Indoor Balsa Light

[Xavier]

I wanted a lighter airplane for the F3P competition and I was not ready yet to go with a carbon-mylar structure. Since I know of a few projects using mostly balsa, I decided to try it. I first build a prototype from Depron and Mylar as it is easier to modify. At just under 100g, it flew fine after a few mods but was too heavy. I then build the balsa version and it flew last week for the first time at 83g. There was not much modification to do except adding brakes. I cut down the battery and ESC wires after finalizing the battery position and saved 2g. I went to Granby yesterday to use the high ceiling to check that it was going straight up and down. This morning, it crashed from about 25ft straight down on its nose when the motor and servos stopped for a unknown reason. Incredible but it was back in the air right away. Another proof that light doesn't mean it will be scrap in a crash.
I am very happy with the plane and will use it in the next contest. Or maybe I'll try to build another one even lighter :-)

[Burning Head]

:cool:Wow, fantastique réalisation Xavier

[dhamultun]

Very nice Xavier!


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[Ronald Longtin]

Super Xavier.
Comment fais-tu pour le poids avec deux moteurs.
Et les servos, ils sont invisibles où quoi?

[Xavier]

Super Xavier.
Comment fais-tu pour le poids avec deux moteurs.
Et les servos, ils sont invisibles où quoi?

Un seul moteur Ronald. Le moteur avec le système de réduction et les 2 hélices pèse 13g. Le ESC Turnigy 6A pèse originalement 6g mais en mettant les fils au plus court, il est à 4g environ.
Les servos de la queue sont des petits Turnigy de 3g. Celui des ailerons est un Spetrum 2020 de 4g. La batterie est une 2S180. Une 2S120 sauve 2g environ. Il consomme environ 80 mhA pour 4 minutes de vol. Je n'ai pas beaucoup allégé les servos mais je vais le faire un peu plus sur le prochain.

[Michael O'Bree]

Xavier-

Truely inspirational-thank you so much for sharing. As a newbie, each time I see your threads and explore their contents, my learning takes a quantum leap.

In your original post you mentioned "...I was not ready yet to go with a carbon-mylar structure." It may be obvious to someone more experienced, but why is that? Is it because the lighter the construction (depron->balsa->carbon), the more complicated it gets to make adjustments, and experience with flying "easier to build" versions allows less time-consuming (or less costly) tweaks to the design? If so, doesn't changing the construction materials in itself change the flight characteristics?

If answering these questions gets complicated and has already been covered elsewhere on the web, please do not hesitate to simply point me to where I can research further:)

[Mezri]

Bravos Xavier, j'espère un jour faire ça, et j'aurai besoin de ton expérience...sous la barre des 100 gr c'est pas toujours évident...:FLIPOVER:

[Xavier]

Glad you like it guys. I watch what others creates and take ideas so I try to share what I do also :-)
The carbon frame would look a little different and would be a lot stronger. The most popular one available in kit form is the Victory : http://www.pauzuolis-rc.com/donatas-design-victory-1s
Making my own carbon frame would take a little longer I think and would be a lot more expensive. Since it is very strong it could survive a lot of incidents. It mean you are stuck with it for a long time.
The balsa frame is easier to modify but the foam is even easier.
I cut strips of 1/8'' from a balsa plank for my plane. I think I use one 3'' plank. That's maybe 4-5$. The foam version was done out of 1 sheet of Depron I think. That was 10$ at Ted's.
The Mylar cost me 15$ 3 years ago and I did almost 3 airplanes with it.
The material of the frame doesn't in itself change the flight characteristics but some material allow to build lighter and that has a big effect on the flying.
I have done V3 this week and I am only missing a bit of Mylar to finish the parts before starting the assembly. It should be ready by the end of the week. YOu could see some pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/115926138259435254243/IbexF3PV3?authkey=Gv1sRgCNzh49nd2IT-6wE
The V2 is here: https://picasaweb.google.com/115926138259435254243/IbexF3PV2?authkey=Gv1sRgCJzFwojekd_v0AE
And the V1: https://picasaweb.google.com/115926138259435254243/IbexF3P?authkey=Gv1sRgCOSorM700PX5QQ

[Michael O'Bree]

Xavier
Thanks for the comprehensive update/response.
I hope we will have an opportunity to watch you put your creations through their paces at the Charlemagne gym when you are not too busy competing, even if that crossbeam is not too high!!!
If that happens, I am sure I am not the only WIMAC member who would love to know when you might be able to come ????

[Xavier]

Xavier
Thanks for the comprehensive update/response.
I hope we will have an opportunity to watch you put your creations through their paces at the Charlemagne gym when you are not too busy competing, even if that crossbeam is not too high!!!
If that happens, I am sure I am not the only WIMAC member who would love to know when you might be able to come ????

From what I know, carbon props are not allowed at the Wimac indoor and there are 2 on that plane :-)

[Michael O'Bree]

Oops! Something else new I now learn????

