Volantex Ranger - Build Log
 

A while back i started building the Ranger the plane is almost done now and some detailing and fine tuning is needed


This is the hardware i have used:


http://www.banggood.com/Ultimate-BEC...-p-911046.html


http://www.banggood.com/YKS-BW136-11...-p-953838.html


http://www.banggood.com/SkyRC-D100-A...-p-971647.html


http://www.banggood.com/ZOP-Power-11...-p-948513.html


http://www.banggood.com/CellMeter-7-...d-p-85223.html


http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...tter_Pack.html


http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...t_module_.html


http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...8FR_II_RX.html


Everything else is stock and came with the plane.


Things i have done that are not in the instructions:


* installed CA hinges on the plane.
* Laminated wings, vertical/horizontal stabilizer and canopy.
* Put clear protection tape on the bottom of the fuselage, the automotive kind that is supposed to protect the car's paint. (very tough).
* Installed locking nuts on the the inside of the wheels axle instead of normal nuts that came with the kit.
* The locking nut that was supposed to secure the prop on the motor would not fit or screw on so i replaced it with 3 normal nuts.
* Made a tray for the battery to sit on securely with velcro.
* Put yellow/black warning tape on the plane.
* Taped the servos.


http://s15.postimg.org/t5xp9vu5j/IMG_2040.jpg


http://s15.postimg.org/um97s0x2f/IMG_2044.jpg


http://s27.postimg.org/4zuhvuipb/IMG_2277.jpg


http://s27.postimg.org/4kemp37e7/IMG_2278.jpg


http://s10.postimg.org/7nc8641hx/IMG_2417.jpg


http://s4.postimg.org/4jp1jwos9/IMG_2423.jpg


http://s30.postimg.org/55yvkzzsd/IMG_2265.jpg


http://s14.postimg.org/a7vc9sl71/IMG_2357.jpg


http://s14.postimg.org/xktdsb1al/IMG_2359.jpg


http://s4.postimg.org/hty1ijmnd/IMG_2409.jpg


http://s23.postimg.org/u2ikvubl3/IMG_2391.jpg


http://s24.postimg.org/ehbtjnc29/IMG_2406.jpg


http://s11.postimg.org/vhrgj6bfj/IMG_2378.jpg


http://s21.postimg.org/5tday81er/IMG_2591.jpg


http://s16.postimg.org/5lte0fhlt/IMG_2594.jpg


http://s16.postimg.org/xolylae3l/IMG_2606.jpg


http://s2.postimg.org/589o3oosl/IMG_2649.jpg


http://s1.postimg.org/tmmqi7gzv/IMG_2651.jpg


http://s16.postimg.org/h8esc8kch/IMG_2653.jpg


http://s10.postimg.org/76wweba45/IMG_2658.jpg


http://s30.postimg.org/udvpy8kcd/image.jpg


http://s12.postimg.org/hnepnmb5l/CG2.jpg


http://s24.postimg.org/i6zu3frkh/CG3.jpg


http://s29.postimg.org/mm66acu4j/Manual_CG_75.jpg




I have balanced the plane for the maiden to come @ 70mm from the leading edge

I guess i have bought a wrong battery since its heavy and the whole plane weights around 1400gr (is that too bad ?)

Now what is left is how and where to place and secure the FrSKY antennas.

Any ideas, recommendations, suggestions you have and if you spot something i did wrong in the photos please let me know.

I am thinking of attaching the antennas on the canopy looking forward and on the side of the fuselage looking down.


In the photos you can see an example of how i plan to attach the whiskers, the tape is there just to take the photos, if you think the placement is correct i plan to secure them in place with velcro.


http://s3.postimg.org/u7xfkau5b/IMG_2813.jpg


http://s3.postimg.org/3ycd1i87z/IMG_2814.jpg


What do you think ?

