinion is that currently the best option is likely to be to buy a used EV. They are typically very reliable, and as manufacturers are trying to force EV sales there is likely to be some over supply in the new market, and therefore better prices for used models. If you’re on a tightish budget an MG is hard to beat - ZS, MG4 or MG depending on your needs size and space wise. If you are spending a little more then I’d go Korean - Hyundai and Kia models are excellent, and the warranties are long. Tesla is also a decent option but personally I don’t like the overly heavy emphasis on controlling everything through the touch screen. By all means lease if that’s your preference, but I’d suggest worries about battery life don’t necessitate it. Good luck.

Thanks for the kind words. Here’s a little more detail on the bits and pieces. The foamboard is the A1 size sheets from Hobbycraft - we have a store locally. I think they’re usually doing an offer of three sheets for £12. I suspect I might actually have used four sheets but I’ve been asked to build another for a clubmate so I’ll double check when I get going on that. The motor is a generic 3536 size brushless from Banggood - under £15 delivered. It’s branded Racerstar. https://uk.banggood.com/Racerstar-BR3536-1200KV-2-4S-Brushless-Motor-For-FPV-RC-Airplane-Model-p-1384219.html?cur_warehouse=CN&ID=6309317&rmmds=search Any ESC of about 40A or over would do the job. Servos and generic metal geared MG90, and the prop is a Master Airscrew 10x6 electric. An APC electric of the same size would be even better but I didn’t have one to hand. I’ve often thought about designing something specifically for those 4-max value packs, but this isn’t it. They’re too small to power this size model with sufficient enthusiasm! That said the Racerstar motor is very cheap - at the cost of slower shipping and not supporting a UK based supplier (which I try to do - I’m near Als Hobbies and get lots of bits and bobs from there). I’ll try to get some more video on a calm day to show the flight envelope a bit better - albeit I’m not the best pilot so no doubt it will do more in more skilled hands!

Some video - just a simple circuit of take off and a landing in blustery wind this afternoon. Details re. motor etc. to follow - got to go and cook for guests this evening!

Short video - just a take off and landing. A bit blustery…

New own design scratch built aerobatics hack. Power is a 2200 3 cell and I flew nine minutes of gentle- ish stuff with occasional full throttle bursts. Inverted is really easy and plenty of power to prop-hang if that’s your thing! Need to add some colour and some landing gear.

Well it flies - and really well! Very agile, unlimited vertical and nine minutes off a 2200 3 cell. This one’s a keeper - needs landing gear and some colour!

I’ve been fully occupied with a big house renovation, and reached the point where I just needed to do something else. So - a simple foamboard “no plans” design. I’ve got a little 1.0m wingspan foamboard aerobatics practice ship (yellow plane in the photos) that I built in an evening and love flying. It’s a really easy no-stress plane to try something new - worst case if I crash I’d need to buy two sheets of foamboard and spend another evening building a replacement. Anyway, I’ve been thinking for a while that I’d like another one, but slightly bigger. So - a few evenings with the radio on and a glass of building wine and I’ve got a plane! I added a bit of extra shape to the wings with a little taper, just to alleviate the boxiness a bit. Specs are: Wingspan 1.2m (currently 1.3m but planning to trim the wings a little to get rid of the motor-glider look…), weight RTF 1.0kg minus landing gear, power from 3536 1200kv motor running a 10x6 prop off 2200 3s battery. Just needs servos connecting then it’s ready to go. Feeling moderately optimistic about it - time will tell!

I must admit to some conflicted thoughts about this. On the one hand I respect the view of scale modellers who want to authentically replicate a historical aircraft. On the other hand, I also share the feelings of people offended by some of the extreme political factions that have hijacked the symbol - past and present. I think someone should be able to replicate a historical aircraft if that’s what they want to do, and should be able to do that without being accused of being a nazi sympathiser. When I built my Warbird Replicas FW190, I had a quick think and decided to omit the swastika, as I’m simply not comfortable displaying it in any context. However I do understand that others who have included it can do so without it being some kind of political point. I don’t suppose it’s a debate that will go away, sadly.

Wow -that’s amazing. It’s like they lit the afterburners when they get up on the foils. Brilliant!

Oooh that looks nice. They race those on a lake near me and I’ve often wondered if they’re expensive. Might have to have a little google…. Hope you enjoy it - they look fun.

I’ve got a TN 50mm Hunter, and it does have a tendency to fall out of turns - I think it’s if I’m going too slowly, or possibly too much up elevator? Anyway I’ve been lucky so far as it’s always happened two mistakes high, but I’m always a bit tentative flying it. Practice makes perfect?

If you have access to a 3d printer you could print one - or maybe get a club mate to print one for you? A quick search turned up this which looks like a possible solution? https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4587824 I know not everyone does 3d printing, but it really is useful for that sort of stuff. If it's not your thing I can fully appreciate why that would be so - good luck whatever route you take!

That looks like loads of fun - and tricky to make sure you’re always flying your own plane!

A glorious morning today. I flew the Hunter which I’m finally getting comfortable with. Until now it was quite challenging - especially the tendency to fall out of turns in a sudden stall (I think). After too many near disasters I’d parked it for months. Anyway, in the nice weather this week I dug it out and took a brave pill before getting it airborne again. The good news is that it’s flying much better now that I’ve switched to a lighter 1500 battery rather than the 2200 I was using. I suspect the stall speed is lower, and I tried to remember to keep plenty of throttle on in the turns. Probably also helps that I’ve had more stick time in the intervening period, and I’m a definitely a better pilot now. It might be small but the Hunter is definitely tricky for inexperienced pilots! Anyway - my clubmate Chris took some great pictures on his fancy camera, so seems like the perfect way to sign off this thread.

A glorious morning today, and my clubmate Chris arrived with his fancy camera. Finally got some decent photos of my little 50mm Tony Nijhuis Hunter - flying much better now that a) I’ve switched to a lighter 1500 battery rather than the 2200 I was using, and b) I’ve had more stick time and I’m a better pilot! Finally getting comfortable with this little model, which really does look lovely in the air.

I’ve been flying for about five years now and I’ve not done the A certificate. My club doesn’t require it, and I’ve never felt the need. So - if your club doesn’t insist on it then it’s up to you. I know a lot of people choose to do it anyway just for the challenge, or so they can fly at other sites that require it. I suspect I’ll do it one day purely so I can fly at other clubs from time to time.

That looks absolutely brilliant. Congratulations - a really clever bit of kit bashing!

That looks tremendous - should be lots of fun! One point - the elevator and rudder look like they may be single sheets of foamboard? If so I’d suggest doubling up the non moving part. My Bearcat (similar size) had a fin and rudder that was a single piece of hobbycraft foamboard and it was not up to the job - had to add a 6mm carbon tube to reinforce it after watching it bending severely in flight. Good luck with the build on this one - I have high hopes!

Haven’t tried this myself but a friend has tried inkjet printable temporary tattoo paper. Apparently that sticks much better than waterslide transfers to foam and/or 3d printed plastics. Might be worth a try?

Easiest is probably direct from their UK store. Quick delivery too (or at least mine was).