Don's Blue Plate Special--Combat Lunch

[GLIDERGIDER]

I just had to start a new thread in honor of Don's brain child. The blue foam flying wing. Don, Ken and I have one, and I hope that more of you opt for it. Don shot some video and I added some music, and other assorted effects.

By the end of our lunch break, my poor BluePlate was needing some repairs so today I built a new one. Here are some pics.
Dave

[GLIDERGIDER]

Here is the video link.
http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/attachments/1/3/0/2/0/746510.attach?Dzk6MFHlZSOfLKEyWGVjGUIhL7tgL74gLzS5 Yaqgqwf8AQL6ZGN2qzyxMJ3yZxM9YJ6mYKqgqt==

Dave

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[GLIDERGIDER]

Jim,
1. Wingspan is about 25 inches.
2. The motor is a 300 brushed can. Direct drive 5x4 or 5x5 prop.
3. A Lipo battery of 700-1200 mAh is best.
4. Yes, you will need either v-tail or elevon mixing in your radio.
5. I'm might try the "well" method of the motor mount next time.
6. Tires for combat?, no-way Jose.
7. Foam can be purchase at Lowes. 50 feet of folded blue foam. The two wings, in the pictures above, is one fold of the purchased foam. The cost of the foam is $33. That amount will build about 50 flying wings.

If anybody wants some foam, I'd like to share the cost and split the foam.
Dave
----------sharing edit----
MB6, I've got you down for foam sharing, 5-6 sheets
Rocket-J, I've got you down for foam sharing 2 sheets
Fly-H2O, I've got you down for foam sharing.
UAGrad, I'vz got you down for sharing.
----------sharing edit----

Neat! Thanks Dave for starting a new thread on this and sharing Don's brainchild!

What is the wingspan and length? Gotta check my trunk for initial feasibility.

What motor and prop and battery are you using? I have several motors left over from my Commander IIs that might be able to be reused. Probably the 6- and 7-cell 900 mAh NiMh packs would be too heavy, but who knows? That rubber bands battery mount is really clever!

I assume since this has elevons that you either need mixing on the Tx or on the plane.

I assume the motor is mounted as far forward as it it for CG reasons. Looks to me like the prop could be put in a "well" instead of cutting out all that wing area. It's Something to think about anyway.

What? No Tundra Tires! Isn't that un-Renegade-like! Just kidding.
Thanks!
Jim

[FlyH2O]

Don, Dave, and Ken
That looks like a blast! I haven't ordered my electronics yet, but will this week. To quote Will Smith in Men in Black "I've got to get me one of these!!" :D

Larry O

[GLIDERGIDER]

Here she is, all ready to rumble. Wing tips on, push rods installed, and all servos and hardward taped snuggly to the foam.

Can't hardly wait till next week.
Dave

[Moonbeam Six]

Dave,

I'd like to go in for about five or six sheets of blue FFF.

Frank

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[GLIDERGIDER]

Jim,
Dihidral is like training wheel on a bicycle. When I was 5, I loved my bike and loved my training wheels ever more, but when I was 6, Daddy took off the training wheels and life got even BETTER. So you've been in this situation before. You are going to love ailerons.
DAve
Dave:
<big snip>
I don't see dehidral in the photos. Having never flown anything with ailerons, much less a wing, I might need some.
Thanks again!
Jim

[GLIDERGIDER]

Rocket,
Today, after sloping, we went to Lowes and I bought 25 sheets of foam board. So you will have some material to work with very soon. Rather then making a photo, I can trace my wing on to the foam. With a little explanation, I think you will find it perfect. That will be a little simpler, I think. That's what I did for Larry O and he was very happy.
Dave

Looks great!
Love that grid-board you took your photo on. If you get a chance, could you take another photo from directly overhead. Then no measurements would be needed, just count the squares!
Jim

[Miderror]

"The motor is a 300 brushed can. Direct drive 5x4 or 5x5 prop"
Make that a 5x3.

That's for all the press on the Blue Plate.

Hope more join in.

There are may other designs like this in the foam forums.
We just wanted something fast to gear up and fun to tear up.

