My 2011 FPV Platform - Skywalker

[venquessa]

So I've decided to take what I learned from the AXN and build a better platform this year.  First off, NOT an AXN.  Skipping the easy star completely, no offense, but seems I don't like small heavy planes.  Momentarily considered a Uruses UAV thingie and settled on the Skywalker.

Ordered the SW from FPVHobby it took about a 3 days to dispatch and a week to arrive.

From Hobby King:
Turnigy Aerodrive TR35-36-B (35A, ~400W on 3S 9x6)
Turnigy Superbrain 60A ESC (over kill but future proof)
8 Hextronik MG-14  Servos (14g/2.2kg/0.11sec)  Only because I have 6 or 7 of them already and haven't had the slightest trouble with them on helis.
1/3-inch SONY CCD Video Camera (PAL) - Just to try it  out.  If it works, great.  If it doesn't I'll pay up for a securitycamera2000 600TVL cam.
Hobby King 401B AVCS Digital Head Lock Gyro    (Ailerons, also does rate mode, gain set from the Tx channel 5)
2 Turnigy 5000mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack
2 9x6E APC Props

From Ebay:
Futaba 9C + 3 35Mhz Rxs.

Also from ebay over the first week, a huge list of little things, connectors, glue, carbon strips, rods, etc. etc.  I'll compile a list at some point.

Already have a Corona 8 channel dual conversion Rx.

Unboxing:






Album: http://www.campbell-multimedia.co.uk/gallery3/index.php/RC-Photos/Skywalker-FPV/Unboxing?page=1

Wiring harness:




Wing Strengthening:
1x8mm Carbon strip from root to tip, cut deep through the dihedral point, UHU Por'd in. 



Hinging:



Wing completion.  Note not LEDs yet.
Glass fibre tape covering all the new strip spars, main spar covers and servo wire.


Servos hot glued in, using the original/stock rods, horns and servo horn attachment.  One of the servos is a little stiff due to the horn hole not being reemed out enough to allow the horn attachment from rotating, but it'll loosen up.


I can see quite a few evenings of tinkering to come :)

Paul

[electricmick]

Nice one Paul, you are obviously Venquessa on RCG or you are using the same photos!!

I have a Skywalker still in the box sitting on the floor next to me and most of the parts to kick-off the build. Please post lots of pics as you build this as I will be a few steps behind you. Carbon strips in the wing will be the first step, perhaps next weekend if the weather is still bad.

Good luck with the build.

[Coyote]

Nice choice Paul, the popularity of the Skywalkers is sky rocketting and for good reason. Great choice for FPV. Ill watch with great interest, Bignose loves his :)

[venquessa]

Nice one Paul, you are obviously Venquessa on RCG or you are using the same photos!!

I was venquessa on here for a while, up until yesterday.  Fancied a change.

I'll try and get loads of pics.  If you follow the link above to the album itself you can look at all the photos at full scale.  Sorry if the server's a little slow at times, it's my home server, can't be bothered pay for hosting and having to upload stuff :D

[mark1975]

Nice one paul its all coming together excuse the pun lol.

[pk-surfing]

Hi,

Could you let me know where you got the 1mm x8mm cf strip from, I seem to have looked everywhere but the nearest I have found is 0.5mm x 8mm.


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[bignose13]

Best plane out there at the moment, I loves mine
TBH, I didn't put any carbon strips in mine and not had any issues with it, I did over 100kmh dive Friday and no issues
But hey, I'm not saying dont do it, I just didn't do it to mine

[venquessa]

Could you let me know where you got the 1mm x8mm cf strip from, I seem to have looked everywhere but the nearest I have found is 0.5mm x 8mm.

My mistake, mine is 1x3mm.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Carbon-fibre-strips-1x3x1000mm_W0QQitemZ160543336075QQcategoryZ34056QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7543750915737128637

[n00b@FPV]

ooo your skywalker is more colourful then mine, mine dosent have any yellow

[Coyote]

Any more progress Paul ?

[venquessa]

Not much to be honest Ian.  Started a new contract for work a large american company (still based in Belfast though) so a little shattered on the evenings and some early starts to boot.

I hinged the rudder and drilled 2 props last night :)  BTW, the prop reemer faced with a nylon APC prop would take about 4 hours to reem out to 6mm.  I didn't have a 6mm drill bit, so I just used the dremel reeming bit, then fixed the "roundness" of the hole with the prop reemer.

I hope to get the tail finished and the fuse sown up at the weekend.  Which would have me on target for a test flight the following weekend.  Target date for the full version 1 (FPV gear + Flaps + LEDs) is end of march. 

Paul

[venquessa]

Some skywalker progress.

More wiring loom, <yawn>

Main Battery->ESC lead with "equipment" power splitter (Futaba Plug).


Wiring loom end-to-end system test.  From camera to goggles.  'Cuse the mess!





Fuse Layout + Tailboom 'spar' glued in.




Also complete, but not photoed yet is the motor mount, Motor<->X Mount<- 3mm bolts/nylocks -> Wood mount.  Hope to epoxy it on with the motor attached.  I'll worry about removing the motor if and when i need to :)

Also, Put the control horn and rod in for the rudder.

Still to do:
* Embed pan servo.
* Cut hatch.
* Cut tail servo slots in other side of tail
* Glue fuse halves together
* Mount motor
* Attach tail piece and elevator servo
* Wing mounting
* Canopy and GoPro mounting.
* 12V Camera mount
* Vtx Mount
* Battery velcro

So... not flying tomorrow!

[Coyote]

Never mind, progress has been made at least :) Best thing comes to those who wait

[Ian F]

I fly the skywalker, great plane, noted that earlier you say you hot glued the servos in the wing. I did this originally and one pulled out on a tight bit of banking (see video  "crash"). Hot glue doesnt stick too well to shiney plastic things. I superglued and hot glued them in this time, and i used a file to roughen up the surfaces I was glueing.

[pk-surfing]

When I hot glue servo's into foam I wrap then about 3 times with a strip of masking tape then hot glue them in, this sticks ok and also stops any chance of hot glue squeezing past the case joint and into the servo !


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