novabill

Finished my new SPA3D Electric Fence Post Insulator fuse the past week. I held off on the post because I wanted some in flight pics, but it's raining with no end in sight. Here are the pics.

novabill

The weight came out at 4.67 lb. The WS is 40" and there is no MW in the plane except for the landing gear. I used 5/32 carbon fibre tube for the rear wing support and to hold the fuse on and attach the rear stab and elevators. I started with my Tower .46, but after 3 dead-sticks the first day out, I tossed it and put my new Webra .50 on it. I love this motor. I also used a 700 MAH MNH battery to keep the weight down.

The plane is a joy to fly. On high rates I have almost 80 degrees on the ailerons and elevator and about 60-70 on the rudder. I have the CG back at 6-3/4" and it is pretty easy to hover. It will kind of KE, but tucks really bad toward the canopy. Rolls on high rate are 2 per second and it will loop in it's own length. On really slow stall turns, it will put itself into a hover. Higher speeds on low rates work too with no wing flapping. It can be flown just like a sport plane and it also flys well inverted.

I do'nt think it will hold up like a regular SPA3D, but it might be well suited to someone who has gotten past the really hard bashing. The cost was more too. I have about $75 in the airframe including the sign vynal.

novabill

For some reason, it is not letting me add any more pics. I will get a few more in soon. If anybody wants to build one, I will be happy to provide more info.

I am also trying to find someone to take some video. This plane is awesome.

WILLIAM
Pro-Bro #540

cropdusterdave

My Feedback: (2)

Probably the nicest looking 3D I've seen. Me likes the weight saving methods you've implemented.

novabill

Thanks Dave,

The rain just stopped and the sun came out. The gods are smiling. It's 20 min to the field and we are on the way. If all goes well, I'll have some flight shots in a few hours.

Stay tuned
WILLIAM

FrankC29

That is sweet!! I agree, about the nicest looking Spa3d type I've seen!

SearchMan

Hey Novabill,
Great looking SPA3D! Does the foam in the wing eliminate the need for music wire? Also, with a 40" wing did you increase the length of the fuse?

Thanks,
SearchMan

novabill

Got to the field and it started raining again. All I wanted to do is get some in flight pics, but I guess I'll have to wait until next sunday.

SearchMan,

The foam stiffens up the wing alot, but I do have a CF tube running through the TE flute. The wing is verry stiff. The fuse is 40" long with the rudder extending 5" out the back and the motor is mounted 1" in front. If any of you guys want exact measurements, I'll be happy to provide them. Just let me know. I have a few more pics that show how I hooked up the linkages, but the system wont let me download them right now.

WILLIAM

Oodles

Great looking Spad--Will have to learn how to post pictures from my camera to post one back to you--Used some of the Columbia coro on my low wing Deamon--

novabill

Good to hear from you OODLES,

Glad the Columbia coro is working out for you. It makes good planes, Does'nt it? Something is wrong with RCU. I was able to post the first three pics, but then got the white page saying refresh or go back. The bottom of the plane is really cool too, let me see if I can get the pics to work.

When are we going to get together and fly? I was on vacation all last week, but it rained four days and I did'nt get to fly as much as I wanted.

William

mnrcaerobat

My Feedback: (197)

William,

I am in the process of upgrading mp spa3dt and like what you have done here. I have been considering a balsa profile, but want to stay with a spad. How are the counterbalances holding up? Is your profile based on an extra? edge? Can you get some exact measurements to me? I will do some testing with a Saito 72.

Brian

ben flyn

Beautiful job! Just one thing, one of your photos looks like a spad-o-holic standing in front of a line-up answering this question: " Did you steal that yard sign on the night of the 15th"?

novabill

I can get you exact measurements and post them tonight or tomorrow. To be honest with you I forgot them. When I put the Webra on it I lost over 2oz in weight and was able to remove 1 oz in the tail so I am well under 4.5lb. The sato .72 would be a good engine for the plane if you arent worried about destroying it. The counter balances are holding up well and if the hor-stab wears out, all I have to do is cut two CF rods and slide the halfs out. I think the stab could benefit with a few more square in. area and I will give you suggestions with the measurements. I have a ton more pics of the plane on a disk at home and will post them in the next day or so. The whole bottom of the wing and stab is covered with 1" white stripes and the contrast is awesome. I never loose orientation on this one.

