Vortex F3A build thread
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#154
Equipment Installation
Hi, any pictures of the equipment installation? Closeups of control horns etc.?
Awesome work, very nice looking design. Looking forward to a flight video and report.
Total weight finishes less batteries/fuel?
Thanks.
Awesome work, very nice looking design. Looking forward to a flight video and report.
Total weight finishes less batteries/fuel?
Thanks.
#155
Here is some pictures and a flight report from the first 3 flights. Thats all I have done so far as the weather has been rely bad.
Total Flying weight without batteries is 3881g
Fuselage 2700
Wings 828
Wing tube 55
Stabs with tube 298.
Im Currently using Gens Ace 2x 5s 5000mAh batteries that are heavy (1171g) and a LiFe 1600mAh battery for reciver (73g) so my total flying weight is 5125g right now.
The first 3 flights was around 8mins 30 sek and used 2500-3000mah so I could easy save 200g if I change to hackerTopFuel 4600 batteries and be well under 5000g flying weight.
And also a miss communication between me and the guy that did the laser cutting so all my spars in both wing and stab is medium density balsa instead of light so i have calculated something like 50g added weight there. my cowl was not done right so i can save another 15g on that to if i make a new one. And i use heavy plastic hinges that was close to 30g for all.
But the plane flies amazing what i can tell i think with some minor fine tuning its going to be even better.
I moving the batteries a little rear for each flight to get the GC right.
It is rely neutral in knife edge and knife edge loop was no problem.
In both vertical upline and downline it pulls a little to the canopy. So i have adjust more engine down thrust and also decreased the wing incidence -0,5 deg for next flight.
I built in 2,5 deg right trust on the engine and that is just a tiny a bit to much as it pulls just a little to the right in verical upline. Im going to trim this to 2 deg later but for now im using a 2% left rudder mix at full trottle and it works well.
I have been flying RC for about 30 years but F3A (nordic class) only for 1,5 year so my experience in pattern flying is limited. But am super happy with the initial flights and if flies better than my Wind S Pro that is the only 2x2m pattern I had before the Vortex. The high fuselage rely helps with the visual reference of the model compare to my Wind S, but i dont know how it handle windy condition yet.
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#156
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VORTEX F3A Build Thread
Alex,
Congrats on your first few flights. I am late coming to this thread but am impressed with your achievement. The Votex looks outstanding and would seem from your initiall reports that it flies likewise.
I am not very experienced at computerized laser cutting and having a friend help out but having issues with converting the DWG files to work with the laser. Any suggestions as to what software to use ? Any help is most appreciated.
Steve
Congrats on your first few flights. I am late coming to this thread but am impressed with your achievement. The Votex looks outstanding and would seem from your initiall reports that it flies likewise.
I am not very experienced at computerized laser cutting and having a friend help out but having issues with converting the DWG files to work with the laser. Any suggestions as to what software to use ? Any help is most appreciated.
Steve
#157
Thread Starter
Hello Steve,
Thanks for the kind words but the Vortex in the images above is not mine. Krille did an awesome job building it, mine is not finished yet and probably won't be this year considering the Corona situation.
I talked to the guy that did the laser cutting for me; the software he uses is RD Works which cannot read DWG files directly but can read DXF. There are many programs and even online converters that can convert the DWG files to DXF, you just need to google it and many options will show up.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for the kind words but the Vortex in the images above is not mine. Krille did an awesome job building it, mine is not finished yet and probably won't be this year considering the Corona situation.
I talked to the guy that did the laser cutting for me; the software he uses is RD Works which cannot read DWG files directly but can read DXF. There are many programs and even online converters that can convert the DWG files to DXF, you just need to google it and many options will show up.
I hope this helps.
#160
Thread Starter
It takes a while to convert so many files though, but if you can't find a way to convert the DWGs to DXF i can do it for you later this week. Just let me know if you need it or found a way in the meantime.
#161
Thread Starter
As far as i know Don Carlson from RCAiir is the only one selling Vortex kits. You can find his email address on his page here on RCU forum: frequent flyer
#162
Thread Starter
I now live quite close to Krille so I was able to visit him at the flying field, watch his Vortex fly and take a few pictures. Although I built all the major parts for my model, it was the first time I saw a finished and assembled Vortex and it was an impressive sight. The model looks so big and powerful just sitting on the runway, and the quality of Krille’s work is outstanding.
I usually spend a few weeks just for the basic trimming of a new model and then make small adjustments for more than 6 months, so it’s too early to give a verdict but so far it looks really promising. It rolls nice and straight, has very good knife edge performance, stall turns and spins looked good and moderate crosswinds didn’t seem to affect the model at all.
Krille modified the motor mount and added 2.5 degrees of right thrust, but this seems too much. The model was pulling significantly to the right on the vertical uplines, so in my opinion 0 degrees would be a much better starting point, as originally designed.
