Battle scarred slowstick
Down here in Australia live some very aggressive birds named Magpies. If you don't know what a Magpie is I'm sure that Wiki will help you - but the short of it is when they have young in a nest - look out. That goes for pedestrians, cyclists and model airplanes!
GWS Spitfire - not mine :-(
Awesome GWS Spitfire by Dusk - unlimited vertical on 2S lipo!
Nice.
Nice.
MCX / Vapor / etc Charger Modification
As long as I've been using lipos I have been sure to not exceed 1C charge rate - so when I started playing with the brilliant Blade mCX I was shocked to read that the standard charger pumped ~3C into the little lipos!
I imagine that as the AA batteries become flat the charge rate decreases - never-the-less I preferred the precision offered by my Swallow charger (or any other computer charger) so devised a lead/ switch arrangement enabling me to plug my regular swallow charger into the standard cheap charger that came with the mcx.
In case I needed to use the AAs (e.g. on holiday or at an indoor event) I introduced the switch - enabling the original charger circuitry to be used.
The photos and diagram should explain all involved.
It has worked for me - feel free to post your experiences/ questions/ comments in this thread.
G
I imagine that as the AA batteries become flat the charge rate decreases - never-the-less I preferred the precision offered by my Swallow charger (or any other computer charger) so devised a lead/ switch arrangement enabling me to plug my regular swallow charger into the standard cheap charger that came with the mcx.
In case I needed to use the AAs (e.g. on holiday or at an indoor event) I introduced the switch - enabling the original charger circuitry to be used.
The photos and diagram should explain all involved.
It has worked for me - feel free to post your experiences/ questions/ comments in this thread.
G
Zipper has flown!
And quite well too.
There is a vid floating somewhere (not posted yet) taken by the Hamburgular who was expecting an early demise (he told me afterwards that the last two Zipper maiden's he observed crashed on take off... he wanted to be ready this time).
It very nearly did prove entertaining as I underestimated the amount of reflex required!
After some juggling with the elevator and trim I had the Zipper zipping quite nicely up and down Lake George. Wanting more aileron throw and a more rearward CoG I swung it around for a greaser landing.
Only trouble - the rear hold down plate came loose on that landing (gladly not in flight!) so that was an end to flying the Zipper that day. Although the plate is now very securely epoxied in place!
This glider has sat ready for some time, just waiting for an opportunity to fly at Lake George (around 1 1/2 hrs round trip from my place).
Some thanks are in order...
Glenn and Rick at www.offtheedge.com.au who made the glider available as a Christmas prize.
Liam who won it but decided that I would have more fun with it.
Matt who 'borrowed' my kit only to return it with some cores fully glassed.
And Jordan for his vote of confidence on the maiden!
:)
G
There is a vid floating somewhere (not posted yet) taken by the Hamburgular who was expecting an early demise (he told me afterwards that the last two Zipper maiden's he observed crashed on take off... he wanted to be ready this time).
It very nearly did prove entertaining as I underestimated the amount of reflex required!
After some juggling with the elevator and trim I had the Zipper zipping quite nicely up and down Lake George. Wanting more aileron throw and a more rearward CoG I swung it around for a greaser landing.
Only trouble - the rear hold down plate came loose on that landing (gladly not in flight!) so that was an end to flying the Zipper that day. Although the plate is now very securely epoxied in place!
This glider has sat ready for some time, just waiting for an opportunity to fly at Lake George (around 1 1/2 hrs round trip from my place).
Some thanks are in order...
Glenn and Rick at www.offtheedge.com.au who made the glider available as a Christmas prize.
Liam who won it but decided that I would have more fun with it.
Matt who 'borrowed' my kit only to return it with some cores fully glassed.
And Jordan for his vote of confidence on the maiden!
:)
G
Back from the Southern Highlands
And here are a couple of photos...
Stayed at Morvern Valley - why? Well there are horses and ducks and chickens for the kids - and - a nice empty paddock behind the cottage for flying planes :D
Small, electric planes mind you - so as not to disturb the animals or the neighbours.