Don

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[Ultralight]

If i can ever get the honey-do list down to a manageable level i`m gonna build one of those. I already have a bundle of the pink stuff from Home Depot. I have one question about the lipos. I assume you guys are using brushed escs. Do you just guess how far the lipo has discharged? I just don`t want to mess up the battery by discharging it too much. Are there lipo safe brushed escs?

Jason

[Miderror]

If i can ever get the honey-do list down to a manageable level i`m gonna build one of those. I already have a bundle of the pink stuff from Home Depot. I have one question about the lipos. I assume you guys are using brushed escs. Do you just guess how far the lipo has discharged? I just don`t want to mess up the battery by discharging it too much. Are there lipo safe brushed escs?

Jason

Jason,
We are just running gear that was laying around from slow sticks so most are old ESC's with fixed 5v cutoffs so we just look and listen for the power to fall off and quit at that point.

If your running the same just limit your flight to 5min and check the amount of recharge. That will give you a good ma/min and you can adjust your flight time for your battery.

If you don't have any left over gear I'd go for one of the RChotdeals set ups.
Close to the same money as brushed 300 and good ESC.

[GLIDERGIDER]

the 300 can motor costs $12 which includes 2 props.

[Ultralight]

I have all the equipment for a brushed setup. All i need is a lipo battery. Anyone know of any good deals?

Jason

BTW Dave, what are you using for push rods?

[dleviner]

visit rchotdeals.com for LiPos as well...

[GLIDERGIDER]

I have all the equipment for a brushed setup. All i need is a lipo battery. Anyone know of any good deals?

Jason

BTW Dave, what are you using for push rods?

the pushrod is balsa w/ wire ends. ca the wire to the balsa. balsa is 1/8 x 1/8 inch. Don gets the credit for teaching me this method. groove the wire seat in balsa before the ca.

i have a 1100 2cell lipo. it works good. rchotdeal has it.

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[UAGrad2001]

So where exactly is the CG supposed to be on one of these planes?

Don, Ken, Dave???

I know this isn't an exact science. But I am still fairly new at this so a ballpark approximation would really help. Thanks.
Anyone know the final weight of one of these bad boys?

[GLIDERGIDER]

I thought I marked it on the foam yesterday. If not, I meant to. Put the CG about 6 inches from the nose.

Don, where do you put your CG?


So where exactly is the CG supposed to be on one of these planes?

Don, Ken, Dave???

I know this isn't an exact science. But I am still fairly new at this so a ballpark approximation would really help. Thanks.
Anyone know the final weight of one of these bad boys?

[Miderror]

30% to start and fly to taste.

I think it is about 20" from tip to tail so 6" sounds safe.

Don

[Miderror]

I ran into http://speedwing.net/ the home of the Mini Speedwing. The have a range of sizes of flying wings, actually all surprisingly small, They have a similar wing planform to the DBP with wing tip fences, but they look like a *lot* more work to build than Don's Blue Plate. I'm not sure how the weights would compare. They may even be heavier due to the wing tape covering.

On the home page I found the following claim for the Mini SpeedWing EX©:

This totally new designed 24” wing is a fast, super agile and super aerobatic addition to the SpeedWing Family. Capable of flying from NEAR WALKING SPEEDS to near 30 MPH*, this newest SpeedWing can even do FULL VERTICAL* when flown in lower elevations -- All on a single 350 ma 2 cell LiPoly battery pack!

This claimed wide speed range got me wondering about the speed range of the Blue Plate and its suitability for wind. Have you guys flown in stiff winds yet? If so, how does it do?

Thanks Dave for doing up and sharing that great sloping video from Sunday. You probably have not had much time to work on wings since, but I know time and weather will come together again. I'd love to see these fly and to see the innovative design up close.

Thanks,
Jim

Speedwing EX is great. Lighter and brushless set up with 340ma range batt and $50. I have some of their products and they are good.

For the cheap and if you want EPP and not blue foam go here:
http://slofly.com/cart/index.php?cPath=0_29_168

Don

[Ultralight]

the 300 can motor costs $12 which includes 2 props.

