FLYBABY6

This is the same build formerly on DIYDrones. Going to start posting my build here of the 1/5 semi-scale( to many variences of the plane to get a real true scale) Predator b. It has 14' wing span about 6' long hopefully under 20lbs of fiberglass/carbon and few balsa/ply ribs/spars. Made the fusalage fatter to hold anything I needed in the future, and lots of fuel if needed-also lots of room for gear.Built the frame and all pieces in which to fill with foam. Then glass and make into a mold. will post pics of what has been done, and as I go.

FLYBABY6

First build events. Found 3-view pics of the Predator b and downloaded it into my omax cad system for the waterjet. Cut the pieces on the waterjet for assy., then had planned to sheet it with balsa. But things changed as I realized how much work was going into the project build, and thought about how I could repetitivly reproduce another if I wanted. So glassing and carbon, would be the final desision.

FLYBABY6

Building the thing was slow as I wanted it all to be streight, and perfect. I messed up a couple pieces from incorrect measuements, but remeasured/recut, and it all worked out find. Several part layouts before I glued the pieces together.

FLYBABY6

I remember working several hours into the night assembling the wings and making sure they were straight. But end result was a very straight leading edge. Keep inmind I was building the thing thinking I was going to sheet it with balsa, not foam for the mold. But by doing that, it allowed me to have a great tmplate inwhich to shape the foam later.

FLYBABY6

more pics

FLYBABY6

no here's more pics All pieces are 1/4 ply except the firewall, which was 1/2 inch. Cheap stuff from the local lumber yard. So far money tatal is around $30 for woods and glues.

robflyer82

My Feedback: (1)

Nice, RC plane of a RC plane. Are you going electric or glow? What's the wingspan going to be?

FLYBABY6

Well the other day I was staring at the thing and realized one could power the thing literaly by all mannor of propulsion. Jet, gasser, edf, electric... But The first two I make will be one-50cc and the other electric. The span is 14' and length is about 6' long. Hopping under 20lbs, and if so will have a stall speed of around 11mph. Basicaly a powered-pusher glider with flaps too. Going to used as much carbon fiber as I can without the cost going through the roof, but with 6.5' wings it might be much. But it's all happening.

FLYBABY6

Lots of foam.... 2" and 1". Glue the 1"'s together, and you get 2"!!! So go to lowes, or home depot(in the states) and picked up 2 1" sheets 4'x8' and a couple cans of (foam safe) spray glue and spent @$20-30. How ever we had some 2" pieces at work so I used them first. pics of the start..

FLYBABY6

Iwork with waterjets here at work, so I cut the foam out there too. Measured the spaces between the ribs, and glued blocks together and glued them in place. The sliver pieces were from the waterjet cutting scraps to fill high spots. Bought a train set transformer at a hobby shop for $40, and made a bow out of plywood, and used .02 FAA aproved safety wire for my hot wire set up. Never used power from the transformer past the half way mark on the dial.

FLYBABY6

heres the current pics of progress... foamed the top half first, and hot wire cut it running the wire along the ribs. It kept the basic shape and I had to sand and fill a few spots but you get the idea of what it's turning out to look like. will drywall mud it and sand more. and more. then 3 layers of fiber glass, and more sanding to the final shape. will hold out on the primer i think till the whole fusalage is glassed. then flip it over and do everything over again. then spry it and sand and create some panel lines, and the lines i will have to cut out for access holes. then sand some more....etc... hell havent even filled the wings with foam yet!

FLYBABY6

and it's funny one calls this a rc plane of an rc plane. and by the way I don't do glow anymore, as I love gasers. I started doing this plane because I think the real one is awsome.. And I love big rc planes, and not much into electric so I thought why not build one larger than what's out there and put a gaser into it(which I love). I love FPV stuff and this plane can hold alot of gear for that, or autopilot or what ever.

FLYBABY6

Not saying people will look at this sight and have anything to say, but if by chance anyone comments, and i coment back-than i'm sorry in advance..... as I'm percieved as an a@# and too harsh...but that's not the entention ever.. but thanks to all who comment.

FLYBABY6

Also if anyone is interested in how I got my building methods you can check out http://astro.umsystem.edu/mmrca/lance/sledframe.html Thats from lances jet page. He has been building an awsome copy of the original SR-71. "the sled" is what it's under. The thing is huge, and he has build pics and methods... he's too cool.

ghulands

Have you got any updates on the project?

FLYBABY6

Pretty busy at home, but hopefully will be mudding this weekend..will post pics of it.

FLYBABY6

So here is the skinny on how I got to where I am so far. For those who don't know what a "bow" is for cutting foam, Mine looks like a letter "c". The .020 wire is strung from one long end to the other, and tightened. Then I have the negative and positive wires running to each end of the bow connected by alligator clips. The power source for the wire is a toy train transformer that makes the train move on the tracks. With this plane, I had about 14" or so of bow length. so that meant I needed to only insert foam into 1-3 spaces between ribs, to allow clearance for the bow ends . I ran the wire into the ribs to give the shape. then insert more foam into rib gaps and repeat. How ever there are some severe shapes with the plane so some tweeking of the wire and bow position was needed. This resulted in some deep cuts into the foam below the rib line. This is why I now put the drywall mud on the plane to fill the cracks and or gaps.

FLYBABY6

Also I used the same spray glue on the ribs and formers to adhere the foam to the ribs so as not to moove while cutting the foam on the plane....Next is the pics of the applied mud.

FLYBABY6

Here are some pics of the fusalage with a thin rough coat of drywall mud. I will now have to sand it down to a simismooth form to get back the shape I want. I also need to add some details to the rear of the plane where on the original plane, there are several small intakes. So as I get it all sanded and shaped, I will have to cut into the plane to add the new intakes. then I can finally add the fiberglass and resin. I will use a 19 mesh(19 squares per inch) to conform to the several curves and bends. Total layers will be probubly 3- 2 heavy and 1 light layer.

FLYBABY6

When I sand the fusealage, I will take it down to the top of the ribs as a guide. But if I find any irregular shapes in the shape of the plane, this is the time to fix anything. So some spots will be eye balled to where it needs to be, and free sanding shaping. But the sanding to come later today as I start will probubly kill my arms so I doubt I will finish all the sanding in one day.

FLYBABY6

So again for those whom are confused. what I'm building is a plug. The plug is what will make the mold halves. Then I will have a mold in which to make several of this plane as I want. more later..

FLYBABY6

yea, um. my arms wore out early last night.... all the sanding will probubly take all week everyday after work...

FLYBABY6

Well with all the mud on the fuse, I am having to resort to power tools! Sanders have become my new best friend. Getting the top layers off the fus, and then back to blocking and hand sanding.. post pics this weekend.

FLYBABY6

Sanding the drywall mudd off of the plug went hot and heavy this weekend. Pics show the beginning of the rough outside to the beginning of the ribs and blue foam starting to show.

FLYBABY6

There was so much dust it had to be done out side. but progress was comming along...lots of sanding...