I have wanted to build a Baby flite streak for years.  I learned to fly with a combat kitten and then flew a Flite Streak with a Fox @ my first NATS in 1986 @ Lake Charles.  With Uncle Dennis doing all of these ECL, conversions, I really wanted to help out.  So I asked for a Baby Streak and a few weeks later, the USPS fairy dropped one off with an Arrowind 2040 2200Kv in-runner.  

Building the baby Streak was quite easy.  The laser cut kit was very nicely done.  All parts fit nicey.  The wood was pretty nice too.  With using the in-runner, I had to make only (2) changes to the plans for the conversion:

1.) Add a battery box in the outboard wing.  I achieved this by removing the shear web between the center rib and 1st rib.  I then added a 1/8" vertical grain balsa shear web 1.5" behind the spar to use as a battery stop.   I then used 1/32" hard balsa on top and bottom to seal the box.  I then planked as normal.  I sawed the LE from the center rib to the 1st rib and sanded flush with both ribs.  I made the bix fit a 3S Rhino 1050 pack.  

2.) Used a dremel and sanding drum and ground a hollow in both motor mounts to sink the motor in from the inboard side.  I then glued a piece of 1/16" ply on front to tie the front together and act as a stop for the motor.  

The motor and ESC are then held in place with tie wraps.  The battery is a friction fit in the battery box.

RTF weight is a bulky 10ozs.  I plan to fly on 42' of 0.008" lines.  The 2040 2200Kv turns a 4.7 x 4.2 prop @ 19,200 RPM on 3S @ 10 amps.  Should be a quick little bird.  I expect to go with smaller batteries for weight savings.

Enjoy,

Archie Adamisin
Muncie, indiana

Jim,

I asked for an in-runner as I have been testing a few Turnigy 2040's with great success.  There is a bit of a weight penalty, but the performance has been really good on the bench.  It also made for an easy conversion so it really was a no brainer. 

According to my spreadsheets, I should be able to break the 3.0 sec barrier on 42'.  The 4.7 x 4.2 is the lightest of my 4.7 diameter props.  I have up to 7.8 pitch in that diameter.   

I have put the batteries on a diet by removing the 5 inches of 12ga wire and deans ultra plug and replaced with 16ga and GWS plug.  I then removed the shrink wrap and replaced it with (1) layer of Kapton tape.  This reduced the packs to 2.8 ounces.  I then removed the Towerpro 18amp controller and replaced with Turnigy plush 10 amp controller.  This saved another .5 ozs.  So I am 1.25 ozs lighter.  Nothing like removing 12.5% of the RTF weight.

Archie Adamisin
Muncie, Indiana

Jim,

I have had pretty good sucess predicting lap times using the spreadsheet, but I agree, it is still a guess. 

I hope to have a flight report today if mother nature cooperates.  I programed a JMP-2 timer for 85% for 1.5 minutes and then increasing to 100% over the next 1.5 minutes.  3:00 total flight. 

I went to order some 700mah 3S packs and they are out of stock.  so, it will be my 1050's until I can get some lighter packs.  Should still fly fine.

Archie Adamisin
Muncie, Indiana

I like it!!!

Yeah Arch3 flew the Baby Clown and said he could do BETTER!    

His inrunner conversion looks like it is even easier thant the outrunner installations in this size bird.  I'm hoping the weather is clear on the day of the family Christmas Party - and that he brings it along. 

Hmmmm, maybe I should have a surprise waiting; the old age & treachery vs youthful exuberance... 

Flew the BFS today with the lightening mods.  What a difference.  I added a fair lead on the pushrod as I was getting some pushrod flexing that washed out the controls.  The lightening moved the CG back 1/4" and it now flies like a Flite Streak should!!  It turns on a dime.  I did 4 leaf clovers, 3 leaf clovers, overheads, vertical 8's, inside and outside squares.  Consecutive loops were a blast.  Lazy eights whipped up to blistering speed.  Don't really care about the wind up as in this sort model, it makes it a blast to fly.

I got (2) 3:00 minute flights on one charge.  I used 750 mah total for both flights.  Lap times were 3.0-3.15 sec/lap.  Lines were 42' 0.008".  This thing takes off and lands on the single wheel like a real stunter.  WHAT A BLAST!!!

Next step is to get a video.  It is going to be cold this weekend, but I will get a video as soon as I can. 

Archie Adamisin
Muncie, Indiana. 

Where is the source for the Arrowind in-runners? I did a search and could not find anything in the US. Is there a website that has some specs?

Thanks