Are you referring to the GWS EDP 300 power system? I went down to Rick's and the only brushed motor i saw that came with two props and six spinners was the EDP 100. He said he sold his last EDP 300 to someone the other day. I figured it was one of you guys. I know any 300 can motor will do but i was just wondering which one you were referring to.

Jason

[GLIDERGIDER]

hey Don
when you look at the package, both the 100 & 300 appear identical in size. I think I have the 300. which model is best for the blue plate special?
Dave

Are you referring to the GWS EDP 300 power system? I went down to Rick's and the only brushed motor i saw that came with two props and six spinners was the EDP 100. He said he sold his last EDP 300 to someone the other day. I figured it was one of you guys. I know any 300 can motor will do but i was just wondering which one you were referring to.

Jason

[GLIDERGIDER]

Ok, Don has email but no web access. I got this response.
-------
EDP 100 is a low power unit with a plastic end bell. The 300 has a steel end bell which is what you have(I checked when we where doing wattage test).

To be honest I would not buy a brushed motor. I'm just using because I have them laying around. For the $29 the RC Hotdeal is the way I would go if starting from scrach.
If they have a 5-10amp ESC already then that's have the sys so I might buy a brushed motor.

You see what I'm getting at? Just don't want others buying a set up like we are running if they have no gear. Better to go brushless, better value.
Don Miller
-------
So there you have it. go brushless.
Dave
hey Don
when you look at the package, both the 100 & 300 appear identical in size. I think I have the 300. which model is best for the blue plate special?
Dave

[Miderror]

Looks like this might be good from RCHotD.
Tower pro Outrunner Model 2408-21
Weight: 47g
KV: 1750

Might have to try one myself.

Don

[Miderror]

For all you combaters look at this thread.
I'm tempted.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486586

[UAGrad2001]

Question: rchotdeals also has a 2409-18 that they claim "Using larger ferromagnetic make it more powerful than 2408 series motors". But the KV rating is only 1000. Any comments?

I was going to order one or the other and get the firewall mount. But you could glue some square balsa about 3/8 x 3/8 sticking out the back of the plane and then use that to mount the motor just like you do on the front of a slowstick. That would probably have less drag? Unless you built some sort of airfoil to go in front of the firewall mount motor. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Miderror]

Question: rchotdeals also has a 2409-18 that they claim "Using larger ferromagnetic make it more powerful than 2408 series motors". But the KV rating is only 1000. Any comments?

I was going to order one or the other and get the firewall mount. But you could glue some square balsa about 3/8 x 3/8 sticking out the back of the plane and then use that to mount the motor just like you do on the front of a slowstick. That would probably have less drag? Unless you built some sort of airfoil to go in front of the firewall mount motor. Any thoughts? Thanks.

With a Kv of 1000 that might not do much with the size props we can use on the little foam wings. Would be a better motor for a SS.
I will plug the 2409 and 08 into moto cal and do some comp.

Don

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[Miderror]

Given that I'm going to put my motor towards the center of the wing and cut out just a curved slot in the middle of the wing for the prop to swing in rather than cutting out the wing all the way back to the trailing edge....

Is there a reason Not to make the elevons run all the way from the wing-tips to the very center of the plane so you get real strong control authority with power-on?

Thanks for sharing so much insight!
Jim

Prop gets real noisey with all the foam close to the tips.
But try your idea. It is just extra foam that can be cut away.
Best config is tracker with the motor in front and prop blast over the wing and elevons. Bad side is motors get beat hanging up front.

No real rules here, just try stuff. It is cheap foam and quick to gear up so think out of the box.

[Jim_Marconnet]

Here are several photos I took at Dave's on Friday AM. Thanks so much Dave for tracing and marking and even demoing your plane! You make it all look so easy! :)

I took a photo of the plywood elevon horn, but it turned out fuzzy. I bought some plastic ones that fasten on with 2 thru-screws into a backer plate.

His wing tips are black Depron, just taped on top and bottom. Future wing tips will be the bluecor, since that's what is available.

The carbon rod was what he had on hand. I should have asked him why it's curved. Perhaps that's to give a little twist to the wing for washout??

I'm thinking of using a Wal*Mart arrow shaft and perhaps somehow tieing the motor to it. Might be a Bad Idea, but as Don says, "Just try it!".

