2015 Contest Entry - Glow Class - Bell X-1
05-25-2015, 06:07 PM
#1
2015 Contest Entry - Glow Class - Bell X-1
Here is my entry into the 2015 Design Contest: the Bell X-1
I have had this idea in the back of my mind to build for quite some time - CAD plans started but I have never progressed past this stage. This contest gives me the push forward that I needed.
It will be of balsa construction (of course orange) and powered by a Cox TD .049 / .051: aileron, elevator and throttle (Ace throttle sleeve). Thinking plenty of room inside for fuel, servos, receiver and battery.
My goal is to not make it an all out speed demon but rather a model that can be relatively fast at full throttle and slow down at low throttle to a decent glide characteristics. Breaking the sound barrier was already solved with the original X-1.
Specs, sketches and plans to follow... I need to dust of my calculator and power up AutoCAD LT.
Brian
I have had this idea in the back of my mind to build for quite some time - CAD plans started but I have never progressed past this stage. This contest gives me the push forward that I needed.
It will be of balsa construction (of course orange) and powered by a Cox TD .049 / .051: aileron, elevator and throttle (Ace throttle sleeve). Thinking plenty of room inside for fuel, servos, receiver and battery.
My goal is to not make it an all out speed demon but rather a model that can be relatively fast at full throttle and slow down at low throttle to a decent glide characteristics. Breaking the sound barrier was already solved with the original X-1.
Specs, sketches and plans to follow... I need to dust of my calculator and power up AutoCAD LT.
Brian
05-26-2015, 07:32 AM
#3
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Orangeville, ON, CANADA
Posts: 8,658
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Only one of my most favorite "things I want to model" .... Cool!!
The design is clean and so straightforward that with decent power and wing loading you should have a great flier.
The design is clean and so straightforward that with decent power and wing loading you should have a great flier.
05-26-2015, 06:01 PM
#6
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Orangeville, ON, CANADA
Posts: 8,658
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Oh man you got me all stoked about X-1's again.
I have the Aerofax datagraph 3 book on the X-1 and variants. Got some pdf scans I can send you if wanted.
The 3-view is lousy, not sure where that came from.. [aha, it's an X-1E I think]
I have the Aerofax datagraph 3 book on the X-1 and variants. Got some pdf scans I can send you if wanted.
The 3-view is lousy, not sure where that came from.. [aha, it's an X-1E I think]
Last edited by MJD; 06-10-2015 at 07:55 AM.
05-26-2015, 06:35 PM
#9
05-27-2015, 11:36 AM
#12
About 4 yrs back I saw a large depron floater with a DF hidden inside the tail.
If I recall right it was set up on 4S / 2,700 kv inrunner 90mm fan - it actually went fairly fast considering.
If I recall right it was set up on 4S / 2,700 kv inrunner 90mm fan - it actually went fairly fast considering.
05-27-2015, 08:51 PM
#14
06-11-2015, 07:59 AM
#16
CP-
I had thought about your concept of turning a foam block... especially since the majority of the fuse is round. I love the looks of balsa stringers and am tossing around the idea of using transparent orange monokote so everything is visible = always a cool look. Wish I knew more about tissue / dope covering which could probably lead to a very similar transparent orange appearance as well and be just as light, if not lighter. Guessing this is adding thinner to the orange dope or similar.
In terms of building sequence, thinking of using the concept of building a half of the fuse at one time, i.e. bulkheads cut in half and then install the balsa stringers. Final step would be to attach the fuse halves to make the final fuselage.
Still need to work out how to install the horizontal on the vertical tail so that it remains strong... it is very thin in that area.
Brian
I had thought about your concept of turning a foam block... especially since the majority of the fuse is round. I love the looks of balsa stringers and am tossing around the idea of using transparent orange monokote so everything is visible = always a cool look. Wish I knew more about tissue / dope covering which could probably lead to a very similar transparent orange appearance as well and be just as light, if not lighter. Guessing this is adding thinner to the orange dope or similar.
In terms of building sequence, thinking of using the concept of building a half of the fuse at one time, i.e. bulkheads cut in half and then install the balsa stringers. Final step would be to attach the fuse halves to make the final fuselage.
Still need to work out how to install the horizontal on the vertical tail so that it remains strong... it is very thin in that area.
Brian
06-11-2015, 08:40 AM
#17
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Orangeville, ON, CANADA
Posts: 8,658
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Orange tissue and clear dope might look more consistent in color and would be lighter.
Since it is a rocket airplane with a big hole in the arse end - you could fixture all your formers to a central rod or tube for assembly. But fuse halves is cool too.
Re your tail surfaces - built up or sheet? If sheet, maybe narrow 1/64" ply doubler strips up to the stab (i.e. not the full fin chord width - too heavy) plus small tristock fillets.
Cool project.. did I say that already?
Since it is a rocket airplane with a big hole in the arse end - you could fixture all your formers to a central rod or tube for assembly. But fuse halves is cool too.
Re your tail surfaces - built up or sheet? If sheet, maybe narrow 1/64" ply doubler strips up to the stab (i.e. not the full fin chord width - too heavy) plus small tristock fillets.
Cool project.. did I say that already?
06-12-2015, 10:49 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Louisa,
VA
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Orrrrr, you could always go this route in bendable foam:
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/...t/Bell-X1.html
Makes that odd fuselage a lot easier.
ZZ.
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/...t/Bell-X1.html
Makes that odd fuselage a lot easier.
ZZ.
06-24-2015, 07:06 PM
#20
MJD - thanks for referencing that thread you thought was Jim Ryan's X-1. Great for getting some ideas on structure.
Also cool to see it rocket powered.
I am going to try to layout the X-1 this weekend, so I should have some specs on wingspan, fuselage, etc.
Brian
Also cool to see it rocket powered.
I am going to try to layout the X-1 this weekend, so I should have some specs on wingspan, fuselage, etc.
Brian
08-03-2015, 06:31 AM
#21
Well, I have been crazy busy with work and the kids camps over summer. It appears to be a little less busy over the next couple of weeks. I am traveling this week for work, but should have some time in the evening to finalize my overall specs on the X-1 so I can start in on the plans. I brought along my handy dandy Andy Lennon book "Basics of R/C Model Aircraft Design - Practical Techniques for Building Better Models." A great resource for learning the nuts and bolts on airplane design. I would highly recommend this to others, if anything to have for reference. It covers: choosing airfoils, wing loading, CG location, basic proportions, aerobatic design, etc.
Andy has designed many models around the O.S. .46 SF to "try out" what he learned over time. He seems, in particular, to like models with slots and flaps. His book has been summarized in a way not to bore you with complex formulas, but rather simplified versions so you just plug and go.
Brian
Andy has designed many models around the O.S. .46 SF to "try out" what he learned over time. He seems, in particular, to like models with slots and flaps. His book has been summarized in a way not to bore you with complex formulas, but rather simplified versions so you just plug and go.
Brian
08-11-2015, 06:45 PM
#22
My Feedback: (98)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: The Villages, Florida NJ
Posts: 4,677
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Xs-1
I built a XS-1 a couple of months ago to be dropped from a B-29. I had a rocket motor in it, when dropped it didn't light and it landed in a field with stickers, ticks, and Poison Ivy, so it's still there. The B-29 and the profile XS-1 are my friends, the XS-1s have 13" wing if I remember correctly, very quick little things.
