61
Slope Soaring / Hvolsfjall - Just so you don't think it's all rocks and sea!
« on: August 10, 2015, 20:40:41 PM »
It is! Should be flyable in V-NA wind directions.
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62
Slope Soaring / Hvolsfjall - Just so you don't think it's all rocks and sea!
« on: August 10, 2015, 16:24:04 PM »
Finally got the right wind to test out a mountain about an 90 minutes drive from home.
It actually has grass on the top side and a drivable path up the side.
So who knows maybe a certain Ka3 or a Straton might end up flying there in a not too distant future!
No sound of wind this time, just for you Keith! :wink:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/7mzAqj58cx4[/youtube]
It actually has grass on the top side and a drivable path up the side.
So who knows maybe a certain Ka3 or a Straton might end up flying there in a not too distant future!
No sound of wind this time, just for you Keith! :wink:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/7mzAqj58cx4[/youtube]
63
Thermal / Flat field / Straton from Staufenbiel
« on: July 31, 2015, 22:51:52 PM »
Didn't need much input from me for that Andrew! 
Bahh, just lucky that we are outside of the main building season else it would be more messy.
No, as the motor brake wasn't active but I've got a good feeling from the airtime so far.
Cheers Keith, my old English teacher would be proud, I'll see if she can tutor Fred.
Sorry mate, I decided to keep the wind for this one.
Bahh, just lucky that we are outside of the main building season else it would be more messy.
No, as the motor brake wasn't active but I've got a good feeling from the airtime so far.
Cheers Keith, my old English teacher would be proud, I'll see if she can tutor Fred.
Sorry mate, I decided to keep the wind for this one.
64
Thermal / Flat field / Straton from Staufenbiel
« on: July 30, 2015, 16:32:48 PM »
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/7cLtNjqTzb4[/youtube]
65
Thermal / Flat field / Straton from Staufenbiel
« on: July 30, 2015, 16:31:07 PM »
Now came the big day or should I say evening as the maiden was around 2100 GMT/local time.
The dolly was placed on the center line of the paved runway, with a wingspan of 5 meters we had a clearance of just over 2,5 meters on either side. With about 10° flaps I slowly advanced the throttle and down the runway the Straton went. I was able to controle the heading with rudder and soon I started to feed in up elevator shortly there after the Straton rose up from the craddle climbing authoritively up in the sky.
I had not enabled the brake on the ESC for the first flight so the freewheeling prop provided some drag but nontheless it was apparent that the HQ/W profile is working as expected. It did a roll and loop without problem after a diving for speed and overall the handling was very predictable and nice.
Climbing for height I tried out the crow braking and it really slows the plane down and as expected some down elevator is needed but the climb isn't excessive if you don't program it in for the first flight. In it's current configuration I've got the motor activated on the throttle stick and the flaps/crow set up on a three position switch, giving me takeoff flaps and then full crow braking. For full proportional control I've also got the crow programmed on the slider but I'll probably switch them over to the throttle stick and put the motor on the slider for more precise application during the landing faze.
The dolly was placed on the center line of the paved runway, with a wingspan of 5 meters we had a clearance of just over 2,5 meters on either side. With about 10° flaps I slowly advanced the throttle and down the runway the Straton went. I was able to controle the heading with rudder and soon I started to feed in up elevator shortly there after the Straton rose up from the craddle climbing authoritively up in the sky.
I had not enabled the brake on the ESC for the first flight so the freewheeling prop provided some drag but nontheless it was apparent that the HQ/W profile is working as expected. It did a roll and loop without problem after a diving for speed and overall the handling was very predictable and nice.
Climbing for height I tried out the crow braking and it really slows the plane down and as expected some down elevator is needed but the climb isn't excessive if you don't program it in for the first flight. In it's current configuration I've got the motor activated on the throttle stick and the flaps/crow set up on a three position switch, giving me takeoff flaps and then full crow braking. For full proportional control I've also got the crow programmed on the slider but I'll probably switch them over to the throttle stick and put the motor on the slider for more precise application during the landing faze.
66
Thermal / Flat field / Straton from Staufenbiel
« on: July 30, 2015, 16:27:24 PM »
Being part of a small community of modellers and even smaller one gliding wise I've spent some time thinking how I can best satisfy the need for some large scale gliding/thermaling from the ground up so when I saw Staufenbiel introduce the Straton earler this year my interest was peeked.