Dave described the pushrods earlier. 2 1/8' balsa sticks with wires epoxyied to the ends in grooves cut into the balsa. Acts as a "fuse" to protect the servo and the elevons. Bring tape to flying field to tape them back together after a crash. What a great concept!

[GLIDERGIDER]

Jim
I would't use an arrow shaft. too heavy.
dave

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[GLIDERGIDER]

jim
the curved CF is to get a longer length on the wing, & to get it to span, tip to cg to tip. i doubt if there is an advantage gained.
dave
still in ky.

[GLIDERGIDER]

don
can jim disassemble his 300C SS motor from the gearbox, remove the pinion gear, & add a prop & button? is't that the same gear that we fly?
dave

[Miderror]

don
can jim disassemble his 300C SS motor from the gearbox, remove the pinion gear, & add a prop & button? is't that the same gear that we fly?
dave

I already did that, have one for him to get started.

Can stop at NG in the morning before church.

Don

[GLIDERGIDER]

To all you would-be DBPS pilots, lookie-loos and bored with work Renegades, there is going to be a 3 plane fly-in tomorrow at 11:30. At the airport's Wal-Triana Rd south. Don, Ken and yours truly will do battle.
Here's the spot.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=huntsville,+al&ll=34.645036,-86.752017&spn=0.006179,0.013561

Dave

[UAGrad2001]

Dave,
Do you have tape on both sides of the plane for joining the elevons to the wing? Why did you use regular tape instead of the Extreme stuff? Thanks.

[GLIDERGIDER]

I use packing tape on both sides of the elevon. I use packing tape because it's cheaper and does the job just great. Its probably lighter too. I do love the extreme 3M tape though. Its like having fiberglass on the roll.

The wing TE is shaved/tapered so both tape applications meet at the hinge line.

BTW, take a look at Don's elevons. He uses less tape and a different approach.

Who's coming tomorrow?
Dave

Dave,
Do you have tape on both sides of the plane for joining the elevons to the wing? Why did you use regular tape instead of the Extreme stuff? Thanks.

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[GLIDERGIDER]

Rocket,
I trust that you found the maps "zoom" keys. If not, touch the minus zoom key twice to see a larger image. Then for bonus points, find the "hybrid" key for an aerial photo.

Sounds great. I see the map, but am struggling to understand the spot.

This is a new flying site to me and I assume to some others here.

I see Wall Triana, Jetplex Blvd SW, Electronics Blvd S., and Finley Dr. SW. on the Google Local map, but nothing else.

I can and will be looking in the sky for planes, but it's a big sky!

Thanks!
Jim

[Jim_Marconnet]

Thanks to running into Dave, I found the combat site!

What an exciting and informative lunch. Fly them, crash them, find the pieces, at least most of them, stick-em back together with fibre tape, and fly again and again. Glad I understood the modus operandee before I put a lot of time and effort into building mine. Simple works best.

Glad to see Todd and Frank interested in building one of these too.

Thanks, Todd for showing me a thing or two with my Atmopod. You flew farther in one flight than all of my flights combined.

My only regret today was that I had so much fun watching, and I was so late getting back to work that I know I'd better not go there again at lunch time.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Hey Jim,
Glad you came out. Its a blast to fly combat, and I'm sure you will learn to master your blue plate special in record time. Todd is going to join the team soon. Tonight he pickup his blue foam and he's formulating all the hardware. He might have the hottest bird out there next time we fly. Look out Don and Jim, a brushless hotrod is in the works.

Franks visit was also enjoyed by all of us, in particular me, as I lost the metal portion of my push rod. Frank suggested a paper clip, and he even had one. It worked great too.

Don and Ken again had my number today, but I was able to take Don down on one spectactular crash. It was a head on crash and my battery ejected, Don's motor completely broke loose from this plane, and I thought I won the battle. Little did I know that I also had a busted wing, so I had to go to the tape repair station. Don did the same with his motor mount. I couldn't believe it, Don had his plane flying before me, and I doubt that 5 minutes elapsed between crash and the next flight.

