Hi guys, well eventually it came, another plane ! Whoop whoop.
Heres the build log for my V3 Skywalker.
Now loads already have Skywalkers, there are plenty of really good in depth builds on here like Bignose13`s Skywalker build log so i dont see any real point in going into it too in depth. Simons build is really well put together and great for reference. I like it that much his recommendation got me to wanting a Skywalker, then after seeing Pauls i knew it was heads above the Easystars capabilities.
So here`s a brief account of my build. I received yesterday and spent around 3 hours fitting gear to it. This didn`t include fault finding which i spart and parcel of building, but its all complete and working apart from vtx and Camera.
Anyway, i wanted to do this build a bit different, firstly ill be using a two lipo system, 1 for video, the other for motor. Its a first for me, im always normally using a single lipo system. I wanted to try this way round to see if i can get every single bit of potential interfeence out of my video. The second difference are my audio and video leads. The best way to reduce interference is by using phono or RCA leads. The reason we have them in our homes and on our FPV receivers is just for a clean signal. So all my audio and video wires are made in coaxial wire.
The Spec :
Plane : Skywalker V3
Motor : Turnigy TR3536-1100kv
Prop : 9x6
Lipos : 5000 mah motor lipo, 2200 mah video lipo ( both Zippy Flightmax )
ESC : Turnigy Plush 60 Amp
Bec : Turnigy 5a
Camera : Security Camera 2000 600 WRD OSD 600 tvl
Vtx : Bevrc 5.8ghz
Rx : RC305 ( Range video version )
OSD : Dragon Labs DOSD
Control : 459 UHF FSHH
Skipping all the lets get it out the box and have a look stuff, i was pretty impressed with the packaging, the skywalker fuse came untouched, wings were fine but the canopy was damaged. Not a problem for me because i am not using it anyway. The extra carbon on the wings in the V3 is good, but personally i would have liked them longer. The flaps being moved to help strength was a good move. I will strengthen it up a bit more tomorrow but ive done a few thing today to just make it that bit better.
Anyway, onto the install, first to go in was my UHF rx, being at the rear of the compartment meant adequate spacing between a GoPro up front shouldnt be an issue. Once loacted, i then added the DOSD next to it for ease and clutter free wiring. At this point i also added the Bec :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1310.jpg)
I had several options with the flexible Skywalkers layout of positioning the GPS. The tail was an option, but i felt it left the upgraded sensor exposed a bit. I could also have it on the canopy base, but this means plugging and unplugging which we really want to avoid as the GPS data can make the difference between a plane comming back or not, especially with RTH.
So i decided to use the Skywalkers recommended postition for the pan camera. Im not putting the camera there, i see no advantage over having it on the canopy base, but if its where they recommend its exposed if the plane ever flips over.On the canopy base the camera wont make contact in these situations so no damage. No damage, happy Ian :)
The camera location that the GPS is going into has a section below cut for the camera pan servo, this is ideal for the ferrite ring for the GPS sensor that enables it to lock sats quicker. The way its mounted below, the GPS is very well protected, no carbon, metal etc is blocking its view and to me is ideal for its functionallity
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1308.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1309.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1338.jpg)
Next i added the Curet Sensor for the DOSD, this is the only connection ( ground ) between my video and motor circuit. This means absolutly no groundloops for the Esc`s current to flow. It does however give the Esc`s speed control signal a ground reference. The current sensor then is the only part that can transmit any interference to the video side. So i added a frerrite ring to the wire. I then ran the cable so its physically seperated from any of the systems other wires.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1312.jpg)
I then began the wiring looms, to join the UHF to the DOSD, its working through a single ppm stream. I recently made a little circuit board for isolating the negative rail of the DOSD which has been causing some grief recently. I didnt really need it on board but i thought i`d fit it anyway to show it working :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1305.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1336.jpg)
I positioned this then started adding the interconnecting wires, then i made an end off for the video lipo to link the system up
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1313-1.jpg)
Next up was the video wires. I used some premade RCA leads, cut them down and made a 4 pin connector for the DOSD.
