Simon Chaddock Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I bought at half price (and very cheap) a flying wing thingy with 2 channel variable thrust steering for my grandson for Christmas and half joking said that when it was broken I could utilise the bits. The problem was it showed remarkably little tendency towards any sort of stable flight despite quite reasonable thrust from the twin props and its 630 mAh 2 cell LiPo! Thus it was not long before I was informed it was indeed broken and I could have it if I wanted.First get it all working again (damaged LiPo connections) and set about a better airframe. The props are pushers so I was stuck with them and a quick "gestimate" suggested 28" span should easily be able to lift the RC bits. So a simple 3mm Depron plate wing (actually under-cambered at the root, flat at the tip) with a balsa LE & substantial balsa spar. The fuselage is a conventional box structure with plate tail feathers, all in Depron. The fuselage dimensions were determined by the battery and the RC circuit board. The battery compartment was specifically made long to adjust the CofG. Note also the switch and charging socket accessible from the side. The motors are glued directly onto balsa mounts & no wheels are required as the props will be mounted high enough to clear the ground.Well at least it looks like it might fly - we shall see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Richards Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Looks interesting. Can you show us a picture of the whole thing put together please. I am interested to here how it flies I assume you intended to use it indoors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I like that Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Anscombe Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 looks sweet looking forward to seeing the maidenAndy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 This is more of less what it looks like assembled. I will complete the fuselage top decking after a trial glide to ensure the battery is correctly positioned.It weighs just about 4 ozs (100gms) which gives a wing loading of some 3 ozs per square foot.I am hoping to fly it outdoors, on a nice calm day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_G Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Surely your grandson gets the first go??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Grandson only to gets it after I have thoroughly tested it! Here it is complete. In green camouflage it would look a bit like some sort of WWII glider - which sets me thinking. This shots shows the under-camber at the root.It certainly glides quite well so power next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Ireland Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Like my grey-haired old granny used to tell me, "if it looks right then it probably is". Are you going to use the original differential power set-up? If so I'd say that the motors were a bit close together considering the wingspan. Once you get it turning it may take a bit to get it going the other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 T'was what I was thinking Doug. Just a though; buy another one and cannablise it, and have somithing four motored, with a back up system... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 My thinking on the motor position was simply that if it was to be flown by an 8 year old I did not want the "steering" to be too powerful. On full "turn" one motor actually speeded up a bit and the other reduced to half power so I reckoned 'close in' would be safer and it also kept the props clear of the ground.But disaster, we shall never know!After only a very brief flight one of the LiPo cells gave out due to a defective charging circuit and as everthing is built into the RX it is not fixable! The cell ended up over discharged and is now dead.Oh well! It was all made from scrap Depron so nothing really lost. The motors are good so maybe something can be salvaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.