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View Full Version : Idea A little help =)?


shots74
Jun 08, 2006, 01:19 PM
Ok the best 100-200$ UAV model air craft to get... I have been looking at some of these predetors your guys have, they are nice but i only find the look a like ones that have bad reviews and everything else. I have been flying for about a year now with just a reg plane, no camera, no still shots or anything and i would like to get into a UAV type plane. If some of you would be willing to point me into a good direction to start with. I have a camera already. All i need to a UAV type plane, I like the predrtor but I dont like the ones i find on some of these sites...

Example: http://www.awlhobbies.com/page3.html this one is on alot of sites. not to big about it, becuase i hear alot of bad things about it. How it doesnt fly, how it leans to one side, how the motor get burned up... There is just way to much and I really dont want to spend the money on it if its not a good plan for me to mount a camera on it. I looked at littlebirdz.com and there UAV is in limited amounts and does not come with everything to fly. Plus it looks like a little toy plane i would by a kid

Example from LB:

Required Radio Control Items (Not included):
5 Channel Transmitter Min. (5 Required for use of flaps, 6 for Aerial photography )
4 Micro Servos (Hitec HS-55's used for testing)
10 Amp Electronic Speed Controller
High "C" Li-Poly Battery - 10C Discharge Minimum (Tanic 1100 mA used for testing)
5 Channel Micro Receiver (5 Channels required for use of flaps, 6 Channels for AP) Dual Conversion Recommended (Electron 6 Receiver used for testing)
GWS EPS350C-D Electric Power System (You will also need approximately 6 feet of hookup wire to run from the ESC to your EPS Gearbox 3 feet red, 3 feet black) Brushless setup tested: Himax
Aiptek Mini-Pen Cam (Optional)
FMA Direct Co-Pilot (Optional)

Required Finishing Items (Not included):
1 - Roll So-Lite/Nelson Lite Film or similar covering material
1- Slow Flyer Propeller (GWS 10 X 8 SF used for testing)
3 - Wheels of your choice (3/32 hubs required to accommodate landing gear struts 2" DU- Bro Wheels p/n 200SL were used for runway testing, we used brass servo eyelets and inserted them into the wheel hubs. You can get them from the DU-Bro Servo mounting hardware kits or from our Predator Wheel kit)
3 - 3/32 Wheel Collars
18 - DU-BRO Mini Nylon Hinges (DU-BRO p/n 119)
2 - 6" Servo Extensions
2 oz of lead weight for ballast up front (If AP camera is NOT installed)
1 - 7gram Lead weight for wingtip (Optional)
1 - Bottle of thin CA Glue
1- Bottle of thick CA Glue (Optional)
5 Minute Epoxy


All this is missing I know i could do it but I already have alot on my plate for a friend right now helping him install a vid cam on board his plane. Although i really dont like his plane either. So if some on could help me out or through out a bunch of links or maybe tell me if the Predetor is not what i hear abut it that would be good too... Thanks much!

-Pete

Steve McBride
Jun 08, 2006, 01:51 PM
You're going to get many opinions on this so expect more than mine ;)

I just a few steps ahead of you in that I am doing aerial photography, live video, and GPS telemetry. Just moving into UAV territory slowly.

I am starting with a slowstick because it can lift a lot of weight, has plenty of room to mount things (hung on the outside of stick or under wings) and I don't have a lot of emotional attachment to it if it has an early death. I want to be able to configure all my hardware and re-arrange until I get it right, then transfer to a more purposeful airframe. If I had started with an airplane I like, I'm not sure I could bring myself to cut holes in it just to install and then perhaps re-install hardware.

I guess my suggestion would be to buy an ARF (unless you really like building) that has a high lift wing, can fly slow and is somewhat stable and has lots of room to install equipment. Learn what works, how it all works, then transfer to a model of your choice. I'm not sure I coud fit everythng into a small Predator airframe at this point and still leave room for batteries.

Speaking of batteries, you'll want to invest in several high capacity batteries so that you can get in many practice flights that are long enough to 'ring out' the hardware.

Good luck with it and keep us up to date on your progress!

Steve

shots74
Jun 08, 2006, 05:21 PM
Could you maybe sugest cheap arks that i would use maybe like a cessna 182 that thing just came out idk if its any good at all.... Maybe some links to what you have?

ElectroLawndart
Jun 08, 2006, 08:08 PM
My choice for my UAV airframe is the Spadet LC40 built from plans at:
http://www.spadtothebone.com/freeplans.htm

It's made completly from coroplast so that it's next to indestructable and reeealy cheap and easy to build.
Dart

shots74
Jun 08, 2006, 08:50 PM
Thanks ill look around, anymore?

Pete

LukeZ
Jun 08, 2006, 10:37 PM
I can't say I'm recommending this because I haven't flown it, but Hobby Lobby just came out with a very interesting Cessna Skymaster ARF (http://www.hobby-lobby.com/skymaster.htm) that appears to have some potential. The price is very inexpensive considering it comes with 5 servos, 2 motors/gearboxes/props, battery and charger. From the pictures it appears to have a rather decent amount of cabin space. Also, one could probably beef up the pusher motor a bit and then get rid of the motor in the nose - this would essentially turn it into the most common UAV platform-type.


Luke

shots74
Jun 08, 2006, 11:10 PM
Hmm... Ill look into it thanks if anyone else ould post some things, that would be great =)

-Pete

Steve McBride
Jun 09, 2006, 08:19 AM
I can't say I'm recommending this because I haven't flown it, but Hobby Lobby just came out with a very interesting Cessna Skymaster ARF (http://www.hobby-lobby.com/skymaster.htm) that appears to have some potential. The price is very inexpensive considering it comes with 5 servos, 2 motors/gearboxes/props, battery and charger. From the pictures it appears to have a rather decent amount of cabin space. Also, one could probably beef up the pusher motor a bit and then get rid of the motor in the nose - this would essentially turn it into the most common UAV platform-type.


Luke

My thoughts exactly - this one is high on my want list for those very reasons as well as it size.

Steve

shots74
Jun 09, 2006, 01:17 PM
Ill prob go with eaither that or the 182 becuase i have some ideas i can do with the 182 as well thanks for everything gents!

-pete

LukeZ
Jun 10, 2006, 02:22 AM
...However, after reading through the Skymaster thread here on RCGroups (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=519407&pp=15), I might have a few second thoughts about using it. It still looks like a good deal but there are just a few caveats that would be wise to take into account.

So far no one has posted a flight report with only one motor, but I think it's just a matter of time.


Luke