Bashing Laddie's Arrow
06-06-2011, 07:33 AM
#1
Bashing Laddie's Arrow
It occurred to me today that I should put this build thread here, as it's not a seaplane, and it is my own design (the fuse, anyway).
This will use the plug in wing panels from my Mikulasko Arrow flying boat. The rest is done using the TLAR system of aircraft engineering.
The 1/2" aluminum tubing accepts the 3/8 OD CF tubing that is used for fore and aft wing spars on the Arrow.
Power will be a OS 46AX, mounted upright in the nose, which has been shortened about eight inches so the CG will be easier to obtain. I use the Futaba 6EX system for guidance. A pair of HiTec LoPro servos will be used for the elevons, and HS 325s for the nose wheel steering and the throttle. A HiTec retract servo operates the gear, which is Hobbico mechanical. No rudder on this one.
The Arrow is shown for reference.
I've always wanted to do this. The Arrow is my favorite sport flyer, and I can't wait to fly this land based version.
This will use the plug in wing panels from my Mikulasko Arrow flying boat. The rest is done using the TLAR system of aircraft engineering.
The 1/2" aluminum tubing accepts the 3/8 OD CF tubing that is used for fore and aft wing spars on the Arrow.
Power will be a OS 46AX, mounted upright in the nose, which has been shortened about eight inches so the CG will be easier to obtain. I use the Futaba 6EX system for guidance. A pair of HiTec LoPro servos will be used for the elevons, and HS 325s for the nose wheel steering and the throttle. A HiTec retract servo operates the gear, which is Hobbico mechanical. No rudder on this one.
The Arrow is shown for reference.
I've always wanted to do this. The Arrow is my favorite sport flyer, and I can't wait to fly this land based version.
06-06-2011, 11:58 AM
#3
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Vince:
Laddie did the Arrow after the North Star. The plans show a 0-0 thrust line. I built a couple like that, and they were treacherous. You didn't dare try to make a go around after slowing down and getting low for touchdown, they'd faceplant in a heart beat. I'm not saying it can't be flown as drawn, it's just that I don't like it. They can be very touchy on takeoff, as well.
When I did this one, I put five degrees downthrust in it. Totally changed the behavior.
The "Bullet" will be zero zero, as it has the thrust line on the centerline.
Laddie did the Arrow after the North Star. The plans show a 0-0 thrust line. I built a couple like that, and they were treacherous. You didn't dare try to make a go around after slowing down and getting low for touchdown, they'd faceplant in a heart beat. I'm not saying it can't be flown as drawn, it's just that I don't like it. They can be very touchy on takeoff, as well.
When I did this one, I put five degrees downthrust in it. Totally changed the behavior.
The "Bullet" will be zero zero, as it has the thrust line on the centerline.
06-08-2011, 02:19 PM
#5
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
The 1/8 lite ply wing base panels added. They cover the flat sections on the sides of the fuse formers, f3 to the tail. The wing panels seat against them, and they contain the 1/2" aluminum tubes that accept the 3/8" CF spars. A little twist had built into the fuse, a result of having only three balsa longerons holding everything together. By weighting the base panels and the fuse all down on the table during gluing, all the twist came out.
06-09-2011, 09:57 AM
#6
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
The aluminum wing tubes are tacked into place, and everything fits very well. I was most concerned that the wings might be difficult to install and remove, but this system works more freely than the one on my Arrow. Surprise.
Next comes the mixture of epoxy and milled fiberglass to fillet the tubes to formers F5 and F7, top and bottom. That means no more work for awhile, as I'll leave the wings in place for that to prevent any movement of the tubes.
I rechecked my dimensions today, and measured from the wing root forward, this airplane is 10" shorter than the Arrow.
Next comes the mixture of epoxy and milled fiberglass to fillet the tubes to formers F5 and F7, top and bottom. That means no more work for awhile, as I'll leave the wings in place for that to prevent any movement of the tubes.
I rechecked my dimensions today, and measured from the wing root forward, this airplane is 10" shorter than the Arrow.
06-09-2011, 11:49 AM
#8
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Don:
The pix show what I used. Just a crude side view that established the shape (I was trying for the Bell X-1 / 50 caliber BMG round look) and allowed me to get the component placements correct by laying them on the drawing. The former template (F3-F8) is a sort of "universal" one that has the width required to accept the wing panels (5" minimum) and the resultant diameter of the round sections fits that (about 5-1/4"). F1 (spinner ring) and F2 (firewall) fit the shape of the smooth curve I attempted to draw and get their diameters from that. F2 was adjusted to fit the diameter of a 3" plastic spinner after the 1/8" planking is in place, and then the curve redrawn to fit the profile of the spinner as closely as possible.