Another possible solution could be an arrangement like the photo below




http://s29.postimg.org/4h9mbc6eb/IMG_2287_Antennas.jpg

Hope you have better luck than I have had with mine. 3-Flights with the stock battery, 1800 Mah ,and with a 2200 Mah. It's a turd and just barely flies. Have played with the Cg from 70 to 87..Nothing helps. Wired up a 8000 4s, 50c tonight. Not impressed at-all right now.

Thanks Jim,


I don't know which ranger you have the 757-4 or 757-3 but people who have issues with their planes, change the motor angle, change the prop to a bigger one, remove the landing gear , get more powerful motor, get autopilot with flight stabilization.

Mine is the 1.4 wingspan version 757-4. Hope you fix whatever is wrong with your ranger.

Mines a 757-4. I'm going to up the motor to a 2200kv. I prefer ROG so the gears staying. May ad some flaps too. It's just a shame how really bad it is in stock-RTF form. A beginner would loose it pretty quickly, IMO. I'm trying to make it happen on 3s because I have so many of them, but in the end, 4s is probably the ticket.

Charging batteries for the maiden to come:


http://s13.postimg.org/lci6yctoz/IMG_3023.jpg


http://s12.postimg.org/j5g5hyn3t/IMG_3026.jpg


http://s24.postimg.org/dn3pechwh/IMG_3029.jpg


The charger had XT-60 plugs had to solder Deans T-plug on. Also had to make a cable to use the charger on the go connecting it to the car's battery

Charging the transmitter battery:


Had to make a cable with banana plugs on one end and JST on the other
Also bought a cable with many different plugs on its the end.




http://s1.postimg.org/v4l5pmjuj/IMG_3055.jpg


http://s1.postimg.org/c3gb9v01n/IMG_3058.jpg


http://s1.postimg.org/ulknu3htn/IMG_3059.jpg


http://s1.postimg.org/mu3xvjdob/IMG_3062.jpg

I think my transmitter battery is broken:


While charging at some point the charger said "Cell Error"


When i unpluged/powered down/replugged everything the battery charged normally.


Now what is weird is the huge 3 digit resistance that the charger measures.


Is it really broken ?




http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...tter_Pack.html


http://s12.postimg.org/pff6r8dcp/IMG_3065.jpg


http://s12.postimg.org/bvyclizdl/IMG_3067.jpg

I have already order the following for my Ranger:


Stand:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ter_Stand.html


Used for extra batteries or for a 2nd failsafe
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...15Mhz_FM_.html


Used for telemetry
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...r_9XR_Pro.html




I am ready to buy more hardware for my Ranger and i need opinions:


Camera
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1608742972...14a7274d5&cp=1


Signal Alarm
http://www.banggood.com/MJX-F45-RC-H...r-p-71544.html


Balance plug Splitter ( For Bec and Quanun Voltage Alarm )
http://www.banggood.com/DYX-0010-11_...-p-979384.html


Also i wanna buy 2 more Batteries


http://www.banggood.com/BlackMagic-3...-p-946803.html


or


http://www.banggood.com/ZOP-Power-11...-p-998821.html


I have a simple XLS to compare the batteries i have find. It would be nice if you can check it out and comment.
http://www.megafileupload.com/ekT5/Batteries.xls




Since this hobby requires a lot of DIY i want to get some half-decent soldering irons:


http://www.banggood.com/Portable-But...p-1015142.html


http://www.banggood.com/60W-220V-Ele...-p-993252.html


I want to buy all of the above hardware this weekend if possible because i don't have time to devote to the hobby during week days so i would appreciate any assistance. Also all of the hardware come from Hong Honk or such and take 1-2 months to arrive so the sooner the get them the better and in the mean while i can test my ranger.

Batteries.xls


http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php...07289930134885


http://www.filedropper.com/batteries

Hi,


As i told before i want to buy the 808 #16 camera but the camera doesn't output audio ( only video ) while recording that can be used for FPV.


