Max Z Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Hi all, I am sharing my latest "in-between" project, The LightThing. I had already placed some pictures in the "New Models" thread just after the first flights. Those flights indicated that I needed quite a bit more weight at the front, and that the power was a bit marginal, so I swapped the tiny drone motor for a bigger one to address both issues, more weight and more power. I was not happy with the forward CofG position, so I also decided to add extra area to the twin fins, by enlarging the rudders with about 25% more area. We'll see how it works out as soon as the conditions allow. Statistics: Span 670 mm Weight 250 grams AUW Motor ?? (2804 or something) Prop 6x5.5 APC Cells 2s-0.95 Ah Current draw 5.5 A Max. Edited By Max Z on 19/02/2019 12:16:35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 Motor installation (probably a Turnigy type, but can't be sure): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Interesting model Max. How is it controlled, just rudder and elevator? I can't see any ailerons but it also doesn't look like there is much dihedral either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Matty, control is rudder and elevator, mixed for V-tail of course. Dihedral is 5 degrees, which is stable enough. It will roll, but very barrely. Oh well, no prizes for precision aerobatics.. David, A very nice plane you have there, I was not aware of the Funder&Lightning design. I am glad yo like my word play, indeed referring to the (very, very distant) resemblance with the famous Lockheed fighter. It is always a bit of a risk for me as a non-native English speaker, what seems to be playful to me might not be so in your eyes, or worse, it may be offensive language I did not know of its existence. About control, it works the same way as a regular V-tail, see it as a left/right swap of the tail surfaces. The elevator and rudder movements work exactly the same way. The trick in setting the correct direction of the rudder movement is to see them as a regular rudder, cranked onto its side. For a normal V-tail, this is a bit counter-intuitive, you tend to see them as ailerons, but they need to move in the opposite direction as rudders. In my case, because of the "swap", they do operate both as rudders and ailerons(with limited effect) though. Max. Edited By Max Z on 20/02/2019 11:25:18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Max, That's an unusual configuration, I like it and I hope to see it in a future issue? don't forget a video Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Well that's a pretty little thing, great work and I echo the above comments on hoping for a plan in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Thanks for the encouragement guys, I'll see if Graham is interested in a plan . It is a bit windy today, but I will probably test the new configuration this afternoon. Max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 I like it too Max, is it balsa or Depron. Could be the latter at that weight lol. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Fly boy, does this answer your question?: There is even bamboo (connecting the fins) and beech involved (tail booms, now whether that was such a brilliant idea? Maybe carbon fibre tubing would be better). Max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Cheers Max, love it lol. People of a certain will remember the advert ""Ah Bisto" mine is "Ah Balsa " Thanks for the pics. 250gms exellent. Edited By fly boy3 on 20/02/2019 22:25:38 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 The first flight in the new configuration (revised rudders, new motor) is a fact, with very satisfying results. I had to experiment a bit with the down thrust angle, but I have settled that. The no-power dive test confirmed the balance between CofG and fin area is now ok, leaving the CofG at about 25% chord. I will try to get someone to shoot some video this weekend. Max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 Got somebody to shoot some moving pictures of me and my LightThing (follow the link to YouTube for a slightly better qualtity): Max. Edited By Max Z on 24/02/2019 17:32:58 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Posted by Max Z on 24/02/2019 17:02:17: Got somebody to shoot some moving pictures of me and my LightThing (follow the link to YouTube for a slightly better qualtity): Max. Seems to fly very well - great work Max. Quite a bit faster than I thought it would be, but clearly an excellent flier. Edited By MattyB on 25/02/2019 13:30:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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