Originally Posted by jj604

This HobbyKing one is their smallest with a 7" prop but it would be less powerful than the stock EasyStar Speed400 on 2S I would think.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=6296

The difficulty with reverse thrust on an EasyStar/SkySurfer/Bixler is the limited prop clearance. They tend to be larger dia to fit all the mechanics in. That and I have never seen a pusher variable pitch system.

For a simple thrill a reversing (boat) ESC would be a lot easier.

HK carried a setup like that for a long time but the reviews were not good. My Ikarus shock flyer does not it yet. I do not deserve it! After I can do a rolling circle, may be a reward???

Originally Posted by Lafayette

I do not know about the rest of you, but personally I think the Bixler decals are not so pretty. The Skysurfer is a bit Better, but so generic...
Now with all that HK advertised on the Bixlers, They should pay us to fly them!
Just started painting my wing. Top is red with white and will get pinsrtipe blue.
The bottom will be navy blue, whith some Silver stripes and detail.
Pretty soon there are going to be so many of them flying at clubs everywhere, and a custom paintjob might be the only option to be able to tell your plane apart in the crowd!!!

When I am done with the paint I will post pics.

We look forward to seeing pictures of your paint job.

Originally Posted by Prof100

We look forward to seeing pictures of your paint job.

Thanks.
First, the only red I could find was a Krylon fusion. They only had one. I tried on a spare piece of foam and it was great, nice and bright...Behold after it dries, it turns a couple shade darker, kind of a deep red.
So, not quite as bright as I wanted, but...

Originally Posted by Lafayette

I do not know about the rest of you, but personally I think the Bixler decals are not so pretty. The Skysurfer is a bit Better, but so generic...
Now with all that HK advertised on the Bixlers, They should pay us to fly them!
Just started painting my wing. Top is red with white and will get pinsrtipe blue.
The bottom will be navy blue, whith some Silver stripes and detail.
Pretty soon there are going to be so many of them flying at clubs everywhere, and a custom paintjob might be the only option to be able to tell your plane apart in the crowd!!!

When I am done with the paint I will post pics.

Gotta agree with you there,both variants are nothing to wright about.

Originally Posted by Lafayette

Here is some nice reversible prop action. Pretty amazing.
Now I do not know up to what size the make them, but they are out there. I know I used them when I was flying the real thing. MU-2 was amazing, could stop in no time at all!! A bit too expensive foor my plane!
If anyone finds one for the Skysurfer/Bixler size aircraft please post, Thanks.http://youtu.be/k18pOsg10nM

WELL,isn't that just the cats ass.VERY COOL.

Originally Posted by NorCalMatCat

That is the thing you do not want to use reverse thrust to just stop you dead in your tracks and fall like a rock, you want to give it just enough to slow you down to just above stall speed if using it as a brake. Correct me if I am wrong but this is something airliners do to slow down as well. (Maybe just on the ground?)

Yes, only on ground for most Turbo Fan aircraft as a reverse thrust at altitude at cruise speed would be catastrophic to entire plane. I will have to go dig through my manuals to find wording but it is not good!

Great thread here by the way, I have learned so much an modded my first Bixler based off this thread and have 2 more on the way!

I think I'm going to go ahead and buy a microdan motor. However, I got to thinking and I'm wondering how the hell I'm going to mount it to the v4 motor mount. I would just use that aluminum mount on his site, but there wouldn't be any way to affix it to the v4 plywood mount. I'm thinking about using a 1 inch wooden dowel to fashion an adapter, but I'm not sure. Any ideas?

Originally Posted by Dkumagai

I think I'm going to go ahead and buy a microdan motor. However, I got to thinking and I'm wondering how the hell I'm going to mount it to the v4 motor mount. I would just use that aluminum mount on his site, but there wouldn't be any way to affix it to the v4 plywood mount. I'm thinking about using a 1 inch wooden dowel to fashion an adapter, but I'm not sure. Any ideas?

There is a whole page of motor mounts on Dan's website. http://www.gobrushless.com/shop/inde...f=MOTOR+MOUNTS


I would ask him for suggestions. Perhaps send him a picture of the V4.

