The SkyWalker is simple enough to build... so I'm not doing a build log, instead a run down of what I've done different.
Internal Mods
I wanted the flexibility for attaching "stuff" in the future, so I've installed three strips of ply with captive nuts fitted to allow me to do this.
What am I going to attach? Well, some intial thoughts...
Landing Gear - yes I do want to be able to attach wheels. I know it's not the done thing, but hey, I fancy it, I have the wheels and landing gear so why not?
Camera Sponson - that's just such a fab word. Sponson. I don't like the idea of just clagging my key cams directly to the foam, so I have a camera platform in the offing, more to provide a slightly different recording perspective in flight - so one poiting rearward, another offset forward... whatever really
Floats - it's Dizzy's fault, but handy to HAVE the ability to do it. I'll let her sink her SW first and perfect the actual gear :D
Weapons - no not a rail gun or anything fancy. I've got something up my sleeve on that front, lol
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6028867582_3f9858f8c8_b.jpg)
You can also see in the above picture the hatch. I went down the tape hinge neodynium magnet clasp route and a bit of paracord offcut for a handle (nice and light)
External - it's all bout the colour scheme
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
For the record, it's Halford plastic primer, 3 coats of satin lacquer and the decals are safmat printed on my inkjet. The decals (stickers) came out better than expected, although there are some areas where the edges have lifted.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/6037628969_dbe4ca47eb_b.jpg)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6037628681_5c05e8d34b_b.jpg)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6038178036_c670a5150c_b.jpg)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6038178168_122968b2d6_b.jpg)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6037628841_5efc77b111_b.jpg)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6037629435_b86fe37f20_b.jpg)
So there you have it...
Over all I'm happy with the way it turned out. The underside of the wing I left white. I'm gonna say it was for LOS orientation - the truth is I ran out of paint and not splurging another £7 on a tin.
Few things to do to complete yet as I still haven't received my VTx combo from China (obviously on the slow boat!!). When I attach the landing gear / sponson, I'll take some more photo's.
Next up, LOS maiden... COG setting, etc and we're ready for FPV!! Yippeeee
Feedback / questions - fire away :D
FD,
That has been worth the wait, if that was mine I don't think I could bring myself to throw it SKYwards....... it should be put on a display shelf.
You've put mine to shame (and definitely Coyote's :D )
Can't wait to see it flying round, we need a 'best dressed' model of the month, you've got my vote.
PK
Lol yeah put mine to shame mate, nice job fella :)
Nice paint job.
I much prefer loosing the space for the strength in the new V4 canopy
What i dont see though is any tape on the wings, thats a must really
It is pretty substantial.
I just epoxied the camera mount on, although I am tempted to stick some ply on the underside with captives to add additional reinforcement. I'll take some more picces of just the canopy for you, although you'll see it tomorrow if I'm allowed out on my own ;)
Hi Fd you certainly done a sweet job on the paintwork looking very smart,
Keep us posted on your maiden :D
its no longer a skypig, or a sky truck, just a MAD byrd ha ha
dizzy
Pixim seawolf! :D
Nice job - I'll be impressed if it still looks like that after 5 - 10 flights though, heh.
Steve,
You just know that's what we've all been thinking......
But needed you to put it into words ;D
PK
Lol, this is true, after the first crash you realise it was a lot of effort for nothing hehehe. But it does look the muts nuts right now :)
I've saved the image files needed for any future "adjustments" and filler does a wonderful thing, lol.
Yup, mines got a fair bit in it now, doesnt look too bad. Cant beat it for foux pas :)
that looks great mate. when the Easy Star dies, Im tempted.
regards G
www.bevrc.com (http://www.bevrc.com)
LMAO...
I tend to price things up in dollars and then allude it to HK dollars... so it cost loads less that it actually did, if that helps :P
Maiden went well. Until this
Untitled (http://vimeo.com/27693353)
Oh well, bit of glue and CF later it'll be as good as low mileage second hand.
A huge thanks to Coyote and PK-Surfing for their help today. OK, you got the last 6 seconds of the fourth (technically third ;) flight... but after trimming it was flying a dream.
Wind picked up a bit more than I'd have liked with a new bird, but hey, back in at the deep end and it was great to get my thumbs on the sticks.
It cause it was grey wasnt it, Admit it you couldnt see it lol, Glad there wasnt much damage mate ;D
lol, believe it or not, I didn't have any issues at all. The yellow bird was like a beacon on the front... happy days :)
Now thats out of the way and it's been 'inducted' into the world of FPV you can now look forward to many happy hours of goggled flying with it :D
Ahh shocks..mate..glad you got it sorted now...hopefully some fpv next time... :)
Yeah it wasnt too bad. Bit of glue it`l be right. I must admit the grey is hard to see, but the birdie sticker stuck out so well you could pick it out
True enough... but I won't be looking AT the plane I hope, at least I figured that would be the idea, haha :laugh:
Quote from: Funky Diver on August 14, 2011, 11:08:47 PM
True enough... but I won't be looking AT the plane I hope, at least I figured that would be the idea, haha :laugh:
That is true, but the spotter needs to no which way you are going, so if you do loos video, you can still bring it back.
unlucky with the damage, its not that bad, good Luke with the next flight. G :)
For the record, it wasn't orientation that caused the issue...
Plane was on low throttle banking round to land into a head on wind and got caught right where there was an updraft.
Longer vid of the flights will be up once I've finished editing
The full final flight (we'd been setting trim and servo travel in three previous flights!)
SW Flight 4 - The Whole Flight (http://vimeo.com/27701219)
Excuse the shakiness of my Camera man... I can't really sack him, he's only 9, lol
He did pretty good to keep it in shot :)
It was pretty good once it was trimmed out, look forward to next time with hopefully better weather :)
Fd :D You obviously like a challenge the weather could have been better for you though.
Glad she is basically sound, it looked a nasty impact at that distance.
Your boy deserves credit for his camera work not easy to hold a camera still in that wind.
dizzy