---
Second photo is taken over Exeter oval (took the photo last year).
Last year I tried to get the MS Swift to limbo the fence around the oval - no joy last year.
But this year I managed to do it 3 times! :D
Stayed at Morvern Valley - why? Well there are horses and ducks and chickens for the kids - and - a nice empty paddock behind the cottage for flying planes :D
Small, electric planes mind you - so as not to disturb the animals or the neighbours.
---
Second photo is taken over Exeter oval (took the photo last year).
Last year I tried to get the MS Swift to limbo the fence around the oval - no joy last year.
But this year I managed to do it 3 times! :D
Some neato photos
A collection of some of my favorite RC related photos...
Adventures with a Blade 400
Hi heli fans,
Someone asked me to write about my experiences stepping up to collective pitch / belt helis - so here goes.
I have been flying little 'fake' helis for a while, including a GWS Dragonfly (DF), a Lama V3 contra rotating heli and more recently a Blade MCX (2nd hand and brilliant!).
However having put some time in on the DF over Christmas I figured that I should put my chrissy gift cash towards a 450 size proper helicopter.
The budget was slim - so I scanned the for sale ads and jumped on an "as new" Blade 400 - beauty!
Around the same time HC/HK released the TREX clone kit which would have worked out to be about the same price if I sourced a gyro etc 2nd hand. No-way I thought... who wants to be bothered with putting that together... I want to open the box and fly.
So when I opened the box, I learned what "as new" means:
"As new" feathering shaft: bent.
"As new" main blade: small chip, out of balance, out of tracking
"As new" tail blades: chipped, out of balance
"As new" tail shaft: slightly bent - not too bad though
"As new" tail fin: chipped - cosmetic only though
"As new" rudder pushrod - without pushrod guides
"As new" swash setup - misaligned
"As new" see saw holder - snapped, screw missing
"As new" see saw to head connections - installed back to front
Bummer!
To be fair, a lot of the necessary parts were included - and some of the bent bits could have been courtesy of AusPost (the box was a bit beat up, and any weight on top would have been born directly by the blade grips). (And note also everyone that I am still pleased with the purchase and believe I paid a reasonably fair price.)
And there was a positive side.
Having spent many hours replacing / rectifying all those "as new" items I now know a lot about the inner workings of a helicopter (still have some way to go though!).
Having spent all those hours the head still has a little play in it and doesn't see-saw as freely as a well setup TREX 450. Could by my fault, could be the heli. I don't know and will report back.
Wise people learn from experience, lucky wise people learn from the experience of others - so here is Tip Box 1 for would-be 2nd hand helicopter buyers...
================================================== =======
TIP BOX 1 FOR WOULD BE 2ND HAND HELICOPTER BUYERS
================================================== =======
1. Always always always assume that the heli has been crashed. If it has been crashed it is likely that it has been repaired by someone who doesn't know much about helis (why else would they crash a beginner heli??) - and so it is quite reasonable to assume that the repair is incomplete and / or incorrect.
2. Heli kits aren't so scary - particularly if you can get some help. So properly consider that path of heli acquisition. If I can carry out basic maintenance so can you (I've only 2 bachelors degrees - one with honours - and a graduate diploma).
3. Best to buy a 2nd hand heli from someone who knows helis. Here in Australia you are more likely to find that sort of person on www.archeli.com.au than on the rcgroups regional forum.
4. It is worthy to note that parts for a GWS DF are less than parts for a Blade 400. e.g. pair of DF blades - $6 from nqrc.com - pair of blade 400 blades - ~$20 online! Practice on the DF!
5. A flight sim has value - but I find that my thumbs learnt which way to push when flying the DF and the Lama V3.
================================================== =======
And that, dear readers, ends the first installment.
The heli has flown, so watch out for part 2 - coming to a blog near you!
Someone asked me to write about my experiences stepping up to collective pitch / belt helis - so here goes.
I have been flying little 'fake' helis for a while, including a GWS Dragonfly (DF), a Lama V3 contra rotating heli and more recently a Blade MCX (2nd hand and brilliant!).