What this means is at any point i can plug unplug various cameras, goggles and telemetry as i want. I then made the leads with RCA plugs to Vtx end and installed that too
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1314.jpg)
My wires run the way they do to avoid running next to each other, video is seperate from servos, which are seperate from gps and the likes :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1337.jpg)
Down the tail end, the UHF antenna was fitted, the two servos and the wire ran through the carbon rod :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1329.jpg)
On the other side of the tail i cut a square out of the rear :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1316.jpg)
The Turnigy TR3536 was fitted, along with the power cable for the motor lipo, i left the wire free running so if i wanted to plug in a Watt meter i have plenty of play
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1314.jpg)
With the prop on everything was tested while it was accessable, handy really as it didnt go smoothly lol
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1328.jpg)
I cant really make the camera pod yet untill the camera arrives so i just fitted the premade wires, power for camera and RCA lead. Simple two plugs and its ready :)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1327.jpg)
I cut the hatch and fitted the hatch catch kindly supplied by Paul ( PK-Surfing )
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1318.jpg)
When the sides get glued together, the square i cut out of the tail now acts as an access hatch for easily swapping servos over without damaging it
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1319.jpg)
Strength wise, im going to cover it with tights and paint with waterbased varnish, this will make a form of fibre skin over the fuse making it much more knock resistant. Other than that ive added two strengthening rods, one on the bottom based :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1334.jpg)
The other in the tail section, one each fuse side as the tail seems especially weak to me
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1335.jpg)
I also dont like the hinges at all, so all surfaces have been cut and taped, i did this to the rudder so the tapes inside the tail and glued for maximum strength
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1341.jpg)
Just the Camera, vtx and its ready for its CG doing and its maiden :)
All DOSD functions checked and working fine, looking forward to this one
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1331.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1330.jpg)
Blimey, you put that together quicker than a Quickfit fitter !
Nice and neat wiring, the use of the coax cables for the video must have a big benefit for the signal can't wait to see how it works out, the GPS fits so well its almost as though it was made to go there.
I think there might be a window of opportunity for the wind dropping Fri mid afternoon !
PK
Very nicely done mate, As tidy and well thought out as Ive come to expect from you lol, Look forward to seeing the maiden
Looking good mate, nice looking platform, Have you got loads of FPV plans, or do you keep recycling the parts, lol :)
Cheers Sean, i`ve been planning the wiring for ages lol
Lol Gordon, the Radian died a death, but i will be getting another, as far as relaxed simplicity goes its hard to beat. The Asw`s still waiting, im in no rush with that yet. The Easystar, well i was not impressed by it, the Skywalkers to replace that and i have the stealthwing too.
So that should be it, a large glider, smaller foamy glider, skywalker and a Stealthwing should do me :)
Very nice ian, one of the cleanest installs i've seen on a skywalker, looking forward to seeing this baby fly and really hope you have more luck with this than you've had in the last couple, i'm sure your gonna love it
oo don't say that,lol I haven't even got the Easy Star up yet, I'm sure it will do me for a wile, I'm already looking at the Sky walker and wondering wot if, :laugh: I have ordered some 1 cell light stuff to fit in some micro plane or helly, I just boult the Blade 120SR, it would be fun to fit it to that.
I'm fed up with waiting for the Dragon Link to come, for the Esey Star so I glued the fuselage together lased knit, and Im fiting 35Mhz, I'm on holiday next week, but when I get back I won't it finished, maybe in time fore the bounc meeting in June.
regards Gordon
what meeting in june
link please :)
Very very nice but blimey its big lol ..ian with regards to mounting the uhf antenna vertical how have you done this to avoid belly landings ..
Yes she`s a whopper, the tail is raised at the back so the antenna just folds but never gets trapped on landing
Quote from: n00b@FPV on May 24, 2011, 09:10:53 PM
what meeting in june
link please :)
25-26 June 2011 in oxfordshire, go to home and look at events.
regards :)
Just bits and bobs to do today. I strapped the wings with re-inforced tape to strengthen no end. The camera wont pick it up so ive left them photos for now.
I cut two airflow slots for the ESC cooling :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1348.jpg)
I fitted the 25mw 5.8ghz Vtx, man its tiny :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1347.jpg)
I would say, seeing its been thought out for FPV and even a flat base for the Vtx to sit on, why oh why did they decide to put it there and not further down baffles me. For the sake of a few cm it would have been much safer. With the original prop holder on the swining 9x6`s tip was mere mm away from the vtx cable exit. I put a shorter version holder on so if there is any tail flx there will be no nasty suprise video loss :)
I used a dummy weight for the camera and set about marking up the lipo positions for the CG. Ive gone for a 30mm back from servo slot CG as this seems to give the best glide and neutral on throttle.
Once the lipo positions were marked i then glued some depron in. One reason was easy location, if the battery fits, thats where it wants to be :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1350.jpg)
The second reason is best shown on the picture below. After a fair few unplanned landings, the one thing ive learnt is a lipo has a huge ammount of energy on impact and can make quite a mess of a nose. The strip below serves two purposes. First as above is locating the lipo, the second is a crumple zone. The idea being in a nose impact, the energy of the lipo will be reduced by the sacrificial foam strip, breaking it, but hopefully loosing a lot of its potential before getting to the nose.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1351.jpg)
Its narow to let the cooling air though, but glued enough to give under impact but cusion the blow
The same for the video lipo in the rear, an energy absorbing zone so it doesnt slam into the larger battery ( hopefully ) :) :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1352.jpg)
The Autopilot and everything has now been tested and fully operational, so its just the camera and its ready for the maiden.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1349.jpg)
Gl with the maiden ian ..she sure looks almost ready..
