airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

I am working on one now. i did bash it some by cutting the curve off the bottom of the fuselage. i will be using a AP .06 on a 2 ounce tank with a 6x4. i get about 15,000 with that prop bone stock. should fly it fine. i do have a Novel .06 and .074, TT .07 modded and bunch of .10-.15's. i am building it to run up to an OS 15 if want to latter. plan to stick with 1/2A size though. i will be putting wire gear on it so can take off all. will have pics when finished.

Any one else still flying one of these?

davidmh

Hi airraptor! I am flying a 1/2a Honker with Cox Tee Dee .051 that a recently scratch-built by scaling up the plans from the RCM construction article. I reduced weight with lightening holes and use of modern, lightweight rc gear. I built it without a landing gear as originally published. Flies great and glides extremely well. Handles the wind nicely, too. Years and years ago I flew the Honker Bipe - also a lot of fun.

Andrew

I still fly mine. It has a lot of years and a lot of flights. It started out with a Black Widow, but as the engine got a little long in the tooth, I put a NORVEL .061 C/L engine on. The swap made a lot of difference in performance and added flight time. Because the NORVEL C/L tank mount matched the hole pattern, I used it. Originally, I had intended to use the NORVEL tank, but flight times were in the range of the old BW. I added an internal tank and plumbed it - usually I get 7 to 9 minutes of air time. It does everything an R/E model will do, but I cannot keep it inverted for any length of time. With the dihedral, it rolls out pretty quickly (probably pilot incompetence has something to do with it, too) Mine will flat spin like crazy, but I don't spin it much anymore. Several times times I've pancaked it because I can't get it out of the spin - when it hits, there is hardly any forward motion and I've gotten compression fractures running lengthwise in the fuselage. I fly it with an old Futaba AM 72 MHz radio and the original S133 Futaba servos.

andrew

dieFluggeister

I have built several and retired my last one a while back, but I know there are at least a couple guys on RCU that have (had) at least one.

I would caution not to overbuild it. If memory serves, don't the sides call for 1/8" balsa? In my opinion, that is way more than what is needed for 049-06 sized plane. I built my first one according to plan and it was too heavy and underpowered with the 049. The next one I scaled down the balsa thicknesses and came in under weight! Also, pick the lightest piece of Sig Airfoil stock you can for the wing, as that is the biggest contributor to the overall weight.

I would say the Norvel 061 would be a great match - or the AP. I had an 074 on mine for a while and it was too much. And as long as you are making mods, plan to put a hatch in the nose for access to the fuel and battery - you'll be glad you did!

There was also a version of the Honker called the "Rocket" that had the mods you are doing but was a little more complex with a turtle deck and cockpit. I have never built one though.

Good luck and keep us informed!

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

I cut mine then later wish i didnt lol i still like the looks of this plane. Does sig still sell the wood to make the wings? If they do a honker bipe would be great with a 15.

I am putting ailerons on mine as well. should be in the 18 ounce range. I also have a dominator 200 but would like that one for one of my hot 15's for it. we can get the 15's down to 4-4.5 ounces and spin a 7x5 at 21-22,000

dieFluggeister

Yes, Sig makes a 4x36" Airfoil Stock which tapers from 1/4" down to about 3/32" across the chord. I find it at my local hobby store, however it is hit and miss if they have any in stock and it is usually picked over for the lightest pieces. I have seen each piece vary by several ounces throughout the stack. You can fabricate your own from a piece of 1/4x4x36" balsa plank if you have a planer or are good with a sander.

This picture is not the Honker but it shows the Airfoil stock and how you will glue it up. and what it should look like after sanding.

Edit - Oh and yes there is a Honker Bipe!

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

yes i had a kit for one of the bipes but never built it. i dont know where the kit went when i was little. thanks

onecb

My Feedback: (5)

I still have an original wing and tail from one of the kits they sold 40 years ago. I may just put a fuse together and revive a 40 year old.

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

slowly working on mine. work had me out of town for two weeks then 8 days at Disney world. checked in on the scale last night with no gear installed and came in at 16 ounces. I didnt have the ailerons on and puch rods so i am thinking maybe 19 ounces dry when done. a bit heavy but should fly just fine for me. Oh yeah thats with four servos.

fizzwater2

My Feedback: (61)

What servos are you using?

I recently picked up a 1/2 A "Hornet" at a swap meet, complete with Norvel .061 in good shape - for 25 bucks..

I plan on removing the OLD standard size servo that's still in it. I have a couple of NIB, but older, Hitec HS60's that I thought I would use for aileron/elevator, and possibly a Futaba S133 or similar for the throttle. I'm still at work - can't remember if it had a separate rudder or was ail/elevator only. I figure with lighter servos, it can't help but fly better than it did with two or three standard sized servos crammed into it.

Years ago I had another Hornet - fun airplane!

Never had a Honker, but it looks like it should build fairly quickly.

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

yes they build quickly. i was wrong on the weight. i checked again last night with the landing gear on it and was just at 15 ounces. i didnt have puchrods or the ailerons installed but should add to much more.

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

I flew the honker today. it was very windy about 20mph gusts to 30. flew very well. AP .061 bone stock with muffler. 25% nitro and MA6x4 prop very close to a APC 6x3 with more blade area. It would climb straight up at about 25-30mph lol not fast but would. i could even hover it down the runway. very supprised in the performance. came in at 17.75 ounces dry. I know i could make one even light with a good selection of wood. I used every thing in the kit.

Servo's were spectrum s-75 (HS-55 size) AR6100 6 channel reciever with remote reciever, 200 MAH LiFe battery and two ounce tank. I added wire landing gear and steerable tail wheel to the mix. it flew very well inverted also. I will have to go and add the clunk back in the tank. This one i just put the tubing to the bottom rear of the tank.

Top speed was only around 55-60 mph though which for the way i have it set up is just fine.

Andrew

Sounds like a super maiden. Got any pics? What dihedral did you use?

andrew

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

here is some i just took. sorry pic are not the best. the camera is old. i havent bought a new one yet. Its only a 5 MP camera.

oh yeah about 1" total on the wing.