Graham Davies 3 Posted February 8, 2022 Author Share Posted February 8, 2022 A bit more done this evening. It's now all covered, so I could fit the wing. This may need a bit of fettling after the event as there is a slight misalignment. Easy fix though. I've now been able to try out the battery packs, and do a weigh in. I have a choice between 2200 3S packs, and 3700 4S. Ideally, I wanted to use the smaller packs so I can get maximum flying time by taking a 4S warbird and a 3S model to the strip. However, I couldn't see it balancing with the smaller pack so planned the bigger pack. I have a pair of 1200kv 3536 motors and found a handed pair of 9x4 3 blade props. I suspected these may be too big for 4S. Power tests showed this to be the case with 1600W! I also have now re-arranged my garage... So I tried the 2200 3S pack and got a very useable 600W, which is enough for the model to climb vertically out of my hands. The bonus is that I can get it to balance with the small pack. I reckon short flights of around 4 minutes. However... With this pack, as you see it below, it weighs just 2lb 15Oz. So full throttle will not be necessary! There's not much weight to add, so this is a ridiculously light 'bird. It's far from scale accurate, but also it's closer than I would have thought when I started this. What a laugh this has been. Graham 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 Nearly there. I ran out of the paint I'd mixed, so need to add the last few lozenges, and then go round them with the airbrush to soften the edges. The Insignia in the white sections on the wings and fuselage and then panel lines and weathering. Final ready to fly weight is 3lb 6Oz, so the loading is around 14 Oz/ Sq ft. I'm going to try it on 3S 2200 packs. There'll be more than enough power, we'll see how duration is. Graham 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Looks great ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 9 minutes ago, Mike Chantler said: Looks great ?? Thanks Mike. Looks OK for a few bob's worth of foamboard, doesn't it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 A lot of fun for very little money, Well done Graham, I fly my 110 on 3s 3000 and get 5mins with 30% left in the battery in a strong wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 Did you start with a blown up 3 view Graham, interested in what you you work to with these foam board builds to start them off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 Believe it or not, just an A4 print! I am strictly semi-scale, me. I take a load of actual measurements from the 3 view and then scale them accordingly, and transferred these directly to the foamboard. I use the patented Peter Miller technique; TLAR (that looks about right)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 Here she is... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 Superb Graham. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 Thanks John, all smoke and mirrors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 Superb Graham but it does break my No1 rule, "Never decorate before the maiden". Can only hope it flies as well as it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 1 minute ago, Simon Chaddock said: Superb Graham but it does break my No1 rule, "Never decorate before the maiden". Can only hope it flies as well as it looks. Thanks Simon My view is that if it only flies once, it should look the part! 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 Today was a perfect day for a maiden flight. So the Ki45 finally got it's moment. Delighted to report that the first hand launch saw it ease steadily into the blue sky needing just a few clicks of aileron and 3 clicks of up elevator. It flew really well. Really, there was nothing bad to report. It is stable and predictable and flies like a trainer. I found I could fly it comfortably at just over half throttle and got nearly 4 minutes from the little 2200 3S packs. Landing was a walking pace non event. Dead chuffed! Only trouble is that there was no-one else there, so we'll have to make do with an 'after' photo. Details: Span 60" Powertrain: 3536 920kv motors spinning 9x4 3-blade props. Battery: 2200 3S AUW ready to fly: 3lb 10Oz Graham 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davies 3 Posted April 18, 2022 Author Share Posted April 18, 2022 Perfect afternoon at our strip today. Light winds, blue sky, and the best of company. Huge thanks to Peter Miller for these fantastic flying shots of the Ki45. The eagle-eyed will notice the plain white cowls and ply skids under the nacelles. Without the skids, the 3D printed cowls take a hit on landing and the first set soon fell apart. I really should get around to painting these ones though... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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