RE: Official RCSkydiving questions & help
Hello all, I am finally back to working on my jumper after almost 2 years. I finished my jump plane and am planning on a maiden flight next week. If that goes OK, I will install the diver release mechanism and go from there. I have a couple of questions. Where can I find instructions for packing a Gitchel chute? Video would be great, pictures OK. I need a pattern for making a suit for my jumper. Anyone know where I could find one? I searched on the internet and only found patterns for girls dolls, no GI Joe, or anything like that. Thanks for your help, Mike
Posted on: 10/25/2011 7:59 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10782777

RE: I wanna scratch build an R/C Skydiver.
I made a chute from the Gitchell plans and it was very time consuming but turned out really nice. Hope to get it in the air later in the year. Will post pix when I do.
Posted on: 4/20/2011 8:06 AM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10474298

RE: I wanna scratch build an R/C Skydiver.
Search this forum, there are plenty of posts on building a skydiver and making a chute. The gitchell chute plans are available for free somewhere and could be scaled for a smaller diver.
Posted on: 4/18/2011 1:28 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10470258

RE: RCM Plans For Jumper
Moggy, Are the DVDs what you were looking for?
Posted on: 3/10/2010 10:27 AM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9569805

RE: RCM Plans For Jumper
Pete, I packaged a copy of both CRs videos (chute and jumper) and the drawings I have for the jumper dude and they should be on the way today or tomorrow. Do you have a chute? You can find a link on here somewhere for the plans for the Gitchell chute. I think it is on Juan and Goldenknight's web page, but not sure. Thanks, Mike
Posted on: 2/24/2010 9:59 AM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9531450

RE: RCM Plans For Jumper
Pete, Don't know how to send a PM, so if you send me a PM with your address and phone, I will get hte stuff to you. The DVD I have is also poor quality, but all the info you need is there. I bought it from CR. It was recorded in his house, part of it on the bed. I cut everything out and my wife sewed the chute for me, it turned out really nice. I have been alternately lazy and busy as hell over the last year and still have not finished the jumper. I am building an entertainment center now, so it will be a few more months, maybe get to the chute and finishing my drop plane in time for late spring, early summer. I think the DVD covers sewing the chute, rigging the chute, and building the skydiver. Send me your address and I will make copies and put it in the mail. If you are not in a hurry, I can send it media mail and it will only be a couple dollars. I will do that and you don't have to worry about paying for the shipping. It might take me a few days to get it all together and packaged. Just let me know, Mike
Posted on: 2/20/2010 4:31 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9520877

RE: RCM Plans For Jumper
Hello, jumper dude is what CR Fowler called his jumper. I think it was based on the RCM plans. I purchased the CD and templates for this jumper and CRs parachute, which was based on the Gitchell chute plans. I think CR is retired and his website is no longer up. He gave me and I suppose anyone else, permission to pass on the info to anyone who needs it. Do you have a chute as well? Let me know if this what you need and I would be willing to forward a copy to you. Mike
Posted on: 2/18/2010 10:04 AM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9514663

RE: servo and chute material questions
Looks like it, is it about 16" tall and the arms and legs move? My son and I were looking at it this weekend and I think it is going to work. Here is my basic plan: Bend a piece of 1/8" music wire to fit inside the arms all the way to the hand Turn a piece of oak to the inside diameter of the arm where it goes into the torso Cut the rim off the arm so it can move freely inside the arm hole Drill the center of the oak to 1/8" and epoxy it inside the arm with the wire sticking out Build a chassis that fits inside the torso with holes for the wire to go through and mounts for the servos I may draw up plans as I go and finalize them after I finish it. Probably be a few weeks before I get it done.
Posted on: 9/21/2009 1:16 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9112473

servo and chute material questions
I got my chute out this week and looked it over and everything is good to go, just have to get a diver built. I bought a 16� Hulk Hogan action figure on ebay (cheap) and plan to use it for my jumper. I took some measurements and it looks like I can build a chassis to mount the servos and pivot points for the arm axles and get it all inside the torso with only a little bit sticking out the back and that will be covered with the jump suit. I am getting excited about this again. My chute is complete and it turned out really nice, but I may have used the wrong material. It is definitely the zero porosity crackly ripstop material, I hope it works OK, has anyone have experience with the crackly stuff and if so, did it work out OK? I have 2 Airtronics 94162Z BB MG 115 oz/in servos and also 2 JR DS821 BB 72 oz/in servos. The 94162Zs are going to require more mods to the action figure to shoehorn in, but I will do it if it makes sense. Do I need the 115 oz/in, or will the JRs work without issues? Thanks, Mike
Posted on: 9/18/2009 3:20 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9105939

