Global Hawk UAV - EDF
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
ORIGINAL: chrishornby
Toledo is a bit far for me, maybe next year? I just got my globalhawk out and I am starting the build. The grandly titled "Construction Manual" is one side of photocopied A4 and iis for the propellor version anyway, so Guess I will be doing it blind. Just trying to work out what the bag of plastic bits is for.
Chris.
Toledo is a bit far for me, maybe next year? I just got my globalhawk out and I am starting the build. The grandly titled "Construction Manual" is one side of photocopied A4 and iis for the propellor version anyway, so Guess I will be doing it blind. Just trying to work out what the bag of plastic bits is for.
Chris.
Back from Toledo and recovered from the Flu, several different strains that took weeks to recover from!
I will be on the Hawk like a hawk, so let's get ready to rumble!
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
I finally got back to work on the Global Hawk. Like Chris, I cut off about 1" of the carbon fiber
wing tubes so that it would extend into the wing roots to give more support. The cut off
piece can be used as a reamer to make the hole in the wing roots of each wing.
wing tubes so that it would extend into the wing roots to give more support. The cut off
piece can be used as a reamer to make the hole in the wing roots of each wing.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Once the carbon rods have been glued in place, the included plastic wing attachment end caps can be
dry fitted to each wing root. Notice that the right wing cap fits perfectly, but the left one needs to have
some of the wing root foam removed so that the edncap fits flush in the recessed area.
dry fitted to each wing root. Notice that the right wing cap fits perfectly, but the left one needs to have
some of the wing root foam removed so that the edncap fits flush in the recessed area.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
This photo shows the amount of foam that needs to be removed from the left wing root foam,
in order to make the wing cap fit properly.
in order to make the wing cap fit properly.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Here's a photo of the real Global Hawk and it reminded me that our pal, Danny Landis, is right now in
Afganistan flying the "real deal" UAV's! Danny flys those special missions which, I believe, result in
protecting that thing called "FREEDOM" which we hold so dear to our hearts. To me, Danny Landis
is a true American HERO! I believe that Danny is planning to attend several events here in the good
old USA this season, so if you get a chance to see Danny fly, why not tell him just how proud we all
are of him. I think that would be fantastic.
Afganistan flying the "real deal" UAV's! Danny flys those special missions which, I believe, result in
protecting that thing called "FREEDOM" which we hold so dear to our hearts. To me, Danny Landis
is a true American HERO! I believe that Danny is planning to attend several events here in the good
old USA this season, so if you get a chance to see Danny fly, why not tell him just how proud we all
are of him. I think that would be fantastic.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
If I don't see Danny, let me say it here Loud and clear
Thank you Sir !
Thank you for standing up for me and protecting my back
Thank you for wearing the color RED WHITE AND BLUE on your heart
If ever and whenever you are in Los Angeles..... You got a Beer On me !
Thank you Sir !
Thank you for standing up for me and protecting my back
Thank you for wearing the color RED WHITE AND BLUE on your heart
If ever and whenever you are in Los Angeles..... You got a Beer On me !
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Just finished my global hawk but not flown yet.
First of all some general observations:
The manual is not completely useless, it is photocopied on to one side of a sheet of a4. At least
you can use the other side for making notes or any other purpose that you can think of.
I found myself very frustrated trying to do a dry fit of the various foam parts. Nothing fits
together without quite invasive surgery. Perhaps I am spoilt by the quality of ARF kits these
days but this one harks back a bit to the days before they became consistent. For not much less
than the Nitromodels Predator (which is a superb balsa/ply/fibreglass kit) I was certainly
expecting more in terms of quality of the kit.
Anyway I finally got it assembled and the following points need to be noted.
The wing roots need to be quite drastically altered to fit the plastic joiners.
When you have fitted the joiners make sure you offer them up to the fuselage and make sure the
bolts locate correctly before gluing anything. This is marginally easier than cutting things apart
to make things fit after gluing.
Dont use the motor cowl. it doesnt fit anything. Surprisingly, there is an unidentified piece of
acetate sheet included which when bent over exactly fits where the motor cowl should be. Do
as I did and stick airforce markings on the inside, try to match the grey and spray over it.
Automotive grey primer is quite a good match but prime with a cutting primer like prymol first.
