RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Just book it as a noon display flight! ;)

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

[X(] Sounds even more terrifying than flying with turbines.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Fan mounted onto new rails screwed onto the original turbine rails. Quite handy I had to do this because it also lifts the fan a few mm which will enable the thrust tube to get over the former.

http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_22.jpg

Next step to drop in the ESC and lipos and see where they should go to achieve correct CG, then I'll cut a lipo tray to screw onto some rails which I'll hysol to the bottom of the fuselage. Getting nearer to having to cut some vinyl. The most dreaded part of the build to be honest.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

I'd love to have one of these for my Rabbit.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Put in the thrust tube today after popping over to see Marc of GBR Jet. Top guy that he is he gave me some suitable sheet for the job.

Max achievable internal diameter of the thrust tube at the fuselage exit is 97mm. This could be increased by taking off the rear fuselage moulding for the exhaust but I'll test this setup first.

Sanded down the inside of the exit first to gain a few more millimetres.
http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_24.jpg

Job done. Thrust tube all taped up and inserted into airframe. ESC cleverly installed on a shelf. Better than being in the thrust tube or in front of the fan which would prevent later install of intake pipes.
http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_25.jpg

Lipo tray ready to be glued in tonite.
http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_26.jpg

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Testing yesterday resulted in 17.5lbs static thrust. Considering this was with 30C 12S12000 lipo cells and without and inlet lip (bell mouth) on the fan they are very good numbers. Improving either of those two should get me easily to 20lbs or over. What I really need is a fresh set of 50C+ rated cells to get max performance but these numbers are still going to make the model fly nicely.

Hacker MasterSpin ESC setup
Timing (degrees) 24 degs
Frequency (Khz) 8

Measured numbers with EagleTree eLogger
Hi Watts 7720
Hi RPM 26408
Hi Amps 180.30
Lo PakV 41.80

Thrust of 17.5lbs at WOT

AUW of model is 23lbs. Would still like to hear the turbine AUW weight for comparison if anyone knows it.

Vinyl ordered yesterday and have decided on scheme. Couple of small things to fix and should maiden flight in the next 2-3 weeks.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Dom, good to see it coming along, and look forward to the maiden.
Out of curiosity what is the rated amps on the hacker Spin, if its 190 you are flying close to the limit at full throttle currently?

marcs

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Looking good Dominic. Looking forward to the maiden.

Marcs, the Jeti Spin 200is rated at 170A continous and 200A burst, and theJeti Spin 300 is rated at 220A continous and 300A burst. The Hacker 170 is the same controller as the Jetti Spin 200 and the Hacker 220 is the same controller as the Jeti Spin 300.

Kirk

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Peaks amps was 180 which admittedly is a little over the spec for the ESC but it being Hacker they do tend to be very conservative with the performance of all their ESCs and motors. I'm adding a separate CPU fan at the front of the canopy to give good cooling to the ESC and for the first short flight will monitor its temp with an EagleTree sensor. Will also capture the air speed, altitude, amps, and volts so I can check everything is OK if I get it back on the ground in one piece. Will be interesting to see what happens when I add an inlet lip to the fan or complete intake ducting. If Amps go higher I may have to swop in my 300A Schulze ESC for a while.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Dom,

Sod it, just leave it and replace it each flight - built in smoke system :D

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

I'm really praying the ESC can take it Mark. Has stayed stone cold during the static testing so far.

..so short update. Onto the cosmetics now. What I've learnt already is that this is the first and last time I will buy a white airframe. Cutting and applying vinyl by hand is a lot of hard work. And I'm adverse to hardwork. I'm from the Playstation generation for god's sake :x

Nipped over to Marc's this morning (thanks ;)) and we did the perspex for the canopy. Then I've put some simple (but time consuming) vinyl on the fuselage. Simple scheme and basically freestyling it. Hit a block at the mo...not sure what to do behind the canopy or for the nose. Bottom will be red and black for some contrast. Just need to ask someone to make up some bold vinyl lettering for me to slap behind the canopy...this is the first e-Futura after all.

http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_28.jpg

http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_29.jpg

http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_30.jpg

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

First flight of my Futura planned for tomorrow at Bickley Electric event in UK. Installed Dennis's (AirSally on RCG) intake lip on some rolled FR4 which meant I could install in front of the front former for the mounting rails. Rough and ready static test at local club showed the thrust is up to around 19lbs. In the air this will go up with the RAM effect (apparently).

http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_37.jpg

Simple scheme complete. Might add some wing tip colour top and bottom tonite if I get time.

http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_38.jpg

http://claregrace.brinkster.net/futura/futura_39.jpg

Quite looking forward to tomorrow at Bickley Electric. The maiden flight is going to be spectacular one way or another. Flying my electric 40% Extra as well. Going to be a fun day for mixing with fellow 'dust buster' owners. :D

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Looks good Dom.  Looking forward to hearing about the maiden.  Get video if possible.

Kirk

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Vid garaunteed. Got a 1080P HD cam for the event.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Trust you'll bring it back with you in two weeks time? ;)

Good luck with the maiden!

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Maiden attempt today was a bit of an anti-climax. It didn't get in the air. 6mm pin broke on one of the electric retract mains while I was taxi-ing. It was quite comical. :rolleyes: Crap how one little tiny component can scupper a day of flying. But better to find these things on the ground I guess. Wind was very strong but flyable for jets so a little frustrating. Keeping the faith though...it'll be in the air soon. If not next weekend then definitley weekend after at Bickley Jets in front of a rather discerning crowd of turbine pilots :eek:

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Just finished up a pair of the Small Futura"s. WE had the large ones at Fla Jets so we now have the small ones also.
Below are a few shots of Buzz And Woody Jr.
We leave on Tues night for the First in Flight Fly in in North Carolina. Hope these are as much fun as the big brothers.
I have made up a mold for smoke tanks that fit under the engine rails. Each tank holds 25oz.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Bill, nice 'flock' you have there ;-)
Question, see your smoke pipe heading off down the outside of the bell-mouth, where then does it inject its mixture into the efflux?

marcs

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

WOW, Futura Heaven there Bill... Be very interested to see what you think of the small vs large after you fly them some...

What have you used to do the inside painting with please.? Good luck with the test flights an meeting...

Jeremy.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Marcs, Below is a photo of the smoke nozzles. We run them between the inner and outer pipe and inject the oil at the rear of the pipe. Much cleaner for the pipe and we found that it smokes just as well as putting the injectors right behind the engine. We also did this on the large Futuras and you can see in the videos from Fla Jets they smoke fine.

Jeremy, This is the Krylon Stone paint. The only difference here is that we put it over white primer instead of gray primer as I have in the past. Much brighter finish.
We spray primer on first and then the product called Stone. Below is a photo of the cans.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

First proper flight of my eFutura today after a successful maiden test flight. Very happy with the setup.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPDVDv7Tjl8[/youtube]

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Congrats Dom and good to meet you at BJ. The eFutura sure seemed to be able to move around and that scheme aint half bad either. ;)

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535574.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535634.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535687.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535725.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535736.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535749.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535759.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535771.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535781.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535830.jpg

http://frettavefur.net/Forum/uploadp...1307535861.jpg

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Oh Wow Sverrir! Awesome. Can't thank you enough for those pics. Cheers.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

My pleasure mate.

RE: Futura 1.9m Build
 

Latest flight of my EDF powered Futura. Too heavy with the 12S12000 packs. Will go down to 8000mah combined capacity for the next flights. Should get in the air much quicker and fly with a bit more agility. Always a fine balance between weight and performance in the EDF game.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4GVMknJiOU[/youtube]