[Xavier]

Here is the V3 and V2 together on the red carpet in Granby. 83g each but I have some more ideas to save a few grams. Obviously, they only fly indoor and don't get out of the house without a box.
Here is a video of V2 a few weeks ago were I was just having fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MNtD9tfBv0 .
It is surprisingly strong. See a crash that only broke 2 sticks. The plane actually flew right away before repair was done. The motor and servos just stopped. I discovered a bad joint on a batterie today and it may have been the reason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFRsyjUrt5g
These builds made me re-discover working with balsa and I liked it. Now I need to go finish those kits I started long ago...

[Kevin Rochon]

Très beaux avions Xavier.

Les parties courbées de balsa est-ce que tu les courbes où s'ils sont coupés ainsi? Aussi comment mets tu la couleur sur le film?

[Xavier]

Les parties courbées sont en balsa laminé de 3 x 1/32'' sur le V2. Le V3 est similaire mais c'est une mince couche de carbone en sandwitch entre 2 1/32'' de balsa. C'est donc les leading edge des ailes et du stab, ainsi que le contour du fuselage.

Les couleurs sont faites avec de la peinture acrylique en canettes. Il y a aussi un peu de peinture acrylique au pinceau. Le lettrage est fait avec des marqueurs permanents.

[Ronald Longtin]

Extra Extra

Xavier va être au gym ce mardi 1er mars pour nous faire des vols avec ses merveilles poids-plume.

Avec ses hélices en carbon et a cause de la fragilité, les vols seront exclusifs ( pas d'autres aéronefs en même temps)

[Xavier]

For those who missed it last night, here is a video taken by Paul G.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndPH9Rr_g9Y

[briankizner]

wow! smooth and beautifully controlled. You make it look easy.

[Mezri]

Majestueux, dommage que j'ai raté ça en directe, encore Bravo Xavier (il faut préciser que la vidéo n'est pas au ralenti) :yes:

[Kevin Rochon]

J'adore ce type de vol, domage j'ai manqué cela ....travail.

[Dwight Macdonald]

It's amazing Xavier! The light weight really makes for a great indoor plane! Sorry I couldn't be there last night.

[Burning Head]

:)Bravo Xavier, c'est la quintessence des models d'aéronef d'intérieur

[Sempai-mj]

Bravo Xavier, very nice. :)

[Michael O'Bree]

Félicitations, Xavier. All I can add is that your demo was like watching "Poetry in Motion". Paul's video is great, but mine is somewhat different (closer up but inevitably more jerky). Enjoy:)

https://vimeo.com/157775536

[Burning Head]

Amazing dexterity :) well made Michael

[Michael O'Bree]

Thanks - but nothing compared with the designer/builder/pilot's dexterity;)

[Xavier]

Thank you guys and thanks Michael. I love the video.
I could come back another time if others wants to see it fly.

[Michael O'Bree]

I will have to get myself a hand-held camera gimble next time:)

[Glenn Hole]

Nice video Xaier sorry i miss it.:(

I hope you will be there next week tuesday(Mar 8):)

[Xavier]

Here is a video of what the airplane did at the contest yesterday. I was having trouble with the rolls. I will try to fix the airplane so they are more axial and I could relax :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IyuHecgnUI

[Michael O'Bree]

Great Xavier - I guess it's official you are off to France with the team next year????
Video was reasonably close up AND very steady- who did that for you, and do you know the camera equipment?

[Xavier]

Great Xavier - I guess it's official you are off to France with the team next year????
Video was reasonably close up AND very steady- who did that for you, and do you know the camera equipment?

Thanks Michael. The video was taken by Paul Hepworth using his phone... Incredible quality indeed :-)

[Xavier]

Nice video Xaier sorry i miss it.:(

I hope you will be there next week tuesday(Mar 8):)

I can't this week but I could try next week.

[Dwight Macdonald]

Very nice video Xavier! It's great to see what can be done indoor!

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[Xavier]

Nice video Xaier sorry i miss it.:(

I hope you will be there next week tuesday(Mar 8):)

I'll bring it tomorrow Glenn.

[Glenn Hole]

Looking forward to see it see you tonight thanks:)

[Michael O'Bree]

Lights, cameras, action!

[Kevin Rochon]

I was there to see it tonight and it's really amazing how slow it can fly but the best part Xavier was nice enough to let me fly his prototype for this plane, made of foam not balsa but so light a pleasure to fly.

Thanks Xavier!

[Burning Head]

Any pic or clip:)

[mdauth]

Merci Xavier pour l'essai de ton prototype et encore mais excuse pour la gaffe a la fin!!! mais suggestion pour les graphiques sur ton prochain!!!

[Kevin Rochon]

Merci Xavier pour l'essai de ton prototype et encore mais excuse pour la gaffe a la fin!!! mais suggestion pour les graphiques sur ton prochain!!!


Bonne idée j'ai pratiquement fait la même chose...est-ce qu'il est à l'endroit ou à l'envers:suspicious:

[Dwight Macdonald]

It was amazing to see your planes live on Tuesday Xavier!