However having put some time in on the DF over Christmas I figured that I should put my chrissy gift cash towards a 450 size proper helicopter.
The budget was slim - so I scanned the for sale ads and jumped on an "as new" Blade 400 - beauty!
Around the same time HC/HK released the TREX clone kit which would have worked out to be about the same price if I sourced a gyro etc 2nd hand. No-way I thought... who wants to be bothered with putting that together... I want to open the box and fly.
So when I opened the box, I learned what "as new" means:
"As new" feathering shaft: bent.
"As new" main blade: small chip, out of balance, out of tracking
"As new" tail blades: chipped, out of balance
"As new" tail shaft: slightly bent - not too bad though
"As new" tail fin: chipped - cosmetic only though
"As new" rudder pushrod - without pushrod guides
"As new" swash setup - misaligned
"As new" see saw holder - snapped, screw missing
"As new" see saw to head connections - installed back to front
Bummer!
To be fair, a lot of the necessary parts were included - and some of the bent bits could have been courtesy of AusPost (the box was a bit beat up, and any weight on top would have been born directly by the blade grips). (And note also everyone that I am still pleased with the purchase and believe I paid a reasonably fair price.)
And there was a positive side.
Having spent many hours replacing / rectifying all those "as new" items I now know a lot about the inner workings of a helicopter (still have some way to go though!).
Having spent all those hours the head still has a little play in it and doesn't see-saw as freely as a well setup TREX 450. Could by my fault, could be the heli. I don't know and will report back.
Wise people learn from experience, lucky wise people learn from the experience of others - so here is Tip Box 1 for would-be 2nd hand helicopter buyers...
================================================== =======
TIP BOX 1 FOR WOULD BE 2ND HAND HELICOPTER BUYERS
================================================== =======
1. Always always always assume that the heli has been crashed. If it has been crashed it is likely that it has been repaired by someone who doesn't know much about helis (why else would they crash a beginner heli??) - and so it is quite reasonable to assume that the repair is incomplete and / or incorrect.
2. Heli kits aren't so scary - particularly if you can get some help. So properly consider that path of heli acquisition. If I can carry out basic maintenance so can you (I've only 2 bachelors degrees - one with honours - and a graduate diploma).
3. Best to buy a 2nd hand heli from someone who knows helis. Here in Australia you are more likely to find that sort of person on www.archeli.com.au than on the rcgroups regional forum.
4. It is worthy to note that parts for a GWS DF are less than parts for a Blade 400. e.g. pair of DF blades - $6 from nqrc.com - pair of blade 400 blades - ~$20 online! Practice on the DF!
5. A flight sim has value - but I find that my thumbs learnt which way to push when flying the DF and the Lama V3.
================================================== =======
And that, dear readers, ends the first installment.
The heli has flown, so watch out for part 2 - coming to a blog near you!
Nope - guess again...
Its not an Alula - its an Asian clone called the DIU... http://shop.eflypower.com/shop/views.asp?hw_id=1738
Received with thanks from Mr_g - thanks Matt.
Not in the same realm as the Alula (this one weighs in at 245g - :eek: ) but promises to be a good light-medium air sloper. So much so that I pulled the gear from my 200g Pibros to install in this little plane.
Mods? Cut the wings straight... used the supplied fibreglass spars across the entire span. Apart from that (and a stack of tape) built it as, well, no plan or instructions - just built it as it went together. Though I did ignore the plywood tow hook (I think thats what it is) and the bulkhead - this one's a sloper not a parkflyer.
Promises to be good fun.
Received with thanks from Mr_g - thanks Matt.
Not in the same realm as the Alula (this one weighs in at 245g - :eek: ) but promises to be a good light-medium air sloper. So much so that I pulled the gear from my 200g Pibros to install in this little plane.
Mods? Cut the wings straight... used the supplied fibreglass spars across the entire span. Apart from that (and a stack of tape) built it as, well, no plan or instructions - just built it as it went together. Though I did ignore the plywood tow hook (I think thats what it is) and the bulkhead - this one's a sloper not a parkflyer.
Promises to be good fun.
