stunthanger.com
Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Bob Hunt on February 24, 2013, 06:40:27 AM
-
With apologies to Matt Damon and Ed Norton...
A Rounder, according to my research, is a poker term meaning "An expert player who travels from town to town seeking high stakes games." I thought that was a perfect name for a stunt model... especially one with many "round" features!
This airplane just sort of accidentally happened. The wing for this ship is made using what I call "reverse composite construction." I'll be writing up that process in a future how to for Stunt News. The wing was completed and then set aside as there was no model designed for it. It was made only as a research project, but it came out extremely light and very strong, and it just sort of beckoned me to use it in something.
Over the past several years my son, Robby and I have been developing a new fuselage/molded shell construction method that has reached fruition and is the simplest and most accurate method I've ever used to construct a fuselage. All who have visited my shop, and have seen this technique, have incorporated it into the models that they have and/or are now building here. They suggested that I work up a how-to on that entire system.
One day, while chatting on the phone with a friend, I began sketching a new classic-styled model on a pad (haven't we all done that often?). The model that took shape in profile on the pad was appealing to me, so I took the sketch to my local digital services store and had it enlarged to a size that would accept that Reverse Composite wing. Then I started taking photos of the fuselage build process. I'm now at 470 photos and counting and have already started making an instruction manual on the process. No, I won't be using all 400 plus photos, but there will be a ton of pictures in the manual to go along with the text. I'll let everyone know when that manual is complete...
Anyway, last night I finished installing the tail block and made a fin and installed that also. I just thought you might like to see where the Rounder is at this point. It still needs landing gear and very sleek wheel pants, and I'll take advantage of that to produce a manual on how I bend landing gear in sets and how I make and install wheel pants using a simple but foolproof fixture to insure exact alignment of the pants to the plane.
Okay, now I have three models nearing completion. I'll soon be spending all my spare time in the paint shop... %^@
Plans for the Rounder will be made available at some point for those who might wish to build one.
The Rounder has a 53 1/2 inch wing span and approximately 560 square inches of area. I plan to use an E-Flite Power 25 motor and a 4S 2700 mAh Hyperion pack in this plane. That's a rather large motor for this package, but it may just produce a plane with great penetration properties in rough East Coast air.
Later - Bob Hunt ;D
-
I love the looks of it. That needle nose spinner reminds me of the old Froom spinners.
-
Very nice Bob.
-
Hi Bob,
That's a beauty!!!Just the way aircraft are supposed to be....Like women.....Nice and curvy. y1 y1A curved surface is much stronger than a flat one structurally.Is it a monocoque stressed skin construction?That should be very light indeed.I'll be following the progress.
Trax
-
Rounders is on my all time favorite movie list. The plane is cool, too.
-
Very nice, Brother Bob! Has a touch of "Caprice" look to it for some reason. Looking forward to seeing it finished and also looking for the fuselage manual.
Thanks!
Bill
-
I wondered when that wing was gonna' come off the wall. #^
Regards, All ...
Dean
-
Rounder looks like it's ready to go around a pylon. Slick looking plane Bob. I'd love to have that spinner!
-
Bob,
Very sleek, very cool.
James
-
Very nice, as usual ! Hey Bob, is this going to be open cockpit style, or are you going with a canopy ?
-
Another great one Bob!
-
Absolutely gorgeous.
I'd be very interested to know more about your moulded fuselages.
Sounds intruiging!
-
Very nice. The shape goes well with the name.
-
Very nice Bob, I assume that this is the wing that you were telling me about, about a year ago?
Derek
-
One more late appreciation on your beautiful plane! I too will be looking forward to learning your building techniqe.
SK
-
Bob, Nice departure from your more recent designs. It just looks right. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the "rest of the story."
Bob
-
Very cool Bob, & since you teased me a few months back, over the phone about the new "Fuse" const. method, now you've really got me drooling to get it, LOL.
James
-
Hi Bob,
Nice plane.
Also a nice spinner. But be aware that the minimal radius of a spinner must be 5mm.
Greetings Robert-Jan
-
Hi Bob,
Nice plane.
Also a nice spinner. But be aware that the minimal radius of a spinner must be 5mm.
Greetings Robert-Jan
Only in FAI
-
Very cool looking plane!
I can't wait to read the manual (book?) with the construction of that model. I know there will be thousands of ideas and tips!
-
Here are some pictures of the Rounder. We have put about 15 flights on it and it is a very good flying plane. It has Scorpion 3026 in it now, we started with a Cobra 2826 and it was good, but ran very hot. The Scorpion is a little big for this plane, so I am going to go to a Cobra 3515. The plane is an excellent design.
Nice design Bob!
Thanks
Joe
-
Only in FAI
The rumours say that this rule will soon go away.
Nice looking plane!
-
I assume Bob's Rounder will have bronze trim? You still have to use up that 55 gallon drum.
-
Bob,
Thanks
For the cooling, yes I put a exit duct on the bottom of the battery compartment. I need to add a air defector to force air onto the motor. The Cobra 2826 seem to run hot. The last time out I switched to the scorpion motor and it ran much cooler. I do want to try a cobra 3515, it is lighter the scorpion plus I have one too!
Thanks
Joe
-
The rumours say that this rule will soon go away.
Nice looking plane!
I hope so, one of the silliest rules there is.