Bixler 3 starter essentials!

[Ashafius]

Stick with the 2200mah 3S......As someone else has said....If later on you fancy a nice long cruise, you can always get one of those XT60 Parallel sockets and use 2 x 2200mah Lipos together....if you can get the CG right...

On the standard kit motor, that will definitely fly for 30 minutes, or even longer on 4400mah...:)....I use an 8 x 6 Prop on mine.

:vulture:

What's the difference between an 8x6 and an 8x4 does the 8x6 push out more power at the cost of battery? The plane requires an 8x4 so I'm interested why you choose differently :) (mainly because I don't have a clue how they work lol)

[FPVSteve]

Pitch is defined as "the distance a propeller would move in one revolution if it were moving through a soft solid, like a screw through wood." For example, a 21-pitch propeller would move forward 21 inches in one revolution.

So your 8x6 will move further than an 8x4 per revolution meaning more speed at the expense of more current draw (because the motor has to work harder to turn against the air).

However it could also mean that you can sit at 1/3 throttle instead of 1/2 throttle to maintain a given airspeed...

[BlueFlyer]

The first number is the distance from tip to tip... so in this case the 8 means 8 inches.

The second number is the pitch of the propeller. The pitch is the forward distance the prop will travel in one single rotation, but it's a purely theoretical figure. Imagine a perfect situation to achieve this number would be if the prop was embedded in some kind of treacle substance... as the prop rotates it wants to move forward in the fluid... how far it moves forward depends on how steep the angle of the prop's blade is... a steeper angle the greater the pitch.

In this instance (8x6) the 6 means 6 inches


so a 8x6 prop is 8 inches from tip to tip and (theoretically) moves forward in the air 6 inches every time it completes a full rotation.


The larger the pitch (steeper the angle of the blade) the more air resistance is encountered and the motor has to work harder to push it around. This results in your ESC pulling more current. You need to be careful not to pull more current than both your motor and ESC are rated for.

Hope this helps

[English Turbines]

What's the difference between an 8x6 and an 8x4 does the 8x6 push out more power at the cost of battery? The plane requires an 8x4 so I'm interested why you choose differently :) (mainly because I don't have a clue how they work lol)

If you are using a cheap plastic prop, then the increased pitch of the 8 x 6 will be useful....I use an 8 x 6 wood on my Bixler 2, but it does have a 1200kv motor in it modified to allow it to swing an 8 inch prop....Remember, you have a throttle and with a light set-up of a 2200mah will allow the plane to cruise along on about half throttle or 6 amps or so while you learn how to fly it...No problem..If you need to, you can trim the diameter of the prop a little....This will be better for example than say using a 7 x 6 Prop, which is way to small for a 1.5mtr plane like the Bixler 3....a common mistake.

I would suggest a Zippy Compact 2200mah 3S from HK UK....about £8.50p each I think....Even two in Parallel is still quite a small Lipo pack and they are pretty lightweight compared to say a Rhino of the same capacity....:)

:vulture:

[Ashafius]

Thanks guys, I was just reading about it too actually, you all helped out a lot :) so would this be fine http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__41123__Aerostar_Composite_Propeller_8x6_Grey_CCW_2pcs_UK_Warehouse_.html?strSearch=8x6 or do I need a better one? I don't mind price and if wood is better then sure, I couldn't find one when I typed in 8x6 though on HK

And as for the battery, change it to this? http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__31978__ZIPPY_Compact_2200mAh_3S_25C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html?strSearch=zippy%20compact%202200

[FPVSteve]

I thought cutting a propeller was a bad thing to do because its optimal efficiency is tip to tip and in cutting it, you make it work less well than one specifically designed for that length...?

[English Turbines]

Thanks guys, I was just reading about it too actually, you all helped out a lot :) so would this be fine http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__41123__Aerostar_Composite_Propeller_8x6_Grey_CCW_2pcs_UK_Warehouse_.html?strSearch=8x6 or do I need a better one? I don't mind price and if wood is better then sure, I couldn't find one when I typed in 8x6 though on HK

And as for the battery, change it to this? http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__31978__ZIPPY_Compact_2200mAh_3S_25C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html?strSearch=zippy%20compact%202200

Yep, that Zippy Lipo is fine...I use those.

You might want to choose an alternate prop, those are on Backorder...?  Don't order stuff shown as Backorder from HK....
  HKs Props are really quite poor, although the one you chose isn't so bad, which is why they dont have any....LOL.
  Try Gliders in Newark, they have some top quality props to choose from...it's a Pusher remember, it's doubtful you will break it.

