Hercules (extended version) build thread

[Coyote]

Nice one bud  :) Sounds a bit scary when you think you running out of take off space :)

[pk-surfing]

The mown patch we have in the middle of the farmers field is 25m x 32m and the lads fly a big selection of planes and helis.

If there's a decent breeze then it's ok cos you can take off and land in quite a small distance if you get it right but on those days when there is little or no breeze we get a lot of planes running off the patch.

We just lay the electric fence down around the patch (pull the support posts out of the ground) and have had some great landings where the planes have ended up using the electric fence wire like a landing wire, in fact I've seen two planes overshoot the patch so fast they've had the undercarriage pulled off !

[Dizzy]

Pk a very impressive aircraft love to see it in the flesh sometime, sounds like your going to love flying her in the future, bet your on a high  :D

Shame about the prop but there will be plenty of days of perfect weather to come :D

dizzy

[pk-surfing]

First FPV flights today, I need to work on my editing skills a bit but these clips show the amps drawn at take off and cruising.

Take off full throttle maxes out at 74 amps for a fraction of a second then settles to 50 / 60 amps, cruising around is 20 to 25 amps

Hercules power use - take off and cruising

Running 2no 3S 4000mah lipos, 2no RCTimer BC-3530/10 motors with 9x6 props

Tested the FY21 Return To Launch on this flight and it worked perfectly, I was expecting a lot of tweaking using it on a wing but it just worked  :)

PK

[Rick]

Any more news on this beasty PK?


cheers

Rick
How is it flying? Any more videos to share?

[pk-surfing]

It flies but it is so inefficient on battery use I just can't be bothered with it now.

The take off from the ground is cool and it will do it even in a rough field but the flight times are so short compared to my other planes that it's gone on the shelf and I'm thinking about converting it to a pusher.

It seems that the pusher conversion is the way most Herc owners are going, even the designer and manufacturer on his RCG thread is accepting this and is now offering a pusher kit option.

So, if you really want an extended Hercules with twin motors that only just fits in an Audi A6 let me know, otherwise it's gathering dust for the moment.

PK

[Rick]

That's a shame mate, seemed like a nice big bird you had there!

I was hoping it would turn out to be a load carrying winner!

:-[

[pk-surfing]

It was 2012 when this Hercules last had a flight so I decided to give this hulking great wing another chance to fly by giving it a 2016 upgrade (almost 2017)

The two original RCTimer 3S 1400kv motors (360 watt each) have been swapped for two Propdrive 3536 1800kv motors running on 4S and I've had the wattmeter connected to make sure I don't over prop them.

Tried 3 blade 8x6 first but that was seriously overloading the motor, on a brief static test with one motor it was showing 1400 watts and a peak current of 95 amps..... too much for the motor and too much for the ESC's that are rated at 60 amp constant.

Tried an 8x6 two blade prop, this gave 75 amp peak on 4S
Finally settled on 7x6 two blade which is showing 65 amp, when I connected both motors up and tested it all in the garden the wattmeter was showing full throttle at 130 amp and 2,000w which is still overpropping them but I'll only use full throttle at take off.



I originally flew it with two 4000mah 3S lipos, for tomorrows flying it's getting two 3300mah 4S that I use in the Z2.

Trying it in the garden it shot off across the grass and would have taken off in quite a short distance so I'm optimistic about performance, the thing I know won't be too impressive will be flight time but I'll report back.

This plane is big and has 10 sq.ft of wing area and just fits in the car
http://www.crashtesthobby.com/hercules-xl-7076.html

It's overdue an upgrade so I'm hoping it doesn't disappoint, It's still got my FY21AP flight controller in and everything appears to be working just as it was when I put it on the top shelf in the garage 4 1/2 years ago.



And here's a photo from 2012 when it first arrived, I taped the main sections together to get an idea of size.


PK  :)

[Billy_boy_2010]

Wow looks brilliant! Will look out for video footage.

[pk-surfing]

I'll sort out some onboard video.
If I was flying with Coyote/Blueflyer/Richie tomorrow it would be 3D video with 360 surround.
Unfortunately my flying buddy tomorrow may get some footage with my iPhone if I'm lucky but that will be a bonus !

PK  :)

[BlueFlyer]

I'll sort out some onboard video.
If I was flying with Coyote/Blueflyer/Richie tomorrow it would be 3D video with 360 surround.
Unfortunately my flying buddy tomorrow may get some footage with my iPhone if I'm lucky but that will be a bonus !

PK  :)

haha, I'd definitely be buzzing around it in my MT... I'm betting it won't be hard to spot either lol

[pk-surfing]

John, who I was planning flying with tomorrow, has texted to ask if I've checked wind for tomorrow.... I hadn't.
Just checked and it's 21mph gusting to 39 so not happy if it turns out that way.
Will have to sneak out either Sunday or Monday to try it out cos back at work Tuesday

[Coyote]

Looks a lot better with that much more power :)

[Billy_boy_2010]

John, who I was planning flying with tomorrow, has texted to ask if I've checked wind for tomorrow.... I hadn't.
Just checked and it's 21mph gusting to 39 so not happy if it turns out that way.
Will have to sneak out either Sunday or Monday to try it out cos back at work Tuesday

Ah shame. She's going to be quite light with the same battery capacity as a 55" wing so she would prob get tossed around in high wind.

[pk-surfing]

Everything ready to get out for a fly if the wind drops, at the moment it's showing 26mph near the field
(Lucky enough to have a Highways Agency weather station just 1 1/2 miles from the field)



PK  :)