Everybody is playing with depron (or more common here in USA fanfold foam). Unfortunately here in California Lowes and Home Depot doesn't carry this kind of foam. The only option to get this material is WallMart's foamboard, or just mail order it. I decided to go with foamboard.
I have designed something like Edge 540 with big ailerons, huge rudder and counterbalanced elevator. Big side profile enforced with carbon fiber has the thrust line at the wing level. I think it is important to it's excelent flying characteristic.
It took me almost two weeks to finish my plane (peeling off the paper skin from the foamboard is a killer). When I tried to fly it, "BANG" - I hit the only rock on the field. GWS gearbox is broken. I had to get a new one.
I was confused with up and down, so I painted it blue at the top, and red at the bottom. Now from the distance I could tell, which side is up, which is down. Here it is:
The top view
The bottom view
I took it to our local hobby shop, to show it to our guys. Dave was there. I asked him, if he would like to try it. He said "No problem, when?". "What about now?" I answered. I was thinking about going to the local park. Dave looked around, and said: "OK, it's enough room here. Bring the radio, and let's fly it".
"What the heck, why not" I thought. I can build another one. Minutes later I couldn't believe my eyes. My Edge was torque rolling inches above the floor between shelfs (Thanks Chuck for picture).
Torque rolling inside the hobby shop
Next day I took it to the park. The first time I was able to torque roll the real airplane, not just on the simulator. And I loved it. Then I tried to play some other stuff I had always problem with.
Knife edge. No problem here, but I had to use just a little of rudder. The big side profile and the huge rudder works very well for that.
Side view
Here are some details:
- Wingspan = 30 in
- Wing area = 360 sq in
- Weight RTF = 12.5 oz
- Wingloading in flight = 5 oz/sq ft
- Power = GWS EPS-300C/BB - D (6.60:1) Power System
- Propeller = GWS 12x6 Orange Electric Propeller
- Battery = 8 x 750 mAh NiMh
- Receiver = GWS Pico
- Servos = BMS-371 Micro Servo (Blue Bird)
- Pushrods = home made from carbon fiber rod
I like this plane so much, that I have bought the whole box of 5mm Depron, when I was in Poland last month (cost me arm and leg for excess badgage). I'm going to build these plane for my fellow modelers in our club.
The only problem with this plane is, that it likes "no wind" weather. It can still fly with the wind, but it is difficult to torque roll it when the wing is blowing it all over the place. Here is a sample video of torque rolling in the wind.
Windy torque roll
Here are some detail pictures of my new toy:
Powerplant.
Two BMS servos for the tail
Battery, receiver and speed controler
- Go with brushless (size 20). With the same GWS gearbox it will kick the but.
- Go with LiPo battery. It will save at least 1 oz but extend the flight time to over 15 minutes (right now I'm having 8 minutes).
- Paint it with latex. I used markers, but latex will look much better.
Klick on the picture below for 16 seconds of WMV clip (1.2MB)
The missing chunk of foam above the motor - that's the result of contact with the only rock on the field.
It turned to be tail heavy, so I kept moving battery forward unitl it met the aileron servo.
