RC India

RC Models => Electric Planes => Topic started by: ashimda on December 31, 2013, 09:51:59 PM



Title: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: ashimda on December 31, 2013, 09:51:59 PM
I have finished my Sky Surfer build and it is incredibly tail heavy. To get the CG at 60-65mm I have to place 2 lipo's( 2200 & 1800) all the way forward.
I have made a couple of mods/reinforcements which I picked up here and RC groups.
I split the fuselage and reinforced it with CF. I have moved rudder and elevator servos to the rear, I have also fitted a universal motor mount. Could these upset the CG so much?

My maiden flight was not as I had planned. The model seemed quite heavy after the mods, and the stock prop seemed too week. My 6x4e prop has not arrived from HK.
I managed to get off the ground, and flew 30ft, 6ft off the ground and crashed. Right wing broke in two, and prop broken. I repaired the wing good as new but Im grounded until my prop arrives. All in all a learning experience.

Ashim.


Title: Re: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: saikat on January 01, 2014, 07:43:56 AM
Next time check the CG before launch - slightly forward of
recommended is okay - do not launch if the cg is rearward
of indicated limits.

Foam planes are easily repaired - however resist the urge to
"mod" (totally american gora term) as this will add weight and
you will end up with a pig - and pigs can't fly.

could you post a pic of what you have done ??





Title: Re: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: ashimda on January 10, 2014, 11:58:55 AM
Thank you Saikat for your input. You were right, I had made a beautiful pig with an AUW of 1.2 kgs. I stripped her down to 900gms and was off to a nearby field. It was a windy day and after a couple of failed attempted launches I figured out I was chucking to hard. My next throw was more controlled and with less effort, and to my surprise she just took off into the sky. The field was not ideal with a lot of trees so I circled and started to climb. Then the wind took over and for the next 6mins I got a crash course in flying. "Height is your friend" is some thing I have read somewhere on this forum and it could not be more true. After struggling to keep the plane above and in front of me due to the strong wind, I finally got more comfortable controlling it and decided to bring her down. During the flight, her nose kept going up which indicated she was still a bit tail heavy. I trimmed the elevator all the way down but her nose still wanted to rise. I then  applied some down elevator and let her glide in. Touch down, I actually landed her with no damage.
I cannot even begin to describe the feeling I was having after the flight, I am truly hooked.
 
I walked over to where she lay picked her up and said  " That'll do pig, that'll do....       


Title: Re: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: saikat on January 10, 2014, 05:09:46 PM
Great going ....


post a pic man ! ... want to see it


Title: Re: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: RCNeil21 on January 10, 2014, 05:52:18 PM
Foam planes are easily repaired - however resist the urge to
"mod" (totally american gora term) as this will add weight and
you will end up with a pig - and pigs can't fly.
Sorry to intrude ashimda.

Actually saikat sir the goras have made pigs fly too(well not real ones :giggle: but you get my :D point watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kRJiHR9Ti4#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kRJiHR9Ti4#ws)


Title: Re: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: ashimda on January 10, 2014, 09:03:23 PM
Reminds me of the sugar rocket days. :).
Thank you Saikat, here are some before and after pics.


Title: Re: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: RCNeil21 on January 10, 2014, 09:12:25 PM
Wow that skysurfer looks amazing, what is the covering that you have used? :hatsoff:


Title: Re: Tail Heavy Sky Surfer
Post by: ashimda on January 10, 2014, 10:18:23 PM
That sky surfer looked amazing, now its ugly :(.  I used radium tape so it would glow in the dark.