RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
I actually got a bit of praise on the first version of this thing, since the labels just happened to be cut almost perfectly aligned. Everyone thought I did it on purpose and said it showed attention to detail. Lol
Posted on: 5/6/2011 9:35 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10504903

RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
Here is a pic of my plane. I planned to show more shots of the aileron setup and mid-rudder, but before I took the pictures, it disintegrated in mid flight! Ok, maybe that was after it hit the ground... it happened so fast it was hard to tell. [:)] It actually flew really well in this setup; I changed the rudder a bit to give it more authority and launched it as a test flight and came in too hot. When I hit a divit in the ground the force was too much and ripped the thing apart. I originally named this thing the Alpha, since it was my initial plane that I wanted to learn with and expected it to progress into something cool looking that I could name properly. It flew so well that I never changed the design, just a few components (such as half flaperons). After the crash, though, I decided that the next one I build will be made out of Dollar Tree foam and will be named Beta. The Beta version will be designed for complete simplicity of build and easy repair, hopefully making a very good trainer that I can teach my son on. The next version will be a few weeks out at the least, but I'll post what I come up with.
Posted on: 5/6/2011 9:13 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10504875

RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
I finally got my second generation twin boom up in the air. Had some other projects that felt more important, but now that it's flying again I realize how much I truly missed it! No pics yet and I have some minor changes to make, but here's the gist: The original had 1 aileron and one single boom rudder and sported a kfm wing design. The repaired version was similar with some tweaks. That plane flew some incredible high alpha moves and could harrier better than anything I've had since. Looking back, I really am surprised at some of the moves I could do with that plane, but back then it was my first aileron plane that wouldn't fit into a box for transport... the first one I could fly, anyway. I flew that one into the ground (many times) and decided to scrap it and build an updated version. The new version now has a flat wing to facilitate a simpler build, half flaperons (each aileron is tucked under a wing and only goes down, flaperons to be enabled and tested) for slower flight without harriers, a central rudder in front of the pusher prop (at the end of the center section) and now sports an 11" prop and 1300 Kv motor (that's what I had available). It flies pretty good! The half ailerons work excellent although one horn needs to be fixed before testing roll rates and such. The rudder works, but needs to be modified a bit to get it into the airstream better. I am very pleased at this point, will modify it tonight and take her for another test flight tomorrow morning. I'll try to get some pics as well that I can post. Java
Posted on: 4/27/2011 7:18 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10487734

RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
Critter, Sorry to hear about your finger... I always worry about that when using the snowblower, no matter how careful I am. It only takes a second, just like with props on a plane. Hope you heal well, man.
Posted on: 2/7/2011 7:39 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10318519

RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
critterhunter, The wine stuff is totally off-subject, but I have to say that the coversations have peeked my interest. I just started making beer through a local place for doing this stuff and have found that I love how flavorful it is and have thought about doing the wine stuff with my wife. Your feedback got me talking with the wife about possibly doing some of this at home. THANKS! Now as far as the So goes... I destroyed my last one due to an insufficient motor and need to rebuild. Thinking of trying a V-tail on it just because I don't have one.
Posted on: 12/9/2010 9:33 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10186350

RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
critterhunter, I found out that what I had accidentally created was a KFM airfoil. The next iteration had steps on top and on the bottom of the wing and it flew better than any other plane I own. The maneuvers I could make with that plane simply blew people away and it had an almost zero stall to it. The only issue it had was that there was no decent glide ratio, so a dead battery resulted in a hard landing, which actually did it in. I am planning to make a new one and will stick with the KFM wing because it is just SO easy to make and works just as well as a Clark-Y. I use 1/2" blucore foam as the root and the booms, and 3mm depron for the steps and control surfaces. When I build the new version I will post pics of it for all to see. It might be a little bit, though because I have a foamy F-14 in progress, a foam Lil Ripper almost complete and a flat wing scheduled as well. To be honest, I will probably pre-empt one of the other builds because the So was my true go-to plane and I miss it dearly.
Posted on: 12/5/2010 11:03 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10177848

RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
Thanks. I'm sure it would fly fine with a flat wing, but I gave it a bit of rounded-ness to the leading edge and extended the lower part of the wing because I wanted it larger and didn't want all that weight of the blue foam. Later I found out that there is actually a similar wing design called KFm that incorporates a step-down but it isn't quite as square as mine. Maybe my next version will have more of a true KFm wing. Any idea what the name stands for and is it So or soo?
Posted on: 8/31/2010 9:28 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9971358

RE: Here's A Simple & FREE First Foam Build Plan! (Part 2)
For what it's worth, I thought I would post a shot of my plane. After reading through this thread I decided that this would be my first home built foam plane. The only problem I had was with the wing design. Since this was going to be my first plane and on a budget, I didn't want to go through the time and expense of making a hot wire cut wing. So I decided to build by own out of straight foam. The first one was two angled pieces and didn't work very well, mainly because it was too narrow. My second design was a piece of cake to make and works fantastic, so I thought I'd share a picture of it. It is made with a piece of 1/2" blue insulation foam on top and and 4MM depron on the bottom, which is what the aileron is cut from. It still required a carbon spar along the top for reinforcement, but it flies really well on 3S and is an absolute blast! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted on: 8/30/2010 10:41 PM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9970576

RE: Walkera 5#10
Ryan, Thanks for the tour of your house... just kidding. Nice job maneuvering the tight spaces and thanks for showing a full range of control. You have convinced me that I do want to go through with the brushless upgrade, I'll have to wait a couple of weeks for my next paycheck to purchase batteries, etc. I took my heli outdoors to give it a try on a calm day. Unfortunately the skids got caught in some grass and pulled the heli down under power, so I now have a slightly stripped main gear. At least it's still flyable until the replacement gear arrives.
Posted on: 7/13/2009 8:55 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Walkera Helis - Dragonfly, etc.."
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8928593

RE: Walkera 5#10
Wow, that's a lot of work! I was hoping that a conversion to brushless would be a lot less painful... and not so expensive. This kind of thing sure does make this hobby a LOT more fun, though. Best of luck, can't wait to hear how things turned out for you. Cheers.
Posted on: 7/12/2009 1:12 PM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Walkera Helis - Dragonfly, etc.."
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8926571

RE: Walkera 5#10
Minichopper Any progress yet on your brushless system with 2S setup? I ordered the same setup and am awaiting the shipment myself. I just got a 5#10 this past Friday and having a ball so far. Thanks everyone
Posted on: 7/12/2009 12:57 AM by Author "javabased" in the forum "Walkera Helis - Dragonfly, etc.."
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8925643