Looks good to me but where do you get your Female free Coax sockets from, I mean on the end of cable not fixed not at no cost, .
Weather today on the East Coast a little calmer so we all may get some flying in hope so I am suffering from LOS withdrawal symptoms and FPV first time :-\ gitters.
Regards
John
Hi John, i couldn`t source any of the femailes in the type i wanted without coax so i got these cables and cut the ends and just made the bare ends off instead
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-Metre-3-RCA-Male-3-RCA-female-Audio-Lead-AV-UK-/200561508321?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item2eb265bfe1 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-Metre-3-RCA-Male-3-RCA-female-Audio-Lead-AV-UK-/200561508321?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item2eb265bfe1)
Hi Coyote,
Came to same conclusion about female free got some RCA 1 in to 2 out female, to use as male to male connectors but not sure about weight and insertion loss. Don't have access to any decent hf test gear any more will have to do a suck it and see test. Will also most defiantly try your method.Weight of female in female x 2 out not that bad but its surprising how things add up when you are trying to FPV.
Regards
John
(http://s1.postimage.org/203oxscjo/DSCF0001.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/203oxscjo/)
Looking good Ian, cant wait to start mine.. I bought the same motor but with 1300Kv because I didnt fancy going down the 4 cell route. Also my canopy was a bit squised too, but its only a flimsy acetate job anyway, I'm planning in making something sturdier from a heated/moulded pop bottle..
That 5.2GHz Tx looks tiny!!!! Looks far better from a drag point of view then the relativly large 2.4 omni sticking out in the prop wash..
Ill be adding a CP antenna tonight to get the most from the system.
Ok todays update, not a lot but vital. The last piece of the jigsaw arrived. The WDR 600 OSD camera.
I havent tested it fully yet and it was a dull day, but man this cameras good :) If you want one quick, without the waiting Pasty is now stocking them, im that impressed with it ill be swapping all my planes over to this camera now.
Anyway, fitted the camera, played with the settings and now its all done :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1356.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1358.jpg)
Looking good ian lest hope mother nature plays her part ..a.but shes rready..
She's looking good Ian, be interesting to see the test flight, I also have the WDR600 Very High Resolution OSD Color Camera 550 Lines SONY Super HAD II PAL, it's a lovely camera, :rocks: with some cool settings.
regards
"very nice" Ian ;D
Very gone Lance, maiden went perfect, dosd autopilot perfect, second flight controll lost, plane gone, game over
I think I've found it, spotted this afternoon on Google Earth
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/pk-surfing/PlanespottedonseabednearRedcar.jpg)
LMAO
Quote from: Coyote on May 27, 2011, 07:25:36 PM
Very gone Lance, maiden went perfect, dosd autopilot perfect, second flight controll lost, plane gone, game over
Ouch - sorry to hear that :(
I took my newly completed Skywalker for its first flight this week. I got up nice and early because the forecast was for the only calm winds for several days. Got to my flying site at 7am, sun out, no wind, great. Pre-flight checks ok. All looking good, easy launch with 1/2 throttle. Hum feels like no aileron control, bit better with some speed but pretty uncontrollable, rudder response weak. End up in spin, crash into top of an oak tree :'(. Recovered by climbing tree and using a 10m telescopic pole I keep for recovering my planes :-[. Damage: Skywalker tail snapped clean off just below the plywood plate it screws too.
Glued it back together, increased throws on control surfaces, tried to ignore my bruised pride, will have another go once this damn wind drops. I just hope I can tame this Skywalker, my FPV Hawksky never feels this out of control and in 100+ flights, 50+ of which have been FPV, the only times I have crashed is when I did something silly and deserved it.
Hope you find yours...
Regards, Mark Leman.
Thinks - as this was my first post, I best go introduce myself... and post a video of my crash ;)
Cheers bud, it laded inverted well out to sea, past the breakers so i know ill not see it agin, i sort of knew it before we set off looking for it, behind breakers, tide going out, total loss
Sorry to hear the sad ending Ian, any idea what caused the loss of control?
No, without the plane its so hard to tell, but a conrol surface deflected a lot when it happened, could be servo, horn, linkage or maybe a bec fault.
But with the lads all cluubing together yesterday the replacement is on order. They were so generous i managed too replace nearly everything lost. But the new parts ive now changed from what i was forced to use because of funds to better parts.
