FERNDALE AIR FORCE

I just scored one of these, http://www.crazyplanesrc.com/crazyplane-crazyball.html I don't know how many are left now. I will do up a build thread here, with pics. But it looks like an absolute blast.

Fern

Tucknut

I just ordered one myself and will be looking forward to your build thread. I can use all the help I can get as this will be my first build. I'm especially interested in which servos, prop, esc, battery and motor will work best with this plane.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Hi there CrazyBall pilots. I am not Mike S. So I am operating on my own. Using my experience and Mike's suggestions. If you are at all uncomfortable with my gear choices, please do what Mike said to do. OK, are we clear on this? I have a reputation for trying out odd planes that want to fly prop up. I have 2k flights on the Lightflite Bug, about 117 hours on the plane, this took several years. And yes, I still do "What were you thinking oops's" I have also managed to get the VQ VTO to fly well.

OK, The USPS has mine[] , hopefully it will show up on Tuesday.

I have to have the plane on hand, but initial prop options are a GWS 10x6, TGS 9x47, or perhaps an APC 9x6. My question is based on the fact that I have my Bug cruising with a TGS 8x6 prop. And the flight performance did not change, but the battery draw did, it decreased.

Mike is asking for an 18a esc. I will use a Turnigy 12-15A esc set to hard timing, but the 18a esc is on hand. The weight difference is at least 15 grams

I have a mystery motor from HC, but I am leaning towards a CF 2805. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=5482 26 grams. And I use it regularly on 3S power. It is the motor on this micro plane, http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...rce=google_ext And this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFqE9Im7vqA

I have 4 plastic gear 0.5g digital servos for the plane. The are marked D65.

I have a couple of virgin 2S500mah lipos on hand

Pics of gear in a couple of minutes

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

OK, pics,

ESC's , digital servos, battery options, prop saver, RX and Motor, and possible props.

More tomorrow.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

The plane is here!! I will do some pics shortly. I think this will be a quick build. I shot a little color on some of my parts already as another storm is blowing in and I will be unable to spray for a day or so. The instructions mention WeedWhacker string. I did not have any, but Mike said he went to thicker EPP. Since I fly over a super coarse road, I may look into that as an option.

Here's a link to the Build instructions: http://www.crazyplanesrc.com/ebay/eb...tructions.html

Tim

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

More pics, I popped a new tube of UHU Por out for this project.

Glacier Girl

My Feedback: (4)

Cool Tim, me likey.

Hey if you are going weight conscious, remove the the bullet connectors from the esc/motor, and solder/heat shrink em direct. (after checking rotation )
And go with the $8.00 HK rx instead of the orange one. Or pull the case off the orange one and heat shrink it.

I still think orientation is going to be a bugger. Though I have trouble keeping a standard bird the right way.


Oh a tip for those that don't know. If you have to heat shrink something and don't have tube quite large enough. Heat shrink has two properties, we all know the first one (it shrinks when heated) Duh. The other one is it stretches too. Tube too small, slip it over the jaws of a pair of needle nose or external snap ring pliers. Spread the jaws slowly, and the tube will stretch out.
Now slip your tube over the previous item, warm it up and it will shrink back nice and tight. Will save you from buying a whole bunch of different sized heat shrink.

Saburo Sakai

You are a manipulative GENIUS

Great thinking and, Thank you!

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

I have this 4 ch OrangeRx if I go with elevons and rudder. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=11972

Tim

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

OK, the plane is done except for the programming. I tried to post last night but I guess RCU was doing maintenance.

I am going to pst pics and then come back and tell you what is happening.

Last night, Pic one is where I started, with three "vanes" glued on.

Pic 2, is pre-drilling the motor mount disc. I never see that in instructions, but it will truly make your life easier. You have to be sure use the correct bit.

Pic 3, I often use thin ca to lock in motor mount screws. I find two benefits, the first is that it sets the screw in place, tight. The second is that if you do manage to shake the screw loose([X(]) the threads are locked int the ply/balsa.

Pic 4, The prop ring, and some adhesive products.

Pic's 5-8, The prop ring installed as well as the motor mount and the vertical bumpers.