[GLIDERGIDER]

LarryO,
Where have you been? You missed a terrific session today. I know that you are interested. Todd has just joined the ranks, and I know you want to be there too. Lets get you outfitted soon.
Dave

Don, Dave, and Ken
That looks like a blast! I haven't ordered my electronics yet, but will this week. To quote Will Smith in Men in Black "I've got to get me one of these!!" :D
Larry O

[atjurhs]

Oh the carnage, the gore, the butchery, the bloodshed, oh the inhumanity of it all!!!

I can bare it no longer :rolleyes: Something hast to be done, something MUST be done to save Dave's plane (eventhough it's probably the ugliest R/C plane I've ever seen :p ) from these savages bent on total destruction - civilization as we know it may well teeter in the balance.

Don't fear any longer my friend, I shall join the fray and help you beat back these butchers, these villians. We shall right the wrong, and "win one for the Gipper" (ok, so must of you are too young for that line).

Tonight I have assembled the ugliest thing I've ever assembled, but that's not what matters. It's Dave's salvation from theses savages that counts :rolleyes:

(public viewing of the powertrain is being witheld till the day of atonement)

Someone please summon Wagner to play "Ride of the Valkyrie"

I love the smell of napom in the morning...

(Just remember boy and girls, SPEED KILLS, and don't you try this at home, proper adult supervision required :D )

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[Moonbeam Six]

... Today I saw the gleam in the eye of Frank G. as he carried off his stack of Blue. So who knows what might happen!

Jim,

One never knows what might emerge in the skies. For sure, I want to make one of the STC designs for another slow-flyer. The DBPS wings are neat. I'll probably build one, but "when" is a different issue. Having the FFF on hand when an idea, mood, or urge strikes should help. (Thanks, Dave.)

Your "motherplate" idea sounds interesting. Changing "a wing" should be a field fix, and better than building another plane, when damage excedes the capability of tape. Jump on it quickly, lead the pack, and show the rest of us how it is done. That could be just the ticket to getting back in the air quickly after an encounter with the Red Baron.

Meanwhile, I am trying to discipline myself to finishing the projects already underway before starting a new one.

Frank

[Miderror]

So far everyone puts the battery at the nose, for obvious reasons, given where you are putting the motor for prop protection. I really want to put the battery at the desired CG so I can put on different capacity/weight packs with impunity. That means, of course that the motor will have to go in the front.

That is not a bad thing Jim, The motor is cheaper that the battery in most cases so daggling it up front makes sence. Just keep this in mind:
1.Motor in the back usually lets the prop get knocked of and all is well. You loose this in tracker(front mounded motor) set up.
2.Battery in the front with rubberbands gets ejected alot which removes it's entergy from the airframe. Place the battery behind the motor and it just has something nice and hard to hit on the way off.

None of this really matters if you are never combating OR you NEVER are going to hit anything as in cars,trees,rocks,buildings,dirt or most anything you can find on the planet. A newly released cloud of Helium might be OK for a few moments :D :D

Really though I've wanted to do a tracker set up from the begining so go for it RJ.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Todd,
That ugly baby looks beautiful. I like the mods you are making. There is going to be a lot of hootin and hollering on the day you show up to join the fur ball. That spar behind the motor is a nice addition. It should stop the excessive wing bending I've experienced. I'm looking forward to seeing that power train. What is your ECD for first flight?
DAve

Tonight I have assembled the ugliest thing I've ever assembled, but that's not what matters. It's Dave's salvation from theses savages that counts :rolleyes:
(public viewing of the powertrain is being witheld till the day of atonement) :D )

[atjurhs]

What is your ECD for first flight?
DAve

Dave, your redemption draweth nigh....

Tomorrow if the winds would let us, but who can fly in 30mph - the JW and Moth can :D

My BPS will have to wait till Friday I suppose

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Jim_Marconnet]

Tonight got the wing and the wing tips cut out from Blue. Cut the elevons from SturdyBoard - stiff but heavy compared to Blue.

Scotch taped an arrowshaft on the bottom at the desired CG - not for a stiffner - but to balance on for CG tests. Moved equipment around and realized how tough it is to get that 6 inch from the nose CG with heavy elevons. Battery pack will have to go ahead of the CG, but that's not the end of the world since it still can be moved fore/aft to adjust CG, accommodating different size/weight packs.