Other that, it's been kind of cut and paste- I discovered after I cut the first set of main gear formers (F5 and F6) that when retracted, the main wheels would hit the wing panels, so there's now kind of a belly bump that extends below the root diameter and that's where the retract rails ended up.
The best idea I had was to cut a 3/8" hole through all the former centers so that I could do the assembly on the 3/8" steel rod you see in a couple of the earlier pictures. That allowed me to lay the whole thing on its side where it's flat, and tack one former at a time in place while insuring that it was square in all directions.
It still has the basic shape of the Arrow: a constant width where the wings attach, and it tapers from front to rear on the top and bottom. The main difference is it's mostly round, and top/bottom shape is symmetrical whereas the Arrow is not, due to the shape required to be a flying boat.
Putting the engine in the nose means the CG will have to be fiddled: I did the math for that the other day. The hardest part was to accurately measure it on the Arrow with a full aft mounted fuel tank. That's where it will have to be for the Bullet with the front mounted tank empty, and the landing gear retracted. You can see two CGs on the drawing: the forward one is the Arrow empty, and the aft one full.
The pix show what I used. Just a crude side view that established the shape (I was trying for the Bell X-1 / 50 caliber BMG round look) and allowed me to get the component placements correct by laying them on the drawing. The former template (F3-F8) is a sort of "universal" one that has the width required to accept the wing panels (5" minimum) and the resultant diameter of the round sections fits that (about 5-1/4"). F1 (spinner ring) and F2 (firewall) fit the shape of the smooth curve I attempted to draw and get their diameters from that. F2 was adjusted to fit the diameter of a 3" plastic spinner after the 1/8" planking is in place, and then the curve redrawn to fit the profile of the spinner as closely as possible.
Other that, it's been kind of cut and paste- I discovered after I cut the first set of main gear formers (F5 and F6) that when retracted, the main wheels would hit the wing panels, so there's now kind of a belly bump that extends below the root diameter and that's where the retract rails ended up.
The best idea I had was to cut a 3/8" hole through all the former centers so that I could do the assembly on the 3/8" steel rod you see in a couple of the earlier pictures. That allowed me to lay the whole thing on its side where it's flat, and tack one former at a time in place while insuring that it was square in all directions.
It still has the basic shape of the Arrow: a constant width where the wings attach, and it tapers from front to rear on the top and bottom. The main difference is it's mostly round, and top/bottom shape is symmetrical whereas the Arrow is not, due to the shape required to be a flying boat.
Putting the engine in the nose means the CG will have to be fiddled: I did the math for that the other day. The hardest part was to accurately measure it on the Arrow with a full aft mounted fuel tank. That's where it will have to be for the Bullet with the front mounted tank empty, and the landing gear retracted. You can see two CGs on the drawing: the forward one is the Arrow empty, and the aft one full.
06-10-2011, 07:03 PM
#10
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Lots of progress today:
The servos are all installed, wired to the Rx, and linkages hooked up. This includes the elevon pushrods and the long cables for nosewheel steering and throttle.
The epoxy/milled glass mix that locates the aluminum wing spar tubes is visible in the pics.
Weight last night (what's assembled so far plus the individual weights of all the remaining components) came to just under 5 pounds. I'm hoping she picks up no more than a pound during build out.
The CG, with the battery way aft as shown in the picture and the engine with mount just sitting on the nose, is pretty close to where it should be. The tank, spinner and prop will add a little to the nose, and the big, built up fin will add a little to the tail, so maybe it will stay close to where it needs to be.
The servos are all installed, wired to the Rx, and linkages hooked up. This includes the elevon pushrods and the long cables for nosewheel steering and throttle.
The epoxy/milled glass mix that locates the aluminum wing spar tubes is visible in the pics.
Weight last night (what's assembled so far plus the individual weights of all the remaining components) came to just under 5 pounds. I'm hoping she picks up no more than a pound during build out.
The CG, with the battery way aft as shown in the picture and the engine with mount just sitting on the nose, is pretty close to where it should be. The tank, spinner and prop will add a little to the nose, and the big, built up fin will add a little to the tail, so maybe it will stay close to where it needs to be.
06-11-2011, 05:42 PM
#11
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
This is turning out to be one of those projects that I can't leave alone. I installed the battery, on board switch, and fuel system today, then planked the upper half of the fuse and mounted the engine.
I think it really does look like a bullet, now.
I think it really does look like a bullet, now.
