Modkat (Kingcat like design and build)

Modkat (Kingcat like design and build)
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Modkat (Kingcat like design and build) - 8/6/2006 6:00:24 AM

Mods-R-Me

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From: Antelope Valley, CA, USA
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You know that feeling when your present project is 95% done and you see the most attractive aircraft that you just have to build. Right then you have to make a decision, finish the one you're on or follow your hearts desire and start the new one. I choose the latter. This is my new project....

This pic is of a Kingcat, but the problems are:

1. It's an ARF (don't do ARFs)
2. It's a turbine (would like to do it, but way too much $$$$)
3. BVM does not produce it in kit form

This (coupled with my insatiable need to build) inspired me to design my own and like my handle implies heavily modify it. First and foremost I plan to turn it into a 0.90 size cowled pusher prop. If all goes well I will kit the plane and make it available to the public. To keep everything fair and honest I called BVM to ask if I could design and sell a similar design to the Kingcat. Their only requirement is that I do not use "cat" in the name. Awesome guys

.

Here are the design specs so far:

1. Power Plant: BSE Jett 90L Rear Exhaust (muffler routed through the fuse)
2. Weight: 8-9lbs
3. Wingspan: 50", fuse length: 60"
4. Spring Air 100 Retracts
5. 6 channels (standard four, retracts, and flaps)
6. Airfoil: NACA 0010 root to tip with 1 degree of washout
7. Balsa build-up wings with fiberglass fuse and twin booms
8. The engine will have a custom molded fiberglass cowl
9. The fuel cells will be mounted in the wings

< Message edited by Mods-R-Me -- 9/1/2006 7:16:54 PM >

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RE: Pusher Propjet Design and Build - 8/6/2006 6:32:19 AM

Mods-R-Me

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It's still in the early CAD stages but I have the basic wing designed in Compufoil (figure 1) and exported the rib sketches to Soildworks 2005 (figure 2) to complete the final touches (landing gear, joiners, servos, etc).

Figure 1

Solidworks is a very powerful 3-D design program in which I can design everything down to the very last detail and once that is complete Solidworks can format all the parts in a laser cutter friendly format. It even can transform the 3-D design into 2-D drawings (for plans).

Figure 2

< Message edited by Mods-R-Me -- 8/6/2006 6:37:17 AM >

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RE: Pusher Propjet Design and Build - 8/6/2006 6:45:34 AM

Mods-R-Me

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More progress

Started adding the ply doublers, wing joiner tubes, and spars.

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< Message edited by Mods-R-Me -- 8/6/2006 4:34:02 PM >

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/6/2006 3:28:54 PM

Blade47

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From: Whitehorse, YT, CANADA
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Sign me up ...love the idea

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/6/2006 5:58:15 PM

krossk

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From: Port Washington, WI, USA
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You guys seen this yet?

Bobcat .46

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/6/2006 6:32:23 PM

Mods-R-Me

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quote:

ORIGINAL: krossk

You guys seen this yet?

Bobcat .46

There's already a thread about it over in the speed planes forum: CLICK HERE

Originally, I was going to buy one and make a bunch of modifications to it (listed below), but after a while I figured that it would be better to design a version of this great bird that meets my specifications. In other words; I want to raise the bar a little. It would take quite a few mods to get it the way I'm designing mine now. Particularly the way the exhaust is mounted. My friend has a pusher like that and oil just soaked that side of the aircraft. That's one reason why I'm routing the muffler through the fuse and out the bottom. Also, the engine will be cowled and out of the air stream (much less drag). Don't get me wrong, for the price it's a steal and you better buy two before BVM's lawyers hear about it......

Mods

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/7/2006 6:15:26 AM

Mods-R-Me

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Solidworks is a great platform to design in because it allows you to multitask by building different parts at the same time then drag and drop them into the same assembly. Got all of the ply rib doublers (red) and spars attached. Most of the easy stuff is done. Now I have to create virtual renditions of all the parts I want to use (servos, landing gear, engine). The only draw back when starting out in CAD design is having to build up your parts library, but once you have a good one built up designing goes really fast.

Today I tried and focus on the engine mount. DLyons built a pusher a lot like mine (Pic 4) and I'm going to immulate his set up (Pic 3).

