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Speedy "Red Mini Wing" RC Plane
Made by holoduke, uploaded
Description
Printed in nylon and petg. Total weight 600 grams. Slightly more than i hoped for.
I changed some parts of the models. I changed the front fuselage. I can now print a seperate motor mount. This way i can quickly test different angles and motor types.
Also changed the middle fuselage part. I can now use 2 nylon screws to fixate the wings. Works pretty well.
I did not fly the airplane yet. Plan to do that tomorrow. I am going to make sure its correctly trimmed and then set the CG at 28mm. It is now at 32mm with everything already in the front. So will be a challenge. A few grams will help probably.
I have zero experience with these kind of planes. Only with trainers and drones, so hopefully it will not crash straight away.
Any tips for trimming?
You don't need to put a camera on back.
I fasten a camera mount onto the wing using velcro fastener.
Just uploaded "camera mount 0 deg.stl"
This is the video I took this way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrYqn8kItYM
BTW, the way Dave launches his plane is only for experts, especially for pusher.
With a front motor you can still make the easy common way :-)
Edit:
It looks much better using srews to fasten the wing, but I think in case of crash you could save some more parts using rubber bands.
Once we had a false start. Two seconds after launching it chrashed with almost full throttle in the ground.
I had only three parts to reprint: The wing end, one wing part and the fuselage front.
Update after first flight.
The takeoff went perfect.
The plane flew extremely fast. I really did not expect it to fly so fast.
I had set the deflection distance to 7mm. Even then the plane was extremely responsive to even the smallest movements. I did not feel very heavy (620 grams) And seemed to be balanced correctly.
Flew it for 5 minutes. Because it was so sensitive I really had difficulties get it back for a landing. Approached for a landing. Had to do a correction, but instead it barreled and went straight down. The plane literary shattered into hundreds of pieces. Not a single part survived the crash :). Only the receiver and ESC survived. Battery and motor shattered as well. (see image at the top)
Nevertheless this test flight was fun and a success. I am printing already a new version.
Next time i will decrease the deflection even more. I will try to fly with less wind (there was too much i think).
Congratulations
I didn't even expected you would launch it successfully. But without experience of flying planks you even managed to fly it 5 minutes! Unbelievable!
Did you launched it quite alone, nobody throw it for you?
Were was the CoG?
I recommend a folded prop for easier landing.
Maybe Dave can give you advice for fine tuning.
I know why I asked you to make pictures BEFORE flying it ;-)
And yes, can you please put a picture on the front page of the plane how it was in one piece?
Looks nicer :-)
Thanks. It was good fun :)
And yes a friend held the plane just like the guy in that video you gave to me. Holding the wing with one hand. propeller upwards. Motor full power. Feel the plane wanting to go sidewards and gently let it go once it is a bit horizontal.
The CG was exactly on the first plastic edge/rib of the wing. 28-29 mm. I even printed a balancer stand for this plane. I already said that i have modified the front part of the fuselage. So i can mount different motors more easily, but now i also slightly increased the length with 5cm. Otherwise i cannot mount a camera on the back.
I have difficulties finding a 7 inch foldable propeller here in the UK. I ordered one from banggoods and gearbest. Will probably receive it by the end of 2018 :)
Landing will be quite painful without i assume.
anyway. I ll let you know my second flight. Probably after the weekend.
It sounds like a successful flight except for the landing.
Wersy's smallest plane is the most fun to fly. And quickest to rebuild. I have rebuilt mine 3x.
Maximum deflection of about 7mm up and 7 mm down at the back edge of the wing. Distance is easier to measure than angle of deflection.
Set the Center of Gravity at .18 x chord. At this distance the model should sit level, not pointing up as your pic shows.
One of your pictures shows the motor mounted externally on the fuselage. If you are using a 50 gram motor that would throw the CG well forward on my model.
I usually have the motor on the inside in the front. I use a 1000mah 3s battery. It goes behind the battery, the receiver and the speed control behind the battery.
I launch this model by holding the leading edge of the right wing in my left hand. I hold the radio in my right. Point it upward until you can feel it want to pull the airplane straight up. Then tilt the model forward guiding it forward nearly level. You can see this style of launch on wersy's bigger plank. The technique is easier to see because of the larger model.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ8IwZIfqx4
Thanks a lot :)
I have written down my experience today after the first test flight in a post above.
Btw. I changed the front fuselage a bit. Instead of mounting the motor against the fuselage i mount the motor to a seperated printed motor mount. This mount also contains the correction angles. I can slide the mount inside the fuselage. Works perfect (did the same for the fin). It is now easier to support different motors. From 900 to 3000kv. No problem. But yes. I have to slightly increase the length to balance things out (that could be made with a sliding mechanism as well i think).
I am a bad pilot, but i like to cad and learn it the hard way.
Some comments on trim.
Planks are the main style of plane I fly.Don't fly it tail heavy. Too tail heavy and it will wander all over. Too nose heavy and it will be difficult to get the nose high enough to land. I fly mine at 18-19 percent of chord.
Set the elevons to give no more than 7 mm of full throw.
Do not fly too slow, If you want to practice stalls or spins do it over about 100 feet.
Launch at full throttle and then once it starts picking up speed throttle back to about 5/8.
All of Wersy's plane glide decently but don't try to fly too slow too low.
By trim distance. You mean the distance between tip of aeleron and the wing? (See image).
I also show the cg. Must be right dont you think?
If you have no experience with small fast flying wings you better ask somebody to maiden it, in particular as it will be even heavier adding ballast weight.
I don't trust screws for fasten printed wings. I hope the print quallity of nylon is good and elastic enough to prevent breaking.
And please make some nice photographs BEFORE flying it...