Granted there wasn't much information available at first, no inflight video and only the unboxing video from Staufenbiel at first. Then they announced 10% discount off it during a modelling show in Germany early in March so here was the chance to get a 5 meter powered glider with everything bar the ESC and Rx for €719 delivered free to Denmark where I could pick it up and bring it home as an extra suitcase next time I flew over. Did I mention that the fuselage is in two parts and the wing breaks down to four parts, making the box much more maneuverable and cost effective in shipping!
Just under a week later the first flying video appeared on YouTube and I knew I had not made a bad call. Guess I wasn't the only one that got excited at that video as the PNP version sold out in few days after the release of it. When the Straton got back in stock the price had gone up by €60 but still a great value for what you get. You can also get an ARF version for €599 vs the €859 for the PNP version.
Wingspan: 500 cm
Length: 225 cm
Weight: 8,4 kg
Engine: 310 kV
Wingarea: 165 dm2
Profile: HQ/W-2,5/12 + HQ/W-2,5/11 + HQ/W-3/10,5
The Straton comes double boxed and had survived the transport Germany - Denmark - Iceland without damage. Only thing wrong was a small patch of paint had chipped off one of the wing tips but it was glued back in and is hardly noticeable. The wings are Styrofoam core skinned with abachi and covered with Oracover. MPX multilocks keep the wing secured during flight and a MPX connector gets the wires from the wing to the fuselage, the ailerons use a locking servo plug. The six included Dymond D7550 metal geared servos seem up to the job and feel pretty solid. A solid steel joiner runs through the fuselage with solid carbon tubes connecting the outer halfs. The fuselage molding is clean and neatly done and with sanding of the gelcoat the fuselage halfs join up neatly. Check the tail-boom/tail for stiffness and make some arrangements if you feel it is too soft. There was some flex around my servo box so I added some spacers around it to box up the inside if the vertical tail and adding some strength to it.
Well packaged and boxed.
Dolly for the assembly of the fuselage.
Add some glue to the joint.
And make sure it's straight!
The first kits were supplied with a Aeronaut Cam prop that isn't up to the RPM's and were replaced by Staufenbiels own product.
Impressive size for an electric motor when you are used to the 13" and 14" sizes.
22x10 prop.
The wing comes in four parts, divided at the aileron/flaps and flaps/fuselage.
The flaps could have a nice career as barn doors!
Here the fuselage is seen with 33% DG800 and Ka3.
Staufenbiel wants you to use Z bends with the included linkage but I found some of the to be too brittle and besides I like my links to be solid above certain sizes.
So I replaced the included rods for 3mm threaded rods with clevis on both ends adding a carbon tube over the elevator linkage due to its length.
I made a small shelf for the Rx mostly to get it above the carbon strengthening that is around the mid of the fuselage.
No work needed on the motor besides securing the wires.
I'll be using separate batteries for the Rx as I like to have a bit of redundancy in my larger planes. Two LiFe packs will power the Rx through a Powerbox switch and the 85A Dymond ESC with XT90 connector can be seen under the cockpit floor.
As the battery I'm using(6S 5800 mah) is lighter than the recommended 7000 mah one I needed to make a ballast for the nose. Film put in the bottom of the nose with some steel sand and epoxy pored in and left to dry. Later fastened with silicone so it can be removed if I acquire a heavier battery at a later date.
I needed to make a dolly for the takeoff so IKEA came to the rescue with the EKORRE children walking aid supplying the majority of components. Staufenbiel later introduced their own dolly.
Due to the large size of the prop we need some serious ground clearance.
Granted there wasn't much information available at first, no inflight video and only the unboxing video from Staufenbiel at first. Then they announced 10% discount off it during a modelling show in Germany early in March so here was the chance to get a 5 meter powered glider with everything bar the ESC and Rx for €719 delivered free to Denmark where I could pick it up and bring it home as an extra suitcase next time I flew over. Did I mention that the fuselage is in two parts and the wing breaks down to four parts, making the box much more maneuverable and cost effective in shipping!
Just under a week later the first flying video appeared on YouTube and I knew I had not made a bad call. Guess I wasn't the only one that got excited at that video as the PNP version sold out in few days after the release of it. When the Straton got back in stock the price had gone up by €60 but still a great value for what you get. You can also get an ARF version for €599 vs the €859 for the PNP version.
