RE: Defiant MKII
 

That will look outstanding with the wings/stab in the same pattern and easy to find in the sky too!!
Hope to have the Brio at Columbia IF all goes well...and gas doesn't hit 4.00 a gallon!!
But outstanding work there Todd!! Charlie

RE: Defiant MKII
 

The new plane looks really great Todd.
Charlie post a pic of the Brio when its done. The Brio is a great plane. Mike

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Awesome work great craftsmanship and Patience. R u really selling this airplane for 50$

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hi Todd,
amazing paint for your plane!!! You're definetly a professional and your work is genious;) Waiting for the first flight of the machine:D
See you

Guillaume

RE: Defiant MKII
 

I wish I had a brother like Todd!

I'm bummed I won't be flying with him at the Omahawks contest this year.

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Pretty much done! Have a few minor details left but should be able to put her in the air very soon.
Was hoping to take her to the Columbia contest this coming weekend, but with no test flight she'll have to stay home.

Thanks everyone for your comments during this long build. It kept me inspired to keep moving forward. I started making the mold plug first of November 05 and now almost August 06. I'm tired and ready to relax with some flying!!


I'll give a flight report as soon as I can!


Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

I want one

RE: Defiant MKII
 

its bad ass Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Airplane looks amazing . Should be a great pattern flyer.

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Looks great Todd! Can't wait to see it in the air.

Steve

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Oooh.


Can I get a product?

RE: Defiant MKII
 

that is one nice looking plane I love the pain job

I have a question do you like hitec your scheme looks like the hitec logo :D

keep us up to date

very nice

:D

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Todd,
Really like the newest wing scheme! What did you do for the bottom portion of the wings/stab?? Can't wait to see in person though, won't be at Columbia this WE...
Nice job though, you are very talented at this!! Second job! :-)) Charlie

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hey Todd,
I think you could really sell some basic kits of this airplane. Do you have any interest in it?
Greg

RE: Defiant MKII
 

I'd definitely be interested in a short kit or basic kit, whatever you want to call it. Fuse, wings and cores... but a lighter lay up for electric if possible... That is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for... it seems narrower than most planes out there today, or is that the paint job?

Beautiful plane Todd, you do nice work!

Tom M.

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

atvracer, man your right, the scheme does look a lot like the hitec logo. No hitec equipment in the plane though. After putting the scheme on the plane, I realized it's a lot like the Reebok shoe logo too.

Greg and Tom, I don't know at this time if I'll make kits or not. It will depend on how the plane flys and more importantly if I can produce kit components up to the standards we all desire. This fuselage was not to good, but I know what I did wrong (I hot box dried the fuselage). This caused some defects in the kevlar that had to be addressed in the finish stage. The fuse started heavy at 33oz, mainly because I got carried away with primer in the mold. I used way to much and sanded a lot off. The plane finished comes to 10 pounds 12oz. (good windy weather plane):). This is with a solid 3.5" spinner back plate and the big heavy tru turn adapter, so some weight may be able to come off depending on CG.

The plane has some width and girth to it. Widest point is 7.5" at the leading edge of the wing. Total girth at the highest point of the fuse is 33" if I remember correctly.

I'm contemplating trying a glass/balsa/glass laminate in future layups. I'd like to get away from kevlar due cost and it's not the friendliest material to work with. Plan on trying this after contest season over.

Thanks again everyone!

Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Todd,

Maybe Hitec will sponsor you after they see your airplane. I can see it now,,,5 HS55s on each aileron,,3 on each elevtor, and about 6 in tandem on the rudder!:D You have to let me fly it when you come home to Pawnee Rock in 2 weeks.

Clay

RE: Defiant MKII
 

It does fly!:D

Well, I finally was able to get this new bird in the air tonight. Had a tough time getting an engine to run in it and finally realized I didn't have the rubber stopper on my Tettra tank tightened good enough.

Anyway, I put three flights on the MKII and everything went very well. Not going to say its the best plane I've ever flown (I do like it though). As a good friend told me: A new plane is like a new girl friend. She's wonderful in the beginning, then the mole on her nose starts to bother you! However, the plane flys at a very constant speed and has very good directional stability. She pulls and pushes very true and downlines are like life, they take forever!

Knife edge is pretty good. She pulls to the belly on left rudder so a little mixing will be necessary. Right rudder shouldn't take much if any.

The rudder is very effective for as small as it is. I had to reduce my ATV and add about 65% expo. Stall turns are easy and she comes down solid without a waggle.

Snaps are different than I'm use to. Timing is a little different compared to Def1 and rotation is slower. I think I'm a tad nose heavy so I'll have to order a lightened back plate for my spinner to lighten the nose a little and see what effect that has.