Mods

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< Message edited by Mods-R-Me -- 8/7/2006 6:27:18 AM >

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/10/2006 6:54:39 AM

Mods-R-Me

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I'm slowly, but surely, building my Solidworks part library. Just completed the main gear retracts. The plan is to use the Spring Air 701 gear with oleo struts depending on how much clearance there is. Cool thing is that they are fully functional so I can test the clearance when installing them into the wing assembly. Here's a shot of the gear up and gear down.

Mods

Gear Down

Gear Up

< Message edited by Mods-R-Me -- 8/10/2006 6:59:06 AM >

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/14/2006 3:46:07 AM

Mods-R-Me

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Note: I've decided to build the wing with the top side down to ease the installation of the hardware (the pics aren't upside down).

Just about done with the wing. Finally got the landing gear installed along with the mounting brackets. Decided to go with the offset due to the limited space issues between the spars. Tried really hard to incorporate gear doors in this design but space is a at a premium. Did manage to get the strut totally enclosed in the wing body though. Only have slightly more than 1/3 of the wheel remaining in the airstream but it still looks pretty good

. Only things to do now is design the aileron and flap linkage then mirror the other side. The fuse and booms will be molded out of fiberglass so they'll go pretty quick.

More to come,

Mods

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< Message edited by Mods-R-Me -- 8/15/2006 12:45:32 AM >

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/15/2006 5:39:50 AM

Mods-R-Me

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Just had the thread moved over from the scratch builders forum.

Mods

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/15/2006 9:22:44 AM

Strykaas

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Hi Mods,

The Solidworks screenshots you've posted exemplify your skills... What about the learning curve with this software ? Some of them are rather tricky ... How much does it cost for a home user just like you ? And what is the "laser cutter friendly" format you are referring to ? DXF ?
Do you have any kind of setup to turn your nice Solidworks drawings into CNC milled / laser cut wood ? Or do you plan using some expensive laser cutting service ?
The Su27 is waitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/15/2006 6:39:05 PM

Mods-R-Me

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Strykaas

Hi Mods,

The Solidworks screenshots you've posted exemplify your skills... What about the learning curve with this software ? Some of them are rather tricky ... How much does it cost for a home user just like you ? And what is the "laser cutter friendly" format you are referring to ? DXF ?
Do you have any kind of setup to turn your nice Solidworks drawings into CNC milled / laser cut wood ? Or do you plan using some expensive laser cutting service ?

Thanks, but there was not no learning curve with Solidworks. It's very intuitive. To create a part is easy. Just draw a sketch then set the thickness. Tankes 5 min. After making minor changes group them all in a assembly by dragging and dropping the parts in one screen. Then tell the computer which surfaces you want in contact with other surfaces. Think of it like if you were building a plane in reality. You would apply glue to certain places to keep it from moving, do the same thing in Solidworks. The glue points are where the attachements should be. The export format is DXF and I will sent it fro laser cutting to AK-Models. It is not expensive at all. Only draw back with Solidoworks is that a full license costs $4000 BUT a 2 year license only costs $250. It's worth the price IMHO.

quote:

The Su27 is waitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing

I know but this plane got me hooked

!

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RE: Kingcat-Like Design and Build - 8/20/2006 5:36:10 AM

Mods-R-Me

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From: Antelope Valley, CA, USA
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I went ahead and ordered the BSE Jett 90L for $375. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that Dub can make a counter rotating crank shaft (the prop runs backwards) for only $25.00 extra! Previously, it was necessary to design the entire aircraft around what prop you were using. For pusher props this is ideal because you can now use any regular prop with the engine.

Still on schedule and the wing is about 90% done. Added the leading edge spar (figure 1) and wing bolt tabs (figures 2 & 3). Also began experimenting with the plan maker in Solidworks (figure 4). I had no idea it was this easy. Just hit "make a drawing out of assembly" and presto you have plans. Next select paper size and what views to input. You can even scale the drawings to whatever ratio to make the model bigger or smaller. This is too cool.

Mods

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< Message edited by Mods-R-Me -- 8/20/2006 5:38:49 AM >

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