The Bec ordered is much mch bigger and better, the linkages ive swapped for threaded bar and metal clevis so they wont fail. All the servos are uprated metal gears, ill swap for hitec 65mg`s at a later date though.
So watch for this thread in a weeks time, it`l be a bit deja vu but with a few differences.
So thanks to all the members, the Coyote Skywalker mk2 will be in the air for its maiden ( again ) very soon
Inland :)
sorry I wasn't around much yesterday, was ther a loused plane collection fund then, is it still open and how can I help. :FlagSGC:
regards Gordon
Yeah the lads had an incredible whip round, thanks for helping out gordon, and everyone else :)
Commiserations Coyote, I lost my faithful old Twinstar at sea a couple of months ago. Downdraught at cliff face caught the model and I lost control. It hit the sea and broke in two, then started drifting out of the bay. With unknown current strength and direction and shear coldness of water it would have been suicidal to go in after it. Luckily the FPV gear was not fitted that day. I am building a new one with more powerful motors and an HD camera. The perils of over-water flights I guess.
Oh Coyote.... at least i know it's not just me that can loose skywalkers! :)
Well here`s what happened :
* url removed *
Skip to 6:52 for air crash investigation analysis :)
Points to bear in mind
1) Plane flips and starts to go out of control before rx failsafe is registered
2) Rx failsafe was set to 0 throttle, DOSD`s failsafe to 60% throttle. Throttle stays at 0 amps so its Rx`s failsafe not Dosd`s
3) Dosd does not seem to try to try to steer home
4) CL seems to regain contact seconds before crash, but no elevator control would pull it up
5) RSSI shows 100% signal, even though in failsafe
RSSI being normal suggests no BEC failure, that would have gone to zero, but no DOSD controlling suggests a control surface failure maybe, maybe it was trying but say the rudder servo had smoked, then nothing it could do to stabilize plane ?
Any suggestions would be interesting to see
weird I don't suppose the autopilot system worked loos in the plane. so in the early stages the plane thought it was level when it was at a bank, it looked like you were having to correct the bank, then as it flips over the autopilot unit cold have been moving around in the fuselage. I no withe the system I have the FY-21AP, thay say it is crucial that it is facing forward and level, of course I could be talking from my aris.
regards
The Dosd is a gps based stabilization unit. As long as it had gps it would still be fine. Noo acceleromters or gyros inside
Ok so the Skywalker is reborn !
This is from the contributions of the amazing members we have on here.
Thanks to the following people for contibuting to replace the Skywalker and keep me in the game :)
PK-Surfing
DPS-Dave
Swissnic
G.Collins
Paulca
Sheep600fx
RCMonster
Mark1975
Chris in Kabul
Sue Rogers
Rick
Munkyboy
Steve W
IWCorborg
Pasty
Bignose13
Shikra
Marcin
Est1976
So after the amazing contributions, Skywalker mk 2 has arrived, work began yesterday with a few changes
An incredible response from everyone, but extra big thankyou`s to PK-Surfing, Nic and DPS-Dave for really pushing the boat out to help me get back into it
Cracking guys us! :)
Its only because if you gave up FPV we'd have no one to help us stock the magic smoke coming out. :D
Or could it be because we love you :-*
Ill update with what, but very little thats changed on the inside. But that will have to wait till i have access again because of the mod below
The one acillies heel with the Skywalker is its tail strength, there is none lol. So i added the carbon rod i did last time, but this time instead of putting it off ive started the whole body strengthening.
I took a pair of white tights, cut the legs off and then put them over the vertical stab, pulled tight and down the tail.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1404.jpg)
I then did the same with the front :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1405.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1406.jpg)
Pinned the tights down to match the original contours of the plane:
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1408.jpg)
Then covered with several coats of water based varnish. Once dry, it will give the Skywalker a hard outer skin to protect the bottom with landings, tail twisting. Ill trim it back tonight to neaten it up
Very nice looking forward to seeing this one ian i do enjoy watching them come alive..
where your pins are is where i'm going to add the extra carbon rods one each side and one on the bottom but lookin good so far Mr ian :D
Quote from: Pasty on June 10, 2011, 08:20:55 PM
Cracking guys us! :)
Its only because if you gave up FPV we'd have no one to help us stock the magic smoke coming out. :D
Or could it be because we love you :-*
Lol, i missed this comment, i love you guys too :-*
Great to see you getting sorted again after what happened.
I believe these may fit over the wings?
