The Atom Special

[Mike Stevens]

Sharpened copper pipe?

[Steve Jones 2]

Thanks for the comments , hope the pics help others which why i post so many during my builds...

Close Mike, sharpened 10mm brass tube

Steve

[Chris Dowell]

Re the holes I have a series of K&S brass tubes of various diameters, that have been sharpened and serrations cut in ..just like teeth ...makes it so easy to cut neat holes. They can even be mounted in a power drill if required.

Chris...

[Steve Jones 2]

Absolutely Chris been doing just that for years, note the holes in my tail central fin

Steve

[Max Z]

I cannot believe that you guys are getting the CoG right, having the spacer for the motor mount AND the batteries so far forward. True, I am using a slightly heavier motor (SK3 2830 series), but I moved the motor bulkhead about 1 cm aft and bolted the motor hard against the bulkhead, without the spacer. No cowling installed, and I still have to move the 124 grams battery as far back as possible to have a hanging angle less than the max. 18 deg. She flies ok though.

The only real change I made to the design is that I replaced the forward bottom part with a piece of 6 mm poplar plywood to have a better anchoring of the L/G legs, but by the looks of Steve's pictures he is doing the same.

Max.

[Richard Harris]

Chaps,

Well, they say we learn something every day, I would have never even thought that a brass serrated tube could cut such a neat hole!

Any photos of you weapons?

Rich

[Steve Jones 2]

Holes in the plastic are with tubes sharpened on the inside only with a scalpel blade. Tubes with teeth jump about and dont give a clean edge,

Tubes with teeth I use for cutting neat holes in balsa and at a push thin ply -such as 0.8mm for instument panels etc

Will post pic tomorrow

Steve

Edited By Steve Jones 2 on 04/12/2014 22:58:30

[Steve Jones 2]

Max, not sure how too as my larger battery is as for forward as I can get it. The ply u/c mount is as the plan with 2 laminations or 3mm liteply.

Maybe my tail is heavier than yours

Steve

Edited By Steve Jones 2 on 04/12/2014 23:02:35

[Chris Dowell]

I use brass tube to cut balsa / ply / plastic and foam. The long arrow shaft is used to cut holes in wings for installing servo wires and wing joining tubes A piece of sandpaper on the end helps to clean up the hole.

Chris...

[Terry Whiting 1]

Whilst on the subject of hole cutters I made this many moons ago for cutting holes through ribs to take paper tubes for servo wires. It's brass sharpened on it's inner side which holds the cut cores, then using thumb on the serrated pusher ejects the cut out. It cuts a 1/2" hole.

 

Edited By Terry Whiting 1 on 05/12/2014 08:10:56

Edited By Terry Whiting 1 on 05/12/2014 08:12:49

[Max Z]

I made a movie to show you guys the roll and pitch throws I am using. I feel comfortable with those (wit a lot of exponential dialled in), hot enough for me :

 

Edit: on viewing the video again I noticed that the roll trim appears to be neutral, that must be the camera angle. I did trim it to the left by about 3-4 degrees.

Max.

 

Edited By Max Z on 06/12/2014 11:05:16

[Terry Whiting 1]

Hi Max,

Very helpful, I personally was thinking using a little less than that for starters. I like the rotor head, home made or commercial ?

Terry

[Max Z]

Home made, from a cutdown old Aeronaut gearbox for speed400 can motors.

[Richard Harris]

Thanks for the snaps of the hole cutters gents , I will have a go and making some.

Max,

Looks like you have more than enough throw, my personnel preference is to have as much as I can get, my thumbs are my exponential!

I will update the builders list in a bit.

Rich

[Richard Harris]

Ok gents, a quick add up...

