Yeah, don't want to hear about it, but will push their views on everyone else. Typical.

no name plank. pw51. 48" wingspan.

To start, need to glue up the MDF for the molds/plugs.

So I picked up a Futaba GYA441 dual servo gyro to use in fixed wing planes for gyro. Did this because it has a heading hold mode. I have only tinkered with
gyro's in planes for DS with rate mode, and have seen that it can help out in some rough backsides. But from discussion's I have had and read, it seems that perhaps a good HH might do even better in air that is even more rough.

The GYA441 is a good match for my Taranis Plus, because it can be used with the sbus port on the frsky rx's.

Initial setup was quite easy, though I had to move my elevator and second aileron channel around as I already had them set and the 441 uses a different 'layout'.

For this, to be compatible with the 441, I set up my channels as follows:

1 - Aileron 1
2- elevator
3- flap 1
4- flap 2
5 - gyro gain/control (required by 441)
6 - aileron 2 (required by 441)

I connect my flaps and elevator to the proper channels on the RX, and from the sbus port on the rx to port 1 on the 441 you hook up the m-m cable that comes with it, which transmits the sbus info (in this case we only care about ch 1, 5 and 6).

In order to switch modes on the gyro (rate (ie normal), off or avcs (heading hold)), I set up my SG switch. Center position sends value of 0 by default, so I leave that, as that will turn off the gyro. In up I send 100 which puts gyro into heading hold mode. In SG down i send -100 which sets it into rate mode.

Now this defaults the gain to 100% in rate and hh...Continue Reading

just recording so I remember later...

180 grams lead in each wing tip with goop. once cured spakle over. trying kst ms325 servo's, as they are fast, and strong enough. Using 2 cell li-ion battery.

As if I don't have enough, working on these in CAD. 48" plank and 80" t-tail. The plank will probably be first on the CNC. Initial drawings:

Aftershock maiden. Nothing exciting really. The elevator kept me from pushing it. And you can see the tree hit at the end, or the result. Small damage to wing, nose busted. All repairable and pretty amazing lack of damage for slicking a 2 inch tree branch in half. Now I know I want to continue with this design.

aftershock maiden (3 min 15 sec)

fuse molds done. My first molds made with a plug. There are issues, but not bad for a first attempt. And they are usable. So I will continue on and make a fuse for the wing and tail I have and get it together to get her in the air.

Had the fuse painted with 2k. Wet sanded and waxed.

Made a parting board and got it set in there with clay. PVAed the whole thing.

Then gel, then glass. Going away for the weekend, so will pull the parting board when I come back and clean it up and get ready to do the other side.

Hope it comes out ok.

For various reasons, I decided to go with a t tail rather than the original x tail.

So used the upper vertical I made and attached it to the plug, sliced the top and did some buildup so there was a seat for the tail. Probably some more tweaking, and making sure I set the incidence correct. Then I can get to more sanding on the fuse plug and painting to get it ready to make molds.

Set the wing on fuse plug to get it aligned, used bondo on saddle to get proper shape. Taped on tail to do some bench flying and see how it looks.

Also got elevator cut out. Some of my caps moved a bit so it's tight, and used too much carbon. But you can see the deflections I get. More than enough.

wing out of mold. Has blemishes I expected from issues with the mold's. No serious problem with that though.

Is good and stiff, I know where reinforcement is needed.

But I need more clamps, with the caps and spars in there, I did not have enough pressure on the TE so I have some openings and places where it's too thick. Will buy some more clamps for next one.

Will slice up this one to check cap and spar placement and make sure internals are good. Also use the center section to form the proper seat on the fuse plug.

More done... was so hot in the shed, everything cured quite quickly today. Kinda annoying for doing layups, but good for low wait time.

Pulled horizontal. Not perfect for paint, but that's ok. Seems solid as heck. Will find out when I cut out the elevator if it was a success.

Actually laid up a wing as well. Got it in the bag and out of the bag and now it is together in the mold to cure overnight. Mold far from perfect, but good enough for a prototype. Have already spent too much time on this, and have so many other projects I want to get to.

Had issues with gluing together the corian for the molds, so there are lines and some chipped spaces. Got them as good as I cared to. Will deal with it on the part if I need to.

Same sort of layup... glass x2, carbon on a 45, uni carbon, balsa, carbon. Then foam noodles with carbon sleeve for spar and caps.

Forgot hinges, so if the wing is usable, will have to cut out the ailerons and then do a silicon hinge or something. Not bothering with flaps for the prototype.

If i get one flying and it flies great and I like it, then I will redo the wing molds and such.

It is all done and flying.

Gulp seems to be set for CG, just need to mark it and see how close the ballast is to that. Like before, this thing moves. Did some pumps, but mostly was doing race lines and it burns through the turns like the typhoon and get's faster and faster. Had the pocket radar so hit that with one hand while flying with other doing race patter, hit into the 90's. A lot of passes in the 70's and 80's, but that 90's was the best. This thing does rock. Only problem is I have flown it twice and need to fix rips in covering each time. Is tape and goop and new stuff and oracover on top, just the ora rips. May put a light layer of goop over it, at least the leading edge back a bit.

A shot of it flying...

Should have split up the other blog for this.. anyway, now I will.

Laid up the horizontal tail stuff to get it in a bag today.

Descriptions in pictures.

Battery gooped in the nose and nose gooped on.

Hogged out foam for RX, and put in a wood plate to back the switch jack.

Had to cut the top of the fuse off, will goop back in place. Not sure how I could get in there to hog out the foam otherwise... unless I went through where the nose was cut off I guess. Either way, will not matter once it's gooped back together and taped up.

all the tape on wing, then goop, then thick new stuff, then covering... white base, will get black stripes on bottom and some neon on top.

Received battery and rx and switchjack, so can get busy on fuse.

The wing by itself, is 23 oz... weighing out everything else, I should be able to make it just under 40 oz... with ballast, it should rock in big wind and still be able to fly on lighter days.

Today got the wing gooped and spackled and sanded and spackled, etc.. til it was smooth. Two layers of tape on top and bottom, at 45 degree's both ways.

Also have ailerons ready. Not as stiff as I would think, with the 60" I think I'll just order some carbon tubes and sock them, I think full around would be stiffer.

This morning, I set up the carbon to go along the tail (no pic) and a layer of uni on the elevons as well... also potted servo's.

Later plan to goop the wing, then spackle and sand.

filled the spar channel, as well as where the spar's are joined mid wing. Top earlier, bottom curing now.

Also attached the carbon sleeved TE.

a bit more done today.

First I added a piece of balsa on top of the hatch for the fuse ballast. This allows me to contour it to match the fuse, and provides for an inset for the nylon bolt's head so it isn't ripped off on landings.

Don't forget to sand the wing panels to get the elliptical shape.

Set up the ballast tube so it was equal on each side, 9 slugs per side, over 20 oz of ballast. One end capped with wood, the other end extends further to allow for slugs to be inserted, that will have a piece of foam with a wood cap to ensure they are in there tight.

Sanded down the outside of the ballast tube to give the glue some grip. Set it in place in a few spots with some 5 minute epoxy. Once that is set, will wrap carbon tow around it and the center spars to tie them together, then mix up some epoxy with thickener to fill all the rest.