This would be my first Build ever ...

After months of research and study i have finally decided to scratch build the FLITETEST SWAPPABLE Series.

i hope i build it according to the plans AND make it FLYABLE....lol

i have downloaded the plans from flitetest.com.

Bought the building material...3 mm coro and 3/5/8 mm depron ( without paper backing)
Depron is without the paper backing....so i have decided to use normal packing on one side.

i would need all the possible help and support from the fourm members to make this project a success..

I Hope i can use these batteries in the swapable series.....

At the moment i have secured some batteries

1500mah 3 cell 20 c
2200mah 3 cell 25 c

you won't be able to use a 2200... too heavy for these models... you can best use a 1000-1500

Sent from a potato using a lamp - now mashed

In fact, the swappable series is designed around a 2200 mah battery! I have successfully built and flown 4 with this battery

Sir the ones you are talking are the higher end ones for these only a 500 to 1000mah is needed

Swappable? Which one?

He is building the FT Flyer, Nutball and Delta if I am right

2200 with 2826 motot

Your 4 models are totally different sir. These are also different

I fly the Nutball with a 2826 motor and 2200 mah lipo.

The swappables are basef around a 2826 (or equivalent) motor

A 2200 mah gives 15+ minutes flying time. The cg too works out right

If the cg permits you can use a smaller battery - will get less flying time

Did you see the build video for ft flyer or the plans you will find the recommended setup
It is on the second page http://assets.flitetest.com/article_files/-utball-wappable-_1359781951.pdf

Nitesh, I agree it is written there. The very concept of a ''swappable'' is that you simply remove the power pod and put it in another model. Believe me, the model will still fly, and quite well too!

In the build videos Bixler seems quite happy with the larger motor, he seems to have standardized on the NTM, a very high powered 2826.

In any case, as I said, a smaller battery will give you less flight time. But I would recommend to anyone going in for the FT models to buy a 2826, about 1400~1500 KV, unless you have enough resources to buy a different motor for each model.

sanjay sir i have'n been able to fit a 2200 into the power pod easily.. the wires interfere.. i built a ft3d , and im having trouble arranging the battery and esc.

Aniket, it goes out! On the bottom of the pod actually. See the Baby Blender and you'll understand

POWERPOD  in the making as per plans....hope its neat

As the depron is without the paper backing....i used normal packing tape on one side of the foam....

@sanjay sir i got it! it fits now! oh all those unsightly holes i made for the wires, now wasted..

madaquif here's a tip: print the plans with a laser print in high quality. then put them face down on the depron and iron over them... the toner will get transferred to the depron. one print can be recycled twice... the plans will be mirrored though..

hey aniket,

thanks for the advice....will try it next time for sure.

for this build, i hav already printed the fullscale  plans on a huge printer...so i just made tiny refrence holes on the endpoints and trace them on depron.

i can use the same plans multiple times......

DAY 3  UPDATE......

messed up the powerpod  

Firewall is 3 mm larger on one side.
so i added a small piece of foam in one of the corners.



.....dont know what effect will it have....

here are some pics firewall hot glued and fiber taped...

You must check each piece or sub-assembly as to where it fits. The extra bit of firewall should not have made a difference; if it does make a difference, it will do so after you have added the foam too

thank you sanjay sir...

i also forgot to mention that the firewall is made up of 5mm plywood...
i understand its going to increase the weight....i just hope its not a over kill for firewall

5 mm!! 

Pretty harmless

DAY 4 UPDATE:

Installed all Used Electronics and prop installed as follows.

1> MOTOR : 2822/ 1000 KV motor ....dont know the brand name or thrust...got it from a friend.
2> ESC     : 30 AMPS redbrick.
3> PROP   : 9/5
4>battery : 1500mah 3cell 20 c and 1250 Mah 3cell 25 C wolfpack
5> 4 channel Flysky TX RX.

I had bought the above USED setup for an air boat from a friend....changed my mind and used it in swappable......

air boat will be my next project

Pic of the FT Nutball wing........will complete it tomm hopefully:D and go flyin on weeked....

I test ran the motor on the powerpod...on the table edge

It started to slide forward at 30% throttle.

i dont know if my configurations are rite ....

here are my worries ....and  i really need some help here

At 40 % throttle the powerpod started to move towards left automatically...(looking from behind).....should i be concerned about this.....

That is due to the torque effect.  
Mount the motor 2 degree down and left. which will cancel the effect.

you can simply do that, by adding 1 washer to the upper side and to the right.

Mada,
This could also be due to vibrations. Even if you build is absolutely square, there might be some vibrations which are causing this. Hold the pod in your hand, away from face, and run the motor.. The prop adapter tip should spin about the same axis. If it's not axis aligned, or the prop is imbalanced, you'll see the tip spread out at high throttle, which is bad.
Rest of the adjustments etc will be better identified once the plane is airborne.

Invite comments from senior aeromodellers

GS

There is no hurry, and no need to jump to any conclusion or do any modification at this stage.

Build your model first. Then see what happens. It is a removable (swappable) pod, you can always do any adjustments afterwards. Don't jump to conclusions.

First build the model

Thank you sanjay sir, girish sir and swizera sir for your valuable comments.

i will the complete model then make the adjustments

with RCI support I surely belive that my model will be airbourn soon

If they are are nylon props, they are very weak and my change pitch while spinning. also they don't stand a nose impact. go for some Slow fly type props and something strong.