1. David P Williams (UK)

2. Steve Jones 2 (UK)

3. Phil Winks (UK)

4. Joe Anderson (UK/Greece)

5. Andy Joyce (UK)

6. Tomas Dunker (Sweden)

7. Nigel Simkin (UK)

8. Graham L (UK)

9. Max Z (Netherlands)

10. Markus Drillkens (Germany)

11. Stephen Jones (UK)

12. Terry Whiting 1 (UK)

13. Rich Harris (UK)

14. John Stones 1 (UK)

15. Mike Stevens (UK)

16. Bob Bertram (UK)

17. Levanter3 (Spain)

18. George Elliot (UK)

19. Nigel Banham (UK)

20. Edmond Burgess (UK)

First 20

Rich

[Richard Harris]

And some more....

 

21. Chris Dowell (Australia)

22. William alexander 1 (UK)

23. Caveman (UK)

24. Pat (rActive) Harbord (UK)

25. Sebrien andre (France)

26. Alan Gorham (UK)

27. Chris Barlow (UK)

28. Gary Manuel (UK)

29. Kevin Flynn (USA)

30. Chris Jones 7 (UK)

31. Kris S (?)

32. Cali (UK/Dubai)

33. Ian Jones (UK)

34. Graham Bowers (UK)

35. Handyman (UK)

36. Simon Burch (UK)

37. Graham Ashby (UK, subject to work commitments)

38. James Mark (UK)

39. Paul Marsh (UK, subject to lady luck )

40. Kris S (UK)

Looking pretty good

 

Rich

Edited By Richard Harris on 07/12/2014 21:14:58

[Kris S]

Kris S UK.
Sorry didn't know my profile wasn't public.
Kris

[simon burch]

Rich,

How did my name get on the list?

Are you going to Greenacres next year then? if so I will build an Atom just for the fun of flying in formation.

Cheers,

Simon

Edited By simon burch on 07/12/2014 21:18:30

[simon burch]

Rich,

How did my name get on the list?

Are you going to Greenacres next year then? if so I will an Atom just for the fun of flying in formation.

Cheers,

Simon

[Richard Harris]

You spoke and that is good enough for me Simon

 

 I am hoping to go to Greenacres

Edited By Richard Harris on 07/12/2014 21:18:42

[simon burch]

Okay mate....your wish is my command !!

Simon

[Nigel Banham]

Hi Richard,

I have now finished an Atom with an ASP 12 glow on the front.

As mentioned , to get the CG correct I have fitted the radio battery (1600m/ah) behind the rotor and because there is a 4oz tank in the cockpit, the engine servo is next to the rudder servo, with a cable under the tank. I have had to use a (cut down) standard fibre engine mount, but if anyone can find or make a radial back-plate mount for their engine (ie fitted onto the motor back-plate screws then it would make the installation neater.

I would be interested in knowing the normal all up weight of the electric versions for comparison -anyone??? The ic one comes out at 1lb 13oz (no fuel) in old money. If mine is much heavier then hopefully it may be more powerful, otherwise take-off could be in the distance -we have quite a big field but its a bit soggy at present.

I had intended to put in some pictures, but I have not yet worked out how to do it....... we will see what it looks like after the maiden - perhaps when Suffolk dries out a bit!

Nigel

[Gyrocopter]

Rich,

You can stick me on the list, I'm building a x2 version for Greenacres but at the minute having a challenge finding a bottle big enough to make the canopy but I'm sure I will think of something.

Chas

[Richard Harris]

Nigel,

Mine is around 1lb 9 oz there or there abouts, not sure how it will fly with the extra weight on AJ blades. When I am up at the field next I will ballast mine up to match yours. Saying that, this is using a 1550mah 3 cell lipo, I know some are using 2200mah so not sure if that adds up to much extra weight?

Chas,

I will add you to the list mate Just drawing up a biggie version and the canopy stumped me also, mine will be a 2 seater with a canopy made in 2 parts using 3litre cider bottles. Failing that I have plenty of blue foam! I have been eyeing up those big water bottles at the super market.

Rich

[Ian Jones]

Nigel please do post some photos.... mines getting an AP15 and it would make an interesting comparison.