Epic Journey
03-21-2013, 07:03 AM
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Epic Journey
an Epic journey
2004... the first date on my Cad file for my new F3A design. I had just made the switch to electric and wanted a design all my own. I am NOT a qualified Cad operator, but I am capable of drawing a side and top view of a plane. So I set out to make my first design, Argo at the time, and got started. It would be built out of wood and foam since that would be the only chance I had at making it myself (LOL). The fuse would have straight sides and top and bottom decks out of foam. Should be easy enough to do... if I would ever settle on a final design I liked. After a few different outlines, I settled on one I liked, but didn't have the motivation to build it. So there it sat...
2006/7... having gone through 3 'designs' at this point, I was at a point that I liked the look of what I had. Deciding that this plane could be a great plane for Shulman Aviation to carry, I shrunk it down and had a .40 sized one built, the Era. This proved to fly so well that a couple of us had used it in a few pattern contests, so I had a .90 version done as well, the Eon. The Eon also flew well, but met an early demise, and unfortunately we (SA) never went through with doing either of them. But I still could tell that a full 2M version would work.
2008... the Integrals had be working great, just returned from Argentina with a 4th place finish and it was time to pull-up the Epoch (formally Argo) and get back to work on it. So by this point I think it's gone through 7 different design 'tweaks' and looked nothing like the Argo I started with. The canopy had moved from the middle of the wing to the front of the wing, the fuse grew 2" taller and the chin was a bit smaller. Still not able to really dial in a look I wanted, I took another break.
2009/10... I get an email from Chip while he is down in Argentina working at CA Models saying "hey, it's time you designed an airplane of your own, so let's do it". Uhhh, OK!!!!! So we started with a basic outline, changed some things around, swept the wings, turned the gear around and after about 100 emails, we had the Envision (my 1st name choice was shot down, Exsweption). Chip always knew I had a thing for the Vision line of names ever since we were in AZ and he 'borrowed' it for his profile plane lol. He actually thought of Envision and it was an easy choice to go with it. He test flew the prototype in Argentina and made a couple of minor changes to the next one that made its way to me. Finally, my design had made it to the air and it was a joy to see.
2012... in June I asked Joe Walker if I could borrow my old Envision and he said no problem since he didn't think he was going to make the Nats. After some practice, I still felt that I needed something 'newer' for the F-13 and new Unknown maneuvers that I had just noticed. I sent an email to Marcelo (CA Models) and asked if he had a RTF Xurama for sale, but he had just sold his last ARF Xurama and only had kits of both. OK, no luck there... or was there. I had mentioned that I had a new design in one of the emails to Marcelo, but hadn't thought much about it, not thinking my Nats would turn out so well with the Envision. Well 3 weeks before the Nats, Mark Leseberg offered me the use of his Sensation bipe and the rush was on. Now I hadn't flown a pattern bipe much, but the few bipes I had flown, this was going to be a challenge. So 2 weeks before the Nats I get it and start working on it. Change up a few things, install my Rx and Esc and out to practice. Have to break in 2 new set's of batteries and that was actually a great thing because I took those 20 flights and learned how to roll that plane cause it was so different from anything else I'd flown. Then BAM, get sick and loose 3 days of flying with 4 days of practice to go. One last day of practice and headed up to the Nats.
2012, Post Nats... turned out that I was more ready than I thought and made the Team. So instead of waiting until 2013 to start figuring out what to do for a plane, I sent Marcelo and e-mail and asked if he was interested in doing the Epic (formally Epoch). He was on board. Here's a couple of pics of the fuse of the CA Models Epic.
More later
2004... the first date on my Cad file for my new F3A design. I had just made the switch to electric and wanted a design all my own. I am NOT a qualified Cad operator, but I am capable of drawing a side and top view of a plane. So I set out to make my first design, Argo at the time, and got started. It would be built out of wood and foam since that would be the only chance I had at making it myself (LOL). The fuse would have straight sides and top and bottom decks out of foam. Should be easy enough to do... if I would ever settle on a final design I liked. After a few different outlines, I settled on one I liked, but didn't have the motivation to build it. So there it sat...
2006/7... having gone through 3 'designs' at this point, I was at a point that I liked the look of what I had. Deciding that this plane could be a great plane for Shulman Aviation to carry, I shrunk it down and had a .40 sized one built, the Era. This proved to fly so well that a couple of us had used it in a few pattern contests, so I had a .90 version done as well, the Eon. The Eon also flew well, but met an early demise, and unfortunately we (SA) never went through with doing either of them. But I still could tell that a full 2M version would work.
2008... the Integrals had be working great, just returned from Argentina with a 4th place finish and it was time to pull-up the Epoch (formally Argo) and get back to work on it. So by this point I think it's gone through 7 different design 'tweaks' and looked nothing like the Argo I started with. The canopy had moved from the middle of the wing to the front of the wing, the fuse grew 2" taller and the chin was a bit smaller. Still not able to really dial in a look I wanted, I took another break.
