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Members => Build Threads => Topic started by: rob.thomson on February 24, 2014, 04:02:33 PM

Title: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on February 24, 2014, 04:02:33 PM
A few weeks back when ordering some stuff off HK Europe,  i dropped an x-5 into the basket.

My z-84 was looking likely for an upgrade,  so this option seemed ok.

It's slightly larger,  meaning a bit more payload can be achieved,  whilst still retaining the bung in the car was of flying.

Post order research shows that the model really sufferers from adverse yaw. No doubt too little vertical fin area.

So.....    As I was killing of my z-84 I decided to do some mods.

The result is the two additional fins on the X5.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/24/5e8e3y5a.jpg)

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/24/a7y7erut.jpg)

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/24/sy5azygy.jpg)

Still awaiting my storm,  UHF receiver etc....  So a while before this one goes airborne.   But should be fun :-)

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: FPVSteve on February 24, 2014, 04:44:24 PM
Mine flew pretty well tbh, I stuck a pan servo on it.

Needs a good chuck though ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYtUr5Oh60 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYtUr5Oh60)
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on February 24, 2014, 05:17:36 PM
Good to know :-)

I have gone just for the front camera - keeping this as a simple bung in the car - fly model :-)

From what I can tell there are two versions of it around.  Different 'fins' on them.

Regardless - mine now has more vertical; so will eliminate any chance of a problem.

I am going to over-cook the motor.  It will go vertical :-)

Rob
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 02, 2014, 08:15:35 PM
X-5 is nearly ready for action.

Just waiting for the motor and prop go arrive!

I have configured it to run on 3 or 4  cell.

The entire wing has been glass taped,  and a carbon spar included.

What really surprising me..   The whole model - including a 4000mah battery weights less than my venturi -  without the battery!

I an only assume the venture has very dense foam!

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: Coyote on March 02, 2014, 08:28:24 PM
Looks like it could be a good bit of fun, be interesting to see if the shark fin solves the reported yaw issues
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 02, 2014, 08:32:53 PM
It should do.

Actually...   It may make it easier to discuss launch.

I have in effect added some fun area below the wing.    This like all dlg gliders will help counter the yaw on launch.   

While I have used my old fins from the z-84,  I guess for people doing something from the ground up - the fins from the go discover are available as spares!

Rob

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 03, 2014, 10:30:12 AM
A picture...

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/03/6u2yryry.jpg)

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: FPVSteve on March 03, 2014, 12:29:34 PM
I never managed to successfully discus launch my X5 ... it simply yawed around and then went nose in every time I tried lol. Like an actual discus :o

Fairly quick little wing though - I'm tempted to fix mine back up and put some gear on board, it was good fun to fly once it went in the air.
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 06, 2014, 01:17:14 PM
Some finished pics.

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/06/8ape9u5y.jpg)(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/06/te6udyte.jpg)(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/06/una2yhut.jpg)

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 07, 2014, 03:58:54 PM
It flies...

And rather well!

Only annoyance.

You need to give it one hell of a throw to get the air speed for launch!   To slow,  and it spins out.

On one of my spin outs I managed to take the motor mount off.

No big issue.

Because of the launch requirement,  I have put a hook on the bottom,  and will use my bungee to get me to air speed in 1 second!

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: FPVSteve on March 07, 2014, 04:10:08 PM
Yep, told ya - they are a bit of a bugger to launch unless you have a decent headwind. Once up there though, nice little plane.
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 07, 2014, 04:18:31 PM
Yup.

My first two launches where into a good breeze.

It went off smooth and easy.

Third one - no wind.   Bam

I have one of those HK launch platforms.  Will just use that to get airspeed fast!
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 10, 2014, 02:05:30 PM
Annoyed!

Went out for a quick flight.

Launched....   200m out.  Bugger all  control!!

Model slammed in at one hell of a rate.   I did still have throttle - so killed that.

Fortunately the only damage was the motor being pulled off the mount - again!  Glass taping these foamies makes them really durable.

Inspection reveals a stripped servo gear.  Servers me right for putting a nylon gear cheapy in it!

New servos ordered - it will be airborne soon.

Rob
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: Loopdreams on March 10, 2014, 03:07:32 PM
Yeah super-cheap servos aren't worth the hassle.  I'm all for cheap.  ESCs, motors, batteries even had faultless service from cheap Orange RXs but fiddly little mechanical things and low cost seem to be a bad combination.
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 10, 2014, 06:09:04 PM
Result.

Rummaged through my spares box and found two metal gear servos.

Installed and ready for action again :-)

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 11, 2014, 01:47:09 PM
Ok.

Went for another flight today.

This time I used the catapult to get airborne.   Much easier!

The model is stupid quick -  but can slow right down.

My average speed on half throttle is around 140kmph.   So fast!

Annoyingly,  after 5 flights I ripped off the motor mount - again!

I think folding props would help with this.

Rob

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 21, 2014, 10:24:17 AM
So..

My initial goal with this model was to get a decent replacement for my zeta wing wing.

Sadly it has underwhelmed me.

It doss not fly well at all.

So....

Kit ripped out, and going into a mini zephyr.

I have found the x-5 to be a poor performer, with a very difficult launch, and horrible rocking flight.

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: DaveyLC on March 24, 2014, 02:38:14 PM
Another un-satisfied customer  ;D  :P

I too made the mistake of buying one of these ..

Great looking air-frame but sadly it flies like a brick! So unless you want to simply admire its beauty its pretty damned useless.

I'm not sure what Steve is talking about because the forum was littered with posts about him crashing his or videos of it flying like a nervous cat in a washing machine :laugh:
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: DaveyLC on March 24, 2014, 02:41:06 PM
P.S. if you want a sub 1000mm wing buy yourself a Maxi swift and I'm happy to share my "Franken swift" design with you :) There are three of us flying this platform now, its stupidly easy to launch for a wing and when trimmed out it will glide thumbs off.

Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: FPVSteve on March 24, 2014, 05:43:03 PM
My main problem with the X5 was it was pretty stressful to fly, it always felt like it had to be flown rather than pootled around with - which is fair enough I guess. I did enjoy it but at the same time it wasn't exactly relaxing.

I still have mine, not flown it in a long time though - go figure heh.
Title: Re: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 24, 2014, 05:48:13 PM
Quote from: DaveyLC on March 24, 2014, 02:41:06 PM
P.S. if you want a sub 1000mm wing buy yourself a Maxi swift and I'm happy to share my "Franken swift" design with you :) There are three of us flying this platform now, its stupidly easy to launch for a wing and when trimmed out it will glide thumbs off.

Can you send me links?

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Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: DaveyLC on March 24, 2014, 06:01:01 PM
You literally start with a full-size maxi-swift and attack the wing tips and rear with a jig-saw:

(http://www.dohc.co.uk/temp/FPV/frankenswift2/new-swift.JPG)
(http://www.dohc.co.uk/temp/FPV/frankenswift2/IMG_1301.JPG)
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 24, 2014, 07:06:23 PM
I may give that a try!  Next month. 

Money running out for now :)

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Title: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: DaveyLC on March 24, 2014, 07:14:09 PM
I better correct myself, it's the middle you cut out :)
Title: Re: Rob's X-5 (shark tooth mod)
Post by: rob.thomson on March 24, 2014, 07:32:22 PM
That's a useful snippet!

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