Piper Cub FPV platform

[drubug]

Have been playing with a WOT4 Foam-e for past couple of weeks as an FPV platform, now that i loaded all the gear inside and its just not going to cope with the weight, full power and barely climbs at all.

Plus the landing gear was not up to the job, it wasnt even a heavy landing!



Ripped out the undercarriage and a big blob of foam with it. (Wheres the CA)

So rather than upgrade the motor and ESC, as i like flying the Wot4 im going to switch over to a new FPV platform.

I have a electric Piper Cub and I love flying it, so its time to switch over all the gear to that, it has MORE than enough power, i know... You cant prop hang a real cub.. I know ive flown one... anyway,

Thought I would post some pictures and let you know the kit i have inside it.

The Kit.

• PiperCub, Cant remember the make of it but its 1.85m wing span
• Futaba 35mhz 9C super transmitter with Corona 9ch Rx
• CPD4 Co-pilot stablization system (works like a treat dont fly planes with out this on)
• Video Tx, with rubber ducky
• CCD camera 550
• Eagle tree OSD Pro with RTH function (this will be fitted later as im STILL waiting for a replacement unit after last one was faulty)
• 2 x 4s 2500mah batteries

Also have

• Flight box (well tool box from B&Q water tight and only 20quid
• Video Googles, no idea of make bought off ebay for 40 quid but they are perfect!
• Acer laptop with Easycap for recording flights

(Always record you can play it back and work out where your models hiding in a tree!!

[/list]
Here are a few pics of the platform


PiperCub


Massive area for electronics


CPD4 On top of the wing


GPS unit mounted in the cockpit but this is pretty close to the vtx to ive moved it behind the wing.


Still to do.

Will tomorrow build a Pan/Tilt unit for the camera and mount this in the cockpit.



Maiden FPV flight tomorrow , weather permitting.

[Coyote]

Looking good, that looks a much more formidable bird to carry the extra weight. Good to see the WOT4 isn`t dead.

Good luck with the maiden tomorrow :)

[mark1975]

looking good dru nice little setup there mate ..im getting eager now myself lol good luck with your maiden tomoz and we want a full report by 5.30pm lol

[Sheldon Holy]

Are you going to get rid of the plastic windows when you get the camera in? I guess the reflections could ruin everything, i've played with a keychain camera in a windowed cockpit and unless the material is completely clear it can be very hard to see.
So probably a good idea to get rid of the windows if you haven't done so already.

Sheldon

[drubug]

Thanks for the advice, yes I was going to trim back the top of the window and poke the pan and tilt out of the way.


Dont want to completely remove the screen as it directs a large proportion of the thrust from the prop so would have a marked effect on endurance.

Will post pics of what i do

[Sheldon Holy]

Ok. But try to get rid of as much as possible. Removing all the windows will have no effect on thrust at all. At any rate it's not like its some old warbird with such a huge radial cowl that onle half an inch of prop sticks out around the sides :o LOL
Every which way, you'll get the best results without windows, and very little aerodynamic properties are lost, and a picture will be so much better with a clear view. It'll also keep all the bits and pieces nice ans cold.

Sheldon

[drubug]

Again, ta, I was going to have the Pan Tilt unit fitted so its kinda poking out the top, reducing the amount i have to trim off the screen.

But yes i know what you saying, and ill def keep the camera clear of the screen  ;D

Will post some pics tomorrow

[drubug]

Too windy for the maiden today, although I did drive up and down the road FPV :)

Built a pan and tilt system for the camera this morning.

Using the camera bracket (modified)

and 2x Micro servos





Pan servo screws into the camera bracket,

The Tilt servo is fitted by fixing the arm to the bracket upright and the camera and the servo move with the arm staying screwed to the bracket, this way the camera can just be stuck to the servo body with tape. You also dont need to worry about hinges for the camera to fix to.



Fitted into the plane by the pan servo being installed with tape and a screw. I decided to fix into the corner of the plane cockpit, as this way you can look both left and right but looking right you can look straight down past the landing gear. (should be good for the flair)

And as advised I have put the camera outside so that the screen does not cause any problems with the vision. (thanks for the tip)

Few other bits done including the wing navigation coloured tape.


This is actually the stuff they use on Ambulances and is VERY reflective so you can see red or green in almost any lighting conditions.

[mark1975]

she is looking sweet mate all ready for here maiden mm the weather yet again letting us down they even said it was going to be nice weekend mm got it wrong ..looking forward to your progress dru cheers matey

[drubug]

Its rubbish weather, but hey better to be on the ground wishing to be in the sky than in the sky wishing to be on the ground  ;D

To be fair the plane has flown many times just not with all the FPV stuff in, so its only the FPV maiden.

I love how this plane flies without the extra weight and the size and overpowered engine should cope well.

Just need to remember flaps for landing!

[drubug]

Pan and Tilt Demo

Video of the pan and tilt in action.

[drubug]

Seeing as the weather wouldn't play along, i went with the back up plan...



Hot tub!

[Coyote]

Hi Dru, looking good mate, i would have recommended a different way of tilting the camera. The way i do it has a bit more strength, pivots on both camera bracket legs so wont shake as wind speed hitting the cam get high

Like this :

pan and tilt test

Shame you didnt get out, always tomorrow :)

[drubug]

Yes I thought about doing it that way but the way the camera i have was attached to the bracket i thought there was a risk of the screws coming out and the camera going bye byes. Ill give this a go and if it does shake will re fit it as you suggest :)

The camera is pretty much in the prop wash and at full power there wasnt any shake from the wind, so will see in flight.

[mark1975]

blimey check that landing strip out ;;;; nice one dru he he