Author Topic: Crossfire Extreme XLTC (Read 27062 times)

Bob Hunt · « **on:** March 10, 2013, 12:23:10 PM »

Hi all:

Just thought you might like a sneak preview of my newest Crossfire variant. I call this one the Crossfire Extreme XLTC. The XLTC stands for Extra Long, Tricycle Landing Gear. As the name suggests, this one is longer than the previous variants in both nose and tail moment. The wing and tail are also increased in span. Overall this is a more stretched look and I think it is much sleeker. Yes, those are simulated gear doors and they will hide the arming switch, the timer start button and the timer pin access. I wanted to be able to get quickly to the timer pins just in case I needed to change the program just before I have to fly in competition. Not having to open the hatch to do this makes life easier.

The projected weight is 61 ounces with the battery on board, so it is on track to be about an once and a half lighter than last year's ship. The motor will be a Power 25 from E-Flite and I plan on being able to use a 3300 mAh pack.

I have wanted a another tricycle landing gear ship for years. I have had a few of them in the past. The first of my competition trike gear ships was my Avanti design. Those of you who might think that is a Bob Baron design, well, you are half right. Bob did have an Avanti, but it came years after I had mine!

I also had a semi-scale F-105 Thunderchief that had trike gear. I just love the way they ground handle and I also like the aggressive look of the trike gear. I'll throw in a couple of shots of those planes here as well.

I have to detail fit the hatch, make "real" main gear spats and then I'm ready for finish on the XLTC.

Later - Bob Hunt

Matt Colan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2013, 12:58:11 PM »

Hi Bob,

Looks great so far!!! Can't wait for the finished product!

How much did you stretch it?

Jeff Traxler · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2013, 02:15:36 PM »

Hi Bob,
I like the trike gear.That and the subtle changes make it look like it just came in from a 1600 mile crosscountry.Is there enough room in there for a Power 32 so you can use 5s packs?I like the extra voltage.
Trax

john e. holliday · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2013, 02:59:23 PM »

Looking at the pics with out color reminds me of the RPV's our heroes are flying. I love it and imagine it will be even better when finally dressed in colors.

George Grossardt · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2013, 05:11:52 PM »

Cool...different...bet it will get some style points...

Have fun with the finishing process.

Dan Bregar · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2013, 06:17:54 PM »

Hi Bob

Interesting ventral finnage fore and aft.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2013, 08:01:17 PM »

Looking mighty fine! Also looks like quite log jam at the paint booth - git em done Bobba!

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2013, 08:37:29 PM »

Bob,
How do you do the LG in the wing for a foam wing and trike gear? I'm guessing instead of ribs going forward they go aft!

James Mills · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2013, 10:11:16 PM »

Bob,

Very cool, I like the trike gear. The gear doors on the nose and flavor to a point are reminiscent to the Formula S to my eye, one of my favorites. I've played with the idea of dressing up a modern electric with the Formula S aesthetics.

James

Howard Rush · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2013, 10:16:58 PM »

I don't like the color as well as last year's, but it's better than the metallic brown.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2013, 05:57:53 AM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on March 10, 2013, 08:44:44 PM

Hi Chris:

You guessed it. And I put a secondary spar in the aft foam support spar. See the attached photos...

Later - Bob

Great idea! Thanks Bob.

bob whitney · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2013, 09:23:42 AM »

Bob, what is the wing area ??

Randy Powell · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2013, 01:22:07 PM »

Very slick. I like the idea of hiding the arming switch and start button and such. I may steal, ah appropriate, that idea for my new plane.

Bill Little · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2013, 02:31:50 PM »

Hi Brother Bob,

I think this one is another awesome design from the mind of a great innovator. Thank you for sharing all of your "secrets" with us!

Bill

Bob Hudak · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2013, 07:36:52 PM »

Awesome plane Bob ! Can't wait to see the paint scheme you cook up for this bird.

