i use the balsa.a coat of finishing epoxy will really stiffen it up,makes it rock solid and looks nice,like varnished wood

I got my parts in from China today. Yay! A quick pile-on of components yields 325 grams, or about 11.5 ounces. This is with the 800mAh battery. Looks like I'm shooting for 12 oz now, as there's no way I'll make it down to 11. (I could try it with a 450mAh...)

well ,have fun with it.i love how my light stryker flies,it just floats forever and is very docile.i'm also building a little heavier one right at the moment,mega 22/30/2,200a esc and a 5s or maybe 6s batts.might have to build that bungee launch yet

I hooked up most of the lights tonight, for a test. I've got them all facing upside down, into the foam, so they light it up from inside. I'm using a Turnigy radio-controlled switch to turn them on and off via the Tx.

I have two more short strips of white to hook up on the tail, but it's looking pretty good. Needless to say, I'll be cleaning up the wiring a bit once everything's finalized.

Night Stryker Light Test (0 min 55 sec)

I like the bright nose on your Stryker. That's going to be a fun night flyer.

Phil

That looks really cool! How much battery drain with the lights on?

I run those lights on other planes and haven't noticed them making much of a difference. I don't have any hard numbers, though.

Sadly, I broke my goal. AUW is 12.4 oz with an 850mAh LiPo.

That is not a bad weight with the LEDs. On my I found that the LED added at least an ounce. It should be fun to fly.

Do you bevel the tail edge of the elevons at all?

I would if I had remembered before I got them all in place.

Flight report: I took it out for its maiden flight today and it went pretty well. Had to land and adjust the CG a tad. It balances perfect with the 800mAh battery all the way back against the bulkhead thingy - the same place the 2200 goes in my 'regular' Stryker.

Hoping to go out tonight and try the lights out.

Here's some video from the maiden:

Maiden flight of my new light Stryker (3 min 21 sec)

I went out tonite for a nite flight, but someone broke into my house last night and stole all the screws out of my servo arms so one of the elevons came loose a few seconds into the flight. (I know I would never have neglected to put them in!) Let this be a lesson to you, guys: lock your doors at night. Don't let the screw stealers in!

Between that and the amazing thunderstorms (and my son's birthday party) no real night flying was done.

Looks like a nice flying setup.

Tony

Fantastic job on the video and the still photo.
I gotta' get goin' on this.....

Jamie

It stormed earlier but I'm hoping the subsequent low-light conditions hold another hour so I can hit the park and night fly this bad boy.

Night maiden:

Night Maiden of the light Stryker (3 min 58 sec)