hi guys
Am 35..and was almost about to get old without realising my childhood dream to build a plane, when i found indians did manufacture
BUILD kits for RC planes.

So i ordered on ebay, the FT explorer.
Later i have ordered
1. 1400kva motor with esc and props
2. turnighy 4000mah battery
3. flysky radio tx rx
4. servos
5. battery chargers for turnighy battery.


My question is, for really good folks here
1. have i screwed something up?
2. am i missing something.
3. the motor and esc , as i see pics , dont have connectors, hwo do i go about it?
4. what kind of glue do we need to build the kit.


thanks guys and keep up the good work!!!

You would need a hot glue gun and hot glue sticks for assembling the plane
Also, the battery is bigger than required for the model
2200mAh 3S should be enough.
You would also need smaller parts like control horns, clevises etc
30A esc should work fine with that.
You have not mentioned which 1400kv motor, so i can't say much, but there are a few standard motors most people use.
You will need banana connectors(Bullet connectors) for motor and esc connections.
You will also need xt-60 connectors or T connectors to connect battery and esc.
You might also require servo extension wires, and y-connector wire if you are using ailerons.

All the best with your build!
Build light!
 

Srinivas Azad

thanks srinivas.
1.ok i will  get control horns and clevises..but would you kindly care, out of ur memory, elaborate on "etc" part pls?
2.i bought motor and esc with kit on ebay...so hopefully they are in sync..yes its 30a..


thanks srinivas!...god bless you...

There are many small things that are needed for making a plane
I'll list as many of them as i can remember, but even i tend to forget these things, untill i need them

1) Clevices
2) Control Horns
3) Linkage connectors
4) Rubber bands ( To attach wings to fuselage)
5) Dowel Rods ( To attach wings using rubber bands)
6) Transmitter Neck Strap (I dropped my transmitter while trying to catch my plane without this, thankfully the transmitter survived )
7) Simulator (can be purchased or downloaded)
Instant CA (for on spot fixing, not to be used on foam. only on wood and coro)
9) Spare Props
10) Many small screws (used everywhere on the plane, servo arm, linkage connector, control horn attachment, etc
11) Since it is a foamboard model, hinges are not required, can be made with tape.

There might still be some things i missed out, if anyone remembers anything else, please point out !!

Regards,
Srinivas Azad

Thanks Azad!
That should do it...
rest is i guess a mystery best discovered myself, afterall, the process of DIY is half the fun!

@greatnav sir,

Welcome to the forum

There is an elaborate build video on flitetest YouTube channel for FT Explorer. You will get an exact idea of what you will need for this build:



For the FT Explorer kit sold by www.vortex-rc.com, the below are the recommended components from their website:
Motor: 2826 1400kv 200Wmin.
ESC: 30 amp
Battery: 2200 mAH 3s (min)
Servos: 9 gram X2 Trainer / X4 Sport
Prop: 8 X 5 / 9 X 6

Have you bought from vortex hobby? They usually tend to include every important thing for the build except electronics

prabal...you almost saved me couple of hundreds....plus huge headache....
Indeed, i see that vortex has included pushrods and control horns, so i guess i dont need to hunt for those.
Not sure about clevis though, as nothing has been said in manual...

Maybe gaurav agarwalji can clarify pls...

thanks a lot!!!!
 

You won't use clevises.
They will get you to make a Z bend on the pushrods most probably as thats what flitetest does.
The explorer is a good choice.
Fly with the trainer wing first.

Thanks Prabal and others.
So 2 questions pls
1. It looks like 4000mah battery is tad heavy for this model , so
can i even use it one this model?
2. If i can use it , how can i strengthen the wings...indian style, so that the wings dont collapse?
3. Also i have ordered a 10*6 prop, which seems too big.
Can it even work on this model, or should i get a 9*x prop for this one?

Get a 2200.
4k is very heavy.
I fly my explorer with a 9x6 prop.
10 will touch the boom in 'hard' touch downs.

HI prabal
Can you give good links online to buy good 2200 battery and the 9*6. please...

Buy the 2200 from rcmumbai.
Get a gens ace.
Also get an IMAX b6 or equivalent.
You will have to search for the 9x6 though.
Check out all of the websites. The stocking is dynamic.

9*4.5 is readily available...any difference in taking it pls?

The plane will be slower.
It's much better.
You are a beginner

prabal thanks...and b3 charger is available on rcmumbai...is it good enough? considerign i have also 4000 mah to charge too

B6. B3 will ruin your battery
A B3 ruined my haiyin 1000mah.
Did not balance it.