Mike Ferguson · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2013, 12:01:56 PM »

Looks great, Bob!

If anything, it reminds me a little of the original R/C Crossfire you built ...

bob whitney · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2013, 03:04:33 PM »

Bob, what prop do you think you will start with on the E-25,

Bob

bob whitney · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2013, 03:05:51 PM »

Bob, thinking about doing an E-formula-S

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2013, 07:23:48 AM »

Bob,
Looks great. Can't wait to get back to my e-project!

Mike Ferguson · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2013, 01:45:57 PM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on March 12, 2013, 12:07:02 PM

Hi Mike:

Yeah, there is more than just a little dose of that ship here...

Hey, call me sometime dude! You now live just around the corner. I still have a wing in the shop that belongs to you. It is well aged...

Later - Bob

Aged a bit longer than I would've liked! Hopefully it's like a fine wine ...

Will touch base with you soon - hopefully I can pick your brain about how to turn the wing into something e-powered ...

Allan Perret · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2013, 08:19:37 AM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on March 10, 2013, 04:13:00 PM

Gee Doc, ya' know, it does! The paint will fix that for sure...

Here are a couple more shots. I made the "real" spats (the spats shown in the previous photos were just templates to get the right "look") and installed and sanded them. I'm pretty happy with the looks of this one. It has an aggressive look I think.

Jeff: At the weights we are attaining I just don't think the Power 32 and the 5S are necessary, but, yes, I could install a 700kv motor and a 5S battery if I wanted to.

Later - Bob

In second picture, looks like the fuse is open at the rear. Is that for cooling ?

Dean Pappas · « **Reply #21 on:** March 27, 2013, 08:14:39 PM »

Yes, Allan it is.

Dean

James Strickland · « **Reply #22 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:08:01 PM »

Quote from: Jeff Traxler on March 10, 2013, 02:15:36 PM

Hi Bob,
I like the trike gear.That and the subtle changes make it look like it just came in from a 1600 mile crosscountry.Is there enough room in there for a Power 32 so you can use 5s packs?I like the extra voltage.
Trax

Hey Jeff, What exactly is it that you like about the "extra" voltage of a 5s over a 4s pack?

Jeff Traxler · « **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2013, 11:22:13 AM »

Hi James,
I like the extra voltage because it offers a bit more headroom.I can find 5s packs that weigh close to a 4s pack so I don't pay too much of a weight penalty.I feel that my 5s setups run cooler because of the reduced amperage.Some may think it's overkill but having a little too much comes in handy on the windy days.
Trax

Jeff Traxler · « **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2013, 05:59:41 PM »

But Bob,It was the extra voltage that got Frankenstien goin'.....Extra amperage would have cooked him

Bob Hudak · « **Reply #25 on:** March 29, 2013, 08:52:52 PM »

But Jeff,
Current in amps is equal to the applied voltage divided by the resistance.

Peter Germann · « **Reply #26 on:** March 30, 2013, 05:29:52 AM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on March 12, 2013, 04:18:16 PM

The 12 x 6 EP APC. That is the prop that made last year's Crossfire "come alive." Albeit after the Nats...
Bob

Bob, what is your T/O RPM with the 12 x 6 EP APC and which was the prop(s) you've used before?
rgds, Peter

Allan Perret · « **Reply #27 on:** March 30, 2013, 06:16:20 AM »

Hey Bob:
Will you be offering foam wings and/or lost foam jigs for the XLTC version ?

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #28 on:** March 30, 2013, 06:58:58 AM »

The Crossfire looks great as a trike. Everything you have done here looks like a bold step forward. Keep plugging away!

Howard Rush · « **Reply #29 on:** March 30, 2013, 11:40:01 PM »

I would be worried that with tricycle gear, a tailwind could flip it over.

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #30 on:** April 01, 2013, 08:59:52 AM »

Bobba,

Slick as sn-t. but which way is forward?

Ward-O

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #31 on:** April 01, 2013, 10:33:08 AM »

Ward-o,
That was BAD!