2009/10... I get an email from Chip while he is down in Argentina working at CA Models saying "hey, it's time you designed an airplane of your own, so let's do it". Uhhh, OK!!!!! So we started with a basic outline, changed some things around, swept the wings, turned the gear around and after about 100 emails, we had the Envision (my 1st name choice was shot down, Exsweption). Chip always knew I had a thing for the Vision line of names ever since we were in AZ and he 'borrowed' it for his profile plane lol. He actually thought of Envision and it was an easy choice to go with it. He test flew the prototype in Argentina and made a couple of minor changes to the next one that made its way to me. Finally, my design had made it to the air and it was a joy to see.
2012... in June I asked Joe Walker if I could borrow my old Envision and he said no problem since he didn't think he was going to make the Nats. After some practice, I still felt that I needed something 'newer' for the F-13 and new Unknown maneuvers that I had just noticed. I sent an email to Marcelo (CA Models) and asked if he had a RTF Xurama for sale, but he had just sold his last ARF Xurama and only had kits of both. OK, no luck there... or was there. I had mentioned that I had a new design in one of the emails to Marcelo, but hadn't thought much about it, not thinking my Nats would turn out so well with the Envision. Well 3 weeks before the Nats, Mark Leseberg offered me the use of his Sensation bipe and the rush was on. Now I hadn't flown a pattern bipe much, but the few bipes I had flown, this was going to be a challenge. So 2 weeks before the Nats I get it and start working on it. Change up a few things, install my Rx and Esc and out to practice. Have to break in 2 new set's of batteries and that was actually a great thing because I took those 20 flights and learned how to roll that plane cause it was so different from anything else I'd flown. Then BAM, get sick and loose 3 days of flying with 4 days of practice to go. One last day of practice and headed up to the Nats.
2012, Post Nats... turned out that I was more ready than I thought and made the Team. So instead of waiting until 2013 to start figuring out what to do for a plane, I sent Marcelo and e-mail and asked if he was interested in doing the Epic (formally Epoch). He was on board. Here's a couple of pics of the fuse of the CA Models Epic.
More later
03-25-2013, 06:28 AM
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RE: Epic Journey
Yes Tuny, it has a chin cowl 
Here's a comparison to the Envision. Not sure there will be a fin area issue.
The Contra is going/in my Xurama. First flights will be with our Fury motor.
Here's a comparison to the Envision. Not sure there will be a fin area issue.
The Contra is going/in my Xurama. First flights will be with our Fury motor.
03-26-2013, 07:45 AM
#9
RE: Epic Journey
Jason, it looks awesome. Nice design.
Regarding the CoP/Stability topic, it will help once the wing location is seen/determined. I think this design has slightly different proportions than we're used to seeing, so may not be an issue, depending...
I love it.
Regarding the CoP/Stability topic, it will help once the wing location is seen/determined. I think this design has slightly different proportions than we're used to seeing, so may not be an issue, depending...
I love it.
03-31-2013, 01:13 PM
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RE: Epic Journey
Nose is a little bigger, but I still think it'll be ok. It looks good to me so that's all I was worried about lol. I'm not a real designer so I just go with what looks good to me.
Here's some ARC weights from Marcelo:
wings ~280 grs each
stab ~65 grs each
Fuse complete with formers, chin and canopy ~850 grs
Here's some ARC weights from Marcelo:
wings ~280 grs each
stab ~65 grs each
Fuse complete with formers, chin and canopy ~850 grs
04-01-2013, 06:23 AM
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RE: Epic Journey
FedEx dropped off the box and everything was fine. A few foot prints on the crate but no real damage to the plane.
Since the [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_11335289/tm.htm]Ribs[/link] contest is this weekend, it's a mad dash to build.
Since the [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_11335289/tm.htm]Ribs[/link] contest is this weekend, it's a mad dash to build.
04-02-2013, 03:44 PM
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RE: Epic Journey
Jarvis, Marcelo hasn't told me the pricing of it yet. I know he's building a few for customers now, but I haven't heard any numbers yet. I would imagine he will update the site soon (when I send him pics and such) with the Epic. It will be available as kit, ARC and ARF.
Any Carbon guru's out there that can help me out please? I cut my firewall out of some CST carbon plate, .060, but it's not strong enough and am pretty sure it's flexing. Is there anything that doesn't weigh a ton, that can be used once cut like this, that won't flex much?
Any Carbon guru's out there that can help me out please? I cut my firewall out of some CST carbon plate, .060, but it's not strong enough and am pretty sure it's flexing. Is there anything that doesn't weigh a ton, that can be used once cut like this, that won't flex much?
04-02-2013, 04:00 PM
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RE: Epic Journey
The guts are...
