I've now jumped in to doing FPV using a plane! The airframe is the 67" Penguin from ReadyMadeRC.com.

Here are my build notes

I have flown that plane and it flies great. It just need more power!

That was a great review. Looks like you spent some time on it. Thanks for your work. This might just be the route I was looking for. The world of FPV is where the future of rc is. I love flying 3D, but have allways been interested in FPV. Thanks for the info...

FPV is getting so popular that soon people will be complaining to companies for more channels and then freq hopping will come available!
There is some out now.
But at 2grand for a TX, and the goverment product release ban.
It will a while before the general public get them.

As for the Penguin, I almost bought it.
It is to big for what i want, I have a buddy with one.
So I am sure I will get to fly it again.
He was not happy with the 3S setup.
Also you should laminate the wing.
My buddy says he will never fly it with out the lam again.
The wing is much stiffer and it seems to fly with less power.
I think it is because it is much sleek in the air.

Originally Posted by DoctorAudio

FPV is getting so popular that soon people will be complaining to companies for more channels and then freq hopping will come available!
There is some out now.
But at 2grand for a TX, and the goverment product release ban.
It will a while before the general public get them.

As for the Penguin, I almost bought it.
It is to big for what i want, I have a buddy with one.
So I am sure I will get to fly it again.
He was not happy with the 3S setup.
Also you should laminate the wing.
My buddy says he will never fly it with out the lam again.
The wing is much stiffer and it seems to fly with less power.
I think it is because it is much sleek in the air.

Thanks for the comments DOC!

I bought the Penguin because a buddy has one and he really likes it. As far as power, I'm already a bit oversized and it seems to have plenty flying FPV the way I do. On laminating the wing, did he sheet it, tape it or ???. Just curious.

I have 4 flights on it and just got the Camera deck done (I JUST added picts to my Wiki page HERE, I'll add some text later today) so now it is FPV ready. I'm also trying out the newest Ardupilot 2.5 flight controller as I wanted a RTL and a Loiter function and it has a sweet $44 OSD that is completely configurable. It also has fully programable way-points and about a billion other options I'll try and understand later

Cheers and Happy New year!

Nice!

Originally Posted by DoctorAudio

Nice!

Got some more notes written into the build notes and added a video from today.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by mark_q

Got some more notes written into the build notes and added a video from today.

Cheers!

Awesome dude.
Your doing great.
No, your doing freaken great!

Sub'd

Sorry for breaking in on your thread mark but I saw your penguin build & saw you knew vitter so I figure I'd ask a question...
I just finished a penguin build & as strange as it may seem I have a 16" carbon fiber rod that doesn't have a place to go.. The bigger one is for the wingspar but I just can't figure this out. Please help!
Also - I live in Everett, I'm surprised I haven't seen you at 60 acres ...
Anyways I appreciate your input & thanks again

Originally Posted by Genetics101

Sorry for breaking in on your thread mark but I saw your penguin build & saw you knew vitter so I figure I'd ask a question...
I just finished a penguin build & as strange as it may seem I have a 16" carbon fiber rod that doesn't have a place to go.. The bigger one is for the wingspar but I just can't figure this out. Please help!
Also - I live in Everett, I'm surprised I haven't seen you at 60 acres ...
Anyways I appreciate your input & thanks again

Hey Genetics,

No worries on the thread, that's why it's here

I'm traveling at the moment so I can't grab the plane and have a look . Did you put a spar in the horizontal stab? 16" sounds about right. I think the early versions of the Penguin did not have a spar in the horizontal stab and after people complained a bunch, the kits started showing up with this (I don't remember where I read this). Anyway, mine had a spar for the HS and I cut a slot on the bottom and glued it in then put blenderm tape over it. It makes the stab quite stiff which I think is what the complaining was about. Below is a grainy picture of mine. Also, have you read throught the RCG Penguin Thread? There is some good stuff in there that may help too.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1684618

Hope that helps! - Mark

Hahaha, I just built one for a buddy. I then Laminated it.

Came out real nice.

But, I had the rod left over too!
I put a flat piece of CF vertical in the Elevator!

Originally Posted by DoctorAudio

Hahaha, I just built one for a buddy. I then Laminated it.

Came out real nice.

But, I had the rod left over too!
I put a flat piece of CF vertical in the Elevator!

Hey Doc!
I just got back from Southern Cal (man it was nice!) and took a look at mine, I didn't use the stock rod but rather a thin wall CF tube I already had that is much stiffer and slightly smaller. I think the rod in the kit is just black fiberglass. They should supply it with "T" shaped CF I think.
Cheers!

Originally Posted by mark_q

Hey Doc!
I just got back from Southern Cal (man it was nice!) and took a look at mine, I didn't use the stock rod but rather a thin wall CF tube I already had that is much stiffer and slightly smaller. I think the rod in the kit is just black fiberglass. They should supply it with "T" shaped CF I think.
Cheers!

true.

Originally Posted by mark_q

I've now jumped in to doing FPV using a plane! The airframe is the 67" Penguin from ReadyMadeRC.com.

Here are my build notes

I like your paint job. what paint did you use for the plane?