Shark Bait - A cool little 18" plane

ChrisFP · Oct 28, 2007, 11:14 PM

I've been trying for quite a while now to make a plane in the 18" range.
So after several failed designs I finally nailed down a good one.
I'm still new to alot of this so it took some trial and error.

Its a simple build and a good flyer. I did the maiden flight yesterday
and was going to shoot some video today but it was too windy.
I'll post some tomorrow hopefully.

I used most parts from United Hobbies:
24g 1700kv motor
Loong-Max 500 maH 2 cell (Will try a 3 cell tomorrow too)
3.4 g servos (x3)
TowerPro 12A ESC
GWS 6 channel rx but you only need a 4 channel

Total weight ready to fly was 5.66 oz but you may be
able to cut it to 5 oz if you go easy on the hot melt glue.

I had to spread the electronics out a bit acroos the fuse to
get better balance.

The plans are a 72 dpi bitmap. I'll make a better one if there is interest.

Enjoy!

Don McGill · Oct 29, 2007, 04:41 AM

Yes, there is interest. I need a couple indoor flyers for this Sunday. I have no idea how to print a 72dpi bitmap to scale (is posted as a jpeg to add to my confusion), but will fool with it if you don't have a tiled pdf up by this evening. Looks good and easy, thanks Chris.

-Don

Don McGill · Oct 29, 2007, 04:56 AM

Yep, I'm gonna need help with this one Chris. Opened in Paint and printed, gave me two sheets, your inch scale on my sheets came out 1"= 0.383". I don't know much about working with images.

firetrappe · Oct 29, 2007, 06:14 AM

That's a nice little model you've got there Chris, I like the paintjob too

Lakota, i've done a quick tile of the Jpeg for you to get you started. Chris if you want to send me the original file then i can produce a better tiled version if you'd like me to.

Si.

kimhey · Oct 29, 2007, 07:09 AM

Cool! Love to see a video of it..

Kim

tuppertn · Oct 29, 2007, 07:34 AM

Are you building with FFF or EPP?

ChrisFP · Oct 29, 2007, 08:41 AM

Thanks for the quicky plans Si. I actually started down the road
to this design after messing around with your Sumo.

I gave making some plans a shot. Hopefully they're cool.
I put a 28x18 border around them for a guide.

tuppertn, I built it with the Blue FFF (DOW protection board III)

I was trying for a small plane with the most common materials.
I also wanted it to be able to take mild crashes. You can probably
loose the 2 vertical skewers to save some weight. They are mainly
there to help prevent the tail from cracking off.

Here's the new plans...

Chris

ChrisFP · Oct 29, 2007, 08:45 AM

It might also be worth mentioning that I put a spot of glue in the corners
where the nose meets the leading wing edge. It seems to help prevent
cracks from developing in those areas.

gpw · Oct 29, 2007, 09:03 AM

a simple radius might help prevent stress cracking in that area...

DRITCH · Oct 29, 2007, 10:07 AM

NICE!

You saved me some work. I was going to try and profile a toonracer. This is perfect for what I was hoping for. I wonder if the little 10g outrunner and a light 2cell will fly it. Might be able to cut the weight down to under 4oz.

ChrisFP · Oct 29, 2007, 10:18 AM

gpw, good idea. I'll try that on the next one.

Dritch, I tried one of those little silver motors with a 7 inch prop on my first
attempt (with a slightly different body). It did fly just not as good.
It felt too under powered. Maybe with 2mm depron and a Thunder Power 480mah
it would go better. ?

Beemus · Oct 29, 2007, 11:41 AM

Flat wing? Would a tiny KFM give it a bit of "pop?"

JWilliams2 · Oct 29, 2007, 11:47 AM

I like it. I want to build a plane this size.

DRITCH · Oct 29, 2007, 12:02 PM

Chris. I'm thinking some sanding, a tiny 2cell, and some sub 6gr servo's should get it light enough. Maybe it won't hover, but might be able to keep it in halfcourt.

ChrisFP · Oct 29, 2007, 12:54 PM

Dritch, "as is" she'll fly pretty slow and I'm sure it will fly with the 10g motor.
But your right it likely struggle to hover and you'll just have to keep her moving
a little faster.

Maybe try a kf step like Beemus mentioned (inplace of the mid supports ?).
I may do this on my next one.

The way she flys now on a 2S is slightly weak on loops. It wants to tip over
unless you power through. Dives pretty quick due to the nose weight.

However, before I first trimmed out the rudder I was able to do a few
hands-off flat ovals around our park. I was surprised because it was a
little windy and its a small plane. I was expecting it to be twitchy.

I can't wait to give a 3S a go today. I know the extra weight will cut into
the slow flying some but the extra power should make it a rocket.