Futaba 6008HS Rx
Thunder Power 900 2-cell rx batt
Futaba small switch
Shulman Aviation 6v Reg
Futaba 153BLS on elevators, 352BLS on rudder and 551BLS on ailerons
Carbon .080 rod for pushrods CA'd into the clevis'
Futaba 9100 ESC
Fury F3A 60/67-230 motor
Thunder Power 5400 motor batts
2- 200mm ext's for ailerons and 1- 1.4m SA quad ext to the tail
still deciding which prop/spinner combo I'm going with (21x14, 21.5x13, 22x11 or 22x12)
Haven't weighed it complete, but it's around 10.5 RTF
Futaba 6008HS Rx
Thunder Power 900 2-cell rx batt
Futaba small switch
Shulman Aviation 6v Reg
Futaba 153BLS on elevators, 352BLS on rudder and 551BLS on ailerons
Carbon .080 rod for pushrods CA'd into the clevis'
Futaba 9100 ESC
Fury F3A 60/67-230 motor
Thunder Power 5400 motor batts
2- 200mm ext's for ailerons and 1- 1.4m SA quad ext to the tail
still deciding which prop/spinner combo I'm going with (21x14, 21.5x13, 22x11 or 22x12)
Haven't weighed it complete, but it's around 10.5 RTF
04-02-2013, 04:22 PM
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RE: Epic Journey
Hey Jas
Have you got any pics of it assembled, that scheme looks pretty good from what I can see. How are you finding the Fury motor compared to others out there?
Wayne
Have you got any pics of it assembled, that scheme looks pretty good from what I can see. How are you finding the Fury motor compared to others out there?
Wayne
04-02-2013, 09:15 PM
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RE: Epic Journey
I think .060 is just too thin. I'd bump it up to .084 carbon (some places call it .090). With as much as you're hogging out, the weight gain should be minimal. I'm not aware of anything lighter than carbon plate for what you're making. G-10 would be significantly heavier and not as strong.
Verne
Verne
ORIGINAL: JAS
Jarvis, Marcelo hasn't told me the pricing of it yet. I know he's building a few for customers now, but I haven't heard any numbers yet. I would imagine he will update the site soon (when I send him pics and such) with the Epic. It will be available as kit, ARC and ARF.
Any Carbon guru's out there that can help me out please? I cut my firewall out of some CST carbon plate, .060, but it's not strong enough and am pretty sure it's flexing. Is there anything that doesn't weigh a ton, that can be used once cut like this, that won't flex much?
Jarvis, Marcelo hasn't told me the pricing of it yet. I know he's building a few for customers now, but I haven't heard any numbers yet. I would imagine he will update the site soon (when I send him pics and such) with the Epic. It will be available as kit, ARC and ARF.
Any Carbon guru's out there that can help me out please? I cut my firewall out of some CST carbon plate, .060, but it's not strong enough and am pretty sure it's flexing. Is there anything that doesn't weigh a ton, that can be used once cut like this, that won't flex much?
04-03-2013, 10:18 AM
#22
RE: Epic Journey
I won't use anything other than birch core Dragon Plate. The stuff is ridiculously stiff. I just used it in a build for a Q80 and I have more cutouts than carbon. I used 1/8 inch, but for a firewall as big as yours I might go with 5/32 or 3/16. The ¼ inch stuff works great in reinforcing your house foundation!
http://www.dragonplate.com/ecart/categories.asp?cID=3
04-11-2013, 09:56 AM
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RE: Epic Journey
In the interest of time, or lack there of, I went ahead and cut a second firewall out of 1/4 AC Ply and just bolted it up with the .060 carbon. I'll be looking into the dragon plate site some more. It's like carbon heaven. This is working for now though. Next on the list is mounting the T on it and seeing how it does with that. Without it and with the cg now back where it should be, going through P and F are easy.
The Fury's running great. Settled on a Mejzlik 21x14EL for now (going to try the 21.5x13 again too) and it works well with the plane. After testing with the T, I am going to mount up my Contra/Hacker in it and start testing all over again.
Weighed the plane on our shipping scale at work and it's 4762g/10.5lbs. I'm sure that's close until I get it on a 'real' scale.
More pics once RCU is done with their maintenance.
The Fury's running great. Settled on a Mejzlik 21x14EL for now (going to try the 21.5x13 again too) and it works well with the plane. After testing with the T, I am going to mount up my Contra/Hacker in it and start testing all over again.
Weighed the plane on our shipping scale at work and it's 4762g/10.5lbs. I'm sure that's close until I get it on a 'real' scale.
More pics once RCU is done with their maintenance.
04-11-2013, 10:24 AM
#25
RE: Epic Journey
Jason,
The Dragon Plate you want for firewalls is the plywood core. The plywood is ultra high quality with a bunch of thin lamenates which makes for a light weight ultra stiff firewall.
But for those that just have to have the best...here you go:
Only 549 clams for a 12 by 12 sheet!
http://dragonplate.com/ecart/product...D=5148&cID=166
The Dragon Plate you want for firewalls is the plywood core. The plywood is ultra high quality with a bunch of thin lamenates which makes for a light weight ultra stiff firewall.
But for those that just have to have the best...here you go:
Only 549 clams for a 12 by 12 sheet!
http://dragonplate.com/ecart/product...D=5148&cID=166
