My first FPV Plane arrived. Skywalker 1900

[helimadness]

Hi All.
Well my first FPV plane arrived today. Well actually first RC plane. Had helis for about 18 months, flying FFF and mild 3D so not so worried about learning to fly it. Find it reasonably easy to fly planes on the sim.
Just no idea how to build it and cant find a manual? Anyone got one or any tips on how to setup for a beginner.???

any advice welcome. Really looking forward to getting it going. Have already tested all the camera gear on my Trex 500 so that got me hooked.

Cheers

[DaveyLC]

YouTube is your friend:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=skywalker+1900+build&oq=skywalker+1900+build&gs_l=youtube.3..0.306.4229.0.4274.30.19.5.3.3.0.157.1460.15j4.19.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.T8znV1hdMSQ

It should be pretty self explanatory as its a basic airframe :)

Being a Heli-guy I'm surprised you didn't opt for a multi-copter :)

[dogzilla]

Great plane the Skywalker but a few things I would suggest need doing:

Wings need strengthening.... I have used 10mm wide carbon strip and I have embedded two strips for each wing which run the full length.

Tail section liable to wobble. When building I added additional carbon strips into the tail section which glued onto the carbon boom. This is critical because stock the tail will move around ALOT.

Alternatively people put carbon spars between the ends of the horizontal stab and the bottom of the boom to keep it from flexing.

Throw the stock control hardware away it's naff. I use 2mm steel and metal clevis, heatshrinked and glued permanently once I got the throws right.

The stock motor position restricts the size of your prop. Most builds raise this up with a custom motor mount. Alternatively you can just use smaller props. But it flys much better on 4S and a 9x6 prop if you ask me.

What power system and batterys have you got?

[helimadness]

YouTube is your friend:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=skywalker+1900+build&oq=skywalker+1900+build&gs_l=youtube.3..0.306.4229.0.4274.30.19.5.3.3.0.157.1460.15j4.19.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.T8znV1hdMSQ

It should be pretty self explanatory as its a basic airframe :)

Being a Heli-guy I'm surprised you didn't opt for a multi-copter :)

Thanks Ill start downloading.
I have played played around with my camera FPV gear on my Trex 500. Found it really hard to hover. By the time you realised you started drifting on the screen the heli already had some speed up, then to correct to stop and then re level was fairly hard. Figure a quad would be the same unless you put a auto pilot on it but think that defeats the purpose for now.
I am also keen on doing some higher long range flying eventually and the plane just seems like a better solution. Also think learning to fly without the assistance of and autopilot is better. Teaches better habits I figure. Maybe more rewarding in my mind.

Cheers

[helimadness]

Great plane the Skywalker but a few things I would suggest need doing:

Wings need strengthening.... I have used 10mm wide carbon strip and I have embedded two strips for each wing which run the full length.

Tail section liable to wobble. When building I added additional carbon strips into the tail section which glued onto the carbon boom. This is critical because stock the tail will move around ALOT.

Alternatively people put carbon spars between the ends of the horizontal stab and the bottom of the boom to keep it from flexing.

Throw the stock control hardware away it's naff. I use 2mm steel and metal clevis, heatshrinked and glued permanently once I got the throws right.

The stock motor position restricts the size of your prop. Most builds raise this up with a custom motor mount. Alternatively you can just use smaller props. But it flys much better on 4S and a 9x6 prop if you ask me.

What power system and batterys have you got?

Thanks appreciate the good tips. Any pics  of the carbon plate add on's :-)
have got a sunny sky 2814 1100kv motor.
Emax ES08MA x 4 servos
2600 Mah 4s lipo.
funfly 40 amp esc
and a couple of 9x6 props, haven't check the clearance only just taken out of the box and bed time now.

All that was the  "recomended" specs on the site I brought from.
Is this going to do the job?

Have got a
700 tvl had 2 sony camera
200mw VTX 5.8g with clover leaf aerials.
Remizibi OSD for the FPV side.

Figure this should get me going upto 1km safely.

