Vulcan FPV Conversion
My web site shows the previous builds and plans to download
https://deprondesigns.wordpress.com/vulcan-fpv-conversion/ (https://deprondesigns.wordpress.com/vulcan-fpv-conversion/)
I now have three Vulcans, my first build was well used and a lot heavier than my revised versions so it was time to rework it and as I have moved my interest to FPV the vulcan as a large winged plane is an obvious choice. As the nose was so heavily weighted to get COG I thought it would be good to substitute the weight with a larger battery and FPV gear.
It was a gut wrenching start as I hacked into it to removed the nose section. The photographs show the progressive build.
(http://s30.postimg.org/3z74xp7jx/IMG_6922.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/3z74xp7jx/)
(http://s30.postimg.org/dr9t3cigt/IMG_6923.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/dr9t3cigt/)
(http://s30.postimg.org/96nmoeyrh/IMG_6924.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/96nmoeyrh/)
(http://s30.postimg.org/uuh6clojh/IMG_6925.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/uuh6clojh/)
(http://s30.postimg.org/3xx74a5q5/IMG_6926.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/3xx74a5q5/)
Simple construction using using carbon fibre rods and some 2mm slats left over from some Ikea venetian blinds
I shaped a round balsa wood nose section to bond it all together and worked out to be very strong. I sized the battery bay to take a 4000mAh 3s battery with some extra room for olderpuffy batteries.
(http://s13.postimg.org/ctwvzfev7/IMG_7165.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/ctwvzfev7/)
(http://s13.postimg.org/q1w9sdceb/IMG_7167.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/q1w9sdceb/)
(http://s13.postimg.org/a2dm8tgcj/IMG_7168.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/a2dm8tgcj/)
(http://s13.postimg.org/xs31xiepv/IMG_7169.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/xs31xiepv/)
I created two covers made from used soda water bottles and painted the inside to get a nice shiny outer skin.
The camera is a Runcam 600tvl on a pan and tilt system and was not very discreet. I managed to install an Aomway 200mW VTX in the access panel and with a BIGNOSE13 skew planar antenna should get a reasonable range.
The first test flight was a real handful as the extra overall weight was a struggle for the NTM 28mm 2200kv motor running a 6×4 prop. It was back to the workshop and work the figures for more power and aerodynamics.
The motor was replaced with a NTM 35mm 1800kv motor running an 8×6 prop. I also ordered a smaller Runcam Sky 650tvl camera and mounted it to the pan servo and opened for a fixed tilt.
(http://s29.postimg.org/lm4czev6b/IMG_0001.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/lm4czev6b/)
(http://s29.postimg.org/4a8lrpr2r/IMG_7446.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/4a8lrpr2r/)
Maiden flight all loaded up
http://youtu.be/-0Iv4xJ2oos (http://youtu.be/-0Iv4xJ2oos)
This was its actually its second test flight but first with FPV enabled and flew LOS with two volunteers viewing the flight from the onboard camera. I also included the tarrot GPS OSD from Banggood UK which worked really well.
The new motor and prop provided ample power and the stability was greatly improved. I was really pleased with the way it performed and the next opportunity I will record the flight video.