To sum it up, I'm very happy with my new baby. Pretty darn good flyer and should get better through the trimming process. I'm taking it to the Pawnee Rock Ks.contest this weekend. It'll be interesting to see how we do.

Todd Schmidt

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Great to hear Todd!! I think I have an extra lightened back plate that size. I'll throw it in the box and bring it up this weekend.

See ya Friday.

Steve Ford

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Just have to tell you.... This plane is Awsome. Todd let me fly it at the Pawnee Rock contest and I've got to say it's one of the smoothest flying and best rolling planes I've ever flown. He's still doing some trimming on it but I think it's a success.

Joe Dunnaway

RE: Defiant MKII
 

i realy like the paint job that is one nice looking plane and i bet it fly just as good or better :D

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hello Todd
Have you others pics of this plane ?
Is there others Defiant MK II in buiding ?
Claude

RE: Defiant MKII
 

One word... CLEAN!

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hello Claude!


I've been busy putting a few kits together for some friends. I'm planning to build another myself after these kits are delivered. My friends should take delivery before Christmas (I hope!) .

Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Todd,

From what I can see, that is some absoultely immaculate work! What are the weights of the fuses including canopy and chin cowl now?

RE: Defiant MKII
 

What do we have to do to be your friend? :D

Great design and amazing handcrafted job.

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hello Ryan,

The total fuse in the picture comes to 32oz. Heavier than I'd like, but still should be able to be built to around 10.5 pounds. I believe a lot of the weight I'm getting is from the PPG primer I'm using. I made a chin cowl, same layup, one primed in the mold and one unprimed. Difference in weight is about .75oz. While building my first fuse, I found blocking out the fuse saved about 2oz, and more primer could have come off.

Hey Julius, thanks for your kind words!!

Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hello Todd
Thanks you very much. Great job, awesome pattern, I love.
I'm disapointed to live far from you (in France Europe). I put a thread in french forum about your building. Many french guys are impressed with your job.
you are a professionnel !
Claude

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Todd,

I forgot to ask you in my previous post, but what layup are you using, CF/Kevlar/FG or the molded balsa you were inquiring about in the composites fabrication forum. I'm toying with the idea of making my own pattern plane and am just looking at different avenues. The molded balsa route particularly appeals to me. Thanks!

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Claude,

Thanks for your comments, they help me believe I'm on the right track of the evolutionary process of making a good pattern plane. Your's and others feedback, good or bad, means a lot to me. Also, I wanted to tell you I've enjoyed your thread of your all wood build. Very impressive work indeed!!

Ryan,

The layup on these are still kevlar, carbon and foam inlay. I tried the glass, balsa, glass laminate on one fuselage side and it didn't turn out so good. The shape of this fuse might make it to difficult to acheive. I haven't given up yet, there's still some things I want to try.


Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Three hatchlings ready to go to their new homes this week. Hopefully they'll be full grown birds by season start!

Merry Christmas Joe, Jerry, and Chris!!!!

RE: Defiant MKII
 

They look great Todd!! BTW I'll be happy to drive up and deliver them to the 2 guys. Oops, was there 3 there? I'm sure Joe won't miss his. hehe

Steve Ford

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Wouldn't you love to see one of those under your tree on xmas morning?......beautiful workmanship.

-mark

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Todd,

Are you planning on selling some fuselages or short kits ?

tommy s

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hey Tommy,

Offering kits is something I would like to do in the near future. However I currently have a space problem in my shop that makes the process of making kits in an efficient, timely manner difficult. I'm going to try and finish a space in the second story of my garage that could serve as an area just for composite work. Have to get this Ok'ed by the boss (wife) though! ;)

If all materializes, I would offer short kits (fuselage and cores). I do have CAD drawings and a construction manual already developed.

Mark,

Really like your new bird and what your doing with your CAD. Outstanding work!!!

Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hey Todd do you know any one who would like to buy one of your Defiants?

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Here's a new fuselage I've just finished painting. It's amazing how a paint scheme can change the looks of an airplane. Hopefully this will be in the air before season end.

Todd

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Hi Todd

Awesome pattern. You're right. I like very much design of your Défiant II
Claude

RE: Defiant MKII
 

wow Todd nice paint job!

RE: Defiant MKII
 

Very nice shape. I particularly like the thiner appearance in the nose especially in comparison to many of todays pattern ships that look like pregnant goldfish. I do have a question, how do you join the two halves of the fuslage? Do you do the layups of each half and then after they have mostly set lay in the final layer of glass joining the two halves? If so how do you get all along the seam to make sure it is even and complete? Would there be an advantage of laying one up entirely in carbon? Would it be cost prohibitive to do so? Most of my experience in fiberglass involves rifle stocks and i know the lightest and stiffest ones i can get are layed up in carbon.[:@]