My poor V-2 with wings

[Simon Chaddock]

My VTO A4b (V-2 with wings) used to looks like this.

It now looks like this after removing all the damage resulting from a 'nose plant' after loosing sight of it in the sun.

Although the servos, ESC, Rx, UBEC and batttery were all in the crush zone everything still worked. It is a tribute to the energy absorbing crushability of the Depron structure that the remaining part of the airframe is completely undamaged.

I do still have the plans I used 8 years ago to build it. The test is can I still do it and do I have enough rare 2mm Depron?

The original build used lots of Depron "ring" formers but they are very wastfull of Depron so I will use 3D printed formers instead. Probably each a gram or two heavier but needs must.

A most unlikely build technique. It needs a lot of 'eye ball' to ensure it starts off true and square.

 

Just 4 planks to start with. This in the nose as far as the position where the servos are mounted. The rest will be built separately.

Note how the next former is used to 'hold in' the planks whilst the glue sets on the previous one.

Still a long way to go.

[Eric Robson]

It faired a lot better than the original ones did when hitting the ground 

[Simon Chaddock]

Planking continues.

It never was a quick process.

The bit that always impresses is how extremely rigid it all becomes when the last plank goes in.😉

[GrumpyGnome]

Planking in depron is certainly your most ..... indulged...... hobby! Great work, as ever Simon.

[Simon Chaddock]

Depron planking? I know of no ther method that give the same shape and rigidity for the weight.

The new nose section planking complete.

The nose added to the lower fuselage and the servos glued in place.

Next to build the nose top section.

[Simon Chaddock]

The upper nose section is now built along with a LW-PLA printed nose cone so now sructurally complete.

Not glued just resting in place. Now to start reinserting the 'gyro' rx, ESC, UBEC & battery witout having to 'open up' too much of the skin. 😉  

[Tosh McCaber]

As a matter of interest Simon- what glue were you using for your Depron planking?

[Simon Chaddock]

Tosh

I am using Technicqll (that is how it is spelt!) polyvinyl ahesive.

Simiar to UHU POR but in 12 hours it dries rock hard so the resulting Depron joints can be easily sanded smooth. POR remains 'rubbery' for a long time (weeks) so sanding to achieve a smooth joint is almost impossible.  

[Simon Chaddock]

The Lemon stab rx, the ESC and BEC installed.

In its origianl form large parts of the skin had to be cut away to give access to build mountings to install these components and then the skin made good.

The same was done to build in a battery box right in the nose, skin again replaced but leaving a small battery hatch.

My current thinking is avoid a battery hatch and to have a complete removable nose cone to install the battery.

I am concious that the printed formers are heavier than the original Depron ones and it is after all a VTO.

Still thinking about the easiest and lightest way to do it.  

[Simon Chaddock]

To get the CofG anyhting like right requires the battery (850mAh 5s) has to go as far into the nose as possible.

 

The removable nose cone makes installing the battery much easier.😉

The nose cone is self locating but will need a couple of small magnets to hold in down.

Nearly there!

 

[Simon Chaddock]

Just a quick update.

I had marked the orignal CofG point.

However a check with the new nose and battery position revealed the CofG was well forward of this point by nearly 25 mm.

The only practical solution would be to move the battery back so it is now behind the removable nose rather than in it.

The new CofG is just 4 mm ahead of the original mark. Happy with that as slightly ahead is better than behind!

Testing requires a really calm day but when that arrives is anybodies guess. 

Edited October 5, 2023 by Simon Chaddock