Wingspan: 500 cm
Length: 225 cm
Weight: 8,4 kg
Engine: 310 kV
Wingarea: 165 dm2
Profile: HQ/W-2,5/12 + HQ/W-2,5/11 + HQ/W-3/10,5
The Straton comes double boxed and had survived the transport Germany - Denmark - Iceland without damage. Only thing wrong was a small patch of paint had chipped off one of the wing tips but it was glued back in and is hardly noticeable. The wings are Styrofoam core skinned with abachi and covered with Oracover. MPX multilocks keep the wing secured during flight and a MPX connector gets the wires from the wing to the fuselage, the ailerons use a locking servo plug. The six included Dymond D7550 metal geared servos seem up to the job and feel pretty solid. A solid steel joiner runs through the fuselage with solid carbon tubes connecting the outer halfs. The fuselage molding is clean and neatly done and with sanding of the gelcoat the fuselage halfs join up neatly. Check the tail-boom/tail for stiffness and make some arrangements if you feel it is too soft. There was some flex around my servo box so I added some spacers around it to box up the inside if the vertical tail and adding some strength to it.
Well packaged and boxed.
Dolly for the assembly of the fuselage.
Add some glue to the joint.
And make sure it's straight!
The first kits were supplied with a Aeronaut Cam prop that isn't up to the RPM's and were replaced by Staufenbiels own product.
Impressive size for an electric motor when you are used to the 13" and 14" sizes.
22x10 prop.
The wing comes in four parts, divided at the aileron/flaps and flaps/fuselage.
The flaps could have a nice career as barn doors!
Here the fuselage is seen with 33% DG800 and Ka3.
Staufenbiel wants you to use Z bends with the included linkage but I found some of the to be too brittle and besides I like my links to be solid above certain sizes.
So I replaced the included rods for 3mm threaded rods with clevis on both ends adding a carbon tube over the elevator linkage due to its length.
I made a small shelf for the Rx mostly to get it above the carbon strengthening that is around the mid of the fuselage.
No work needed on the motor besides securing the wires.
I'll be using separate batteries for the Rx as I like to have a bit of redundancy in my larger planes. Two LiFe packs will power the Rx through a Powerbox switch and the 85A Dymond ESC with XT90 connector can be seen under the cockpit floor.
As the battery I'm using(6S 5800 mah) is lighter than the recommended 7000 mah one I needed to make a ballast for the nose. Film put in the bottom of the nose with some steel sand and epoxy pored in and left to dry. Later fastened with silicone so it can be removed if I acquire a heavier battery at a later date.
I needed to make a dolly for the takeoff so IKEA came to the rescue with the EKORRE children walking aid supplying the majority of components. Staufenbiel later introduced their own dolly.
Due to the large size of the prop we need some serious ground clearance.
68
Slope Soaring / Busy week
« on: July 17, 2015, 16:11:15 PM »
We still haven't got a 2015 inspiration calendar. :roll:
69
Slope Soaring / RcRCM Strega and eStrega
« on: July 17, 2015, 14:43:07 PM »
The Strega went on her first outing the other day.
Center of the attention... or is it the Homeblest biscuits? Two of the local gang on either side and Rolf Girsberger, father of the RG profile, in the center.
Landed safely after the maiden.
Happy chap after the maiden.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/wZxsE0tpJ58[/youtube]
Center of the attention... or is it the Homeblest biscuits? Two of the local gang on either side and Rolf Girsberger, father of the RG profile, in the center.
Landed safely after the maiden.
Happy chap after the maiden.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/wZxsE0tpJ58[/youtube]
70
Slope Soaring / RcRCM Strega and eStrega
« on: July 17, 2015, 14:36:11 PM »
Made a tray for the servos that also keeps the ballast tube and Rx in bay.
Here the tray has been cut for the Rx and part of the ballast is being used to support the fuselage. About 900 grams supplied in the package.
Spacers made from electric tubing.
Lots of wiring.
Not so much space for traditional battery packs so two Panasonic 18650 were soldered together.
The Rx at its location, in front of that the battery and then the nose weight at front.
Little over 100 grams was needed for balance. Aluminium foil was wrapped around the nose, tape applied to keep it in shape, the whole lot put in sand, fuselage removed and molted lead added to the mold.
And here she is enjoying a balanced view of the room.
