Foam board fpv plane. Based on flite test simple soarer...

[stevec]

Hi all,

There was a design for a fpv bird which was a high end glider converted for fpv use.

I figured I could use the flite test simple soarer wing and make something similar for £20... Obviously I'm not going to get the performance of the thousand pound airframe but I should be able to get some fun out of it.


I mocked up a plane out of paper with bamboo skewers. It flew ok so eventually I had some spare motors and radio gear so on with the build.

Each wing half is the full width of a sheet of foam board, and the wing comes out at 66 inches.

I need to work out a way of mounting the twin booms so it comes apart for transport.

The tube is a cardboard shipping tube about 3 inches in diameter. I plan to use a 6100 mah 3 cell pack for flying. I'll be using a 12 inch prop and have a full fpv set up on board.

Will post up more progress as it happens.

Cheers
Steve




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[skyscraper]

Looking Good !

regards
Andy

[Charliewalker]

Why is it that foamboard just doesn't seem to be available in UK in any reasonable size sheets unlike the States where I gather you can get very large sheets quite easily at hobby stores?
Nice build BTW

[stevec]

hobbycraft sell it in the same size sheets as they use on flite test. £4 a sheet and buy 3 for the price of 2 so not quite dollar tree foam board, but still cheap.

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/hobbycraft-a1-white-foamboard/539724-1000

a 66" wing cost 8 quid to make. with enough left over for the control surfaces and tail feathers.

I think I'll use carbon rods for the tail rather than the mocked up dowels as it is going to have a big battery.

/Steve

[weavo56]

I have just bought A1 sheets  10 for £27 off ebay , how big was you thinking of ?

Graham

[Charliewalker]

A1's not a bad size for building, as stevec said he's built a 66" from it, but I gather in US you can get 8' x 4' sheets of the stuff quite cheaply, just wondering why it's never caught on here? 

[stevec]

The only thing I can think of is that handling 8x4 sheets would be really awkward both in the warehouse and getting it home,  remember this stuff is sold at hobbycraft the average punter in there comes in a Nissan micra rather than a panel van.
You couldn't put it on a roof rack so I reckon it is just a supply and demand thing.

You could always try contacting the manufacturer? 

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[weavo56]

Are you having any trouble with the foam board papers . I've seen the " Peace Drone " fpv plane and the construction  /build needs you to strip off the paper to get good curves . Some of the sheets I have theres no chance of getting it off . I have ordered from a different supplier hope their's is better made .

Graham

[FPVSteve]

One trick to get the paper off which works .. er, somewhat .. is to dampen it first. Note that I didn't say "soak" :laugh:

It then just peels off (your mileage may vary)

[weavo56]

Will give that a go , thanks .

G W

[iwan_canobi]

How is this progressing? Thinking of something similar myself!

[stevec]

How is this progressing? Thinking of something similar myself!

Not got any further with it I'm afraid.  I got distracted by ardupilot and getting some stick time on the disco.

I just need some servo extensions and I'll be giving it a go...