My Wildhawk FPV/LoS platform

[FPVSteve]

Yea it is, but because the Wildhawk is so underpowered it just tipstalled immediately as it was on the edge as the motor died  :D

[FPVSteve]

Well, here's tonights video.. my 3rd FPV flight, but only the first where i've felt comfortable enough to keep the goggles on for the whole duration.

FPV First Steps - Wildhawk

It's very difficult with a low powered plane because you can't make it go where you want to. Ordering a new motor as we speak.

[FPVSteve]

Well, I finally got a brushless motor for my WildHawk and I'm impressed so far. It's a 2600kv jobby that I got for 20 quid shipped, including ESC, prop and prop adapter... bargain I thought.

I've only got it running on a 2 cell Lipo at the minute but a 3 cell is ordered - however, I took the plane out tonight and there's already a massive difference so I'm chuffed.

Also, the brushed motor weighs an extra 80g and the nimh pack I replaced weighs an extra 55g over the 1800mAh lipo i'm using, so I've saved 135g which is always good.

The plane climbs nicely now with all of my FPV gear onboard which is what I wanted (not so bothered about speed) - when the 3 cell is put on it should really make a massive difference so.. bring it on :)

However, I've had to rewire everything after the initial flight - I couldn't FPV because the motor seems to cause vibrations which affect the cheap vtx I have. Even putting the VTX out on the wing didn't help, so I've had to mount it inside the canopy as pictured below. As a bonus, the plane is a bit more streamlined now (you can't polish a turd, but you CAN roll it in glitter...)



Here's to a great FPV flight tomorrow I hope!

[FPVSteve]

Decided to switch my camera out and replace it with a one from G.Collins on 'ere .. much obliged fella.

New Camera Test

[venquessa]

You could upgrade the motor?  Giant Cod do one that produces 250W.  Made my AXN very overpowered for LOS and plenty for FPV.  Even with a GoPro, cased Vtx and video battery onboard.

Bare in mind though that even if you make it more powerful it will still need to fly fast to not stall, including during landing and it will still stall violently and unforgivably.

Check this out.... upgraded motor test flight (with dummy GoPro).... check out the stall at the end.... nasty.
AXN Clouds Fly / Floater Jet Motor Test Flight

Motor was: http://www.giantcod.co.uk/221206-2200kv-brushless-outrunner-motor-p-402397.html with a 5x5 sport prop (from memory).

Also, if you happen to have a genuine MD-80 cam (not a copy), it will have a metal case.  Remove it.  My MD-80 case alone weighed 49g!  Camera only 19g.

[ZL2FPV]

What size battery do you have in it? I find my AXN Floater Clouds Jet Fly still flies and lands ok with FPV gear and a Gopro strapped on. I'm using a 1800mAh 3S lipo.
Mind you I suppose I do tend to land with ample speed on and haven't extensively tested stalls yet. You probably want to be flying at least 4 mistakes high to give a bit of margin for recovery ;)

[FPVSteve]

Oh the battery i'm using is a 1800mAh 7.4v 2 cell, I'm waiting on a 3 cell to be delivered for a bit extra oomph.

[ZL2FPV]

I'm sure it will be a whole new animal with 50% more volts on tap!

[FPVSteve]

Still on a 2 cell, but it was a nice night so I took the plane up again.

Hoping and praying that my new battery comes soon.

Summer Night

I was actually a lot higher than what this video makes out, the lens is "zoomed in" somewhat - those buildings you can see at the waters edge that look about 200 metres away are actually an easy 1/2 mile.

[Sheldon Holy]

Looking good there Steve. Nice stable platform.

Loving the hymns BTW :)

[FPVSteve]

Well, I added the brushless and tonight I finally managed to maiden it with a new 3 cell lipo that arrived this morning.

What a difference.

3 Cell Maiden

Now I can FPV without being afraid that the plane is going to fall out of the sky due to the lack of power.

Bring it on :D

[FPVSteve]

Oh forgot to mention.

Took a trip to Wilkinsons and picked up some strong nylon tape .. £1.49 a roll, and taped up the wings to give them sooo much more strength - works a treat, and they have it in a lot of different colours. And it's nice and shiny too :D Removed all the crap decals too, I think it looks much better.

I think i'm going to pick up some luminous fablon for the bottom surfaces too so that I can tell the difference in the air, heh.



Next up - waiting for my "No Fear" stickers to arrive off ebay :D

[Sheldon Holy]

Cool!

It actually works now then!

About the luminous stuff on the underside-No one has figured this out yet, I only found it through trial and error, but the underside of the plane is, well, the underside so there is no light there... So the luminous stuff does nothing! And also you only really get disorientated in bad lighting (cloudy or evening etc...), and in perfect conditions (blue sky, sunny (morning)) you'll only get disorientated  if:

1. You are blind.

2. You can't fly.

3. You are dumb enough to make a blue plane.

The only way to make a model show up is to have bright stuff on top.

[FPVSteve]

Haha - well, it was quite low light tonight at just before 8pm and it was tricky to tell top from bottom (both red) although I guess once I've put some stickers on the top it'll make a difference.

[g.collins]

Good going Steve, you have mooved on some since I have been away for a week, nice flying, looking good.
regards G