Fuselage servos, wing servos extension wire
Today I continued building my Bixler.
First thing was to glue servos to the fuselage halves. It sounds like 10 minute job, but it wasn't easy at all. The main trouble was attaching the elevator and rudder control wire to the servo and to be, at the same time, able to screw in the servo arm. On the first servo I decided to unbend the "z" bend in the wire, but it is so stiff, that I barely managed to bend it back. On the other servo, I discovered, that it's better to thread the arm on the wire first, than manoeuvre the servo so that the screw can be tightened through the hole in the fuselage. The HXT-900 servos are not pefect match for Bixler and some cutting of EPP is necessary. For which I don't have the right knife, so I was using clumsy cardboard cutter. I glued the servos in with two-sided tape used for mounting mirrors and some smaller amount of hot glue for added security.
This is how the result looks like:
For the wings servos (ie. ailerons), the three-lead servo wire is too short, so extension must be made. After some deliberation and with some input from others, I decided not to bother with servo connectors and cut the existing servo wire and solder the wire in the middle. Seems easy, but for a neophyte hobbyst it was two hours job, since there were 12 soldered joints. This is how it looks:
Preexisting three-wire servo cable is cut, each cut about 1 cm apart.
...Continue Reading
First thing was to glue servos to the fuselage halves. It sounds like 10 minute job, but it wasn't easy at all. The main trouble was attaching the elevator and rudder control wire to the servo and to be, at the same time, able to screw in the servo arm. On the first servo I decided to unbend the "z" bend in the wire, but it is so stiff, that I barely managed to bend it back. On the other servo, I discovered, that it's better to thread the arm on the wire first, than manoeuvre the servo so that the screw can be tightened through the hole in the fuselage. The HXT-900 servos are not pefect match for Bixler and some cutting of EPP is necessary. For which I don't have the right knife, so I was using clumsy cardboard cutter. I glued the servos in with two-sided tape used for mounting mirrors and some smaller amount of hot glue for added security.
This is how the result looks like:
For the wings servos (ie. ailerons), the three-lead servo wire is too short, so extension must be made. After some deliberation and with some input from others, I decided not to bother with servo connectors and cut the existing servo wire and solder the wire in the middle. Seems easy, but for a neophyte hobbyst it was two hours job, since there were 12 soldered joints. This is how it looks:
Preexisting three-wire servo cable is cut, each cut about 1 cm apart.
...Continue Reading
Building commenced
So, finally, I started building my Bixler. I am complete neophyte as actual building is concerned, so it is going to be a journey of exploration and learning.
The first thing to learn about is soldering. As the Turningy 30A ESC doesn't have any connectors on it's leads, the first task is obvious. Fortunately, my girlfriend gave me all I need for soldering as a Christmas present (I didn't know anything about it, she looked up everything). So I have nice soldering station plus all the supplies and utensils.
My motor, Turning D2826-6 2200kv outrunner, has 3,5 mm connectors on it, so I soldered matching female parts. These hollow connectors were no problem, just heat them up until solder melts, fill them with it and then sink the leads into the molten solder.
The other end, towards the battery, was a little more difficult. I use XT60 connectors for batteries, so I started heating the metal piece for the same process as with the 3,5 mm connector. It took forever and the result was, that the plastic of the connector melted and the metal pin became dislodged. Oh well, next time I solder the connector with the opposite piece plugged in and by simply melting the solder directly and filling the cavity with the melt.
After I was done with soldering, I needed both to verify my soldering job and to bind my new receiver with my transmitter (remember, I lost my plane, so the RX was lost as well). Amazingly, everything worked without a hitch, binding was successful, motor works, all the HXT-900 servos work. Looks like I am all set for further assembly.
For tomorrow, I'm planning extending servo cables. I have yet to decide whether I will try to make new connectors or will cut the existing cable in the middle and solder the wire in the middle. The other thing I'm considering is to stiffen the horizontal tail surface with a carbon rod.
The first thing to learn about is soldering. As the Turningy 30A ESC doesn't have any connectors on it's leads, the first task is obvious. Fortunately, my girlfriend gave me all I need for soldering as a Christmas present (I didn't know anything about it, she looked up everything). So I have nice soldering station plus all the supplies and utensils.
My motor, Turning D2826-6 2200kv outrunner, has 3,5 mm connectors on it, so I soldered matching female parts. These hollow connectors were no problem, just heat them up until solder melts, fill them with it and then sink the leads into the molten solder.
The other end, towards the battery, was a little more difficult. I use XT60 connectors for batteries, so I started heating the metal piece for the same process as with the 3,5 mm connector. It took forever and the result was, that the plastic of the connector melted and the metal pin became dislodged. Oh well, next time I solder the connector with the opposite piece plugged in and by simply melting the solder directly and filling the cavity with the melt.
After I was done with soldering, I needed both to verify my soldering job and to bind my new receiver with my transmitter (remember, I lost my plane, so the RX was lost as well). Amazingly, everything worked without a hitch, binding was successful, motor works, all the HXT-900 servos work. Looks like I am all set for further assembly.
For tomorrow, I'm planning extending servo cables. I have yet to decide whether I will try to make new connectors or will cut the existing cable in the middle and solder the wire in the middle. The other thing I'm considering is to stiffen the horizontal tail surface with a carbon rod.