(http://www.gb-sports.co.uk/bema_arm_bands.jpg)
:D
Nice find steve :D That bloody north sea lol
Lol Steve
Well after last times mishap, it was prude to change a few things, first was the servos i didnt have much confidence in anyway, so now it has Towerpro metal geared servos, then i fitted threaded bar, meatal clevis`s and glued the bars in.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1412.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1413.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1411.jpg)
I also changed the what seemed weak original control horns for tried and tested horns ive used in the past without issue. This should rule that problem out well and truely
So apart from the camera pod and some trimming of the strengthening after its fully cured tomorrow she`s all set. I tried the rc link, motor, control movements and all went without any hitches so far
Even after the strengthening, she still looks stock :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1410.jpg)
Finally got round to fiting the camera, and th eHD keyfob Cam
Im going to put additional strapping on the keyfob, but only after the wide angle lens turns up as it might need moving etc
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1414.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1415.jpg)
Looking good Ian.. I bought those towerpro metal geared servos too! Great minds think alike eh.. :laugh:
A quick question though, I like the tights/varnish finish you've done. Now Ive heard of PU varnish and tissue coverings before but after asking the other half about what thickness and colours available, I'm still non the wiser... So what denier and colour did you go for :laugh:.. Least I have a good excuse if I'm seen loitering around the womens undies section in Tescos at the weekend lol...
maiden today ian?
Keep an eye on those servo's, we've had 10 recently and 3 were a bit wiffy, they didnt fail but movement and centring was dodgy. the good ones have been rock on however.
Ian I soldered my metal clevis to the rod on the un-threaded end, I wouldnt like to trust glue m8
Lol@ Paul, 15 denier mate, white :)
Maybe today Steve, not sure if it will be today or tomorrow, i hope these servo`s are better, they are noisy buggers mind you
Thanks for the tip Ben, my bars threaded at both ends, never though of soldering them though, that might be the top tip of the day there :)
If its threaded just stick a bit of kicked CA in there, will hold it tight and burns away when you need to release it.
Quote from: Coyote on June 11, 2011, 11:36:23 AM
Thanks for the tip Ben, my bars threaded at both ends, never though of soldering them though, that might be the top tip of the day there :)
ah rite if its threaded both ends thats cool just to glue
I had to wait for the wide angle lens to arrive before i could work out how to attach the keyfob cam to the front so everything clears.
Well the prop and lens just got posted, so time to finish her :)
I epoxied the lens on, that was fun, i tried to put it in webcam mode but it was having none of it, so instead, put the epoxy on, and as it started going off took videos and moved the lens ever so slightly until the lens didnt show on the edges of the video.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1416.jpg)
Next i put in two holes where i wanted the rubber band to go.. Put the ends of the band through them :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1417.jpg)
Found a spare bit of bar to hold it :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1418.jpg)
The bands were ok, but to make them tighter i pulled the bar back to add tension :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1421.jpg)
Now i screw the canopy down, pull on the band, pop the camera underneath and the velcro and rubber bands hold it nice and tight :)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1422.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1420.jpg)
So that leaves one more picture, one ive forgot lol, the final finished shot :)
Well thats another idea Im nicking from you lol, Very neat
Very good ian ..you should do a book he hec..
And here it is, 100% complete and ready :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1425.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1424.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1423.jpg)
Job done ! Time for a brew :)
Very nice ian ..
Nice one mate :D Back from the dead ;D
400W Wot, its showing 60 amp :o Hope thats wrong though lol
2.2kg flying weight, thats with a 2200 mah video lipo and 5000 mah flight lipo on board
Very nice Ian - i would try to point the keyfob Cam slightly down so the majority of the picture is ground.
The less sky the better. It will give you a lovely clear recording with everything visable.
gl with the maiden.
Looking very nice indeed Ian, good luck with the maiden.
Great build, didnt realise the cloverleaf antennas were so small either!
Yeah the quality control on those servos are a bit dodgy and noisy, but I've only had one that had centering trouble out of about a dozen.
Whens the maiden then? ;D
Cheers lads, funny you should mention th ecloverleafs, this was the next thing ive just done :)
When we first started playing with the Skywalker, we noticed on 5.8ghz that the motor and lipo can block the signal quite considerably. To get past this problem, what ive done, as did Paaul, was move the cloverleaf out to the left or right of the fuse. Because the plane is always high, LOS to the cloverleaf should always be possible like this.
We tried it on Pauls and had great sucess, so here`s my version :
I took a plastic control rod tube i had spare, made off a SMA end and heat shrunk them together. The cable being high stops the whole ting twisting. I put a hole in the fuse to push the plastic into
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1426.jpg)
I then made a Cloverleaf on the end, but mounted it sideways on, this way because the wires layed flat it still sits upreight :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1428.jpg)
In flight position, loads of clearance from the plane, high enough for landings
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1429.jpg)
Then pull the rod out, put it in vertical hole and antenna is safe in the upright position for transporting with the wings off :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1430.jpg)
Quote from: Badlands on June 11, 2011, 05:10:48 PM
Very nice Ian - i would try to point the keyfob Cam slightly down so the majority of the picture is ground.
