My SkyHunter build videos

[Vortecks]

All my YouTube subscribers wanted me to do boring, drawn out videos of my SkyHunter build.
I'm not the most interesting person and I really couldn't understand why but hey, I'll do anything for a laugh.
Some of my methods might be frowned upon and I have made changes before I actually finished it.

Anyway, here they are in all their glory. I haven't finished it yet but comments and criticism are very welcome!
(seriously, I welcome criticism)

[Coyote]

I have enjoyed watching the series. I like your attention to detail with the finer points :) It is looking a smart build. As for observations requested : 

Part 1 : 2 Watts of power is far too much for the Vtx, it will saturate the plane with RF. Your GPS and UHF can be susceptible to 1.2 / 1.3 transmissions. I would highly recommend using 800mW max and that is only if your considering flying 20km+ away.

Part 4 : I do not understand the BEC backup mentioned, You say if the current sensor fails then the Vector gets its power from the 5v Bec, but the 5v Bec is supplied from the current sensor isn't it ? So if the current sensor fails which is not impossible then all the Becs will fail.

Parts 5 : You did leave access to the bind button on the EZUHF didn't you for flashing firmware ?

Part 7 : Moving the GPS over to the Rx was a good idea to get the Vtx further away. The Vtx though is generating a massive 2 watts of power and its goes to get very hot. You have took it out of its heatsink with would dissipate the heat and then fit it with 5 of its 6 sides now covered. This is not a good idea, I would at very least use some small heatsinks on the case. It will also blister all the foam surrounding it when it heats up............ Ask me how I know that one .........  :+

In part 8 the GWS 125 1T is the daddy, as long as it's an original as we have said in another thread, tilt servo wise though I can not recommend one. All so far fell short of expectations in terms of being smooth so I went brushless gimbal instead.

I do look forward to seeing the maiden, it's certainly had the wrench time put in on it.

[Vortecks]

I'm so glad I joined up here. This is just the kind of thing I was looking for and I feel guilty for jumping in and asking for advice.
To answer your observations........

Part 1 : 2 Watts of power is far too much for the Vtx, it will saturate the plane with RF. Your GPS and UHF can be susceptible to 1.2 / 1.3 transmissions. I would highly recommend using 800mW max and that is only if your considering flying 20km+ away.

Point taken. I bought it because it was cheap (only £15 on eBay). I do have an 800mw version and I'll change it. I also intend fitting a low pass filter.

Part 4 : I do not understand the BEC backup mentioned, You say if the current sensor fails then the Vector gets its power from the 5v Bec, but the 5v Bec is supplied from the current sensor isn't it ? So if the current sensor fails which is not impossible then all the Becs will fail.

I did a video teardown on the current sensor and did a lot of head-smacking to figure out a "what if" scenario. The current sensor uses 'hall effect" current sensing and it's impossible for the power to fail entirely. At very worst, the OSD will stop displaying voltage and current and the 5v/12v rails will fail (neither of which I need) but the power from the battery will still flow through it. Having the BECs on the output side of the sensor will have no effect if it fails.
If you have a look at this, you'll see that there's a zero ohm resistor that bridges the 2 halves together.
https://youtu.be/Dk9i409lCLo?t=1m47s
I really did my homework on that one  ;D

Parts 5 : You did leave access to the bind button on the EZUHF didn't you for flashing firmware ?

Nope, I overlooked it and never thought I'd need it. I went over all the possibilities with regard to programming and binding (as you know, it can be done through the EZUHF software). Hopefully I'll never need to upgrade the firmware but if I do, I have a big saw that'll easily gain me access because it's going to be hard to get to it now  :)

Part 7 : Moving the GPS over to the Rx was a good idea to get the Vtx further away. The Vtx though is generating a massive 2 watts of power and its goes to get very hot. You have took it out of its heatsink with would dissipate the heat and then fit it with 5 of its 6 sides now covered. This is not a good idea, I would at very least use some small heatsinks on the case. It will also blister all the foam surrounding it when it heats up............ Ask me how I know that one .........  :+

It was a concern and I hoped that the airflow over the high pressure side of the wing would provide enough cooling - That's why I didn't mount it on top. I'll be changing it for the 800mw version and add some extra cooling (I hopefully have a plan for that one).

In part 8 the GWS 125 1T is the daddy, as long as it's an original as we have said in another thread, tilt servo wise though I can not recommend one. All so far fell short of expectations in terms of being smooth so I went brushless gimbal instead.