Managed second flight with the Bixler today added some white led strips down the fuse. My son took a video on his phone, very impressed with this plane

Bixler 2nd flight with added lights (5 min 3 sec)

You will have to try and ignore his annoying screaming friend!!!!!!

Thanks for the thread AJ,
I've been around here since the middle of last summer. I got a Bixler in September with all the parts for the Mods and packed it all away in the back of my bus for my annual trip south to Mexico. I just got to it a couple of weeks ago. The build went ok except for the prop adapter. I couldn't get off the old one to put on the 6" prop.
I had been playing with a gyro on the ailerons for flying on the beach in the wind but decided not to use it until I fly the plane well. I did not check the aileron direction before the first flight so I crashed right away. After I reversed the ailerons she flew great. The first time of flying anything except my 450 heli. I was a happy guy.
That was the good news. Then after about 15 minutes of flight and several beautiful saves the motor quit and she began to smoke. I landed safely and ran over and disconnected the battery. The HK 30 amp ESC was toast.
So it's looking like no more flying until I get back up north the end of March. I was hoping to get some FPV time in before then.
This thing flies nice and smooth.
Thanks again for a place to read all about it.
Jerry
http://crowncoach.clanteam.com

Originally Posted by Jerry Campbell

Thanks for the thread AJ,
I've been around here since the middle of last summer. I got a Bixler in September with all the parts for the Mods and packed it all away in the back of my bus for my annual trip south to Mexico. I just got to it a couple of weeks ago. The build went ok except for the prop adapter. I couldn't get off the old one to put on the 6" prop.
I had been playing with a gyro on the ailerons for flying on the beach in the wind but decided not to use it until I fly the plane well. I did not check the aileron direction before the first flight so I crashed right away. After I reversed the ailerons she flew great. The first time of flying anything except my 450 heli. I was a happy guy.
That was the good news. Then after about 15 minutes of flight and several beautiful saves the motor quit and she began to smoke. I landed safely and ran over and disconnected the battery. The HK 30 amp ESC was toast.
So it's looking like no more flying until I get back up north the end of March. I was hoping to get some FPV time in before then.
This thing flies nice and smooth.
Thanks again for a place to read all about it.
Jerry
http://crowncoach.clanteam.com

I just had a Turnigy AE-30A die on me, didn't smoke but just died. So I put a much higher quality 40A in .

Ok so next question thrust angle is all wrong im mixing 35% elev with throttle just to keep its nose down on WOT. Now with this being my first pusher prop do I reduce the motor angle or increase it?? My head is telling me to lower the angle to stop it pushing the tail down

Originally Posted by Simon2504

Ok so next question thrust angle is all wrong im mixing 35% elev with throttle just to keep its nose down on WOT. Now with this being my first pusher prop do I reduce the motor angle or increase it?? My head is telling me to lower the angle to stop it pushing the tail down

Check your CG first, I had to add weight using 2200mAh and washers removed, to counter extra CF rods along fuse and in tail.
I was using a elevator mix, but it is not perfect, when no power is on but speed is high (ie any sort of dive) it will pitch up still. Also, advance the throttle smoothly, don't bang it to the stop instantly.
Stock thrust angle should be fine, mine was once I rebalanced CG. (balances on front edge of CF tube cover on wing)

Flew my bixler for the first time today in a long while. Still cant believe how much weight this thing will handle with no issue at all. Currently have it loaded down with a board cam, 500mW Vtx, OSD w/voltage logger, 30a esc, and 3s 4000mah pack.

FPV over JJ Biello Park (8 min 39 sec)

Originally Posted by sammyc

Check your CG first, I had to add weight using 2200mAh and washers removed, to counter extra CF rods along fuse and in tail.
I was using a elevator mix, but it is not perfect, when no power is on but speed is high (ie any sort of dive) it will pitch up still. Also, advance the throttle smoothly, don't bang it to the stop instantly.
Stock thrust angle should be fine, mine was once I rebalanced CG. (balances on front edge of CF tube cover on wing)

CG is fine glides perfectly and will fly level up to about 3/4 throttle above that I have to use too much elev which is causing too much drag and slowing it down and makes it a little shakey