The less sky the better. It will give you a lovely clear recording with everything visable.
gl with the maiden.
Good point, i had totally overlooked that point, so ive added a very technical piece of equipment, a......................... wedge of foam :) lol
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1432.jpg)
Hi Coyote,
Cool, got the cables cut em up all is now sweetness and light.
Cheers and of course
Regards
John
Hi Coyote
Back from my holiday, south of France would be great for FPV, lodes of mountains and valleys,
talking of mountings that camera mount looks pretty slick, I think you should have used one of my camera vac forms instead of that epoxy, lol.
I have a theory on the downed Sky walker, I was watching a video of a Sky walker test flight and 2 of the rubber bands broke in flight, :o is it posibal this happened to your plane, anyway I would make sure the rubber bands holding the wings on are a good quality.
regards G
Hi Gordon, i dont think so, it went into a glide near the end. But i agree the stock bands are rubbish, i did have some spares Paul gave me, miles better and much stronger so im using them now
The maiden went as well as i could have asked for, a bit windy but flew both packs through her without issues :)
This is looking the DB's nothing overlooked :D Gives me plenty of ideas now :D
Only one question which bev must be asked daily Why do they put the rx mount so near the prop i get the point blowing air over the vtx for cooling but boy is it close :(
All it needs now Ian is a paint job just to keep sheep and pasty happy :D
I think the same Dave, would it really hurt to have it a few cm further down the tail in a safer area ? lol
Ian what were you using to cover you CL antenna ?
cheers
Cortex
Nothing at all to cover it, if you do you introduce drag thats not needed which would try pushing the antenna back into the plane, the opposite of what i want
on page one of this thread you have some sort of white tubing surrounding the CL vertical antenna, was just wondering what it was.
Oh sorry, thought you were on about cloverleaf, my bad
Its pushrod tube glued into fuse
wouldn't this rip a hole in the fuse on landings?
No, it makes no conact with the ground on landing, at the underside rear there is an enlarged section that enables it to clear
I still need to get myself a longer antenna, last time i asked you said your contact within the uk that supplies them was out of stock. Just wondering if there are any in stock now?. might just order from bevrc but i have reservations because of deliver expenses lol.
cheers for your help buddy
No they are not showing any in stock.
The antenna on the mk2 was not bought, i made that myself so it was the length i wanted. Really easy to do, just a sma, coax and two 16.4cm elements on the end, epoxy them at 180 degress and your done :)
Well out today and had issues again, autopilots fine but the audio levels on the tracker keep dropping too low for the EZTracker to work.
When i link up my bevrc vtx to plane and rx to trackr the audio level is much higher, its either the vtx or the new rx thats not playing ball :(
I need to compare audio levels against Pauls Immersion rx to see if its the same case, if it is it must be the vtx, if the audio levels have returned to high then it must be the new rx
I tried with different antennas ( ducks ) on both rx and vtx and get the same low levels so that rules them out too
stupid question, have you check if the mike is being physical block or covered by something, or doesn't it work that way.
regards G
Theres no mic on the immersion Gordon, it was working fine, im thinking its the new rx, but i can only find out next time Pauls down to be sure
Nice plane mate. What ground station equipment are you useing? just curious as im useing 5.8 for video and i do get mixxed results sometimes. I was thinking of buying lawmate gear what are your opinions on them?
Cheers, my ground stations going to be homemade, so far im on my own homemade 5.8ghz bi-qad antenna and skew planar. Im using a budget airwaves based receiver unitl ive finished my own diversity receiver unit. Immersion EZTracker.
Lawmate dont make 5.8ghz gear as far as im aware. Ive tried the bevrc (rf-sky) based units and found the immersion gear is miles better video quality wise.
So you can still use the EZ antenna tracker without the EZosd? This is the main part what we are struggling with at the moment. I have seen those my fly dream antenna trackers but they only hold a weight of 1kg and by time you add x2 antennas it doesent seem that viable. I like the sound of this home made antenna, you will have to share some info when your in a generous mood :-) I should have been more specfic i ment 1.2ghz lawmate gear but again this is just a thought not to sure if the frequency is useable.
No i have the ezosd on the plane ( used only for tracking ) or you can use tinytelemetry on the plane instead.
I'd thought about using a tone generator where the speaker element is wired directly to the audio on on the VTx to provide a constant tone for audio input, rather than relying on the random rush of wind.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I5fPUj_jtvI/SyfXWQW5pOI/AAAAAAAAAE8/fpeM14DMOb8/s1600/tone%2Bgenerator.png)
Would that address the whole sound issue do you think?