I now have an LUA script running on my Taranis. This makes the servos accelerate, rather than constant speed (starts off slow, gently accelerates to full speed and then slows down as it reaches it's final position).
I've already been researching a 3 axis gimbal for the Runcam but I can't find one that'll fit my needs. I might make my own  :)

I do look forward to seeing the maiden, it's certainly had the wrench time put in on it.

Me too mate. I can't thank you enough for your help and I'm glad that Trevor (whoever he is in here) pointed me in this direction.
As I come to the end of this build, I'll hopefully have more time to contribute to the forum and help others. I do have rather a large knowledge in everything quad related.

Thanks again Mr Coyote, it's very much appreciated Sir. You are the master  ;D

[Coyote]

Cool, that's most things covered. One more point, on the ESC remove the ground wire that goes to the Vector ( part of the servo style cable. ) This will remove the ground loop potential from the ESC. It is good practice to always do it while using a current sensor but even more so because you added the bullet connectors in between increasing the potential.

[BlueFlyer]

hahaha, I had started to write some questions/comments as I was watching the videos... but as you went on, you changed stuff around, moving components from where they were in previous vids...

I think Coyote has already covered most of it... personally I think there's far too much going on inside that plane, especially considering how good the vector PSU is at filtering and voltage regulating... I just add a separate balance plug fed BEC to my vector aircraft to power the EzUHF, Servos and vector 5v power backup... but you clearly know what you're doing with all those electronic gubbins, so crack on as they say lol

As I've already mentioned on the comments in the video... I love your pan/tilt canopy.... only criticism would be that you didn't sink the pan servo into the base of the canopy, as opposed to having it as high up as it is... the base of your cameras are now going to be a fair bit higher up than the top of the fuselage, but that's just an aesthetic personal preference of mine... nothing that I can see would cause any problems.

The only other stuff I would have done very differently is down to personal preference, things like construction techniques, painting and finishing etc... none of that is any of my business of course.... I just get concerned about adding extra weight to foam aircraft that's all lol

all in all, a great video series and I look forward to the maiden.

[Vortecks]

Coyote:
Another point well made. I'll remove the earth on the ESC and I think I'm going to hard wire the ESC to the motor and current sensor. I don't like unnecessary points of failure.

Mr BlueFlyer:
I never conform to conventionality and always load as much electronics as possible. I always soak-test every component and load it to its full potential before I fit it. I did it with my Skywalker and I'm glad I did - one of the 5a BEC's that I bought, failed after 45 mins of soaking with a 2a load. I built a wing wing Z84 and had to fit a Naze and an EDF to it because no-one else had done it..... I've still got to crash maiden it and I know it's gonna go horribly wrong as usual. I was also the first to fit a turbine to an RC car which went very badly.

I did want to sink the pan servo into the fuse but there's a reason for it. You're gonna hate it but I've also made some steerable undercarriage and the mountings and servo will be in the way. Plus which, I want the flight cam to be as high as possible for a true 360 view of everything. I'm only a short bloke and (having the flight cam up high) makes me happy.

The covering...... hmmmmm I wish I hadn't done it to be honest. Although it looks nice, I think it's added at least 50kg to the weight  :laugh:
This is the first plane I've covered and I do have some Solarfilm but I'm crap at applying it. I'm good with electronics but crap at the finishing touches. When I get my Drak, I'm not touching it and only fitting the bare essentials (he says with an evil smile).

Thanks for the comments guys, it's just what I wanted  ;)

Tony

[Vortecks]

I'd just like to add....... I did say that the current sensor uses the "hall effect" method of measuring current.
This is incorrect and it uses a shunt resistor and measures voltage drop across it.

I got it mixed up with my Arduino projects  >:(

[Gundummy]

i enjoyed that.. almost as much as your blooper reel  ;D

Rugeley ..or further south judging by the accent?

[Vortecks]

i enjoyed that.. almost as much as your blooper reel  ;D

Rugeley ..or further south judging by the accent?

I lived in Rugeley for 8 years but I'm now nearer Lichfield.
Well done.... I didn't know there was a Rugeley accent :)

[Gundummy]

Wife's from cannock.... she was onto you like a tramp on chips lol

[English Turbines]

So pleased you didn't use those crappy Sanders UHF antennas....They are good for whipping up scrambled eggs though...:)... :happy: :happy:

:vulture:

[Vortecks]

I am using them really.... I just put a ground plane on them and made them into a dipole.
I did it with my quad and it improved the range no end  :)

[Vortecks]

If anyone's bored and wants a laugh.......

[Lola]

I think the build videos are fantastic! Well presented and certainly a joy to watch. Thanks! 

[BlueFlyer]

With the undercarriage being so short, the fuselage sits a lot lower... I would be worried for when you rotate upon take-off... your prop is going so hit the ground