Martin McIntosh Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Hi all, not yet had a chance to try this at the field but with hindsight have made a few alterations to my version. Still going for the dual head but a lightened version with the 8mm bearings and this time using the glass covered blades which weigh 25g each. They were much more difficult to balance than the filmed ones but are very rigid. The mast height has been increased by 25mm, the u/c lengthened and the tail servos and linkages rearranged to be out of the way of the boom. Pics to follow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Hope that these turn out. They have been messing with this site again I suspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Share Posted September 10, 2013 Hi Martin I see you have been busy and yes the forum tech people have insisted that IE users must clear the cache other wise the posting box will now be all wrong . Look forward to hearing how your CF based own design performs . If you add the rotor fully back angle to the boom sit angle and this results in over 20 degrees ,then you may be able to spread the uc legs some more to improve ground stability , a track of 20" with the the bottom of the fire wall 7" from the ground works well . If you leave it as per the photo I guess the sit angle plus the hands off back trim will be around 15 - 18 degrees so application of just a little back rotor during the ground roll could result in a premature lift off and roll that may be hard to control. As the rotors come up to speed they should be lowered so the tail is off the ground and at the same time progressively increase the power . I suggest this as I guess you will not be hand launching . Tom. Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 Posted by Tom Wright 2 on 21/01/2013 02:24:42: A free build sequence with photos, parts list , and live links to material suppliers are all included in the seventeen page PDF now available to build the model shown in the video. Send a PM and include your e mail address to receive. Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 12, 2013 Author Share Posted September 12, 2013 Hi All I see AJ blades have opened their Web shop and have good stocks to suit the CF MK2 , CF SFH ,CF Lite., and other lightweight designs . The larger blades are aimed at the CF Major and other autogyros that have an AUW of between 3 and 5 lbs. The availability of these blade sets in combination with the the parts now available from Coowind Models should be a great help to first time auto gyro pilots and hopefully encourage more to get started without the uncertainty and guess work that can stall builds and, complicate initial flight results. The length of the blades may need to be trimmed to suit a particular model and ensure clearance to the fin. I have used several sets of the pre production examples on my models and have been impressed by the results and the time saving so I hope you Crane Fly builders find them as useful as I have. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handyman Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Hi everyone. I got my blades for the SFH/CFL today from AJ Blades. They are superb and well worth the money spent. The packing of them is also brilliant. Mine came in a sturdy tube with lots of bubble wrap around the blades and at the ends, plus the tubes are sealed with custom end caps. No chance of damage there. It also turns out that I was their first customer. Looks as though I have done something right for a change. It beats last Sundays flying session that put me in hospital having the third finger of my right hand stitched up. What idiot put a spinning propeller in the way of my hand,( I have to confess that it was me Sir). Ahh well!, it got me off washing up duties until next Monday when the stitches come out. All together now.....Ahhhhhhhh!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deyrick Gibbins Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 That was quick considering site went up yesterday. I have ordered a set as well. Props can cause you some serious injury especially when on an electric motor. Nasty one on the RCGroups FunCub thread a few weeks ago, severed tendons. Deyrick Edited By Deyrick Gibbins on 12/09/2013 20:10:02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handyman Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Hi Deyrick. Mine was an i/c incident. Happened because I changed my starting routine. I had to have a check on whether I had a damaged tendon before they would sew me up. Feeling fine now, but stitches in finger keep pulling and I tend to forget and try and use the hand as I normally would. I still love the hobby though, and the crack from the others in the club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deyrick Gibbins Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Had a few thwacks my self from props on engines, luckily they tend to stop unlike a bigish motor. Never had stitches, had it taped and wrapped once at Med Center (Ex RAF) as it had cut through the tip of finger and nail bed. The nail still grows split to this day 12 years later, luckily its only 3mm from side not the middle. Not had any hits since i went to electric, no need to fiddle with a carb near spinning prop. Deyrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Beware much more of electric than i/c since these do not stop when they hit flesh/bone. Even a tiddly parkfly prop will give you deep lacerations. Just don`t ask me how I know this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deyrick Gibbins Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Already aware but a timely reminder in any case. **LINK** Link to Blog about the Funcub incident. Deyrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Yup been there , deep lacerations one down to the bone ,and that was a slow fly prop on a 200 W motor. Hope you are getting plenty of tea and sympathy Tony. I am expecting delivery of a set of AJ Blades for my Panther that I have now passed on to Pete to build . Having flown the pre production blades on my CF Major , I recon they should do the job without any problem . More flying today with the G1 now fitted AJ Blades and a Coolwind models CFL plate . It would be fair to say the performance is impeccable and, I even managed a nill wind ROG . These blades work well at low shim thickness so more lift is obtained which improves the low speed performance, and makes turns nice and easy. Must get back to more flying with the CF SFH as I am in danger of getting off thread. Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bees Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 12 to 15 fifteen flights now with out any incidents so i must be getting better. Got a couple of flights in this afternoon before the rain came and with 8 to 9 mph breeze i even did a allmost vertical landing. Think i need a liitle more grunt up front to penetrate better into wind but this Cranefly has been designed to learn to fly a Autogyro and that is what it is doing with good effect so will leave the need for speed further down the line.Anybody seen the part built Panther with motor and esc included with the first bid at £45 on Ebay, Seems to good to be true though. Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Great stuff Glen glad to hear you getting plenty of flight time .If you fitted the motor recommended you might be able to fit the next size prop . Saw the Panther on EBay but it's hard to determine the build quality from the photo , but if it goes for under £60 it could be a good buy . Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Hi,Tom ,haven't been in touch lately due to health and bereavement in the family .So i have decided to redo my CF trainer and have a fixed rotor head ,and install rudder and elevator. what i need to know tom is the angle of the rotor post as it will be permanent .I can see by all the posts and pics you haven't been hanging about .like all pilots who know what they are doing .you make it all look so easy.. cheers tom regards Bernie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 Hi Bernie Great to hear from you again ,and sorry to hear about the heath and family bereavement , many of us are getting to the age were these things happen ,but that's life and we have to do the best we can . Don't see any problem at all converting your model could you just confirm it is a MK 2 , and I will get back this evening with some data. Regards Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Yes that's right Tom .MK2.Any data will be grreat.cheers Bernie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 Bernie I have sent the CF SFH and CF Lite build PDFs ,your model should convert to either without to much trouble , let me know if you have questions . Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 21, 2013 Author Share Posted September 21, 2013 I have continued to develop the Crane Fly Major thought this season and have found it to be a very practical introduction to the larger heavier machines that are a popular progression once the light weights have been mastered . All the recent flying has been done on the AJ 550 mm Blades and Coolwind plate which has ensured that no further changes are necessary to these vital components . This machine loves a little head wind for a short ROG which should suit pilots who have to fly from smaller fields . The boom is a carbon tube clad with balsa ,so after the successful flights with the CF Giant I might build another Major over the winter period but with a similar wooden boom as this will be less expensive and will simplify the build. The photo shows current set up . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handyman Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 Hi tom, Tony Bamford here again. Stitches are out now but finger is still mighty sore. Not done any work in the shed since my accident. Gonna have to get my finger out,( pardon the pun). Have you considered the aluminium square section tube that they use for TV aerials, or woulld that be too heavy. Just a thought. I was mighty chuffed with the blades from AJ Blades. They were super. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 22, 2013 Author Share Posted September 22, 2013 Hi Tony Glad to hear your "prop flicker" is well on the mend .Thanks for the boom material suggestion I will put it on my list to evaluate . Will look forward to further reports as your dexterity improves . Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted September 25, 2013 Author Share Posted September 25, 2013 Hi All Managed to get a break from work in the garden to commission the AJ 550 production blades and get them fitted to my Crane Fly Major . I have a plan in that the weight of the model is the same as the predicted weight for my Panther build which is progressing slowly. Having flown the CFM very successfully on the AJ pre production blades ,I set out this morning to fly the stock blades and was very pleased with the results . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bees Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Getting more confident with the CF and the CFL is slowly coming along but iam allready looking further down the line with regards to the Burky 11 if i can obtain the plan but my long term project would be the Dag 60 but i would like to ask if you can still obtain the plans as i once read that the guy who designed it had packed in. Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wright 2 Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Glen Glad to hear things are going well , if you PM Rich Harris I am sure he will sort some plans out . Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glynn Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Just got to say what super service I have had from AJ Blades and Coolwind Models. Ordered blades and delta plate last night and they are here today. Will try to get CF ready for a flight tomorrow now I have proper blades. Glynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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