My new Micro SSX

[G WILLIE]

I just finished up my new Micro SSX. I built mine from a kit I picked up the NEAT Fair this year. The quality and completeness of the kit were a joy. Instead of ratty generic hardware, Dubro wheels, horns and quick connects were supplied. I added Dubro clevises and 2 more connects on the elevator and rudder servos.

I have Blue Bird 303 micro servos, a Berg 4L receiver, Thunder Pro 10 amp Esc, a generic 9 gram motor, and a Liteflite 460 mAH, 7.4 V LiPo. All up weight is 5 oz. I wound the antenna around a straw to get rid of the excess length per Joe Ford's suggestion. I mounted the straw to the tail boom with little pieces of velcro, keeping the antenna away from the carbon boom.

Now I can't wait to fly it. I know it won't have the peformance as if the recommended Hacker was installed, but I'm not really a 3D flier. I need to try it outdoors if we can get some decent calm weather, then into the Golf Domes. I'm here in PA near Pittsburgh andgood flying days are now at a premium (note the flannel shirt).

[jkarpy]

I just finished up my new Micro SSX. I built mine from a kit I picked up the NEAT Fair this year. The quality and completeness of the kit were a joy. Instead of ratty generic hardware, Dubro wheels, horns and quick connects were supplied. I added Dubro clevises and 2 more connects on the elevator and rudder servos.

I have Blue Bird 303 micro servos, a Berg 4L receiver, Thunder Pro 10 amp Esc, a generic 9 gram motor, and a Liteflite 460 mAH, 7.4 V LiPo. All up weight is 5 oz. I wound the antenna around a straw to get rid of the excess length per Joe Ford's suggestion. I mounted the straw to the tail boom with little pieces of velcro, keeping the antenna away from the carbon boom.

Now I can't wait to fly it. I know it won't have the peformance as if the recommended Hacker was installed, but I'm not really a 3D flier. I need to try it outdoors if we can get some decent calm weather, then into the Golf Domes. I'm here in PA near Pittsburgh andgood flying days are now at a premium (note the flannel shirt).


Your Micro SSX turned out great. I have tried that same motor with good success. You should have no problem. It will not be able to fly in extreme wind like it does with the Hacker. However, you are better-off for indoor flying. Looks like you are doing everything correctly for indoor flying. The big prop should help. What pitch prop is that?

James Karpy

[G WILLIE]

Thanks Jim,
That's a 6 x 4 prop. I flew my little guy Tuesday AM, we had a brief calm dry spell. Power was not a problem, but the pitch and roll, especially the roll, were a bit unstable. I had lots of exponential cranked in and reduced throws. I'm balanced right on the main spar. As it is, it is too fast for the indoor area I have available. I'll work with it more when we get calm weather.

To calm down the pitch, I was thinking about lengthening the tail and inch or 2 and rebalancing of course. I'm more used to a pattern feel than the 3D feel. What do you think about that?

Also, is it possible just to get a wing kit or the balsa laser cut sheets with the wing and tail parts?

Bill Mohrbacher

[jkarpy]

Thanks Jim,
That's a 6 x 4 prop. I flew my little guy Tuesday AM, we had a brief calm dry spell. Power was not a problem, but the pitch and roll, especially the roll, were a bit unstable. I had lots of exponential cranked in and reduced throws. I'm balanced right on the main spar. As it is, it is too fast for the indoor area I have available. I'll work with it more when we get calm weather.

To calm down the pitch, I was thinking about lengthening the tail and inch or 2 and rebalancing of course. I'm more used to a pattern feel than the 3D feel. What do you think about that?

Also, is it possible just to get a wing kit or the balsa laser cut sheets with the wing and tail parts?

Bill Mohrbacher

Bill, it does look like the tail is a litte short and that does make the plane fly a little squirly. Take a look this post. You can lengthen the tail section by the way you build the tail mount.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8474725&postcount=148

I can sell you a short kit. I will include an extra tail mount with that also. Just send me an e-mail with a list of everything you want and I will price it out according.

I use a 7-3 GWS prop with that motor. The longer prop will give you more air flow over the control surfaces. This should help with control at slow speeds.

[G WILLIE]

Aha! I did mis read the instructions and have the boom flush with the end of the stab mount; I didn't want to have the boom 3/8" past the end of the mount. It will be easy to move it. I'll also be sure and try the 7 x 3. I have some ordered! I'll be in contact on the short kit.

[G WILLIE]

OK, the saga continues. I got the stab mount box loose and moved it so the rear end is 1" behind the boom. I also set the elevator and servo throws to 100%; I had them set lower, but I was concerned about centering of the Blue Bird 303 servos at reduced travel.

I put on a GWS 7 x 3 prop and went flying in the Girard, Ohio Creekside Golf Dome. It was a lot less twitchy than my outdoor flights last week. The balance had shifted to just behind the mainspar as called for. After my first flight, I used another battery which was 0.1 oz heavier and that extra 1/10 oz made another BIG difference. These little birds are sensitive.

Now I'm going to move the pushrod connectors further in on the aileron and elevator servos. I want less surface throw on low rates without compromising servo centering.

I can tell I'm going to love this little guy.

Maybe you can convene a Micro SSX Mass Fly at NEAT next year!

[jkarpy]

OK, the saga continues. I got the stab mount box loose and moved it so the rear end is 1" behind the boom. I also set the elevator and servo throws to 100%; I had them set lower, but I was concerned about centering of the Blue Bird 303 servos at reduced travel.