I can't wait to see the new Crossfire and the Twin completed. And they will not have Brown or bronze on them.

But I will have some metallic brown on my new airplane!

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #32 on:** April 01, 2013, 06:08:43 PM »

Bob : Finish one project at a time....

You're making us look bad.......

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #33 on:** April 01, 2013, 08:56:26 PM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on April 01, 2013, 05:07:25 AM

Hi Peter:

The TO RPM is in the 8,700 range. I initially used a 13 x 5EP APC prop. The 12 x 6 works much, much better! Thanks go out to Paul Walker for the suggestion to try the 12 x 6.

Later - Bob

Bob,
When you say try the 12x6 prop, which prop do you mean specifically? Thanks.

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #34 on:** June 02, 2013, 02:04:29 PM »

Bronze highlights would look good on that.

I'm partially colorblind so I can't tell if that's a gray-blue, a dark green-blue, poiple, or what. What is it?

(and yes -- my wife helps me out on color schemes if I venture beyond red, white and blue)

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #35 on:** June 02, 2013, 02:41:30 PM »

That canopy (?) style seems to be popular. I suppose it doesn't matter on a model, but on a real plane it would be uncomfortable if the pilot had to lie down (feet get in the way of a clear view of oncoming traffic?)
Floyd

RC Storick · « **Reply #36 on:** June 02, 2013, 05:35:36 PM »

Where do I get a needle nose spinnner like that one?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #37 on:** June 03, 2013, 09:55:20 AM »

Boy, Bob has that right. My current model (in finishing process) would be a killer for the pilot. Probably literally. Could see much but the dashboard.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #38 on:** June 03, 2013, 11:56:02 AM »

Sparky and Bubba both have cooling air going through the fuselage and out the back. Did you "waterproof" the inside, and are there no bulkheads or framework to stiffen the sides, etc.? I'd love to see construction pictures of that. I'm concerned that flying in even misty conditions, the fuselage could absorb water, shift the CG and ruin the finish from the inside. Show us! (PLEASE!)

Steve

Randy Powell · « **Reply #39 on:** June 03, 2013, 09:40:12 PM »

Looks very cool, Bob. Where's the bronze?

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #40 on:** June 03, 2013, 10:10:37 PM »

Geez Bob,, whats taking so long,, that stuff is ready to mask in like 45 minutes,, ya coulda painted the whole thing in one day

Randy Powell · « **Reply #41 on:** June 04, 2013, 09:20:17 AM »

>>Randy: The "bronze age" is over...<<

Finally went through that 55 gallon drum, huh?

It looks really good, Bob. And don't listen to Mark. A good finish takes time.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #42 on:** June 04, 2013, 11:45:32 AM »

............................................

Matt Colan · « **Reply #43 on:** June 04, 2013, 09:14:43 PM »

It's looking real good Bob!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #44 on:** June 05, 2013, 09:06:19 AM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on June 04, 2013, 09:20:17 AM

>>Randy: The "bronze age" is over...<<

Finally went through that 55 gallon drum, huh?

It looks really good, Bob. And don't listen to Mark. A good finish takes time.

As does building planes.

Airacobra · « **Reply #45 on:** June 05, 2013, 08:54:07 PM »

Wow, I like this version a great deal. I will be anxious to hear the flight report.

Derek Barry · « **Reply #46 on:** June 06, 2013, 05:55:56 AM »

Looks Good Bob!

Derek

Allan Perret · « **Reply #47 on:** June 06, 2013, 06:42:09 AM »

Hey Bob, looking good.
Question, when you make the molded top block, does it include the part for the removable canopy hatch, or do you make that as a separate part ?

MarcusCordeiro · « **Reply #48 on:** June 06, 2013, 07:35:17 AM »

COOOOOL!

Marcus

Doug Moon · « **Reply #49 on:** June 06, 2013, 10:56:03 AM »

Looks good! I like those colors, they are very familiar...hahahahaha!!