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Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool Look... - 11/1/2005 7:11:50 PM   
critterhunter



Posts: 2509
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Brook Park, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Hey all, been searching the net for some free foam build plans for my first attempt at one. I was hoping to find a plan using the 540 motor and Sub Cs that struck my fancy. In the process, I wanted to find a first build that would be easy and simple for slow learners like me. Think I found one at this link...

http://www.qnet.com/~skif/plane.html

This plane looks somewhat like a P38 to me and could probably be made to really look like one with some minor cosmetic changes. It's a dual boom pusher prop design using EPS foam that can be bought cheap and easy at Home Depot or Lowes. The guy even goes into detail for first timers like me on working with the foam. This 3 foot wingspan bird uses a 400 motor and an 8 cell pack. I'll probably build one at these dimensions using a BP21 brushless motor and 2000ma 3 cell lipo. I'd also like to scale up the size of it to use a 540 brushed motor and 6 or 7 cell Sub C battery packs. If anybody can tell me a formula to increase the size of the plans to handle this extra weight that'd be great.


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       Post #: 1

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/1/2005 7:42:48 PM   
critterhunter



Posts: 2509
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Brook Park, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Did some snooping on the net and found this guys main website. You foam builders have to check out his "Project History" photos. This guy has built some really cool craft out of foam as well as other materials.

http://www.qnet.com/~skif/rcmain.html


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RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/9/2005 9:59:20 PM   
Fisher



Posts: 594
Joined: 9/21/2004
From: Fort Richardson, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Yes! I have been thinking about building my first foamie too. And this plane looks like it has great potential. It even looks like you could fly it right off the water. There are already 3 foam pontoons on the bottom. It might as well be a Hydrofoam. Thanks for posting this.

You are flying a Stryker too are you not? I just dumped a lipo into mine and OMG is it fun all over again. I started stripping servos etc. so I am now fully involved with a new TX and standard electronics.

Thanks again for posting this.

(in reply to critterhunter)
       Post #: 3

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/10/2005 3:01:04 PM   
critterhunter



Posts: 2509
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Brook Park, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Your welcome for me pointing out these plans, but Email and thank the guy who made it all possible. They look simple for a first time build yet it's a cool looking plane. Talked to the author and he has a few more points to add that I'll post when I go over them. COG spot, etc...the few little loose ends that will help us newbie foam builders get it right the first time. I'm in the process of digging up simple and cheap hot wire cutter plans to build it. The way I understand it all the cuts can be done with a hacksaw but to do the wing airfoil it'll be a lot easier with a hot wire cutter. Will also post that info when I gather it.

I've found out through the help of others how to upscale this plane's dimensions to handle a 540 brushed motor and Sub C packs. Once I've tweaked out that info I'll also post it. I plan to build the plane first using it's stock dimensions using a BP21 brushless motor and 3 cell 2000ma lipos. Same setup I use in my Stryker and she is FAST with plenty of power. Once I've mastered the build using stock dimensions I'm going to build the 540 version which should be a BIG horse in the air and will be done up to look like a P38. I'll keep you posted.

Hot wire cutters are simple to make, by the way...with only a few parts that you can often find in your garage. Not much to them.

Yea, the Stryker can't be beat for fun and potential, along with easy to find cheap parts at the local hobby store. Do yourself a favor and try a BP21 with the BP30 amp speed control from Balsa products. Buy them as a combo and the price is only like $56 total. With Dymond Motorsports 2000ma 3 cell 10C lipos (cheapest on the market at only $35) I get long run times and a fast motor. Pushes the Stryker in the 80mph range using a 7x6 prop (best all around prop to use on it). Using Hitec HS81 (Or the Metal Gear version is even better) servos. You'll never go back to stock again. I've taken the jump with a JRsx600 sport computer radio and JR sport 6 channel RX (VERY small with great range). Check the Stryker thread in the parkfliers forum for all the info you'll need.


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If you believe in Global Warming then shut your mouth. All that hot air is warming up the planet, remember?

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       Post #: 4

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/10/2005 9:24:06 PM   
Fisher



Posts: 594
Joined: 9/21/2004
From: Fort Richardson, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Critter,

Sounds like your off and running. I was looking closer at the plan info and then felt the hook set when I tried to understand the airfoil. 2 hours on the web and I am still in the dark. I am having trouble with my e-mail account so it is hard to e-mail Foamflyer. Any detail you can share on laying out the wing and shaping it will be very helpful. Still looks to me like this plane could be made to run on water with very little effort. A side view of the plan would help as well since he really did not detail the size and shape of much other than the wing and horizontal stab.

I already dropped a Lipo into my Stryker and am in the process of collecting the gear to go to brushless. Went with Hitech Optic 6 radio. Did not want to have to upgrade in the future. I am all in now.


Good Flying

(in reply to critterhunter)
       Post #: 5

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/11/2005 4:54:45 AM   
critterhunter



Posts: 2509
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Brook Park, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Don't panic! As a matter of fact I just emailed him ealier today about the airfoil. The way it looks to me you take a hot wire cutter and simply cut a curve into the leading edge of the wing...the rest being flat. Still, I wanted to be sure and also needed to know if there is a certain degree of curve I need to measure out. He hasn't got back to me yet but told me the other day on a different topic about the plane that he'd be updating his website plans for it to clear up stuff for us newbies. Yep, bet it'll float with little or no modification. You'd probably just need a small flot hanging down from about mid wing on each side to keep it level. His design only uses two servos...one for the elevator and one for one wing flap. I plan to use two wing flaps (more control) so that'll mean three servos. Then there is the fact that I've never flew a plane with a seperate elevator and airleons. All my experience has been V-tail & Delta wing, which are both pretty much the same thing. Should be fun! Not even sure yet but I think you can mix the two control surfaces for this plane's type of setup onto one stick on the computer radio. The learning is always fun but usual involves lots of crashing...