I put on a GWS 7 x 3 prop and went flying in the Girard, Ohio Creekside Golf Dome. It was a lot less twitchy than my outdoor flights last week. The balance had shifted to just behind the mainspar as called for. After my first flight, I used another battery which was 0.1 oz heavier and that extra 1/10 oz made another BIG difference. These little birds are sensitive.

Now I'm going to move the pushrod connectors further in on the aileron and elevator servos. I want less surface throw on low rates without compromising servo centering.

I can tell I'm going to love this little guy.

Maybe you can convene a Micro SSX Mass Fly at NEAT next year!

If it is still pitchy, up and down, check the incidence and down thrust.
Negative incidence is bad.

[G WILLIE]

Thanks to Southwest $49 one way flights to Florida, I spent a week down at my brother's in Port Charlotte in early January. I've visited the Charlotte Sport Modelers Society field down there in prior years and really wanted to fly with them. Last year they lost their field just after spending megabucks on a runway. Things worked out and their new field is a shot hop from their old one and the runway was able to be relocated. They are a very friendly group of guys with eclectic tastes, pattern, sport models, sialplanes, big guys and little guys.

But not as little as my Micro SSX. I flew 3 mornings. The SSX flew very nicely and handled the wind surprisingly well. The first morning I got to the field a little late and it really was too windy for it, but I flew anyway. The guys at the field were amazed it flew in that wind. My brother noticed I was flying much closer and lower than the other guys. I blamed it on poor eyesight, but I've been flying in domes lately (I live in western PA) and out of habit kept my flight inside imaginary dome confines.

I fly more of a "turnaround" pattern style than racetrack or 3D stuff. Hammerheads, Split Esses, and Immelmans are no problem. Cuban eights and Horizontal 8s (flown with an inside and an outside loop) look very good. Vertical 8s starting with a 1/2 inside, full outside on top of it, and then the last 1/2 inside are awesome! Man, I can't wait for our calm summer mornings up here.

My only problem came in getting the Micro to Florida. It was just a whisker too large to go carry on and I didn't want to chance carrying it bare; no telling what TSA would have said. I ended up shipping it UPS ground. It cost $55, but that included UPS packing and supplies which included a 2' x2' x 14" box and A LOT of peanuts. I'll be able to reuse the box though. Next Micro I build will be take down.

I carried 2 2S x 500mAH LiPos in my carry-on bag and had no problems; TSA looked at them on the way back and passed them.

I checked my transmitter, charging equipment, tools, and charging leads in a separate hard case; there were no LiPos in this case. I told the baggage clerk what was in the case. In Pittsburgh, they asked me to take it over to the TSA stand where they looked and passed it. I was kind of worried about a box full of wires, batteries, tools, and stuff that could look like you know what, but no problems were encountered either way.

The Micro SSX adventure continues!

Bill Mohrbacher

[Doctor Who]

Nice pics

The Micro SSX can definately handle some wind. James & Moe were flying theirs in 15-20 mph winds at the FITS event in West Pasco (FL). Here are a couple of pics from that event.

[jkarpy]

Thanks to Southwest $49 one way flights to Florida, I spent a week down at my brother's in Port Charlotte in early January. I've visited the Charlotte Sport Modelers Society field down there in prior years and really wanted to fly with them. Last year they lost their field just after spending megabucks on a runway. Things worked out and their new field is a shot hop from their old one and the runway was able to be relocated. They are a very friendly group of guys with eclectic tastes, pattern, sport models, sialplanes, big guys and little guys.

But not as little as my Micro SSX. I flew 3 mornings. The SSX flew very nicely and handled the wind surprisingly well. The first morning I got to the field a little late and it really was too windy for it, but I flew anyway. The guys at the field were amazed it flew in that wind. My brother noticed I was flying much closer and lower than the other guys. I blamed it on poor eyesight, but I've been flying in domes lately (I live in western PA) and out of habit kept my flight inside imaginary dome confines.

I fly more of a "turnaround" pattern style than racetrack or 3D stuff. Hammerheads, Split Esses, and Immelmans are no problem. Cuban eights and Horizontal 8s (flown with an inside and an outside loop) look very good. Vertical 8s starting with a 1/2 inside, full outside on top of it, and then the last 1/2 inside are awesome! Man, I can't wait for our calm summer mornings up here.

My only problem came in getting the Micro to Florida. It was just a whisker too large to go carry on and I didn't want to chance carrying it bare; no telling what TSA would have said. I ended up shipping it UPS ground. It cost $55, but that included UPS packing and supplies which included a 2' x2' x 14" box and A LOT of peanuts. I'll be able to reuse the box though. Next Micro I build will be take down.

I carried 2 2S x 500mAH LiPos in my carry-on bag and had no problems; TSA looked at them on the way back and passed them.

I checked my transmitter, charging equipment, tools, and charging leads in a separate hard case; there were no LiPos in this case. I told the baggage clerk what was in the case. In Pittsburgh, they asked me to take it over to the TSA stand where they looked and passed it. I was kind of worried about a box full of wires, batteries, tools, and stuff that could look like you know what, but no problems were encountered either way.

The Micro SSX adventure continues!

Bill Mohrbacher

Hey Bill, next time you are in Florida, let us know and we can meet for a Micro SSX jamboree. Looks like you are really enjoying your Micro. Have you seen the Biplane version yet?

[G WILLIE]

I'll keep that in mind Jim. We're probably going back down this summer. I didn't get my full fuselage Micro started yet. I decided to get some full size summer stuff done, then back to the little guys.

Best regards,
Bill

[jkarpy]

I'll keep that in mind Jim. We're probably going back down this summer. I didn't get my full fuselage Micro started yet. I decided to get some full size summer stuff done, then back to the little guys.

Best regards,
Bill

I was wondering how that project was coming.