Plan on going maybe a FY-41AP autopilot once I start trying to go any further than that.
Cheers

[DaveyLC]

I ended up converting the tail on my Skywalker to the more traditional layout:



It seemed more responsive and the tail was a lot stiffer.

[wgt40w]

I ended up converting the tail on my Skywalker to the more traditional layout:



It seemed more responsive and the tail was a lot stiffer.

Which side do YOU sleep on ???

[DaveyLC]

 :laugh: That's a spare room.. It was only allowed in their briefly to take a photo as there isn't enough floor space in my man-cave  :-[

[helimadness]

Hi All.

I see there is already carbon strips in the tail and the tube in the wing seems fairly solid. Not sure what model I have does it look the same?
Ok so how do I insert an image? when I click on insert image it just come up with 2 img in brackers and doesn't let me paste anything in. 

Few questions.
1) Do you glue the wings together or can you keep them separate?
2) do the servos really just hot glue in?
3) What is the EPO glue like to use, sounds like there is a few minutes curing time to get stuff together before it sets.

Think that will get me going.
cheers

[dogzilla]

1. I kept mine seperate and just use tape to hold them together.

2. Yes servos just hot glue in... Be generous :)

3. The stock glue is probably typical shite chinese white tube. You want some UHU POR. The application of the glues is the same though, you apply to both sides to be joined, let to set for 5-10 minutes and then press together.

[helimadness]

1. I kept mine seperate and just use tape to hold them together.

2. Yes servos just hot glue in... Be generous :)

3. The stock glue is probably typical shite chinese white tube. You want some UHU POR. The application of the glues is the same though, you apply to both sides to be joined, let to set for 5-10 minutes and then press together.

Thanks for the tips. I ordered another tube of glue with the kit. Didn't know if it came with any. As I am living in China and buying everything here I just got a bigger tube of white stuff. Will try and see what it says. Couple more questions that have come to mind.

1) Once glued together can you ever get apart?
2) How much throw are you looking for on all the controls? Is there a set distance on the servo horns that work? My heli I set to 12 deg pitch for instance. IS there a rule of thumb with this stuff?
3) I couldn't think how the 2 aileron were going to plug into the Aileron port in the RX. When I opened all the bits I found a "Y" Cable. So assume you just slave the 2 servos together and because they are opposite they work opposite so all good. Is that right? Sorry im sure a totally daft question but I have only flown heli and never planes so need some educating :-)

Would love to have a manual. Not sure of there even is one? Haven't been able to find any online and it didn't come with one.

But hey what could possibly go wrong  ;D Certainly not as intimidating flying a foam plane compared to a 700 size heli for the first time.

Cheers

[Drone 5]

Hi helimadness

I am just in the process of my Skywalker V6   1680mm build. A fellow member (Flyn) sent me this link for the general Skywalker manual a couple of months ago.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uploads/117433069X7478X36.pdf

[helimadness]

Thanks for that.
Started cutting the Ailerons and elevator flaps and and got them stuck back on last night. Glued the carbon strip into the elevator part of the tail. Just need to do the rudder now.

I was looking at my control horns and they just have the spikes that push into the foam. I guess they just glue in with the EPO glue? Doesnt look very secure to me. Might get some bolt on ones.

Ordered some carbon tube to stiffen the tail. The vertical bit just looks like it might be a bit wonky. Also found some stick on carbon tape at works so "borrowed" some of that. Might wrap it around the wing and tail to see if it helps a little.

Cheers

[Drone 5]

Get rid of the control horns they are pants and use good bolt through ones . Also ditch the linkage rods and use 2mm rod and metal connectors.I usually put a small piece of very thin ply on each side of the foam as well to act like a washer to spread the load.. Some use tape.

Have you looked at previous threads on here for Skywalker builds? Loads of info. One of these is by Coyote.

http://www.fpvhub.com/index.php/topic,3937.0.html

M

[helimadness]

Thanks Ill check it out. I have another list of stuff in my cart ready to order.
I have found the bolt through control horns and metal rod but only plastic screw / clip on connectors. Guess that are ok and better than the bent bit of wire.

Cheers