Got the Mother Plate cut out. 0.3 oz. A little heavier than I had hoped.

Think I'll put a small diameter short carbon rod at the CG for some overall wing stiftening and as a finger touch point to check CG.

For initial bashing, those old Nicad and NiMh packs I got from a guy out west may come in handy.

No known unknowns or missing hardware for me just now. Except of course how long and how many crashes till I can fly it.

[dee-grose]

Looking good, Jim. Might want to check that prop though ;)

[atjurhs]

Hey Jim,

Don't let them give you a hard time about that prop direction. I think it's great that someone is finally building a forward swept version of the BPS :D

[dee-grose]

Todd...good one. LOL!

[atjurhs]

Don't mean nothing buy it, just having a little fun :p

Here's the final pics of mine. Weighting in at 11.4oz she won't make the Bantam weight class of Don's, but she should fly in tomorrow's 30mph winds :eek: Anybody game?

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[GLIDERGIDER]

Jim and Todd,
Yours planes are looking fantastic.

Todd, your bruiser is going to be the JW of the skys. If you hit something, its going to be toast. As Don pointed out in another post, you may have triggered a weapons escalation event. Yet there is a down side to being heavy and fast too:) Oh yeah, I really like the spar location you choose. Thats a big improvement.

Jim, your tractor beam will be very lethal too. Your chainsaw mounted in front will reek carnage on your opponents. Our group will need to start painting stripes on our airplane to mask the future propeller marks.

I spoke to Larry O, and he has a bird ready to fly. Work is getting in the way of his fun though.

Winds today are going to be insane, but Friday will be perfect for more action. Who can fly? Either Lunch or after work. Larry O indicated that afterwork tomorrow maybe better for him.

[Jim_Marconnet]

...

[GLIDERGIDER]

Rocket-Jim,
You are endanger to loose the Rocket part of your RCGroups handle. I'm afraid that the guys will start calling you "sissy thumbs". Come to the dark side soon.
Dave

PS, no hurry really. See you on Monday? You have no idea how dark it will be :)

Dave: You guys seem so sure that I'll come over to the Dark Side. Never! Never! Never! Resistance is Futile! Perhaps as the weak-willed M&Ms said, "We'll start Monday!"

[dleviner]

OK, you guys are giving me the itch. My wife is going to kill me if I mention one more plane...

Let me get this straight. I need:

1. blue-core foam (don't have)
2. spare speed300 motor and 5x3 prop (got it - check)
3. spare 10A ESC (got it - check)
4. lightweight 4 ch Rx (don't have a spare - what's everyone using that's inexpensive?)
5. 800 - 1100 2cell LiPo (don't have - what capacity are you guys using to keep weight down but to get some decent flight times)
6. 6 gram or 9 gram servos (which size?)

kool! Let's see if I can fit this one in between coaching baseball, building cherry cabinets for my study/office, and the honey-do list.

Oh, by the way Todd, do you have a drawing of you wing cutout? I like your design. And Jim, I like that plate mount idea.


:)

[GLIDERGIDER]

dleviner
I've got foam for you. PM if you want some. You seem to have a good grasp of the requirements. Any small RX, the batteries below are good, but the 2000 is reaching the limit. Flight times are 6-12 minutes per battery, your mileage will vary. model weights, AUW, are around 7 oz. Todd's model, at 11 oz will need to fly faster, but he's got a hotter motor, so that might be ok too.
Dave
OK, I need:

1. blue-core foam (don't have)
2. spare speed300 motor and 5x3 prop (got it - check)
3. spare 10A ESC (got it - check)
4. lightweight 4 ch Rx (don't have a spare - what's everyone using that's inexpensive?)
5. 800 - 1100 2cell LiPo (don't have - what capacity are you guys using to keep weight down but to get some decent flight times)
6. 6 gram or 9 gram servos (which size?)

[dleviner]

Just curious, are you guys going to be at the NDD field flying tomorrow say lunchtime?

[GLIDERGIDER]

go to post #42 for a map link to the bps flying site. 11:30 is showup time.
tomorrow is tbd. i need to check with don & ken.