New aerial video
Finally used the weekend to edit my last video from my Beta 1400 (my previous RC model that I crashed on a tree) -- it's from August 2011. You can watch it on YouTube here, but seriously, if you want sharp video with sound in-sync, do yourself a favour and download this 80 MB file. For some reason YouTube not only reencodes the video to look like crap, but it also desyncs sound.
Building will have to wait
As I wrote on the day before yesterday, my two Bixler kits have arrived. Well, yesterday I managed to cut my left thumb while packing Christmas presents. The cut bled like hell and it took some suturing. Unfortunately that means I will be impaired for about two weeks and so the building of my plane will have to wait.
Anyway, I unpacked one of the boxes to see what's actually included. I was mainly worried about motor mounting and here I was pleasantly suprised: included is assembled plywood firewall with holes and screws that fit my motor (Turningy 2826). But there's but -- the motor itself doesn't fit into the pylon. So it looks like the only option is mount it so it is outside of the pylon (or maybe only partially outside, we'll see). After checking the mounting, I noticed, that the axis of the firewall is quite off the fuselage axis -- slight off-axis angle would be probably OK, but this looks like way too much. I'll see how I go about this.
Anyway, I unpacked one of the boxes to see what's actually included. I was mainly worried about motor mounting and here I was pleasantly suprised: included is assembled plywood firewall with holes and screws that fit my motor (Turningy 2826). But there's but -- the motor itself doesn't fit into the pylon. So it looks like the only option is mount it so it is outside of the pylon (or maybe only partially outside, we'll see). After checking the mounting, I noticed, that the axis of the firewall is quite off the fuselage axis -- slight off-axis angle would be probably OK, but this looks like way too much. I'll see how I go about this.
Bixler is here
Two days before Christmas, two Bixler kits have finally arrived. So it looks like I will be able to start building the plane during the holidays.
The second package arrived
Yesterday, another package arrived - this time it was package with three LiPoly batteries from Hobby King German store. That was the package that originally contained two Bixlers, that after long time I was forced to remove from the order and reorder them from Hong Kong. That package is already on its way as well. So maybe I'll have everything before Christmas, if I'm lucky.
The first package arrived
Today, exactly two months after ordering, the first package from Hobby King arrived. It contains parts I will use to build my Bixler. Among other there is ESC (Turning Plush 30A), outrunner motor (Turningy D2826-6 2200 kV), replacement receiver for my HK-T6A TX.
The other package containing two Bixler kits and batteries is still on hold since Bixlers are back-order in Germany store. I'm going to cancel that order today and reorder from Hong Kong (which will incur extra cost and delay due to customs, sigh). At any rate, I will be lucky to start building in January.
The other package containing two Bixler kits and batteries is still on hold since Bixlers are back-order in Germany store. I'm going to cancel that order today and reorder from Hong Kong (which will incur extra cost and delay due to customs, sigh). At any rate, I will be lucky to start building in January.
Starting Bixler build log
I decided to give it a try and document my forthcoming Bixler build here.
I have been flying another SkySurfer (branded as Beta 1400 in local market) since the beginning of 2011). It was my first plane and I learned basic flying with it. Later I added GoPro HD camera for aerial videography and also dabbled a little in thermal and slope soaring. The plane repeatedly crashed in the early period, but I always managed to repair it into working order. Unfortunately, in August 2011 during landing attempt the plane ended on a high tree, from which we never managed to retrieve it. So I need to replace the plane with something suitable for video. After some searching, I came to conclusion that I just need the same plane. Meanwhile, Beta 1400 switched to V2 SkySurfer design, which did not seem to be well suited to my needs (moving battery further back blocked by servo beds). That left me with one option, Hobby King Bixler, which is still V1 SkySurfer design.
So I have ordered two Bixlers in kit form from Hobby King in one package from German store about three weeks ago. I ordered two to have source of spares (or the possibility to build another one if I manage not to need them). So far, this order is still in "backordered" state. The other package containing all the necessary parts including motor and ESC were ordered this past weekend. Unfortunately, there are also backordered items, so it is virtually assured that the Bixler won't be ready for my October vacation.
Also, I have disassembled two old hard drives and got three strong neodymium magnets that I hope to use as wing safe-locks.
I have been flying another SkySurfer (branded as Beta 1400 in local market) since the beginning of 2011). It was my first plane and I learned basic flying with it. Later I added GoPro HD camera for aerial videography and also dabbled a little in thermal and slope soaring. The plane repeatedly crashed in the early period, but I always managed to repair it into working order. Unfortunately, in August 2011 during landing attempt the plane ended on a high tree, from which we never managed to retrieve it. So I need to replace the plane with something suitable for video. After some searching, I came to conclusion that I just need the same plane. Meanwhile, Beta 1400 switched to V2 SkySurfer design, which did not seem to be well suited to my needs (moving battery further back blocked by servo beds). That left me with one option, Hobby King Bixler, which is still V1 SkySurfer design.
So I have ordered two Bixlers in kit form from Hobby King in one package from German store about three weeks ago. I ordered two to have source of spares (or the possibility to build another one if I manage not to need them). So far, this order is still in "backordered" state. The other package containing all the necessary parts including motor and ESC were ordered this past weekend. Unfortunately, there are also backordered items, so it is virtually assured that the Bixler won't be ready for my October vacation.
Also, I have disassembled two old hard drives and got three strong neodymium magnets that I hope to use as wing safe-locks.