22" mini wing - it's TINY!
Simi wing RC conversion - just over 100g - we'll see how it goes.
:)
This in no. 1 - a rough throw together to see how it goes. If it works well the other will be done properly and this one may become light air slope trash.
:)
This in no. 1 - a rough throw together to see how it goes. If it works well the other will be done properly and this one may become light air slope trash.
54" Slope wing - it's HUGE!
New wing nearing completion... 54" - HUGE!
Slightly modded EPS zagnutz cores. 3M77, some tape, balsa elevons and standard rc gear.
Slightly modded EPS zagnutz cores. 3M77, some tape, balsa elevons and standard rc gear.
Alula box
Here is a handy Alula travel box... has taken the alula by car about 500km so far and works a treat.
Soft foam in the bottom, depron foam on the lid, all 5-6mm coreflute (ex real estate sign).
Neat.
Soft foam in the bottom, depron foam on the lid, all 5-6mm coreflute (ex real estate sign).
Neat.
First Alula finished...
Here are some photos of Alula #1 built for a friend. Alula #2 (for me) will be finished in time to be packed in the car at Christmas time.
Alula build...
Greetings Alula fans. Alula construction has commenced. Well - I started a little while ago - I'm just lazy at taking photos of this one.
The colour scheme was dictated by the available texta markers - I searched for spray paints but could only get the foam eating variety. At the stationary shop I bought some jumbo markers (about $10 AUS each). I noticed that EPP doesn't colour as well as, say, depron - but I guess we are after a lightweight finish on this purposeful soarer.
The niftiest part I think is the logos. I copied the alula logo from the web site (www.dream-flight.com) and just typed 'richter' in pussycat font as that sort of looks appropriate and similarish to the font used on the web site. These were printed on ordinary paper and I used a sharp balsa knife (yes I do use balsa) to cut the characters. The template is placed over the wing and texta-d over. Pretty nifty eh!
Anyhow - here are the pictures... enjoy.
The colour scheme was dictated by the available texta markers - I searched for spray paints but could only get the foam eating variety. At the stationary shop I bought some jumbo markers (about $10 AUS each). I noticed that EPP doesn't colour as well as, say, depron - but I guess we are after a lightweight finish on this purposeful soarer.
The niftiest part I think is the logos. I copied the alula logo from the web site (www.dream-flight.com) and just typed 'richter' in pussycat font as that sort of looks appropriate and similarish to the font used on the web site. These were printed on ordinary paper and I used a sharp balsa knife (yes I do use balsa) to cut the characters. The template is placed over the wing and texta-d over. Pretty nifty eh!
Anyhow - here are the pictures... enjoy.
I love it when the postman comes!
Normally the post is dropped in the mailbox, but when the package won't fit the postman has to come up our driveway and knock on the door. My good wife received this lovely parcel today...
Welcome to my hanger (well, some of it)
Here are some photos of some of my planes...
Another new car...
I've another new car - more crash resistant!
Link to Video thread:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...61#post5514500
Link to Video thread:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...61#post5514500
The new plane mover:
Discussion / Posted by glydr / May 15, 2006 @ 09:31 AM / 6,360 Views / 4 Comments
Plenty of space in here for planes... even good for the family!
I crashed...
... but it wasn't one of my planes.
1994 Mitsubishi Verada, nice car with only 80,200 kms. Total write off.
1994 Mitsubishi Verada, nice car with only 80,200 kms. Total write off.
Who is glydr? Here is a photo...
My brother in law took this photo of me flying his glider (which I put together for him to learn with). I quite like the photo and thought it apt for the blog.
The second is taken by my cousin (also fly's RC) while I am hovering by GWS Dragonfly. I've since removed the training gear, but have since had some stacks as well!
The second is taken by my cousin (also fly's RC) while I am hovering by GWS Dragonfly. I've since removed the training gear, but have since had some stacks as well!
A web site about Christianity...
Curious about Christianity? Here is a website:
http://www.christianity.net.au/
Happy to discuss via PM!
http://www.christianity.net.au/
Happy to discuss via PM!