Just curious, are you guys going to be at the NDD field flying tomorrow say lunchtime?

[GLIDERGIDER]

OK, tomorrow at 11:30, it's a go. Todd and myself are flying for sure. I'm hoping for more participants. It will be Todd's maiden flight with his monster. That should be fun. dleviner, come and check it out. Rocket, you too, bring your chain saw. If you fly, I promise, <snicker>, that I will not crush you, Not until Monday that is. (there I go again, writing checks I might not be able to cash. <I know Andy's reading this>). For a map, check out post # 42.
Dave

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Ultralight]

I put together "Pinky" last night. Even had a successful maiden this morning. It still needs some tweaking. This is the first time i have ever flown a wing. Me and Pinky will be there but i don`t know if i will combat.


Jason

BTW what is the LVC on a 2 cell li-po?

[Miderror]

Kool Jason,

LVC with 2s should be 5.8-6v.
Is your ESC fixed,manuel set or auto detect?

Those are some BIG connectors on the battery/ESC.


Pink would make it a target drone.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Excellent model. I'm looking forward to seeing it fly. \

Don, can you fly today?

I put together "Pinky" last night. Even had a successful maiden this morning.
BTW what is the LVC on a 2 cell li-po?

[Ultralight]

Kool Jason,

LVC with 2s should be 5.8-6v.
Is your ESC fixed,manuel set or auto detect?

Those are some BIG connectors on the battery/ESC.


Pink would make it a target drone.

The ESC is fixed. It is a ICS-480. Not sure of the cutoff i think its 4.8v. I just converted everything i had to deans connectors. I know its overkill but what the hey. I expect to be a target for awhile. :)

Jason

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Jim_Marconnet]

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[dleviner]

I can't make it tomorrow. It's a little far since I have meetings lined up mostly before and after lunch.

Just curious. Have you guys made that site the dedicated DPBS flying site or will there be some BPS flying done at NDD as well?

Get some video for me -- pleeeease...................
or at least pictures

[dleviner]

Oh, by the way, Jason. Way to go with your first wing build.

Kudos man!

[Ultralight]

We had a great time at lunch today. If i could just keep a prop on my motor. Thanks to Dave and Todd for the advice and spare prop. Todd`s wing looks great and flies well too. Everyone should build one of these and come out and battle.


Jason

[ghee-grose]

Great picture of the combat! :D :D

[atjurhs]

Hey!!!!!!!!

Couldn't you have at least graphically filled in my bald spot.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Jason,
Thanks for the pictures. Glad you came out, and I'm looking forward to a really big gathering of pilots. There's a guy here at my work that know's Don from way back (small world, or, Don is known everywhere). He was telling me that they used to fly combat with 10 planes. He said it gets really crazy with that many flying. I've done that many planes on the slope and it is fun.
Dave

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[GLIDERGIDER]

Jim,
I'm confused, why are you tempted to use different foam, and I'm wondering what piece you are planning to replace? I noticed that you have a heavier elevons, is that what you are changing? I've crashed mine numerous times, I've collided full speed head on with Don and Ken, I've had my plane literally cut into two individual pieces. The one single item that's never been damaged is the elevons. Call me lucky.

I thought your plane looked great and it's nearly ready for flight. The servo arms were a little short, but they would suffice. Hook up the elevons, add full power, a little back stick trim, and away she'll go.

As I tell my wingman, less is more. Less analysis, and more stick time is always a good thing. You've made some OK choices, it should fly. It WILL fly.
Dave


<BIG SNIP>
I did get some other skinned foam board from Rick that is more expensive than the Bluecore, but I think much stiffer. And it's white, saving a lot of time and effort trying to get off the Bluecore printing. Will either get my current near-wing together and flying soon, or perhaps may start all over again in a different direction.

[Jim_Marconnet]

Jim,
....

As I tell my wingman, less is more. Less analysis, and more stick time is always a good thing. You've made some OK choices, it should fly. It WILL fly.
Dave
Relax, I just got it together and photoed. 11.1 oz AUW. I guess those 0.055 dia pushrods, the nylon fittings, the socket head cap screws, etc. weigh a ton! Had to move the battery way forward to balance, but had the space to do so already reserved.

