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Build Log
Millenium Falcon, Tie Interceptor, Despicable Bomber, and other Quad-foamies
Peace here young padawans, below is the build log for the Millenium Falcon add-on for my 335mm quad.
It's a module that directly fits on my DIY quad, the "Prophecy 335", that I detailled there : https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=2263855 Takes barely 2 minutes to equip my 335 with this "skin", just have to remove the GPS, the Gopro, and the 5.8GHz transmitter and that's all, it locks itself inside the frame with no extra step required. This one flies line-of-sight only, no FPV. First step, the design, tricky part is to have the whole setup balanced. Because I'm removing the Gopro at the front to gain weight, the Falcon will have to be slightly offtset to the rear.  Then printing on A4 sheets and taping it all...  Main material is this insulant, in 20 and 30mm thickness. It's heavier than EPP, but also much stronger, and easy to cut clean. Also, it's almost the proper color of the spaceship.     Quick check for the balance, seem ok-ish, lucky me ! 
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Last edited by Olivier_C; Mar 01, 2015 at 05:42 AM.
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This "hook" thing slides in the place for the Gopro at the front, tight fit is required so the props are not hitting the foam.
I went for 10mm of free space between the tip of the blade and the foam.  A quick flight in the garage, must be sure it's flying before I put more effort in the project. Weight of the add-on is 210gr for now, will try to keep it at 300-350gr top, so the quad flies decently.
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Last edited by Olivier_C; Feb 05, 2015 at 08:28 AM.
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Ok now that I know it's airworthy, let's improve.
 I remove the "thruster" at the back...  Glue gun, best tool in the world.   The two side tunnels should help with some vibrations I noticed in the maiden flight :  Making cylinders, 1 corner at a time...  Smash and stamp !  Sihlouette is better now : 
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Last edited by Olivier_C; Feb 05, 2015 at 08:31 AM.
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Adding the cockpit, it's hollowed, to limit the unbalance :
 Adding these thin strips of foam for visual thickness when seen from the side :  Making a new thruster :   Radio antenna, yes I know in the old movies it was circular, but in the trailer for the new movie it's a smaller rectangle. So a rectangle it will be for now, better aerodynamics. Flying forward with so much surface should be enough of a challenge as-is.  My younger boy made the little turret : How it locks into the frame at the front :   It's still about balanced, good thing. 
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Last edited by Olivier_C; Feb 05, 2015 at 08:35 AM.
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Testing some paints, must find the proper color, and also a kind that does not harm the foam, will have to be acrylic.
Will paint with compressed air, after the next flight.  The 2 lights at the front, serial, so each get only 6V instead of 12V according to specs. 12V was really bright, I don't plan to fly this in pitch black night...  The famous thruster ! Top LED strip is blue, bottom is white. Plan is to have the LEDs reflect against the top and bottom curves. Blue is on top because I expect this one to be dimmer than the white. I'l maybe add aluminium tape so it reflect more, will see.    Yay, gorgeous blue-ish-white, sometime plans are working as intended !     Weight for now is 310gr. Compared to the normal fitting with a Gopro 4 and a VTX and a GPS, that's barely 150gr more. Not really afraid of extra weight, more worried about inertia and vibrations. To be continued, may the Force be with you. |
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Last edited by Olivier_C; Feb 05, 2015 at 08:38 AM.
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Thanks for the kind words guys !
I made another test, still indoor, flying outside was not an option, wind and snow. I'll try to paint this week, after I add some details with Depron, also I'd like to make it looking less like a plank when seen from below. Then hopefully next week-end a real flight outside.
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Awesome mate!
You must be a great dad too |
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Very cool! Cant wait to see it all finished up.
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