Not exactly sure about the Bix 3, but on the Bix 2, I mounted the motor plate flush with the body moulding...This has the effect of making a little more prop tip clearance, thus avoiding cutting down the prop diameter.
  Cutting 3mm off the tip of an 8 Inch prop is still better than resorting to a 7 Inch prop, simply because the blade area is higher, even when trimmed.....You may well find on the Bix 3 there is ample room for an 8 Inch diameter prop anyway, not got one, so dont know for sure.....Don't use a 7 Inch prop...useless on such a large Model.
  I have a build thread on here for the Bixler 2, you may find it useful....?

:vulture:

[Ashafius]

Yep, that Zippy Lipo is fine...I use those.

You might want to choose an alternate prop, those are on Backorder...?  Don't order stuff shown as Backorder from HK....
  HKs Props are really quite poor, although the one you chose isn't so bad, which is why they dont have any....LOL.
  Try Gliders in Newark, they have some top quality props to choose from...it's a Pusher remember, it's doubtful you will break it.

Not exactly sure about the Bix 3, but on the Bix 2, I mounted the motor plate flush with the body moulding...This has the effect of making a little more prop tip clearance, thus avoiding cutting down the prop diameter.
  Cutting 3mm off the tip of an 8 Inch prop is still better than resorting to a 7 Inch prop, simply because the blade area is higher, even when trimmed.....You may well find on the Bix 3 there is ample room for an 8 Inch diameter prop anyway, not got one, so dont know for sure.....Don't use a 7 Inch prop...useless on such a large Model.
  I have a build thread on here for the Bixler 2, you may find it useful....?

:vulture:

Thanks, I'll take a look at your build, the bix recommends and 8x4 so I imagine an 8 inch is fine it's just the pitch to decide on, but I found this on the site you mentioned, this is the only wooden one which goes down to 8" from what I could see: http://www.gliders.uk.com/Zinger-Wooden-Prop-8-x-6/productinfo/JP5506583/ unfortunately this is out of stock :wallbash:

That or there's an APC one which is in stock, apparently APC is a good brand so I've read? http://www.gliders.uk.com/APC-PROP-8x6-LP08060/productinfo/APC-8X6/

[English Turbines]

Yeah, Im using an 8 x 6 Zinger wood.....But go with the APC anyway, if its an original APC, it will be fine....Buy a Prop balancer too...cheap tool but you need to balance your Props if you want to go flying with Cameras..lol.

I think I saw a balancer when I was in the shop the other day...

I think Gliders also sell the Graupner range, not sure if they go down to 8 Inch though.....Top draw props anyway.,,,:)

:vulture:

[Suggsy]

With regards to the battery, just be warned you *may* have to add nose weight with just a 3S 2200 in there to achieve the COG, that's what I found with mine.

[Ashafius]

Yeah, Im using an 8 x 6 Zinger wood.....But go with the APC anyway, if its an original APC, it will be fine....Buy a Prop balancer too...cheap tool but you need to balance your Props if you want to go flying with Cameras..lol.

I think I saw a balancer when I was in the shop the other day...

I think Gliders also sell the Graupner range, not sure if they go down to 8 Inch though.....Top draw props anyway.,,,:)

:vulture:

Worth getting the wood one instead of the plastic ones? It's a pusher obviously and would be pretty hard to break the prop so I'm not worried about getting cheap ones.

Also the Graupner's only went down to 10.5" unfortunately so if they are good they're way too big for my plane sadly

[Ashafius]

With regards to the battery, just be warned you *may* have to add nose weight with just a 3S 2200 in there to achieve the COG, that's what I found with mine.

If it starts loop-the-looping I'll keep that in mind haha thanks mate! ;D

[Ashafius]

Well it's all ordered apart from the prop which we're still discussing, oh and I really dislike hobbyking's website, it's the worst, beyond bad.. Lol unless it's not meant to be used with google chrome, it's so unfriendly

[English Turbines]

Worth getting the wood one instead of the plastic ones? It's a pusher obviously and would be pretty hard to break the prop so I'm not worried about getting cheap ones.

Also the Graupner's only went down to 10.5" unfortunately so if they are good they're way too big for my plane sadly

Go with the Zinger then, its unlikely you will break it.....Thing you will notice with the wood props is that they are VERY light, but also very ridgid....More so than say the APC.
People tend not to use them as they can break easily, but not on a Pusher, which is why I went with one...:).....Balance it by sanding the heavy blade, although mine was pretty spot on out the box...:)

:vulture:

[Ashafius]

Go with the Zinger then, its unlikely you will break it.....Thing you will notice with the wood props is that they are VERY light, but also very ridgid....More so than say the APC.
People tend not to use them as they can break easily, but not on a Pusher, which is why I went with one...:).....Balance it by sanding the heavy blade, although mine was pretty spot on out the box...:)

:vulture:

Thanks man, I'll be posting a build thread when it all starts to arrive, asking for help there no doubt! ;)