Tim

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Tonight pics. But for flying the Bug I may have maidened the CrazyBall tonight. But maybe not, and since tomorrow is supposed to rain, like only the Pac Northwest can, I figured I would rather fly. The Plane is built and balanced. I have a little bit of time to spend programming the TX. The RX is a 6ch OrangeRx that I used shrink tube on. 6g DSM2 6Ch RX. I am uncomfortable with the med tape servo mounts. We'll see how that works.

Here are today's pic's

Aircraftfreak15

i think iam going to try to make my own you think its posible dose this have any gyros on it?

Tucknut

How are you mounting the servos, rx, esc and battery? With just tape?

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

AF, no gyros. And the tough part would be the fan shroud, that is the primary stiffener in the planes design.

Tucknut, the servos are held in place with blenderm tape. If this does not work I will go back and hit the corners with a bit of hot glue. The electronics are all on velcro. and the velcro is stuck to foam that was pretreated with UHU.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

The servos are now held with glue and tape. I will have more info soon. AUW and Watt Meter info.

I get a good enough charge on my TX and the weather cooperates, I may try to maiden it today.

rocket_jim

My CrazyBall kit arrived today. It looks real good to me!

Jim

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Yes, this is a copy. But I wrote it. If the video worked out I will post it here first

I managed to get a flight in between the storms. That would be a Maiden Flight[X(] . What I learned. The Crazyball is a hoot. And that I need to look up the VFO or Sidewinder mixes. Big rudder and little elevons did not work. Also the triple ply rolls to horizontal, duh. I need to paint the single ply wing, probably yellow, for orientation.

Now once I stopped trying to button hole the plane and just fly it, it was an absolute blast. Maiden flight, as determined by the battery, landed 3 times. The middle one was a disorientation thing, and it caused a bit of foam to tear out. But since this is EPP, I picked up the bits and will glue them back in shortly

As for the flying? I hope the video works out. The plane was just unreal. It flew like a ....... I guess a hybrid plane/heli.

I am very pleased!!

Tim

rocket_jim

What does it mean to "button hole" a plane?

Jim

Glacier Girl

My Feedback: (4)

Cool Tim, can't wait for the videos.


Where did you CG end up at?

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Jim, for me "Button Holing" is how I fly the plane. I have several different flight profiles, for different birds,

Tim

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlHtGxWOCvM&feature=channel_video_title [/youtube]

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

It seems I put the plane together incorrectly. I will redo it soon, with a new one[:@]. I have to look at what I can do to keep this one flying. But hard torqueing the prop is cutting up the prop shroud[].

Tim

rocket_jim

Tim:

I appreciate you sharing your video, even if you did build yours slightly incorrectly. We will all get to learn from your mistake as a result of less than clear instructions!

I for one was sure not able to tell from the video what you had done wrong. I guess I should hold off on my build till the improved build instructions get posted.

Since you mentioned tearing off some EPP on that one hard landing on the pavement, I've been thinking strongly about adding a shallow slot around the circumference and some Uhu Por-glued in kite string. Do you think that something like that would have greatly reduced the likelihood of tearing without adding too much weight?

Thanks for leading the way.
Jim

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Jim, I am trying not to forge the path as often anymore But this plane has my name all over it. From figuring out what I did wrong and other messages from Mike, the CB should fit fit in the box marked 3D profile BiPlane with a wide, or tall(?), fuse. With some heli throttle habits. Which sounds like the answer to some dreams. I am pondering a 4D rig for the Oops CB

Here is what I did wrong, I think. The red crescents should be on the wings not on the upper fuse. Here are a couple of pics of what not to do. This is moderately embarassing. I am a custom fabricator. All I need is a good pic and I can build it. I was unable to find any stills. I will solve that ASAP.

That said, I am impressed with the design and when the plane is on it is on. I have some 2 mm foam sheets sitting here. And I have evil thoughts right now[X(]

Tim

rocket_jim

Tim, you are doing great and you are helping the rest of us a few days or weeks behind you to do it more probably right the first time. Hang in there!

Jim

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

No worries. I am also trying very hard not to help blaze a path to glory on the mCPX I am thinking this foam I have, It is not depron, but similar. RC Foam no longer stocks it. I could cut a couple of crescents, that could make the plane flyable.

Tim