06-12-2011, 02:59 PM
#14
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RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
When you get the model finished I'll come on down for the maiden...and we'll do lunch at the Dawg House.
Soft landings,
Joe
Soft landings,
Joe
06-12-2011, 07:45 PM
#15
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Sounds like a plan, buddy.
It won't be long. Fill work, fin building, and covering and she'll be flyin', if the weather cooperates.
I did a weight check again tonite, and what you see here weighs 5.5 pounds.
It won't be long. Fill work, fin building, and covering and she'll be flyin', if the weather cooperates.
I did a weight check again tonite, and what you see here weighs 5.5 pounds.
06-13-2011, 09:46 AM
#16
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
I'm building the fin on this one the same way I did on my Arrow- in place. 1/4" sq. basswood stick through the aft deck and stuck to former F7 for the "spar". 2-1/2" Aileron stock for the TE, and a couple 1/4" balsa ribs with a 1/4 sq. balsa LE. The TE joins with another piece of aileron stock that is an extension of the "skeg" on the bottom, which runs from the aft main gear former to the tail. This is for stability, but also to protect the servos, etc., in the event of a real nose high landing.
I'd probably have it done tomorrow, but the weather's nice and I'm going to go fly my B-25 this afternoon. First time since last fall, and the only bird in the hangar that hasn't been out this year.
I'd probably have it done tomorrow, but the weather's nice and I'm going to go fly my B-25 this afternoon. First time since last fall, and the only bird in the hangar that hasn't been out this year.
06-14-2011, 10:02 AM
#18
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RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Whenever you are ready. Tomorrow or Friday would work. Also, Thursday is the day we fly at the Interlochen field if you are interested in that location (depending on weather).
Soft landings,
Joe
Soft landings,
Joe
06-16-2011, 06:29 AM
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RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Sweet build!
I really like the looks of the aircraft - the Avro colour scheme is excellent - Retracts look good too.
Be sure to post a video!
06-16-2011, 06:42 AM
#21
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Thanks, Oops
If I had someone to do video, I would, but there's no practitioners in my club.
The covering is coming along. It always takes me longer to cover a model than I think it will. It took an entire evening to "edge" around the various openings and angles, and most of one morning to get the first big piece on. Now it's going a little quicker.
I'm using Faye Stilley's method of simultaneously stretching and shrinking the covering into place with a heat gun, and I'm still at the "intermediate" skill level on that. Improving each time, a little. The belly turned out real nice and would have been a real mess had I attempted to do it any other way.
If I had someone to do video, I would, but there's no practitioners in my club.
The covering is coming along. It always takes me longer to cover a model than I think it will. It took an entire evening to "edge" around the various openings and angles, and most of one morning to get the first big piece on. Now it's going a little quicker.
I'm using Faye Stilley's method of simultaneously stretching and shrinking the covering into place with a heat gun, and I'm still at the "intermediate" skill level on that. Improving each time, a little. The belly turned out real nice and would have been a real mess had I attempted to do it any other way.
06-16-2011, 05:58 PM
#22
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Got on a roll and finished it today. Ready to fly except for balancing. She'll require 6 or 7 oz of lead in the tail for that, and I'm going to construct a tall, skinny box that will attach to the TE of the vertical fin, using some triangle stock to streamline it a little bit.
06-16-2011, 07:48 PM
#23
RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
RTF I made a little 1/16 ply box that fits into a cutout in the fin, just aft of the last former. I put a bunch of my .45 ACP FMJ 230 grain bullets back there to get the CG. I have about 1/4" of reflex up trim, which is always good for the first flight on these deltas.
Joe: Tomorrow is supposed to be as perfect as it gets in Tustin for flying: 75 degrees, wind out of the SW, under 10mph. I'm going to go down there about 2. Think you might make it?
I made a little 1/16 ply box that fits into a cutout in the fin, just aft of the last former. I put a bunch of my .45 ACP FMJ 230 grain bullets back there to get the CG. I have about 1/4" of reflex up trim, which is always good for the first flight on these deltas. Joe: Tomorrow is supposed to be as perfect as it gets in Tustin for flying: 75 degrees, wind out of the SW, under 10mph. I'm going to go down there about 2. Think you might make it?
06-17-2011, 04:04 AM
#24
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RE: Bashing Laddie's Arrow
Looking good, Bob. Tomorrow is a club function at Interlochen so I'll have to read the successful flight report after you get back from Tustin. Perhaps you can bring the plane to the Empire show over the 25th and 26th? Have a great time flying!
Soft landings,
Joe
Soft landings,
Joe