Hello, This is a question I have been asking myself lately. I like the way a Depron plane flys, but as we know it is not as durable as a EPP plane. IMHO EPP planes will not stay in trim at times, and some do not fly as well as Depron planes... But what about MORE combinations of both ? It is like most models are built out of one or the other. If you could design a plane with EPP and Depron how would it turn out ? Would it be like a Zoom Zoom all EPP except for the tail feathers or maybe a Shockflyer with a true airfoil EPP wing, Depron ailerons and tailfeathers, get the idea... If you could combine EPP and Depron in any combination into a design what would be your favorite?

the epp is lighter... 6mm blade cut 1.3# density epp is lighter than 3mm dupron. i think either can warp in a hot car but epp is more flexi to begin with. i've built the r3d, the mini r3d, zoom zoom and just recently started building the flat dupron planes like the shocky edge and mini 3dx. just now i downloaded the plans for the mini voltex by derekb and it's a built up wing and sorta built up fuse done in 2 and 3mm dupron that suppose to come in at under 6oz with a ips setup and 3s 340's and with a 28" wingspan to boot. i don't see how he did it but i'll have to try for myself as my shocky edge is coming in a 6oz and i'm using as light or lighter electronics

Check out the review of the EPP Straight Edge:
http://www.rcgroups.com/links/index.php?id=4565

Chris has worked hard on this plane for two years before it came to market this Feb.

Thanks
Tom
www.WingWarrior.com

The idea is if you could combine the ability to shape EPP, combined with the rigidity of Depron... in the right places... how many more great flying yet durable planes could we have.

Originally Posted by wingmaster

Check out the review of the EPP Straight Edge:
http://www.rcgroups.com/links/index.php?id=4565

Chris has worked hard on this plane for two years before it came to market this Feb.

Thanks
Tom
www.WingWarrior.com

Tom, This is a cool plane ! Great job Chris !

i don't think u can mold epp with different densities all in the same part. u could make it thicker in some areas though. didn't ming have a molded epp plane being beta tested?

3mm EPP skin wrapped around 2mm depron ribs with a carbon-tape reinforced 6mm depron spar.
6mm EPP fuselage sides with 3mm depron keels (to prevent tail wag). 3mm Depron control surfaces, horizontal and vertical stabilizer.

That should be a reasonable compromise of durability and rigidity.

I used depron control surfaces with one of my Revolution 3D's... it gives you the crisp responce and since the rest of the plane is made from EPP it is still durable.... People have been doing this with other EPP planes for a while now.

I just finished an EPP Tensor. With Depron control surfaces. Perfect combination IMHO.

Rigid and crisp flight. EPP bouncibility. Usually the EPP gives more than enough to save the controls.

Mike

Thanks for the replies guys ! I thought this would be a interesting new subject but looking at the response I guess most people are not interested in the idea...

I don't think its lack of interest. It's that there are many planes like this out there already. I personally love the combination of an epp fuse and wing with depron control surfaces. I was never able to get my SX2 and other funplanes type all epp planes to fly like I wanted. However once the epp control surfaces are replaced with stiffer depron it's a different world.
I'm flying a Zoom Zoom right now which I love (the ailerons are actually epp but they are thick and very stiff). I'm probably going to pick up one of the wing warrior edges if the reviews are as good as I think they'll be.
Dave