The fuselage is taller than the cylinder of turbulent air generated by the propeller, so it probably straightens the airflow before it hits the base of the fin. Also the tip of the fin is much higher than the canopy, so most of the vertical tail flies in clean air and that’s probably why it requires so little right thrust.
I usually spend a few weeks just for the basic trimming of a new model and then make small adjustments for more than 6 months, so it’s too early to give a verdict but so far it looks really promising. It rolls nice and straight, has very good knife edge performance, stall turns and spins looked good and moderate crosswinds didn’t seem to affect the model at all.
Krille modified the motor mount and added 2.5 degrees of right thrust, but this seems too much. The model was pulling significantly to the right on the vertical uplines, so in my opinion 0 degrees would be a much better starting point, as originally designed.
The fuselage is taller than the cylinder of turbulent air generated by the propeller, so it probably straightens the airflow before it hits the base of the fin. Also the tip of the fin is much higher than the canopy, so most of the vertical tail flies in clean air and that’s probably why it requires so little right thrust.
Last edited by Alex Voicu; 04-26-2020 at 11:16 AM.
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#167
Thread Starter
I put together all the building images, corrected many errors, added some details and i created a single PDF file that will serve as an instructions manual. I hope this will be helpful.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Ll...P20-QSfTw8mimu
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Ll...P20-QSfTw8mimu
#169
Thread Starter
Krille uses a heavy receiver battery for practice, so it is possible to save 50g right there. In competitions i always used a 500mAh receiver battery which was enough for 4 flights, then changed it.
He also had a misunderstanding with the laser operator, so his wing internal structure was cut from medium weight balsa (not light as planned). If i remember correctly, his wings were 300g each before covering while mine are 265g, so that's a 70g weight saving. My stabs are also a bit lighter (probably around 20g lighter in total).
So considering all other parts are equal weight, my plane should be under 5kg with the same equipment. Also keep in mind that my plane was built with 100kg/m3 balsa, which is good enough but significantly heavier than competition grade balsa.
Anyway, 1200g for batteries is very heavy nowadays. A good pair or 5000mAh batteries only weighs 1050g, so Krille should be able to get his plane comfortably under 5kg for competitions.
Last edited by Alex Voicu; 05-02-2020 at 05:28 AM.
#170
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Vortex F3A build thread
Hi, I want to build the airplane but I am working with Solid Edge, how can I transfer the airplane files to Solid Edge?Can you also send videos of the airplane flying?
Last edited by alon ben yacov; 05-12-2020 at 12:09 AM.
#171
The files are ready for cutting ,but you can import them in solid edge.
It will be very interesting to get the project in .sldasm just to learn how its done.
I´m also considering building it but there is something in the nose area that´s not my way . Full project is something private ,I understand , but can I ask you for an outer shell model instead ?.
As for a buiding method I´m considering alternate materials as light balsa is something difficult to find nowadays. Even Carboweave is easy to find so I´m leaning towards a composite covered foam structure.
Thanks.
It will be very interesting to get the project in .sldasm just to learn how its done.
I´m also considering building it but there is something in the nose area that´s not my way . Full project is something private ,I understand , but can I ask you for an outer shell model instead ?.
As for a buiding method I´m considering alternate materials as light balsa is something difficult to find nowadays. Even Carboweave is easy to find so I´m leaning towards a composite covered foam structure.
Thanks.
#172
Thread Starter
The 3D models should be easy to open with eDrawings which is a free software (links in post #4). There are simply too many parts and assemblies and it would take a lot of time to convert the 3D models to other format.
Apart from the take-off clip posted above, i don't have any other videos of the plane flying.
#173
Thread Starter
The files are ready for cutting ,but you can import them in solid edge.
It will be very interesting to get the project in .sldasm just to learn how its done.
I´m also considering building it but there is something in the nose area that´s not my way . Full project is something private ,I understand , but can I ask you for an outer shell model instead ?.
As for a buiding method I´m considering alternate materials as light balsa is something difficult to find nowadays. Even Carboweave is easy to find so I´m leaning towards a composite covered foam structure.
Thanks.
It will be very interesting to get the project in .sldasm just to learn how its done.
I´m also considering building it but there is something in the nose area that´s not my way . Full project is something private ,I understand , but can I ask you for an outer shell model instead ?.
As for a buiding method I´m considering alternate materials as light balsa is something difficult to find nowadays. Even Carboweave is easy to find so I´m leaning towards a composite covered foam structure.
Thanks.
I hope this helps.
#175
The static images don´t do any justice to the plane. Rolling and tumbling in the screen does it. Do you mind if I post a 3D PDF so people without special software can appreciate the beauty of the design?
Last edited by Juanemartinboix; 05-12-2020 at 10:13 AM.