I was wondering if i can use an external mic for having audio feed from my plane:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/MINI-SPY-CCT...3D141227214486


http://s29.postimg.org/o75z229hf/s_l500.jpg




Does this seem correct to you ?




Best Regards

Some photos from the maiden that took place earlier today:


http://s22.postimg.org/7cxorgsvx/Flight6.png


http://s22.postimg.org/aaz8ywpx9/Flight7.png


http://s22.postimg.org/cab9ckuv1/Flight8.png


http://s22.postimg.org/sf29jjnlp/Flight9.png


http://s22.postimg.org/7e7mkvupp/Flight10.png


http://s22.postimg.org/rkfpxifr1/Landing3.png


http://s22.postimg.org/ahcy1zz25/Landing4.png


http://s22.postimg.org/rs3cu0qpp/Landing5.png


http://s22.postimg.org/h5e52c7y5/Flight.png


http://s22.postimg.org/nf9epc7ct/Flight2.png


http://s22.postimg.org/5zan9wj0d/Flight3.png


http://s22.postimg.org/wbk6t9xz1/Flight4.png


http://s22.postimg.org/9k6it4njx/Flight5.png


http://s22.postimg.org/knq4yq8u5/Landing.png


http://s22.postimg.org/i69sdpzjx/Landing2.png


http://s18.postimg.org/kaskp7385/Panorama.jpg


Good guys of the local club made a pre-flight check on the plane right on the field and found nothing wrong.


1st flight was uneventful and everything went according to plan "textbook flight"


For my first plane ever this went remarkably well.


Video to follow.

Video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1xXqMEd6s&feature=youtu.be

Looked great brother! I'm still tweeking on mine. Ditched the Exmitter RTF radio and r/x and replaced with Turinigy TGY-i10 with 10-channel r/x and telemetry. Up graded the motor to a 2200kv. Got flaperons dialied in. After 4-flights I'm starting to get happy with it. Gonna fly it a few more times before throwing some FPV gear at it.

Same here will flight it with only the essential gear on until is tuned and then comes FPV.

Ordered a Runcam and it will come in about a month for vTx vRx i am thinking on buying one of these:

http://www.banggood.com/Tarot-5_8G-F...-p-961975.html

http://www.banggood.com/Httpwww_ebay...-p-975775.html

http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-RC83...p-1033280.html

Do these look ok for you ?. What will you buy for vTx vRx ?

Because I wear glasses I am going to get these goggles with built-in vR/X.
http://www.banggood.com/5-Inch-Displ...p-1023732.html

As far as the camera and vTransmitter I'm still undecided.

Transmitter?

Yes. Video Transmitter.

i mean which one

I'm not sure which one yet. Looking at what you are. I'm not interested in out of LOS just yet. But I may as well go ahead and get something that will reach out there from the get go. I'm still a little confused.

Since i am not flying, waiting for the weekend. I added some visibility patterns on the bottom of the wing


http://s12.postimg.org/p46ia8249/IMG_3418.jpg


http://s12.postimg.org/km8svvbg9/IMG_3419.jpg


http://s12.postimg.org/3x7czyeux/IMG_3420.jpg


http://s12.postimg.org/s3i0b30zd/IMG_3424.jpg

Wrong CG for Ranger?
 

Have my ranger mostly assembled and I'm having issues with balancing based on the suggested CG of 52 - 57mm in the manual. I see you guys are a bit higher than what I'm trying. Is the manual wrong?

Thanks,
Curtis

Depending on when you got the Ranger and from what stock it came from the manual might indicate the wrong CG.
I bought 2 Ranger planes and the 2nd one had a little sticker on the manual to correct the CG to 70 + - 5

And yes the plane is very peculiar to the way it flies. There are several ways to "fix" the plane ( tilt motor, bring landing gear forward, mix throttle with elevator, mix ailerons with rudder etc, etc ) but the best way i found is to mod it to twin tractor.

Here are some videos of the plane modded to twin tractor:







Awesome sound + Crazy power