I didnt have any confidence in the included glue so used UHU Por.
The stated CoG is about a millimetre in front of the back wheels. This makes getting the Cof G
right a real doddle. Just place the plane on its undercarriage on the floor and keep piling on
batteries until the nosewheel touches! I found that the lightest battery possible was a 3S
4000MAh battery. If this makes the plane too heavy to RoG then I might replace it with a 4 cell
of the same weight to get more boost. Anything lighter would mean adding lead.
There are 2 small holes at the front, presumably they are for ventilation of the ESC. I used them
for cable ties to hold the battery in. The large battery is such a tight fit in the cowl that there
is
no room for velcro. Anyway I dont think Velcro would hold if ever I venture to fly the plane
inverted.
The aileron leads look cr*p glued to the wing, it would be nice to get them inside the wing tube
somehow. I didnt bother.
A neodymium magnet is supplied, I used it for the cowl.
The foam surface is covered with little pimples. If I get round to it I am going to sand these off,
repaint the plane and cover with satin varnish to make it look a bit nicer.
I will let you know how/if it flies.
Thats it I hope the pictures illustrate some of my points
Chris
First of all some general observations:
The manual is not completely useless, it is photocopied on to one side of a sheet of a4. At least
you can use the other side for making notes or any other purpose that you can think of.
I found myself very frustrated trying to do a dry fit of the various foam parts. Nothing fits
together without quite invasive surgery. Perhaps I am spoilt by the quality of ARF kits these
days but this one harks back a bit to the days before they became consistent. For not much less
than the Nitromodels Predator (which is a superb balsa/ply/fibreglass kit) I was certainly
expecting more in terms of quality of the kit.
Anyway I finally got it assembled and the following points need to be noted.
The wing roots need to be quite drastically altered to fit the plastic joiners.
When you have fitted the joiners make sure you offer them up to the fuselage and make sure the
bolts locate correctly before gluing anything. This is marginally easier than cutting things apart
to make things fit after gluing.
Dont use the motor cowl. it doesnt fit anything. Surprisingly, there is an unidentified piece of
acetate sheet included which when bent over exactly fits where the motor cowl should be. Do
as I did and stick airforce markings on the inside, try to match the grey and spray over it.
Automotive grey primer is quite a good match but prime with a cutting primer like prymol first.
I didnt have any confidence in the included glue so used UHU Por.
The stated CoG is about a millimetre in front of the back wheels. This makes getting the Cof G
right a real doddle. Just place the plane on its undercarriage on the floor and keep piling on
batteries until the nosewheel touches! I found that the lightest battery possible was a 3S
4000MAh battery. If this makes the plane too heavy to RoG then I might replace it with a 4 cell
of the same weight to get more boost. Anything lighter would mean adding lead.
There are 2 small holes at the front, presumably they are for ventilation of the ESC. I used them
for cable ties to hold the battery in. The large battery is such a tight fit in the cowl that there
is
no room for velcro. Anyway I dont think Velcro would hold if ever I venture to fly the plane
inverted.
The aileron leads look cr*p glued to the wing, it would be nice to get them inside the wing tube
somehow. I didnt bother.
A neodymium magnet is supplied, I used it for the cowl.
The foam surface is covered with little pimples. If I get round to it I am going to sand these off,
repaint the plane and cover with satin varnish to make it look a bit nicer.
I will let you know how/if it flies.
Thats it I hope the pictures illustrate some of my points
Chris
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
This is an explanation for the above pictures:
1: Servo lead messy, would look nicer hidden in wing tube
2: Cutting the fuselage so that the wing bolts line up. Could have avoided this if the fitting had not been glued!
3: This battery too light (1800)
4: dont forget the magnet (we call it the bonnet catch in the UK)
5: No way this engine cowl fits anything. replaced by acetate sheet.
6: Do the radio installation BEFORE you glue the fuselage sides together. Keep the ESC outside for cooling
7: This battery is the right weight (4000 MAh) Whether the plane will RoG is another matter!
8: Unless you got 2 helpers to hold the wings together, you will need to tape the U/C together whilst you locate the wing bolts!
9: This pic got in twice somehow
10: Wings fitted, messy -needs sanding and painting.
12: there are 2 of these ventilations, just about the right size for a cable tie.