Thanks for the thread Ian, it's given me a good heads up on what to do when my SkyWalker arrives :D
Hi Rich, why would you want to send a solid audio tone down a channel ?
Anyway, not many updates to go i think, im pretty happy now, it flies great, DOSD working fine with RTH etc
Keyfob camera worked fine, but in my view the keyfob takes up too much room, so now i know it works well and found the right angle to position it, i could cut it into the nose.
So keyfob in the nose, flight camera now moved further forward should make the experiance a lot better now :)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1453.jpg)
Liking where you've put the cam... :)
Quote from: Coyote on June 29, 2011, 06:58:53 PMautopilots fine but the audio levels on the tracker keep dropping too low for the EZTracker to work.
Or am I misguided? I've still to get to grips with some of this voodoo.
Ah right, wrong track, the ezosd, if you want tracking connects to the right audio channel, it then sends a coded audio signal down the audio channel to the tracker. If you dont want to here anything, including tracking code just dont connect anything to the audio inputs of the vtx
Gotcha :)
I did wonder, thanks for clarifying that :)
Well a few more flights under its belt and time for improvement.
Its good, dont get me wrong, but a few things now need addressing.
Im going to be adding a wii nunchuck into the mix. This will in mode 1 control my camera`s pan and tilt. Then in mode 2 i can hold the nunchuck and fly the plane and pan and tilt without needing the tx.
To do this i need a tilt servo adding :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1455.jpg)
Job done, Hxt900 used, i like these servos for pan and tilt and as plane servo`s too. They are cheap and very effective, spare gear sets are readily available too.
My Tilt mechanism is none of this over complicated rigs, its simple, effective and ive used it many times before and it does exactly as it should with minimal weight added :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1456.jpg)
One of the other things is a tiny little twitching i get on the Pan servo. I first thought it was because on the ground it was in close proximity to my uhf tx. But as the antenna demo showed it was doing it in flight too.
This could be solved by one of three things :
1) Ferrite ring to squash rf
2) Moving servo stretcher away from Uhf rx
3) Swapping servo
Im thinking its more the servo stretcher than the servo brand myself so i moved the stretcher away fom the rx, next to the servo itself. I then added a ferrite ring too while i was at it.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1458.jpg)
The ferrite on both servos are tucked under the cockpit well out of the way too :
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1457.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1460.jpg)
So hopefully, all my servo twitching will now be a thing of the past, the stretchers away from anything, ferrites on, should be good to go :)
I will be changing the base for the flight camera though when im able. The camera will sit forward of the servo so when i pan and tilt down it will hang over the cockpit so i can actually look down and apposed to looking at the cockpit foam :)
Well that mod must have been the shortest one ive done.
On panning i found the servo was twitching, not due to the stretcher, but due to just too much strain on the servo. So out it came. Then i figured, if i was going to do it, i might as well do the other mod to bring the camera out a bit so i could look over the edge as well
On went a Futaba S2001 servo, which seems to like the servo stetcher more as well as being bigger. I just cut a bit of plastic as the mounting arm and that was that done :)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1462.jpg)
Much better fov around the plane now
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1465.jpg)
that seems to have dun the trick, it will be a nice view now, I hope it doesn't vibrate when flying.
regards G
Cool, should be useful for low passes over sunbathing beauties on the beach ;)
Nice one ian..good move
Lol, well another minute, another change of mind :)
Decided it was too high so dropped its profile and drag and make it a lot better to look at too
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1466.jpg)
Ha Ian.
Its a bit quiet on hear today so I re read this whole thread, see if there was any tips for the mini sky walker, your biled is so well thought out.
Its like a good book, there's excitement and suspense, then sadness and diaper, followed by good will and a happy ending.
I have some interference from my 5.8 video, I was wondering if it was the prop affecting it, I might extend my clover out bored, see if it makes a difference.
the lased Post you did hear on the camera mount, the little red platform, did it vibrate? or was it OK, have you made any more mods, or adjustments.
I have just ordered another Mini Sky walker from hobby King, its like $25 or something, Ive got the plane, 4 decent metal gear servos, the motor, a ESC and a few more odds and sods for just over £60 delivered I'm going to try a 35mhz setup in this one, + at that price its worth it as a spear.
regards G :)
Hi Gordon, cheers mate. Both myself and Paul found issues with 5.8 antennas on the tail, i mounted mine out to one side and it cured it 90% o the time. Its not the prop but the carbon spar and lipo blocking it.
The camera mount doesnt vibrate at all to be honest, its still on now.