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       Post #: 6

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/11/2005 11:01:02 PM   
Fisher



Posts: 594
Joined: 9/21/2004
From: Fort Richardson, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Critter,

I found another site with all kinds of good info on cutting the foam and even got a free demo version of a software package that lays out the airfoil (CompuFoil). The demo version gets you a Clark-Y airfoil as suggested by Foamflyer. Only difference is that there is some curve to the bottom side of the wing which is not detailed on Faomflyers plans. His wing shows a flat bottom side. If it truly is a flat bottom then it would be even easier to cut but it would be nice to know just how he shapes it. I look forward to his updated pages.

Only other modification would be to add rudder control (that would come later on version 2 or 3) so you can steer on the water. Not sure you would need any other floats on the wings since the tail booms would give you some roll stability on water.

This is a good way to communicate and keep excited about building one of these.

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< Message edited by Fisher -- 11/11/2005 11:12:57 PM >

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       Post #: 7

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/12/2005 12:57:10 AM   
AJ1202


 

Posts: 4291
Joined: 9/1/2005
From: Savannah, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Critter and Fisher,, hey guys not to butt in but I love to try to build from scratch and have built about 5 planes now most not very successfull in flight but when I saw this one I couldn't resist. Good job finding and posting this one Critter. anyway I decided to go a little different way on this one, I decided to make it 2 channel first to see if I could make it fly, then go to scale or larger and go all out 400 motor full ailerons and elevator and make the booms just a little wider so it would make a water plane, I figured I'd put CF tubes on bottm for landing on gound and for strength. Here is a pic of my 2 channel attempt which by the way fly's real good. I have found that due to the twin tail rudder size is very important as it seriously effects the turning of this design. If it is too tall or wide the turns are very labored or slow to react. I think ailerons will solve this problem. in the pic the lower cockpit is the battery and the one on top is the electronics, I know it's a little crude but I get in a hurry sometimes but I will say this one is worth taking your time with. I wouldn't do the water rudder unless you don't think the ailerons will make it turn on water. mine is made using wing and tail from an old FB outlaw
I have since lowered the top of the booms to make them even with the wing, wing to rudder and it did improve flight stability
I can't wait to start the full size version, but I don't think I will try to build the wing I think I'll just buy... maybe a Cub wing or something like that to use. Not that good at this building yet but I love trying
I will watch the post here because I would like to see how you guys do with this little bird, maybe pickup some new ideas
Good Luck Guys

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AJ
Well I flew it up there... now how am I supposed to get it down

(in reply to Fisher)
       Post #: 8

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/12/2005 1:16:22 AM   
critterhunter



Posts: 2509
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Brook Park, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Hey, thanks for jumping in and cool ideas on modding these plans! Never thought to use the wing off something else....Still, I like the "squarish" look of this guy's plans. It makes it look like a WWII bomber. Just gives it that look of "strength", if you know what I mean. Like I said, I'll be tweaking it out cosmeticly to look like a P38 unless some other WWII bomber that looks similar strikes my fancy. In fact, I think the british or somebody had a small bomber that looked like this with dual booms and even had a pusher prop. If anybody knows of WWII planes that look like what I'm talking about please post a link. The stock dimension bird with a BP21 brushless motor and 2000ma 3 cell lipos should rock and roll. I'll probably go to a different prop than the 7x6 I'm using on the BP21 Stryker...something that will give it more torque and less speed. I want it to be a horse in the air. Then again, this one could be built for speed and the upscaled 540 version I'm going to build will be the torque monster. We'll see....plently of beers to drink before I make those decisions.

By the way, I'm glad I found those planes too! I was doing hours of searching for 540 motor foamie plans when somehow these plans popped up. Don't remember what word search I did but these plans aren't easy to find, for me anyway. Then, a few days later I couldn't find the link back to them again. Took me a while of desperate searching until I found them again. A lot of junk and dead ends out there...but if you dig for free foamie plans you'll find some real good ones.


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If you believe in Global Warming then shut your mouth. All that hot air is warming up the planet, remember?

(in reply to AJ1202)
       Post #: 9

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/13/2005 1:21:53 AM   
Fisher



Posts: 594
Joined: 9/21/2004
From: Fort Richardson, AK, USA
Status: offline 		AJ1205

Butt in all you want. You are atleast cutting foam and flying things. I am still looking at where to jump in.

Good flying or not get out there.

(in reply to AJ1202)
       Post #: 10

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/13/2005 2:57:52 PM   
critterhunter



Posts: 2509
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Brook Park, OH, USA
Status: offline 		I'll be chiming in when I have something to report. It may be a few weeks as I'm building a new body for the BP21 Stryker and am occupied with other things at the moment. However, I did come up with a great excuse to buy the 1 and 1/2" pink foam from Home Depot or Lowes (It's the only version of the foam I can find in my area...besides that fan fold stuff but it's way too thin for this plane). I hear the blue foam is the best (weighs slightly less) but the pink should work fine. Anyway, I'm picking some up this week to insulate some windows on the house. The guy at Home Depot said it works great for this...better than taping plastic over the window. Simply cut out a square to fit the window and stuff it right into the frame against the glass from inside the house. Was worried this might cause sweating problems but was told it won't. It won't look great but the windows I'll be blocking are in unused rooms anyway. Of course I will have somehow bought too much foam for the window project...and lucky enough for me I have just another use for that foam...

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If you believe in Global Warming then shut your mouth. All that hot air is warming up the planet, remember?

(in reply to Fisher)
       Post #: 11

RE: Here's a Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! Cool ... - 11/13/2005 7:17:10 PM   
Fisher