1: Servo lead messy, would look nicer hidden in wing tube
2: Cutting the fuselage so that the wing bolts line up. Could have avoided this if the fitting had not been glued!
3: This battery too light (1800)
4: dont forget the magnet (we call it the bonnet catch in the UK)
5: No way this engine cowl fits anything. replaced by acetate sheet.
6: Do the radio installation BEFORE you glue the fuselage sides together. Keep the ESC outside for cooling
7: This battery is the right weight (4000 MAh) Whether the plane will RoG is another matter!
8: Unless you got 2 helpers to hold the wings together, you will need to tape the U/C together whilst you locate the wing bolts!
9: This pic got in twice somehow
10: Wings fitted, messy -needs sanding and painting.
12: there are 2 of these ventilations, just about the right size for a cable tie.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Chris is accurate with all of his observations regarding the Global Hawk. It's just such an unusual model that it seems
worth the effort needed to make the proper modifications. I basically have mirrored what Chris has accomplished
and once the wing root end caps were fitted properly, they were glued in place. Also, it was decided to paint the
white end caps and the black wing tubes grey, to match the overall color of the fuselage. Testors gloss gray spray
enamel #1238 was a perfect match.
worth the effort needed to make the proper modifications. I basically have mirrored what Chris has accomplished
and once the wing root end caps were fitted properly, they were glued in place. Also, it was decided to paint the
white end caps and the black wing tubes grey, to match the overall color of the fuselage. Testors gloss gray spray
enamel #1238 was a perfect match.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Next, for a change, I moved to installing the main wing servos and hinging the ailerons. The ailerons needed to
be cut from the wing with a new #11 blade. Small CA hinges were used and the fitting went smoothly.
be cut from the wing with a new #11 blade. Small CA hinges were used and the fitting went smoothly.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
I was planning to use Hitec HS-55 servos, but Shawn Spiker told me about their new HS-45HB micro, so
that is what was used. The servo cut out needed a slight adjustment and the servos were set with a dab
or two of low temp. hot melt glue.
that is what was used. The servo cut out needed a slight adjustment and the servos were set with a dab
or two of low temp. hot melt glue.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Then the servo lead wire was routed in the pre formed groove, but first the groove needed to be
made just a little deeper by using sharp #11 blade. A 24" servo extension was used and the
connector had to be recessed into the wing.
made just a little deeper by using sharp #11 blade. A 24" servo extension was used and the
connector had to be recessed into the wing.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Once the servo wire was properly set in the groove and routed through the wing root, a grey piece of
vinal was found and cut to size. This was used to cover and hide the servo wire and give the impression
that the wires were inside the wings.
vinal was found and cut to size. This was used to cover and hide the servo wire and give the impression
that the wires were inside the wings.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
When the wings are joined, the aileron servo leads exit the wing halves properly in order to reach the
main canopy area where the Rx, nose servo and battery will be placed.
main canopy area where the Rx, nose servo and battery will be placed.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Jeff, As usual you do it in much more helpful detail than me! And neater.
I tried to fly mine on Monday but as expected could not RoG with three cells. I have ordered a 4S 3300MAh and will give it a try again on Friday.
Chris
I tried to fly mine on Monday but as expected could not RoG with three cells. I have ordered a 4S 3300MAh and will give it a try again on Friday.
Chris
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
Tried to fly mine again yesterday, this time with 4S lipo. Couldnt take off again. Guess I will have to re-think the power unit and fan. I am using the pack supplied, only gives about 1.5 lbs thrust with 4 lipos. Might take off on a hard runway but we fly from grass.
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RE: Global Hawk UAV - EDF
I have given up on my global hawk, I put a larger unit 600w fan and now it sort of flies. It has to have a huge battery or lots of weight in the front and flies like a barrel of sh*t. It is a cheaply made kit using inferior foam, none of the measurements are correct so the parts dont fit together. All in all it is very frustrating and I have thrown too much money at it. Not worth the trouble I am afraid. If you want a global hawk it would be better to wait until a model comparable to the quality of the nitromodels predator comes out . As for me, all the cheap foam is being binned and I am salvaging the bits I bought for it. (4000maH lipo, 69 mil fan units x2, inrunner motors x2, 35 Amp ESC 60 Amp ESC) Anyone know where I can get a decent EDF Hunter kit?
Chris
Chris