Once i get my futaba back from repair ill be running seperate pan and tilt controls for the Skywalker, adding flaps but apart from that i think thats it for now, although i might add a second camera with pan and tilt for passengers with his new mixer
oow passenger came, that sounds good,I have a spear set of goggles that I let passers by have a look with. I had some police officers wearing them lased weekend, they loved it.
I have my antenna mounted on the canopy, and the interference is mostly when I'm going away from me, its Iver prop or I to have a carbon rod running along inside the tail, I think I will have to experiment,
thanks for the info.
O don't forget the quid prize this month.
:)G
Now i have more channels thanks to the Turnigy 9 hack i decided to fit flaps. Not only does this give me flaps but because i could run ailerons on seperate channels now i could configure them for Crow or Aibrake functioning as well.
First i cut donw the side of the moulded flaps
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/Flaps.jpg)
Once removed i cut a taper down the hinge side
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/tapedflap.jpg)
Taped the top first
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/flapsremoved.jpg)
Then butted the flaps up, putting then as far forward as possible to tape the underside
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/undersidetape.jpg)
Full up, full down gave plenty of travel
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/Flapsup.jpg)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/Flapsdown.jpg)
I was also not happy with the tails movement when flying and lack of strength still so i carbon spaed the tail
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n39/cayote64/DSCF1543.jpg)
I bet you are flappy about the way that worked out with the Turnigy 9 hack, great additions to the, sky walker. did you really need flaps on it, or is it a case of, well why not.
:) G
She looks like a right beauty - nice one Coyote!
It doesnt need flaps, but after seeing chris`s sucess with flaps it well worth adding them G
Cheers Mrholozip
More mods to come before i finish yet :)
Looks amazing :)
Over thrown control surfaces were used for video purpose, but the turnigy is great, Flaps and Airbreak working jitter free and still two channels left to use :)
Flaps and Airbrake added (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_T7fABdUow#)
:)Spot on,.nice one Ian..
Quote from: Coyote on September 17, 2011, 10:57:43 PM...still two channels left to use :)
Looks great :) So are these gonna be for your passenger cam like you mentioned in shoutbox?
BW
Yeah on the tail with pan and tilt eventually
Quote from: Coyote on September 18, 2011, 12:17:04 AM
Yeah on the tail with pan and tilt eventually
Looking forward to seeing it :) Dare I ask how much more this weighs now compared to when you got it :P
BW
It was 2.4kg, ive added 2 spars, two more servos so not a lot more, but heavier motor and 4S lipo will raise it a bit
Crickey 2.4kg, that's nearly as fat as my Icon A5 and that takes a 6S 3000mah (well 2 x 3S actually)
Quote from: TeeJay on September 18, 2011, 12:39:40 AM
Crickey 2.4kg, that's nearly as fat as my Icon A5 and that takes a 6S 3000mah (well 2 x 3S actually)
So a 3s 6000mah ;)
2.4 is a lot, twice as much as my EZ. I can see why this is known as the flying truck :P
BW
Quote from: Badwolve1 on September 18, 2011, 12:41:17 AM
Quote from: TeeJay on September 18, 2011, 12:39:40 AM
Crickey 2.4kg, that's nearly as fat as my Icon A5 and that takes a 6S 3000mah (well 2 x 3S actually)
So a 3s 6000mah ;)
2.4 is a lot, twice as much as my EZ. I can see why this is known as the flying truck :P
BW
No they're in series so it's like I said a 6S 3000 ;)
Yes, it really does require 6S, mainly because of the supplied motor, it will work with a 4S (min) but only if a different motor is fitted, as standard it has a 3740 400kv brushless motor running a 12x6 prop
Quote from: TeeJay on September 18, 2011, 12:42:28 AM
Quote from: Badwolve1 on September 18, 2011, 12:41:17 AM
Quote from: TeeJay on September 18, 2011, 12:39:40 AM
Crickey 2.4kg, that's nearly as fat as my Icon A5 and that takes a 6S 3000mah (well 2 x 3S actually)
So a 3s 6000mah ;)
2.4 is a lot, twice as much as my EZ. I can see why this is known as the flying truck :P
BW
No they're in series so it's like I said a 6S 3000 ;)
Yes, it really does require 6S, mainly because of the supplied motor, it will work with a 4S (min) but only if a different motor is fitted, as standard it has a 3740 400kv brushless motor running a 12x6 prop
Seriously? that thing must shift, but thats another thread
BW
Its got a 3S 2200 for video in there too, not just the 5000 mah 3S for the motor right now
Quote from: Badwolve1 on September 18, 2011, 12:50:26 AM
Seriously? that thing must shift, but thats another thread
BW
Yep, I'll create a thread for it when I get to fly it again, best keep Coyote's thread clean, oooops, sorry :whistle:
Brilliant interference reduction tips thx.
Hope you get it back :(