Updated Flight Report.

Last sunday she was flown for 6 hours non stop and we tried everything with it. High speed was verry stable with no wing flapping whatsoever and it remained controllable upwards of 80mph, but we did'nt do that much. The plane is balanced at 6-3/4" from the TE but is still verry docile. Entering a hover is a simple matter of reducing throttle to almost a stall, then feed up elevator and a little throttle aand you are there. I can only hover for 10 to 15 sec. at a time, but our hover pro was able to put it into a hover and TR it down the runway. It flies inverted hands off and Kind of KEs. Upright flat spins are a ball and with some more tuning I should be able to gei it to climb and it decends slow enough to land spinning. Can you guys tell I love this thing?

Heres a couple pics

novabill

a couple more.

BTW the design of the fuse is freehand first try. The canopy needs to be extended toward the front of the wing and maybee KE would be better.

mnrcaerobat

My Feedback: (197)

I have been flying a spa3d end of last year, and spa3dt this winter and have been considering doing something like your plane. I have an MDS 48 on my current spad and want to move it to my 40 size extra this spring. That means the Saito will have to go on this plane. I think it will be an awesome combo with a 14x4 prop.

I sure appreciate your posts on this plane. I hope to build this thing during the second week of March when I have a break. I think all I will need to get is a 4x8 of cloroplast, the fence post insulator, and some carbon fiber rods (5/32"). Is there something else that I am not thinking of that is different from my spa3dt? I will also get some polystyrene from home depot.

One thing I am curious about, is how did the profile fuse get itself around the wing?

novabill

I will provide you with all the info you need to build it plus some ideas for small improvements. I will take detailed pictures of the plane up close and take you through my build step by step. I used hollow CF rod from acp composites 5/32 (only $4 per 48" length, but $7 for shipping). I dont have their web address stored in this computer, but If you need it let me know. Also, to get the throws I have, you need dubro super-duty servo horns.

I'll try to get some posts up tomorrow

William

novabill

The fuse is one peice with 1-1/2" cut out the center slid over the channell and rods running through the flutes through the fuse and through the other end. It works great and is super easy. You will understand when I post close-ups. The plane is just as easy to build as any SPA3D and tons stiffer and really-tons lighter. Remember, It's slightly larger and only 4.5lb.

mnrcaerobat

My Feedback: (197)

Today I stoped at Mills Fleet Farm, but could not find the Electric Fence Post Insulator. I am not totally sure what to look for. They had some nice 2x2 and 4x4 vinyl but that was it. I will have to look at some other farm supply stores.

As far as the carbon fiber rods, I am thinking that my local hobby shop sell them. I was there last week looking for some to make pushrods with, and he didn't have any small enough. I will see if he has some 5/32". Why don't you post the address in case he is out. I also have some fellow club members that are needing some.

novabill

Here's the address for CF www.acp-composites.com

It's not letting me download pictures this morning, I will try from work. The fence post insulator comes from Tractor supply center. It's 1.5"x1' and costs about $2.49 for a 48" length. This is a key ingredient as it is not brittle and is alot lighter than aluminum.

I will try to get the pics up in a few hours and measurements tonight

William

novabill

some pics

novabill

some more

novabill

two more

novabill

These show the control linkages. Note the huge servo arms, this allows the throws without the pushrod hitting the surface. The bottom two pics show the LG mounting and hor-stab wich is simply two holes through the fuse and two 5/32 CF rods running through the LH stab-through fuse-through the RH stab and glued with thick ca. I am not really good with explaning these things, so be patient with me and feel free to ask any questions you have.


William

Raghfrost

thats one kick ass SPAD3DT![8D]

my SPAD3DT looks like crap[:-]

novabill

Hey wait until I have 100 or so flights. She'll show her age too