The dog flies.

[Curare]

Well guys, I managed to finish the dog that I've been waxing lyrical about on here.

it's not perfect, but then again, it was never going to be with a stack of new construction techniques employed, but it should be enough to keep me airbone for a while.

For those with a keen eye, it's basically a shrunk Imitation with a different fin and fuselage, plank tail and foam cored wings.

Thanks to everyone who coaxed me through this one, if it wasn't for stunthangar I'd have never gotten this far.

Greg

[Paul Taylor]

Looks cool!

Got to ask about the rod on the LE. I assume it a tip weight?

[Curare]

Yeah, it's a tip weight tube, stolen from Ted Fancher's Doctor.

The tube is crimped at one end, and epoxied into the wing, after that, I machine up a 'pitot tube' plug for the other end.

The tube is filled with split shot sinkers, and I can adjust the tip weight down to about 5 grams at a time. For the first few flights though it's pretty much full of shot:D

[Dan Bregar]

Very nice !  So what motor and prop are you running ? 

[Randy Powell]

I thought it was a pitot tube.

[Curare]

At this stage it's ALLL cheap gear. a turnigy SK3 35-36 (1200kv) and a 10x5 reverse rotation prop.

First flights were conducted with a 3000 4s nanotech, but I think I'll probably have enough to do the pattern on a 2700mah.

[Steve Helmick]

I'm not an e-flier, but have been around them for quite awhile. It appears to me that having some extra battery capacity can be a plus. What gets you through the pattern this week may not get through the pattern all year around, or if you find a better propeller. Just sayin'.....  Steve

[Curare]

Steve, yeah you're right, I'm experiencing that in F3A.

A light day I'll get away with a 5.0 pack, but on a windy day I'll fall out of the sky on the last maneuvre on a 5.0, so you bulk up on mAh!

[Steve Helmick]

I suspect that changing to a 2 or 3 oz heavier battery pack on a CL eStunter might make a huge difference that you wouldn't notice with an R/C model with a 6 oz heavier battery pack. I think most would be better off with a consistent weight and response. When we do a CG change or handle spacing change, we usually do that before the first flight of the day, to avoid negative altitude pullouts.  Steve

[Curare]

yeah, for sure. At this stage though we're still trimming, so the flights are short, just in case something goes wrong.

They'll get longer, and I'll get a better idea of what capacity I need, and at this stage, even if I'm short, I'm not too stressed, as I'm a long way off competition ready.