I would suggest you go with a more advanced charger. Like this one
http://rcbazaar.com/product.aspx?productid=4919

It will be helpful for many things like hot wire cutting, thrust testing, balancing, etc.

Regarding the battery, i would say don't use the 4000. It will increase the weight which will increase stall speed, and since you are new to flying, i would recommend you keep the plane light and slow. You could even use the smaller battery than 2200, but balancing should be proper.

Thanks all,for now i managed to get
1. a nylon 9045 prop by ebay
2. a copy imax b6 by ebay at about 1500/-

RC mumbai website is buggy and i almost crashed on payment, Ebay on the other hand offers COD and seller seems genuine.
Not sure about quality though, guess have to find out.
Will keep you all posted.
Will a fake IMAX b6 ruin a battery?
and what would be the power adapter 12v 5 A i would need?
Thanks all!!

Use a SMPS for a adaptor.
You should have asked before getting a clone.
They give wrong readings

OK..have bought one from amazon for 500 bucks..power ratings seem fine.

1. once i have acutally built and flown FT explorer my next dream would be to convert into UAV using Audrino.
That would be something ;-). Maybe build a more energy efficient craft with longer flight times for that use.

Ill keep the group posted about my own lil endeavor...

I would suggest you get a genuine IMAX b6
If possible, return the clone.

Hi guys,
Am almost set, except that vortex guy kept me waiting for 10 days, before treacherously saying hes' out of stock.

So i have ordered FT storch from RCbazaar.

Does anyone know where to get DECALS for this,
Or better, how to rig these up using local sticker guys.....

Get vinyl sheets.
Decals are not important.
Get it flying first.

Hi guys, some quick heartbreaking lessons i ve learnt thus.

1. Never work on a cheap glue gun of 40w. Always invest in better 100w thing, makes life a lot easier and the plane would not turn out to be a monstrosity, as mine as.
2. Life doesnt workout as smooth as flitetest build videos. Call it because of lack of skills, good equipment and even shitty lasercut foam(Thanks to rcBazaar), build kit plane will fall short of good looks, esp for a beginner.
3. My two test flights were disaster, breaking into 2 pieces, nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing your RC model break up, esp after a 45 min journey to fly it.
4. Foam breaks easily upon impact, but what breaks can be rebuilt easily too . SO never throw away waste Depron sheet left after build..
5.NEVER GIVE UP.


As of now, my questions to folks here is:
1. Is there any place of choice for flying in Bangalore, or just about any ground would do. I managed an ardous journery to hessarghatta Grasslands, only to break the thing in less than 10 secs.

2. Is there any community for RC in bangalore for beginners?
I would love to be in touch with hobbiysts, and like fly together, learn, socialize etc.

thanks!!!

What happened when you flew it?
And before removing the pieces, did you cut the tabs holding them in place?
Did you have any practice on the sim?
And which wing did you use?

Hi prabhal

Build: Well the lasercut foams' side pices which are meant to be removed, just dont peel off, as they do with FT.
We have to remove them much like thermocoal pieces, an inch at time.
net result: the edges were jagged, irregular and poorly finished.
I feel RCbazaar's laser cut foam is sub par, or maybe theres a better way of doing it.

Flight:
Well first time, i flew into wind, it climbed too fast,and i dont remember acutally how it ended up flying on my head and breaking its nose.
Maybe it stalled, maybe out of excitement of seeing the thing climb i forgot my senses.
fixed it.
second time, my assistant screwed up the fuselage holding it too tight as i went for launched takeoff.
Then i put down the fuselage-screwed plane and attempted takeoff on wheels.
At this point, the thing went around 10 meters and banked right and down suddenly, breaking off into two pices.

So , its been a disaster all the way for me
but have fixed it up now , and ready to go again....

And yes, i have practised a bit on sim, so i would imagine after a decent takeoff i have to be able to control it.
But even the takeoff has not happened yet, breaking my heart

Bought a sky surfer off rc bazaar. Nice thing to have for beginner training....
Storch flew for a third time for 3 mins, then crashed beyond repair. It wasn't built well.
Bought new kit...and trying again....

i have a 10 prop, can i cut the boom of the explorer a little so that it passes through it

You will be compromising the structural rigidity.
Using a 10" prop on a high kv motor?
Go for something like 8"