Yes, I was looking for something stronger than Bluecor, but lighter than the SturdyBoard for the elevons. What I found seems to fit that bill, and costs $2.00 for a 19" x 25" x 5MM sheet. I spent that much on chemicals trying to get the ink off the Bluecor without success.

Now ready to fly when the weather and the Honey Do list cooperates.
Thanks for all the help and encouragement, all you great flyers! Wish me luck my first time out with ailerons and a little buzzsaw at the nose!

[Moonbeam Six]

Jim,

Good looking machine! Go eat their lunch!

MB6

[GLIDERGIDER]

Rocket,
Is so hard to relax. I'll try harder.

I do wish you luck. Congratulations on its completion and a job well done. Now get that maiden flight out of the way, and lets go have lunch <just kidding>.

Relax,
....
Now ready to fly when the weather and the Honey Do list cooperates.
Thanks for all the help and encouragement, all you great flyers! Wish me luck my first time out with ailerons and a little buzzsaw at the nose!

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Miderror]

In real combat activity the prop IS on the front and the ribbon is on the back.
http://www.rccombat.com/index.asp

[GLIDERGIDER]

Jim,
I'm die'n for you to come out and play.

Ya know, I take my ques from the cowardly lion, <puhhhdd um uuupp... puhhdd um upppp>. I'm ready for ya.

Ken put a few chew marks in my blue plate last week and I'm pretty sure it was with his propeller. He even audeographed it for me. "ken was here". I thought that was a nice touch. I'm going to save the part of the foam.

Hey if you can put up with me, then you can let a few guys whisper. I do, my ears are constantly burning.

But first you have to get that maiden flight out of the way. Do you get the Elvis Leg going when you fly a brand new plane? That's always a fun feeling.

Winds are up for a while. So, put the DPBS on the shelf for a few days and forget about it.
Dave

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Moonbeam Six]

Jim,

So, how much time did you actually get on the DBPS today?

MB6

[Jim_Marconnet]

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[Ken Fidler]

Yesterday I got an unexpected heads-up that one, perhaps several DBPS flyers were concerned about the increased risk of my motor-up-front design damaging their valuable electronics, especially the LiPo - and that they would not risk flying combat against me. Just say No to Rocket/BuzzSaw Jim!


So in case you were feeling tense about it, relax!

Jim,
There are only three guys who currently fly DBPS-Don, Dave, and myself. So of the three, which several of us are concerned. :confused: Just last week, I combated Don with my DBPS against his Slinger; so I will combat anyone against anything (also proved that at the quarry with my zagi against Dave's JW). Speaking of Don and Dave, they are always ready and willing to fly in a combat change.

To all, if you fly a DBPS with me in the air it is combat time!! :)

Ken

[Tram]

Oooh, you guys are flying combat now eh? :)

Man, I really can't wait to get off reserves, then I get have a... life??

[Miderror]

Jim,
There are only three guys who currently fly DBPS-Don, Dave, and myself. So of the three, which several of us are concerned. :confused: Just last week, I combated Don with my DBPS against his Slinger; so I will combat anyone against anything (also proved that at the quarry with my zagi against Dave's JW). Speaking of Don and Dave, they are always ready and willing to fly in a combat change.

To all, if you fly a DBPS with me in the air it is combat time!! :)

Ken

There have been 5 Foam Wings, we haven't been alone for a while now.
Am I allowed to combat YOUR Slinger with my Slinger now? Is it now not off limits????? "anyone against anything " that is the quote I was looking for.

Game on

[Ken Fidler]

There have been 5 Foam Wings, we haven't been alone for a while now.
Am I allowed to combat YOUR Slinger with my Slinger now? Is it now not off limits????? "anyone against anything " that is the quote I was looking for.

Game on
Don,
Wow, out for one week and now there are more flying; great!! :) Last I saw it was three flying and 8 spectators.
You and I have already combated our Slingers; remember. :confused: With the himax or outrunner on, that is off limits; sorry. What I meant to say was if I am flying my DBPS then combat on; besides you knew what I meant. :)
Ken