junkjet

My Feedback: (55)

Some cool new pics

junkjet

My Feedback: (55)

Here is the long awaited maiden flight of my Predator







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxt2D8XGr_8

papajeff

Ray,

Regarding the prop - Freddy is correct on both counts (use a 9x6 APC E {electric}) & normally (called tractor)
on every type of prop, the numbers or letters face front (away from the motor) now,
with a pusher, the numbers or letters face rear, but still away from the motor!

Brushless are reversable - just switch any two of the three leads between the motor & ESC.

Although some Mfg's do make special pusher props (Zinger, master Airscrew) regular (tractor) props
can be used as pushers, just as long as they are turned backwards.

On your "new" Predator, just take your time & basically follow the instruction booklet and use this build thread
as a guide with the knowledge that most of the mods suggested, are worth considering.
If you have a question.....just post it and I'm sure that you will get lots of help.

papajeff

Freddy,

Now you're talking.........I mean flyin!!!!! Very nice, and I will agree with brownlab when he said that the Predator is not all that easy to fly!
Your turns were very good and that's just a matter of more flying and getting the feel of adding in some opposite rudder ("V"tail) as you make your aileron turns. This will flatten out your turns and help make them a little wider, which is good for the long, narrow wings of the Predator.
On the landings, just line up on the runway, slowly cut the power to about 1/4 stick and let the plane lose altitude on it's own without a lot of down elevator. At about 10 feet high, or so, cut power to just about 1/8 stick and kind of fly & glide the plane down to the runway. If you practice landing in this manner you will avoid the up-down....up-down of your first attempt. It looked like you got it right on your second landing.

You did good and that gives me a lot of pleasure! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....................Yeahhhhh hhhhhhhh!!!!

One other thing, see that sort of loop on the rear under-fin, it's just a piece of 0.47 piano wire bent in a curve with both ends
CA'd into two holes drilled into the fin. This mod helps prevent the prop from striking the ground upon landing and it works!

PALLADIUM

I welcome,
what of these models is better?

1 - http://store.bananahobby.com/gp1029.html
or
2 - http://www.bananahobby.com/1048.html


Thanks!

imwebbo

Hey all interseting thread, the build photos are excellent - think i'm going to get one soon.
Can the wings be removed after its built for transportation?

I think the title of the thread and the model name is incorrect though, this model isn't a PREDATOR RQ-1B, as that is the name given to the baseline production configuration of the smaller Predator A (the tail is upside down). This is infact MQ-9 Predator B which has now been named the MQ-9 Reaper.

Check out this link if your interested in making the uav a little more autonomous - http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2007/0...ng-a-real.html

Anyway keep up the good work.

P.S. Just found another build thread for the same model which has some interseting mods - steerable nosewheel and canopy attachment for those who are still building/going to build - like me! http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...nitro+predator

junkjet

My Feedback: (55)

Hi, Jeff. I do have the tail skid mod on my predator. its hard to see in the pics. Havent skinned the prop yet!!!

brownlab

that brusless pred is the one i had but mine had a brushed 290 in it. and 4ch is a lie ,it is 3ch

Pappy-86

My Feedback: (6)

Ch1. Throttle
Ch2. Rudder
Ch3. Elevator
Ch4. Ailerons

Not in that order but that are the 4 Ch. needed to fly the Predator.
Typically a 3 Ch plane doen't have Ailerons and a 4 Ch does.

Pappy-86

My Feedback: (6)

Hello Just wanted to show you a pilot figure a friend of mine caved out of a chunck of balsa. I looked all over for a pilot for my Zero and couldn't find one I liked and he said he would make me one and did a nice job of it.

papajeff

For me, with knowledge of both planes, I truly believe that you will be happier with
the #1 (camo) above, which is the same one as in this thread.

papajeff

Good move, Freddy, and you're right as I could not see it on the video.

papajeff

imwebbo,

Thank you for both links! I really liked that almost real UAV, silver Predator. I did see one of the UAV
sites that had photos of the many variations and we'll just remane this thread the new and improved
MQ - 9 Reaper. I like it!!!!!!!!!!!! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh hhh!!!!!!

Thank you for your comments which are greatly appreciated! I thought the same about the Predator's
63" wing span and decided to figure out a way to make the wings removeable. You can go to post
#116 then Ryan's idea see post # 294 & the next few to # 303. Now, I think that Ryan's mod is the best.

papajeff

Dave,

I wish that I had such talented pals. Nice custom pilot! Hey, happy New Year and remember;


'08 is going to be GREAT!!!!!!

brownlab

it doesnt have rudder, it has a nosewheel that is connected to the elevons, and it has elevons

ch1 throttle
ch2 ailerons
+ mixed=elevons THAT IS THE WHITE PREDATOR
ch3 elevator

georgee

Hi Papajeff,

My Predator is ready for the 1st mission.Its a nice looking *******,so I"m very exciting how its gonna fly.Thx for the building tips.[sm=thumbs_up.gif]

Georgee

papajeff

Be sure to let us know how it goes. Also, post some photos if possible.

Pappy-86

My Feedback: (6)

Hello guys need some help. I'm fortunate to work for a company that give out to its employees a $250.00 American Express card for Perfect attendance for a year which I did last year. Now my question is I always need just 1 more War Bird but having a problem finding one. Looking for one that can be EP powered with nothing bigger then a .25 and with a wing spawn of 42 - 48 inches. And I want to stay in the 3 cell lipo battery range. Wanting a War Bird I don't already have is the problem here is what I alredy have
1. Corsair x 3
2. P-47 x3
3. P-40
4. A-26
5. P-38
6. P-51 x 2
7. ME 109
8. FW 190
9. Stuka
10. A6M Zero x2
11. Predator
12. U2
13. AT6
14. T-28
15. Cub
16. Bird Dog
17. Spitfire x 2


Looking for ARF or kit I would like to find a F4F , F6F , F8F or a Dauntless SBD but what I have found are either to big or to small. If any one knows of one of these planes or any other War Bird not listed in the 42-48 WS area please let me know. O and I'm only looking for prop driven plane.
Thanks for any help
Dave

brownlab

try nitromodels or raidentech they have some nice warbirds that can be gas or electric, maybe hobby-lobby.com all they have is electric, make sure you put the hyphen in the middle or it will send you to the other hobby lobby

junkjet

My Feedback: (55)

Hi, Dave. Here is one of my next brushless projects and would be a great addition to your collection also

http://www.estarmodels.com/

Pappy-86

My Feedback: (6)

I really like that plane thanks much for the tip. Have you put any of there kits togeather? if so what do you think of them?

Thanks
Dave

chrishornby

Those kits look nice, I really love Broncos, I already got 2!

papajeff

Junket,

E-Star kits sure look fine and the Storch is a good example! Great suggestion for Dave's next Warbird!

papajeff

Hey, Chris, how have you been? I just might have found a real interesting UAV for us Predator nut-cases. I have a little more checking to do and I will be sure to let you know the result. We just could end up with a number of unusual UAV's to do some air-recon whenever we want.
All we have to be careful about is to make sure that we do not fly them too close to any airport, right???????????????

chrishornby

Hi Jeff, I look forward to seeing your new UAV idea. The weather is awful here right now, floods all over the country so no flying, but I will be taking a couple of planes to South Africa with me in February so looking forward to some aerial photography. I have got me a couple of gyros to put on the elev and ailerons of my predator to stabilise it for camera shots. Even more like the real thing then? Nice to hear from you. I guess it is sunny and warm down in Texas?
Chris