More flaps!!!

Last time I finally mounted the flap surfaces, and was trying to figure out linkage. I think I got it, using 1.2 mm wire and some clever bends. Yesterday I also started the ducted fan mounting, which means we are right on track for a test flight! I was too busy to work on the fuselage or gear, but hopefully soon. I will be placing an order for the motors and escs soon, and voila! She should be getting air! I'm trying to find a good deal on a spektrum dx6 or dx7 for the model memory and adjustability. We will see.

After I finish the flaps, next will be the foam shaping and covering of the wings. I think I should wait for the engine nacelles until after her test flight. Also the nose fine-tuning, and painting will be last of course.

I will also be taking the piper out next week for some fun, I will post a pic of that of course. See ya again soon!

FLAPS!!!!

I finally had time today to work on the plane. This week has been difficult, but I have squeezed in a little bit of time at least. The other day I was able to hinge the nose with plywood and screws. It hinges up and back, hopefully able to be motorized later. I tested all the electronics in the wing again, and today I started building the flaps into the wing. The flap system I set up initially was too complicated, so I worked on a solution that would be cost and weight friendly. So I chucked the handmade flaps and fowler style hinges, and went with a simple hinge and aileron stock for the surfaces. It seems to work well, and I am about 35% done so far. I have compromised on alot, enabling me to finish the model first with full basic functionality, then cut back into it later to snazz it up (like adding strobes, retracting and folding landing gear, motorized nose, built in camera system, and so on). Right now I will keep standard landing gear, and hopefully save up enough money for the dx7 transmitter coming out! In the meantime, here are some progress pics!!!

So Will, how big is your plane?

Well here is some perspective. My model measures 98" at the wings. This puts it into a scale of approximately 1/36th scale to original. This is like a model of a truck being only 10" long. Also, here is a pic of the wife next to it!

Finally an (almost) official weight!!!

So according to my calculations and a small postage scale, I have figured an approximate 9.5 -10.5 lbs MTOW so far. I will calculate wing surface area later. Today I finally finished up all the wing wiring, except for the esc. Those will be done later. I ran the 2-12 ga. power cables, and hooked up the wing for a quick POST. All is well!

I also received my battery packs the other day. 2 zippy 40c 5000 mAh 3s2p cells, and I lobbed off the power connectors to solder on the eflite giant connectors. Man those things are a bear. Just a word of advice, don't get any solder on the outside of the terminal, or else they will not go into the housing.

On a side note I made a charging harness to charge 3 of my eflite 1s 120mah batteries at the same time. Now I can stay out at the field all day!


More pics soon, gotta get to bed!

Almost ready for testing!!!!

I have been able to do a little bit more lately, starting with the landing gear. I removed the incorrect landing gear straps and replaced them with the Du-Bro gear blocks. now bind-free operation!

Next, I mounted 8 of the 14 axles to be permanent to the fuselage. the rear 6 axles will turn, eventually:

I also painted the turning MLG axles:

Nose hinge mounting continues:

Now BIG progress: i have finished the vertical stabs!!! Here they are waiting to dry and to be mounted, complete with servo horns:

Next I will finish the nose mounts, the rest of the landing gear assebly, and tackle the foam on the wings to prepare for our next challenge: the GLIDE test!!!

Also, I just ordered 2 5000mAh 40c lipo batteries (3s) for this beast from http://www.hobbyking.com . that should keep 6 motors happy enough! (I hope). all I need to order now are ESC's and motors =).

Not much done today, but still progress...

Today and Yesterday I have been doing small things to the plane. i haven't had much time to play, but so far I have done:

Welded axles for the steerable part of the plane

Started the wing joiner sections with plywood

Reinforced the new vertical stabilizers with CF rod/glued halves together

Glued a hinge mounting plate in the nose

Shaved down more foam, making the upper section of wing almost done!!!

Sanded down some filler and hinged a servo access door for the aileron control servos

started plotting the MLG locations, I am pretty sure I know where everything is going.

So far she is looking like she is ready to breathe at 500Ft.!!!

Next:

need to make aileron links, mount landing gear, finish wing wiring, install ESC,EDF,motors, mount vertical stabs, rudders, more foam, then a test flight!!! lol not much left!!!

Me and the Hobby Zone Ultra Micro BNF Piper J-3 Cub....

Last year for my birthday I received the HZ ultra micro J-3, and I was amazed. Being my first radio control plane I did what any newbie would do.... took it right outside and flew it. I opened the box, charged a couple of the batteries, and bound the radio to the plane. Nice and easy, but like i said I was a newb. I took it outside, figured out which was the wind was blowing, and with my Father in-law watching plowed right into the grass. ..............................Well, that didnt last long........... 15 seconds if I remember correctly.

I bought some replacement parts. a new prop, prop shaft and nut, and cut the crumpled nose apart and fixed it. Excited, I took it right outside and guess what? crashed it again.................... Ffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuu................................... prop shaft broke, AGAIN.

This happened 3 more times and i went mad. i look on forums and found that this is a problem with these planes. the prop shaft just isn't meant for rough abuse. It is INCREDIBLY skinny.

I found a forum where, to my astonishment, people found a FIX for it!!!! yay!!!!! 6 pros/shafts later, i found it!!! Surprisingly simple, By the way. You take the motor/gearbox and prop shaft from the HZ Ultra Micro P-51D Mustang, and just replace mine with it. Nice!!! So hereis how I did it, taking me an hour and about 20$. (each crash cost me 7$ in parts with the old setup)

Carefully cut open the fuselage along the seams on the side and just infron of the vertical stab (rudder)

after seperating the two halves, you will see the gearbox glued in with some weird silicone or something. cutting around the glue, remove the old gearbox and set aside.

Next hog out a TINY bit of the foam to make the bigger, more robust rig fit right in. notice the difference in size of the gear AND motors:

trim the gearbox mounting tabs, and glue the new one in, maintaining the prop thrust counterbalancing angle of about 2-3 degrees. you will see how much of an angle it was with the old motor in place.

glue the top and bottom halves back together (NO CA GLUE!!!!!!) with some elmers wood glue or foam glue and install the new prop. You are all set!!! after the glue dries, take her for a spin. I noticed some MAJOR changes once i did this conversion:

after a crash, (right into a tree mind you) the prop was undamaged! everything worked, and i hand-launched it right after.

It flies much more balanced. The nose was so light it used to fly tail-heavy, and overall made for a difficult plane to manage. Now, all is well!

It steers with a rudder only, so remember you will not have a slower reaction time for evasive maneuvers. there is a mod for adding ailerons also, using the HZ P-51 receiver and servos. Meh. I like this little bird as-is.

It takes off IMMEDIATELY. you can almost hang the plane on the prop, and run time is hardly affected at all, since you hardly need any power to keep it in the air. Hand launching is NO PROB.

I use a DX5e radio, so my trims have to be set up every time i switch planes. no problem with the cub. after a hand launch and getting her in the air, you can trim it until she just glides.

So if you have this little pipsqueak of a plane or plan to buy one, just follow these steps. You should be enjoying the flight once again! below is a link for the parts you will need:

motor and gearbox:

http://secure.hobbyzone.com/search/PKZ3624.html


prop:

http://secure.hobbyzone.com/search/PKZ3601.html