Here the tray has been cut for the Rx and part of the ballast is being used to support the fuselage. About 900 grams supplied in the package.
Spacers made from electric tubing.
Lots of wiring.
Not so much space for traditional battery packs so two Panasonic 18650 were soldered together.
The Rx at its location, in front of that the battery and then the nose weight at front.
Little over 100 grams was needed for balance. Aluminium foil was wrapped around the nose, tape applied to keep it in shape, the whole lot put in sand, fuselage removed and molted lead added to the mold.
And here she is enjoying a balanced view of the room.
71
Slope Soaring / RcRCM Strega and eStrega
« on: July 17, 2015, 14:28:53 PM »
Decided to purchase an F3F plane from RcRCM last fall with extra fuselage for electric motor.
The build quality is nice though it's not as good as from the major European F3F makers but then again you pay almost double the money for those birds.
F3F fuselage and the eStrega electric fuselage.
Guess one likes her pies more.
Servos going into the wings, cling wrap keeps the glue from making them a permanent fixture of the wing.
Material removed from the clevis to get full movement.
All set up.
Securing the plug with a bit of heat shrink.
The build quality is nice though it's not as good as from the major European F3F makers but then again you pay almost double the money for those birds.
F3F fuselage and the eStrega electric fuselage.
Guess one likes her pies more.
Servos going into the wings, cling wrap keeps the glue from making them a permanent fixture of the wing.
Material removed from the clevis to get full movement.
All set up.
Securing the plug with a bit of heat shrink.
72
Slope Soaring / Busy week
« on: July 17, 2015, 14:21:38 PM »
Weeeell, yes and no! Same wing and tail, different fuselage.
The first flight on that fuselage with these wing and tail was 10 minutes before the competition started.
When I bought the Strega it was intended for F3F work and to get some extra flying time away from the slope.
So I also bought the eStrega fuselage seeing as it can use the same wing and tail, two birds, one stone and all that malarkey. :lol:
I was always getting asked if I wasn't going to put a hook on it but frankly that was never the plan but it got me thinking about it.
So I took some steps to install a hook to the eStrega fuselage and gaining another use for the plane.
The first flight on that fuselage with these wing and tail was 10 minutes before the competition started.
When I bought the Strega it was intended for F3F work and to get some extra flying time away from the slope.
So I also bought the eStrega fuselage seeing as it can use the same wing and tail, two birds, one stone and all that malarkey. :lol:
I was always getting asked if I wasn't going to put a hook on it but frankly that was never the plan but it got me thinking about it.
So I took some steps to install a hook to the eStrega fuselage and gaining another use for the plane.
73
Electrics / mugi evo electric
« on: July 15, 2015, 00:48:11 AM »Quote from: "Happy Days"
They're a strange species. I've never really understood them. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they do have uses,.......I'm just not quite sure what they are?
Custard and pie making?
74
Slope Soaring / Busy week
« on: July 03, 2015, 02:38:19 AM »
The guys were calling for a roll but I had already initiated the second loop.
Dohh, you saw that, I ran out of B-roll to intercut... :lol:
Cheers!
Dohh, you saw that, I ran out of B-roll to intercut... :lol:
Cheers!
75
Slope Soaring / Busy week
« on: July 01, 2015, 18:14:48 PM »
If it's any concelaction Bill this was the best weather by far in weeks if not months!
Me and you both Keith! As long as we have difference in ground and air temperature we can get thermals,
they don't tend to be particularly strong in the winter but they are there when the conditions are right.
The main problem is the heavy wind tends to blow them away in the summer! :lol:
You can easily stay up for more than an hour after noon in the summer time.
Here is just over 17 minutes, edited down of course, of thermaling last summer,
I came down to tow my mate up and he spent another 20 minutes hanging about until he came down for a flight on his aerobatic plane.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/HxVATBNZDPc[/youtube]
Me and you both Keith! As long as we have difference in ground and air temperature we can get thermals,
they don't tend to be particularly strong in the winter but they are there when the conditions are right.
The main problem is the heavy wind tends to blow them away in the summer! :lol:
You can easily stay up for more than an hour after noon in the summer time.
Here is just over 17 minutes, edited down of course, of thermaling last summer,
I came down to tow my mate up and he spent another 20 minutes hanging about until he came down for a flight on his aerobatic plane.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/HxVATBNZDPc[/youtube]