Mini-Review Long EZE (Velociraptor) Foam Canard Pusher Scratch-Build

[Steven Wong]

Hi all,

Maiden flight video of Velociraptor below:

http://www.rcuvideos.com/item/FRDGT9K6LYQTDQDB

I have started building the Velociraptor Canard a couple of days ago, it is very close in resemblance to the real LongEZ Canard.

I decided to do this new drawing after successfully maidening the Cozy MK IV many months back because I wanted a more sleeker-looking flying canard

It's very similar in proportion to my Cozy MK IV scratch-build here. But with a 43.3" wingspan as compared to Cozy's 50" wingspan.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354064

I will be using back the same BL motor from the Cozy.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU NEED 2 AILERON SERVOS AND 1 ELEVATOR(CANARD) SERVO TO FLY THIS. MIXING OF ELEVATOR(CANARD)-TO-FLAPS(AILERONS). Without this setup, it won't have pitch authority below 1/2 throttle and will result in nose-dive crashes.

Power setup:

Himax 2025/4200kv BL motor mated to Tamazo 4:1 gearbox
Aeronaut 9.5X6 white prop
Amps draw = 13.2amps WOT
Etec 1250mAh 3S li-po battery(92 grammes)
Castle Creations CC25 amps Brushless ESC.
Should be more aerobatic
Flight duration = should be better than 11 minutes
Targeted AUW without flight battery = < 600 grammes


Specifically Tiled Plans download are found here below

http://www.parkjets.com/velociraptor.html

(Special thanks to Tom (RCParkflyer) for hosting my plans at his website).

The Non-Tiled plans are here below.

[Steven Wong]

This thread will be a on-going build thread.

After cutting out all the foam pcs, i start cutting out the octagonal holes out for F3 and F4 formers.

[Steven Wong]

Next, the holes for the canard CF rod inserts.
Start out with a small 1mm dia. drillbit, working out to a larger drillbit and the final drill used is 4mm dia. just nice fit for the 4mm dia. CF hollow tube for the canards.

[im-sad]

Ooohh, cool, where are the rockets?? looks great!!

[Steven Wong]

Thanks Adriel

This pic shows all the foam pcs cut out, i am using the UHU POR foam-safe glue for 80% of the gluing tasks.

[Steven Wong]

Gluing of F2 former, i added a new 1/32" birch ply to the F2 former, i will explain this new addition later.

[Steven Wong]

Next came the CF rod ply bearings and aluminium tubings for the canards, before gluing, eyeball from the front to check and make sure the CF rod is parallel to the main fuselage, after confirmation it is straight and true use 30-minute epoxy, leave the 4mm CF rod inside so it is aligned nicely, but make sure epoxy does not get into the CF rod, or else AARGH!!!

[Steven Wong]

This is the interesting part that needs attention. I glue the nose cones into 3 groups , namely 5-pc (left), 6-pc (center) and 5-pc (right).

Cut away the shaded foam from the 6-pc nose cone and glue back the other remaining 2 as shown in the pic.

[Steven Wong]

this is how it would look

[Steven Wong]

Drawing the nose cone lines...cut away excess foam to form rough shape of nose cone.

[Steven Wong]

Gluing the 3/8"x3/8" GWS hardwood stick mount, UHU POR glue used throughout.

[Steven Wong]

Now to tackle the 5mm thick balsa canards, you need steady hands for this task cut v-grooves slowly with a steel rule as guide (Oops, forgot to take a pic with the steel rule alongside the blade! ).

Once all is done, score the bottom half round with a 4mm dia. drillbit end.

[Steven Wong]

After 1/2 an hour of sanding, here's how it looked on one canard.

Before dropping thin CA into the canard, place a 4mm dia. CF hollow tube inside for guidance and close-fit, be careful not to let thin CA wick into the CF tube, or else it's AAARRGH! again

[Steven Wong]

Another view of the balsa canard.

That's all for tonight, i shall be busy with a Warbird meet this weekend so not much time to continue with this project, i should be able to continue this again next week.

Cheers

[RCParkflyer]

Signing on

Note to Steven

Since you added my website to the Asian Forum, my free-plans website hits have jumped from about 250 a day to over 450 Thank you!!