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Building Tips and technical articles. => 1/2 A building. => Topic started by: Jim Moffatt on September 05, 2009, 02:11:53 PM
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Here is my Electric Baby Clown. It is a stock Brodak ARF with the following modifications; fabricated balsa/ply motor mount, increased wheel size to clear an 8" prop, installed horizontal stab in line with wing for equal up and down elevator authority, cut pocket in wing to match the battery and provide correct CG. It is flying well on 40' . Lap times are typically 3.5 sec with a governor.
Because I can't do 3.5 sec lap times due to dizzyness I fly it RC style around a pylon (Weighted Camera tripod). That is why it has an RC receiver and elevator servo.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/100_0211.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/100_0212.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/100_0213.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/100_0214.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/100_0215.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/100_0217.jpg)
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OK I'll bite...You have a servo operated elevator. How and why ??? ??? ???
John
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John
I get too dizzy for anything leass than baout 5 sec lap time so i fly it RC style around a pylon (weighted camera tripod). If I didnt get dizzy I would use a handle.
(I added this info to the original post)
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Longer lines, Jim, longer lines...I'm using 48' with a Norvel .061. Try even as long as 52'.
I don't get how you're RC-flying it around a pylon with the rudder offset the way it is...unless you're going clockwise?
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I think he has it tethered to the pylon, and flies it from outside the circle with the radio link to the elevator. A more modern way to do what some have done with hideous mechanical linkages.
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That's very interesting. Do you have any photos of the tripod setup and other setup tips? I think that my elderly father might enjoy participating like that.
Thanks,
John
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John
Here is a video that shows another plane setup with my tripod.
Click the image to play the video.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/th_100_0185.jpg) (http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/jpmoffatt/?action=view¤t=100_0185.flv)
For the Baby Clown I use a 40' line of 20 lb test monofilament. My current power setup which flies the 3.5 sec laps consists of
1. A BP Hobbies 2217-9 outrunner with 950 kv
2. A 20 amp ESC with governor.
3. A hyperion 3S 850 mah battery
4. Either an APC 8x8 prop or 8x6 prop.
I found a minimum of 40' is required for the Baby Clown to have sufficient "airspace" for stunts.
To get good line tension on overhead 8s I need the 3.5 sec lap time. To get this performance the battery power is about 100 watts. I am still experimenting to optimize the motor and prop combination but this setup is entirely satisfactory and is probably what I will stay with. The weight on the tripod to keep it from being pulled over is 15 lb.
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OK thanks, I get it now, very clever.
Yeah Larry, I remember the mechanical setups that were supposed to accomplish the same thing; sit beside the circle with a joystick, hooked with lines along the ground to a bellcrank-like gizmo on the pivot that in turn worked the 2-line system...or something like that. I believe your word "hideous" adequately describes it.
I think the RC way is better!
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Yeah, a young guy by the name of Bob Underwood designed a plane and had it published that could be control line, tethered with the radio for the throttle and elevator. Then the same plane could be flown strictly RC. Can't remember the name of the plane. He was District VI VP for years before moving to headquarters. He was the one I went to to get control line mentioned in his articles as Swope Park was in his district. I live in district IX and could nothing out of our VP. Having fun, DOC Holliday
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you should hook a bellcrank to your transmitter with a short length of lines and a handle to get a more true effect. ;D