Best of luck.
Ashok.P

hey ashok

thanks for ur input....

i m a newbie here and i surely dont know what kind of prop this is.....

would you like to suggest any good prop.

question for all the senior members...... how are the electronics looking in the pod       

This is just my personal opinion as i found the nylon ones crash almost every launch.
I have this one, a SF and JXF prop. JXF is a bit heavy but awesome strength.
http://www.quadkopters.com/product/sf-propeller-104-5-sf104-5-green/
http://thehobbyshop.in/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=46_75&products_id=160

and it survives a lot.
and yours is a tractor type, so a stronger prop is must as you are very likely to break a prop every crash.

If you motor permits 8.6 prop, go with this one.

http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_48_77&products_id=1011
they are slightly heavy, but very strong. can take hard impact.

I asked a question Flitetest forum and the guys replied with saying go for the Ft Flyer and then build FT Nutball as the flyer is easy to fly than a nutball

@swizera
that is meant for Glow engines. too heavy for this motor.
this is good. and a lot flexible too.
http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_48_80&products_id=1104

Thanks eagle.

yes i have used those composite propellers, they are also strong.

DAY 5 UPDATE:

Wing made....

Servos installed...

linkage rods and controll horns  installed...need to replace them way to thick ....

fourm mentors please suggest if any things is gone wrong...

"Foam board swappable fuselage scratch build series is setup like this: The Nutball as a beginner flyer, then the FT Flyer as the next step up, after that the Delta wing for the more advance flying experience."
Refer: http://flitetest.com/articles/ft_flyer_scratch_build

Your control throws will be very high as you have fixed the horns very close to the hinge. Be careful

DAY  6 UPDATE:

The landing gear is made from black foam ...3 inches ( known locally.....its like light weight rubber foam).
weight of wheels with 1.8mm spring steel wire....40 grams.  pic 1

i guess the landing gear is overkill..... i just hope the landing gear is too bulky...


Did not fix it to the power pod yet.....need  to search BBQ skewers and Velcro . or will use zip ties with internal reinforcement.

Temporarily attached using simple rubber band. pic 2 & 3

Power pod with landing gear weighs 158.5 grams....pic 4

plz comment senior members...

pic 1 weight of wing only ...... 96 grams

Total weight of model with 1250 MAH Battery.....374 grams

Total weight of model with 1500 MAH Battery..... 400 grams

Total weight of model with 2200 MAH Battery.....441 grams.

Now i hope it will fly soon ...what say people...

Best of luck with the maiden

Thanks topalle....

if every thing goes rite......maiden should hopefully be on this weekend.....

With the help of this forum and some senior members my nutball finally flew this weekend....

here are some pics

  THANK YOU RCI AND SENIOR MEMBERS     

The model was turning and diving towards left side....

We had to add weight on the right side of the wing....

we stuck a couple of one rupee coins......

some more pics....

vids comming up soon

1ST FLIGHT  .......Went straight down.  ......had some glide though   

2nd flight.....went down again ......banking towards left left left

3rd flight ......was some what nice, after adding 2 one rupee coins on the right edge of the wing......

thanks again RCI and senior forum members

 

 

thank you sanjay sir....

hope i build the FT flyer wing soon

Thats good !!!

So you're the one, making the rupee soar higher !


Great work mada...its a sweet flyer

great work

Thanks


wish i could make the rupee soar high for real.....

  Stop buying from HK in dollers! you will make rupee soar  , btw great build! more interesting coz I am making a wing of this series. Lets see if my build will be able to see the dawn in high skies!!

thanks @ asinghatiya...


FT flyer wing under construction .....

will post the pics soon       

FT Flyer wing cut ....increased the wing span from 26" to 30".....I hope thats not a problem

i didnt have 5mm depron....so used 8 mm instead....

Wing pics 1 and 2

FT Flyer vertical Stab cut ....pic 3

Senior members please comment on the increased wing span.....

DAY 8  UPDATE....

Made the tail feathers and fuse.

attached the fuse, tail feathers and wings...

All of it added up to 165.5 grams....i guess its gonna be a little bulky

made the holes for 2 servos.....fits perfectly

Any specific reaon to increase the wingspan??

im a new bie....

we tried to fly the nutball ...it was quite unstable ....not for beginners...

some one suggested a larger wing span is necessary for a beginner model .... hence a larger wing span.

and I have a over kill in the power pod......

1> MOTOR : 2822/ 1000 KV motor ....dont know the brand name or thrust...got it from a friend.
2> ESC     : 30 AMPS redbrick.
3> PROP   : 9/5
4>battery : 1500mah 3cell 20 c and 1250 Mah 3cell 25 C wolfpack
5> 4 channel Flysky TX RX.

DAY 9 UPDATE.....

installed the servos and linkage rods.....

with every thing in place i just wish it flies well 

hopefully will maiden this weekend.....

is it versa wing??? i guess its very different than original design!!!

it is this one
http://flitetest.com/articles/FT_Flyer_Scratch_build

rite @ nitesh..its FT Flyer....just with a 30 inch wing span ....original  one has wing span of 26 inches....

I also built this model but didnt fly as didnt have electronics

Me too 5mm foam   

We flew the FT Flyer for first time this weekend

it was amazing to fly some thing for the first time.....

some senior flyers helped me......thanks Amar, Amit , Atulrajguru 

here are some vids

finally the vid uploaded

see how the nose dipps .....

Amar trimmed the elevator and it flew nicely....THANKS A TON AMAR     

Here is the landing vid...

Is that Amar Giri? Say a big ''Hi'' from me to him

sure Sanjay sir...

will meet him this Sunday