Sky Baby and HexDrone

[Dave Nyce]

I just ordered a Bratco HexDrone and a Sky Baby from Virginia Hobby Sport, for the kids at the orphanage to try something different.  Does anyone have any experience with these models regarding adjustments, mods, etc. for best performance? 

[minnesotamodeler]

The Hexdrone is a handful, don't put bigger than an .049 on it.  Mine came with an .061 which is WAY too much engine for it. Not all that stable, kinda jumpy in fact. Pretty much indestructible though.  Never flew a Skybaby but from what I hear it's a much better plane.

--Ray

[Wynn Robins]

make sure you do the required break in on the norvels - a little drop of fuel then turn over 100+ times by hand - these are really tight little engines and you cat just run them in.........but once they are going - you can be sure it will scream

[don Burke]

I found the Skybaby fun to fly but a little fragile.

[Dave Nyce]

Thanks for the help!

[Alan Hahn]

The Skybabies were used at the EAA Kidventure. They were pretty good for the 2 minute "introduction to CL flying" (as opposed to "learn how to fly CL"). Art Johnson kept up the repair. After the 061 Big Mig engines were broken in, they were very reliable. I believe we were using 42 foot 0.012" lines (0.008's were much to fragile). Due to the lip on the leading edge, they really aren't super stunters, although you might not realize that from some of the great saves that the volunteers made when one of the kids would get too exuberant! They are nice and stable.
The Hexdrone is fun but fast. Save it for the kids that have a lot of natural talent ---and have exhibited it.

[Dan McEntee]

  Like Alan said, The SkyBaby has been a staple at the KidVenture circles at Oshkosh for at least 6 years or so. They are a little heavy, but more stable in the wind, and the Norvel .061 has way more than enough power to handle the weight and the wind. And, like he said, we fly them on 42 ft lines that are at least .010 and probably the .012 that Alan mentions. This line length and a slower needle setting puts the lap times in the 505 second range that most of us adults are used to! They are a little too fragile for the rank beginner right out of the box, and for KidVenture, they have been modified as follows;
    1) SIG lazer cut plywood fire wall and motor mounts with ears on them, so the engine can be rubber band mounted like on the old Goldberg Wizard trainer. Thsi takes up the shock of the lawn dart landings.
    2) The nose section is re-enforced with glue and fiberglass tape at the seams all the way back through thew wing root.
     3) Some #2 wood screws are run into the plywood spar on both the upper and lower side of the wing.
     4) At least 1/2 ounce of tip weight is added. This helps with line tension in the wind.
     5) The SkyBabys are flown on 42ft. by .012" lines
     6) The landing gear is left off the model.
   With these mods, the planes are a little more durable, but not crash resistant. That is the short coming of the model. Just too fragile. And in all the years of use and abuse, I don't think we have EVER burned out a glow plug!
   The engines are extremely tough. Art Johnson breaks the engines in by taking the glow head off, putting in  few drops of fuel, and turns the engine over with an electric starter for 15 or 20 seconds. Flush the cylinder out with more fuel, then repeat. Put the head back on and see how it turns over. If it is still stiff and won't turn over with the spring starter, repeat until it does. Once the engine will start on the spring starter I think they will almost last forever. We are still using some of the same engines on new airframes that we started with 6 years ago. Sometimes we raffle off the extra new engines to the volunteers.
   I have a Hexdrone, but haven't flown it. I flew one of the prototypes at SIG one year, and it tended to flop around and hinge on hard maneuvers. It maybe over powered with the .061, or may just need further trimming and lead out adjustment.
   Good luck and have fun with them!
   Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[Dave Nyce]

Thanks Dan.  I looked on the Sig website, but scouldn't find a plywood firewall or motor mount with ears.  Do you know how to find those parts?

[don Burke]

I didn't think of the rubber band motor mount idea, that would take care of the most fragile part.  I would use 1/8 5-ply. Trace the outline of the nose onto the ply then add "ears" for rubber bands. I would do 4 about 1/4"-3/8" long x 1/4 wide at 45 degrees.  Make two of those.  Epoxy glue and screw one (use the regular engine mount holes, and flat head screws) to the front of the Skybaby, mount the engine on the other one, some small rubber bands,and you're in business. 

[Elwyn Aud]

One of the Oshkosh trainers.

[Dave Nyce]

Thanks for the photo of the Oshkosh trainer.  Now I know what you mean.

[Dave Nyce]

I just received the Sky Baby and HexDrone.  The Sky Baby has a very sharp leading edge.  The sharp edge is formed by a flat area along which it appears the top and bottom moldings were joined.  So, that means the flat area forming the sharp leading edge cannot be sanded away because that would remove the joint between the top and bottom.

Has anyone tried to round out the leding edge by another method, such as by adding a filler?  If so, please let me know how you did it, and the results.  (Or, if you have any ideas on how it could be done, please let me know.)  Thanks!

Dave

[Dave Nyce]

This really is the best forum on the planet.  I just discovered it a month ago, and have been visiting it every day.  I didn't know about the fund raisers until today.  I just sent in a donation by Paypal a few minutes ago.

Thanks a lot for your hard work on this site.

Dave