Oct 28, 2007, 11:14 PM	#1
ChrisFP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 121	Shark Bait - A cool little 18" plane I've been trying for quite a while now to make a plane in the 18" range. So after several failed designs I finally nailed down a good one. I'm still new to alot of this so it took some trial and error. Its a simple build and a good flyer. I did the maiden flight yesterday and was going to shoot some video today but it was too windy. I'll post some tomorrow hopefully. I used most parts from United Hobbies: 24g 1700kv motor Loong-Max 500 maH 2 cell (Will try a 3 cell tomorrow too) 3.4 g servos (x3) TowerPro 12A ESC GWS 6 channel rx but you only need a 4 channel Total weight ready to fly was 5.66 oz but you may be able to cut it to 5 oz if you go easy on the hot melt glue. I had to spread the electronics out a bit acroos the fuse to get better balance. The plans are a 72 dpi bitmap. I'll make a better one if there is interest. Enjoy! Attached Thumbnails 53.4 KB · Views: 2286 67.1 KB · Views: 1950 60.0 KB · Views: 1759 42.1 KB · Views: 2496

Oct 29, 2007, 06:14 AM	#4
firetrappe Build 2 Bounce! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 1,593	That's a nice little model you've got there Chris, I like the paintjob too Lakota, i've done a quick tile of the Jpeg for you to get you started. Chris if you want to send me the original file then i can produce a better tiled version if you'd like me to. Si. Attached Files SharkBait Letter Tiled Plans.pdf (436.7 KB, 1427 views)

Oct 29, 2007, 08:41 AM	#7
ChrisFP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 121	Thanks for the quicky plans Si. I actually started down the road to this design after messing around with your Sumo. I gave making some plans a shot. Hopefully they're cool. I put a 28x18 border around them for a guide. tuppertn, I built it with the Blue FFF (DOW protection board III) I was trying for a small plane with the most common materials. I also wanted it to be able to take mild crashes. You can probably loose the 2 vertical skewers to save some weight. They are mainly there to help prevent the tail from cracking off. Here's the new plans... Chris Attached Files sharkbait_28x18layout_v1.pdf (26.7 KB, 1111 views) sharkbait_28x18layout_Tiled_v1.pdf (31.1 KB, 865 views)

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Oct 29, 2007, 04:41 AM	#2
Don McGill 4EverYoung-Got Toys! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London Ontario Posts: 1,280	Yes, there is interest. I need a couple indoor flyers for this Sunday. I have no idea how to print a 72dpi bitmap to scale (is posted as a jpeg to add to my confusion), but will fool with it if you don't have a tiled pdf up by this evening. Looks good and easy, thanks Chris. -Don

Oct 29, 2007, 04:56 AM	#3
Don McGill 4EverYoung-Got Toys! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London Ontario Posts: 1,280	Yep, I'm gonna need help with this one Chris. Opened in Paint and printed, gave me two sheets, your inch scale on my sheets came out 1"= 0.383". I don't know much about working with images.

Oct 29, 2007, 07:09 AM	#5
kimhey Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: nøtterøy, NORWAY Posts: 747	Cool! Love to see a video of it.. Kim

Oct 29, 2007, 07:34 AM	#6
tuppertn Postcards from the Purple Edge Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newport, RI Posts: 3,166	Are you building with FFF or EPP?

Oct 29, 2007, 08:45 AM	#8
ChrisFP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 121	It might also be worth mentioning that I put a spot of glue in the corners where the nose meets the leading wing edge. It seems to help prevent cracks from developing in those areas.

Oct 29, 2007, 09:03 AM	#9
gpw Foamie Guy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the remains of New Orleans Posts: 20,444	a simple radius might help prevent stress cracking in that area...

Oct 29, 2007, 10:07 AM	#10
DRITCH Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ST.LOUIS Posts: 1,992	NICE! You saved me some work. I was going to try and profile a toonracer. This is perfect for what I was hoping for. I wonder if the little 10g outrunner and a light 2cell will fly it. Might be able to cut the weight down to under 4oz.

Oct 29, 2007, 10:18 AM	#11
ChrisFP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 121	gpw, good idea. I'll try that on the next one. Dritch, I tried one of those little silver motors with a 7 inch prop on my first attempt (with a slightly different body). It did fly just not as good. It felt too under powered. Maybe with 2mm depron and a Thunder Power 480mah it would go better. ?

Oct 29, 2007, 11:41 AM	#12
Beemus The Dude Abides Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brockport Posts: 309	Flat wing? Would a tiny KFM give it a bit of "pop?"

Oct 29, 2007, 11:47 AM	#13
JWilliams2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 2,822	I like it. I want to build a plane this size.

Oct 29, 2007, 12:02 PM	#14
DRITCH Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ST.LOUIS Posts: 1,992	Chris. I'm thinking some sanding, a tiny 2cell, and some sub 6gr servo's should get it light enough. Maybe it won't hover, but might be able to keep it in halfcourt.

Oct 29, 2007, 12:54 PM	#15
ChrisFP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 121	Dritch, "as is" she'll fly pretty slow and I'm sure it will fly with the 10g motor. But your right it likely struggle to hover and you'll just have to keep her moving a little faster. Maybe try a kf step like Beemus mentioned (inplace of the mid supports ?). I may do this on my next one. The way she flys now on a 2S is slightly weak on loops. It wants to tip over unless you power through. Dives pretty quick due to the nose weight. However, before I first trimmed out the rudder I was able to do a few hands-off flat ovals around our park. I was surprised because it was a little windy and its a small plane. I was expecting it to be twitchy. I can't wait to give a 3S a go today. I know the extra weight will cut into the slow flying some but the extra power should make it a rocket.