Foamie Dave Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Hi Rich, that would be great - nice one mate Let me know how much to cover the head and p&p and i'll paypal the funds over asap. Think Ive still got your PP details on file from the plans. Ta V much fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamie Dave Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Crimbo has come early and Santa's just delivered a tasty head HK unit. Cheers Rich ..yer an absolute star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 Hey! No excuse not to commit aviation Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 To right David, No excuses! Even if your field is a little water logged this is an autogyro, you can easily hand launch and land on a six pence Glad it has arrived safe and sound looking forward to some more progress. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Dave, Just had a thought they may well be worth checking regarding the head as I havent checked it as it was new in its packet. The ball joints that I have had on the other heads are no use for the stated M2 threads they seem to be larger and a straight hole rather than tapped. It would end in tears as the rods on the FF are in tension all of the time and they would just pull out and that is nt really recommended On my last few FF's I have used THESE, they have proved to work well. Using a cheap M2 DIE ,ball joints can be added both ends using one steel pushrod between servo and head...looks better and it's a proper job Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamie Dave Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Cheers for the heads up Rich. I just gave them a quick pull test and the rods came right out ...phew . Alloy ball joints and tap on order as well speak Lol...flying isnt the problem with our waterlogged field...its driving the 1/2 mile back up a steep grass hill with fat alloys to get back to civilisation that worries me Fear not - Ive a nice little park in mind for a crimbo week flying extraviganza - wooly mittens and beanie at the ready !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazygit Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 Posted by Richard Harris on 01/12/2012 17:22:49: Dave, Just had a thought they may well be worth checking regarding the head as I havent checked it as it was new in its packet. The ball joints that I have had on the other heads are no use for the stated M2 threads they seem to be larger and a straight hole rather than tapped. It would end in tears as the rods on the FF are in tension all of the time and they would just pull out and that is nt really recommended It's ok, it won't end in tears. My rods are 2mm CF tube, and I drilled out some M2 tapped rod ends and glued the rods in with CA. I've had quite a few roll overs, crashes and knocks. They are still fine. The bottom ends are glued straight into some plastic ball joint housings. Edited By Lazygit on 09/12/2012 23:06:52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 LG, How did you adjust them? or did you measure twice and cut once? unlike me who cuts twice after measuring once and forgetting what the length was The good thing with using 2mm steel push rods is they are able to bend in a roll over, but because the servos are infront of the mast means they are always in tension (unless we get into a negative G situation of course) Once trimmed CA can be run run into ball joint threads or if you are flush some of that loctite stuff Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazygit Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 I do the measure lots of times, cut once, throw scrap in the bin, and do it all again and put in adjusters. The bottom end is glued in as I couldn't get to it in the field anyway. The top end has the adjuster. The crossbar is another piece of 2mm CF tube, and this is the bit that breaks in a roll over. I carry some spares with a ball glued at one end. When the bar breaks I pull it out from the head (Delrin) with a pair of pliers and push in a replacement then glue the ball on the other end. It takes longer to find the spares in the box than it does to change it. By putting in a replacement rather than bending bent rods, the trim is not affected. The pin through the F3 bulkhead holds the mast in, so if the screws holding the ball links were not so large, I could pull the links off, pull the pin out and remove the mast for travel. Edited By Lazygit on 11/12/2012 08:44:27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamie Dave Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 After waiting over a week for my alloy ball joints to arrive from GS I thought I'd check everything had gone through ok as I'd had no mention of the order being dispatched Surprise surprise - GS had refunded my money a couple of days after Id placed the order but didnt bother contacting me. When I re-checked the website stock levels for the parts I'd ordered they all showed a bit fat zero (deffo had plenty showing when I placed the order so perhaps stock taking errors). Never mind, managed to find some decent quality Kavan jobbies in my spares box so fitting those tonight. Theyre plastic but seem to take hold well on my m2 extenders. Still on course for a crimbo hols maiden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 LG, That is a very good idea regarding making the mast removable, mine is a tight fit with just a few blobs of hot melt glue for easy removal in case of an 'event'. Dave, That's not good regarding GS, at least you have some plastic jobbies to hand, have you made the blades yet? Rich Edited By Richard Harris on 11/12/2012 09:36:59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Yes, brilliant idea being able to remove the mast! Sadly having snapped the mast on my maiden and then having spent a solid day removing the stub and remaking the 'socket' by micro-surgery, I have epoxied the new one in place. So . . . next time it will be curtains as the area around the mast base will not take another attack. As Rich knows I have built a Crane Fly to get me over the beginner phase as mast replacement is simple - as it is in Foamie Daves build of the Fire Fly. You live and learn! Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamie Dave Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Yep, quick replacement masts are the future !! (especially with me at the sticks ) I've played safe with the blades Rich and gone the HK Cierva route. Hopefully get them balanced this weekend then all set to go before the snow comes Then again, I believe next months issue (Jan) features some DIY skis...mmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Dave, I am well prepared I have a couple of sets of skis I have made up using perpex with a little heat applied to bend the front of them up, they only took an hour to make up. Just remove the wheels and slide them on with a few rubber bands so that they stay upright in flight. Rich Edited By Richard Harris on 11/12/2012 12:45:15 Edited By Richard Harris on 11/12/2012 12:46:05 Edited By Richard Harris on 11/12/2012 12:50:04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamie Dave Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Cracking job with the skis Rich I think that's another job pencilled in for crimbo week ! (pressie run to the outlaws will have to go on hold ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Chaps, I had myself a trip down Staples yesterday to get some Fire Fly plans printed, I left the young girl in charge and had a look around whilst the printer did it's work. When I returned my plans had been printed but there was a dark mark showing faintly on one side. 'Those aren't good enough' I said so she tried another, in the end the manager came over and cleaned some rolls on the machine. Even worse! so they had to call an engineer and gave me the plans to save throwing them So I have 8 plans that have slight shadow marks up for grabs, they have cost me nothing so I ask for nothing other than to cover my cost for p+p at £2. I would post them for nowt but it is that time of year and money is always a bit tight. I also have a PDF that can be sent of the build, it is nothing that has been written bespoke but just pulled off another former and slapped together by a friend. The drawing gives every bit of information needed that I could think of at the time including blade balancing and control throws plus how to trim and how to fly. I have not deviated from the first model so every other model uses exactly the same blades and parts making sure the set ups are the same as is possible. So if you want one I have 8 plans to give away, PM me if you are interested and the first 8 PM's get one. Rich Mods, if this is a problem or against rules please feel free to remove this post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Forgot to mention that £2 P+P is only for the UK, I can get a quote for else where if needed. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 Ok gents plans they have all gone, will get them in the post tomorrow all being well I have come into a quantity of free blue foam sheets and have been thinking of something to create out of it as I have only ever used the stuff before to make pilots. I blew the FF II plans up 400% and have started hacking at this horrible blue stuff. I think I will add stringers the same as the last then cover it to hide the foam. Should keep me busy over the festive period. It is light and the biggest tractor I have ever made or seen so far, should be a laugh! if not I can use it for loft insulation The tail boom is part of a fishing rod that a mate gave me so it should all be able to be broken down for storage. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Elliot Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 Awesome Rich Are you going to use those two giant blades you started ? At least we can all shelter under the tail when it rains! Cheers Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 Rich, No this is for smaller blades, I am using the blue foam as a TE and obeechi LE as the foam is free and the hardwood is cheap. I am unsure of the span at the moment as I dont have an accurate weight on the fuselage, but I have made 70" blade blanks so have enough to play with. This blue foam stuff makes a mess!!! Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL PETTIT Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 It's on now to complete it Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 I hope so Bill Young Debs has been on at me to build a bigger one for ages, she thinks it will be easier to film Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Elliot Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 Have you found a good method of covering the blue foam ? Never used blue stuff before but the insulating sheets i have used had to be sealed with tissue to give the surface some strength Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 Rich, The plan is to add stringers then cover , I guess thats cheating or is it lateral thinking? I did however cover the spats on the last one with film and they are made from blue foam and depron, they were given a coat of balsaloc . My iron temperature was turned down and they did infact cover very well, I was very surprised how well they did cover, well for me any way! Rich Edited By Richard Harris on 16/12/2012 23:49:16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Elliot Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 Lateral thinking isn,t cheating....no point making things harder for yourself if there is an alternative. I suppose the stringers willmake it easy to hide all those led light strips again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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