Posts: 497
Joined: 1/4/2007 From: , WA, USA Status: offline
Last November I was tinkering around my shop, messing with foam plate stock to see what I can make as a chuck glider to later on turn into an all out RC scratch build. I like going that route since it lets you fine tune a design prior to committing to an all out RC platform. You get close much of the time going this route which really helps keep the final revisions minimal.
Considering, I grew up as the class artist, I used to specialize with dragons, and in this case, opted to put my RC build skills combined with the dragon platform. After posting it to a few threads in it's simple, flat chuck glider form, I received some positive respones from people urging me to make this into an RC. A buddy of mine who ordered a few P40's from me, I showed him the glider and what I planned upon doing with it later on.
A week went by, and much of our dialog was about how he couldn't stop thinking about the dragon, so told me if I developed it, he's more then game to buy it, he even gave me a deposit to cover materials and help me get started.
I'm using a hand wire cutter, some laminate jigs, sandpaper/files and alot of engineering in order to achieve my goal. Going this route also let's me make more, this thread shows the progress upon his, which I sanded down and fine tuned to look more dragon like, and mine, the first off of the run made using the jigs I created afterwards. I didn't sand mine, knowing it's just a test platform and to show, this is what it looks like cut out in it's initial stage, or be it, kit form.
Revisions put in place not shown are a longer neck, the battery pack is located in the head and it was necessary to extend that area to set the proper COG, I also increased the size of the H-stab since it kept nosing up, which meant I needed more area there. I'll show updates in those regards later, I just wanted to show you guys my latest creation, and indeed, show the world, it's first RC flying dragon, you'll also take note, I got a shot of a cloud formation over Mount Raineer on my way for a test flight with it, I consider it a good omen.
< Message edited by saucerguy -- 9/5/2007 2:32:59 AM >
Posts: 497
Joined: 1/4/2007 From: , WA, USA Status: offline
I'll have video posted shortly, the ones I took, it's COG was off, so just determined and tested that phase today, will have something refined to look at later.
Posts: 497
Joined: 1/4/2007 From: , WA, USA Status: offline
Anything is possible, technically, this thing can be converted into an all out robot, moving legs, neck, head, tail, wings, etc. and having it fly to boot really would make it a menacing RC to have around.
I'm reaching completion on it's new fuse, I'm sweeping the wings back a bit for more performance as well.
Posts: 497
Joined: 1/4/2007 From: , WA, USA Status: offline
With the longer neck I was able to move the stick to it's chest, this helps increase ground clearance. The wings, I'm going to try and get them to be adjustable, this will allow me to test it's performance along different levels at the same outting. It's been raining here lately, hopefully tomorrow it will stop, I'll have this re-geared up by late this evening and can take it out on it's hopefully final tests.
Posts: 497
Joined: 1/4/2007 From: , WA, USA Status: offline
Revisions are in place, I'm not thrilled with the wing mount system, it's taped onto a mounted piece of 3/32 basswood stock, yeah I can remove it and adjust it's angle, but it's not permenent so a little wiggly, yet I can still easily fly it, have flown worse in the past on foamies that were just a mass of broken foam held together with tape alone.....
After putting it back together, I was surprized to find out I can now place my pack further aft, so the head/neck area carries no weight not carrying the battery and is now a nice spring/prop/motor shaft saver at this point. The original design will work just fine, you simply need to sweep the wings back a bit and it's set in that area, the trade off being, it's now going to be faster.
Posts: 47
Joined: 11/28/2006 From: Mt.Pleasant, TX, USA Status: offline
I used a u-joint once for a full flying tail hinge (elevator and rudder control). It worked pretty well, the u-joint kept it from twisting but allowed up/down, left/right movement. The trick was building control arms that didn't accidentally "mix" the two controls.
the new dragon looks really cool! can't wait to hear how it flies.
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The trick to flying is to try to hit the ground, and miss.
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The worlds first RC Dragon !!! - 
RE: The worlds first RC Dragon !!! - 
