My Skywalker is taking shape...

rob.thomson · October 31, 2013, 09:31:36 PM

I have had this one sitting in the shed for the past 2 months waiting for bits to arrive.

The motor and servos arrived last week - so out she came for a quick (can you call it a build) assembly.

This one will be completed with the following:

Sony HQ1 Super HAD 700TVL

Cyclops Storm

200mw boscam tx

Fatshark Spiro Antenna

FrSky RX

... and thats about it.

Not sure yet what power pack I will use - but probably a 4500mah 3 cell.

chris-s · October 31, 2013, 09:56:25 PM

Looks like it will soon be ready to fly, mine seems to be taking an age, deciding where to put stuff, soldering up cables and connectors, waiting for bits to arrive then ordering more its I forgot about, its going on forever! There seems to be more electronics going in than they had in Apollo 11.

Chris

Coyote · October 31, 2013, 11:21:25 PM

That`s looking really nice :)

rob.thomson · October 31, 2013, 11:50:41 PM

Thanks guys.

I am trying to keep it as simple as possible. I have found that the more you complicate things, the harder it is in the long run!

Got the bulk of it together today - so cant be too far wrong.

Hell.. call me a speed builder! I put the Z-84 wing together yesterday in about 2 hours :-)

Rowgerwulff · November 01, 2013, 12:41:02 AM

Mine spiral dived into a tree about 18mths ago. :+ If I was going to build another one I'd definitely spend time strengthening it. Are you bothering with this?

_tj_ · November 01, 2013, 02:22:21 AM

Mine balances just right with a zippy 5000mah 3s

I get about 30-40 min flights.

rob.thomson · November 01, 2013, 09:41:20 AM

I have glass tapped the entire fuselage.

Then glass on then front of wing, and tail.

That should sort most of the impact zones.

A spiral dive?

The model is T tail. My guess is maybe you had one wing stall by flying too slow. This would have started a spin.

No the problem with a t tail is that in a spin, the wing can sometimes shield the tail from airflow, when in a stall condition. The result - an unrecoverable death spiral!

Not much can fix that one. Maybe just a touch of nose weight.

I guess you could put in a servo with a weight shifter on it. Magically push the cog well forward in an emergency. But it just too much effort.

The only solution is to not allow it to occur in the first place :(

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Rowgerwulff · November 01, 2013, 10:42:34 AM

I am interested in building another as they're good big stable camera platforms with lots of space to install/separate/access FPV kit.

I think from memory mine had an AUW of about 2kg. There was noticeable flex in the wings and also a rather nasty rotational flex from the root of the fuselage pod boom up to the T-tail. Is that what your glass fibre is designed to do? I have seen some aircraft having been modded with strakes from the fuselage boom up to the horizontal stabliliser to sort that out. If I'm building another one, I'll have a good look at what people are doing to strengthen their airframes. I'd probably put additional cf strip or rod into the wings too.

(......The crash started when the prop sawed through the Vtx lead......the Vtx being located on the horizontal platform aft of the prop. Video here - it's a very nice normal unexciting flight at dusk until about 0:40. Lots of lessons learnt personally.... :+
http://youtu.be/kvRNdqWi4Jk

rob.thomson · November 01, 2013, 11:08:39 AM

Yup.

Glass tape. (Cricket bat repair tape) is an amazing material.

:)

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Rowgerwulff · November 01, 2013, 11:25:20 AM

Sounds like you've got it sorted. Good luck and let us know how it flies :) Cheers.

rob.thomson · November 01, 2013, 12:22:52 PM

Sadly I have to wait for my cyclops and the camera to arrive!

Based on your comments - I have just made some quick mods.

An angled strut to make the tail more rigid.

And a 5mm spar in the center section of the wing to stiffen it up a bit.

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Rowgerwulff · November 02, 2013, 12:13:52 AM

Check out around 1:25 to 1:50 on this vid.....

FPV - Team Echelon - Skywalker Formation Flying: Volume #1

Dizzy · November 02, 2013, 12:23:29 AM

Quote from: Rowgerwulff on November 02, 2013, 12:13:52 AM
Check out around 1:25 to 1:50 on this vid.....

FPV - Team Echelon - Skywalker Formation Flying: Volume #1

Thats Sweet we are hoping to do similer with three Penquins next year :D

dizzy :)

rob.thomson · November 02, 2013, 01:05:21 PM

Cyclops Storm turned up today.

All I am now waiting for is the camera.

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rob.thomson · November 02, 2013, 05:50:50 PM

Cyclops installed. :)

Also done some work on the camera pod.

I have used a 6 cell balance lead as an interconnect from the camera pod to the model. This will mean just 1 plug is used to disconnect all the devices on the pod.

Rob

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