RE: Newby with rigging questions was hijacked
Goldenknight, Thanks for your reply and offer of help. Mike
Posted on: 5/14/2009 5:42 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8769207

RE: Newby with rigging questions was hijacked
I have not begun building the skydiver yet, but am coming along nicely on the jump plane. I have the plans from RC Skydive USA to build the jumper, and after reading and looking at some other jumpers, it looks like it would work better with more travel on the arms than this jumper has. These plans end up with the arms moving parallel to the body straight out to the side, it looks like some of the others have the arms travel about 90 degrees to the side of the jumper resulting in more travel. Should I change the design so my jumper works like that? Or is there a better design jumper that can be built by the average RCer? If so, where can I get plans? I have two Airtronics 94162Z High Torque Ball Bearing Servos, Torque @ 4.8V: 123 oz-in. That should be adequate, shouldn't it? Thanks, Mike
Posted on: 5/14/2009 5:41 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8769200

Newby with rigging questions was hijacked
All, I started a post with a couple of questions and it was hijacked by "rcdirigibles" and everybody just went with it and ignored my original post. Are there rules here concerning hijacking threads, or is it a free for all? I just have a couple of questions and maybe I took too long to get back to the forum, but life in general got in the way and I am just getting back to thinking about my RC Sky Jumper. Any help would be appreciated. I am really looking forward to RC skydiving and as far as I know I will be the first in my club to have one. A couple other guys have dropped parachutes, but no RC chutes, just drop and pop and see where they go. I am really concerned about the material I chose, and I hope it works. If not, I will build another one. Here is my last post from the hijacked thread: Thanks, Mike I finished my chute and got it rigged and have not had time to build the jumper, but I do have the radio and high torque servos all ready to go. I have been busy with building airplanes and building stuff for my wife. Not sure how successful my chute is going to be, it is definitely the "crackly" ripstop nylon. I read almost every thread on this forum before purchasing it and didn't see anything saying it wouldn't work . It was a real pain to work with because it is so slippery, but we got it done. I used 1/8" ID grommets with leather washer for spacer to attach the lines. I made templates out of masonite and built a rigging board so the next chute should go much faster. I am going to try this chute even if it is the wrong material. I would think that it would deploy nicely as springy as it seems to be?? I sprayed it with anti-static spray during assembly and it really helped. I took the transmitter apart and rigged the sticks so they are spring loaded all the way to the top. The feel is almost exactly like it was before, and the travel is smooth. I will not be jumping for a month or two, depending on how motivated I get on my plane. I am building a 6' wingspan SPAD (simple plastic airplane design) of my own design for a jump plane and for use as a trainer as well. I have already finished a DPS (Das Plastic Stik) from the plans on the STTB website and it flew so great it inspired me to build a SPAD Jump/Trainer plane. I am using CR Fowler's plans for the chute and jumper, with my mods as I see the need. I also have the Gitchell Chute plans and It looks like they are one and the same. Thanks, Mike
Posted on: 4/17/2009 11:23 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8691762

RE: Newby with rigging questions
I finished my chute and got it rigged and have not had time to build the jumper, but I do have the radio and high torque servos all ready to go. I have been busy with building airplanes and building stuff for my wife. Not sure how successful my chute is going to be, it is definitely the "crackly" ripstop nylon. I read almost every thread on this forum before purchasing it and didn't see anything saying it wouldn't work:(. It was a real pain to work with because it is so slippery, but we got it done. I used 1/8" ID grommets with leather washer for spacer to attach the lines. I made templates out of masonite and built a rigging board so the next chute should go much faster. I am going to try this chute even if it is the wrong material. I would think that it would deploy nicely as springy as it seems to be?? I sprayed it with anti-static spray during assembly and it really helped. I took the transmitter apart and rigged the sticks so they are spring loaded all the way to the top. The feel is almost exactly like it was before, and the travel is smooth. I will not be jumping for a month or two, depending on how motivated I get on my plane. I am building a 6' wingspan SPAD (simple plastic airplane design) of my own design for a jump plane and for use as a trainer as well. I have already finished a DPS (Das Plastic Stik) from the plans on the STTB website and it flew so great it inspired me to build a SPAD Jump/Trainer plane. I am using CR Fowler's plans for the chute and jumper, with my mods as I see the need. I also have the Gitchell Chute plans and It looks like they are one and the same. Thanks, Mike
Posted on: 4/16/2009 5:34 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8687709

Newby with rigging questions
Hello All, First, I have read almost every post in this forum over the last few weeks and I want to thank all who contribute and hope I will have some good ideas to add as well. Lots of great info and resources. I am a newby to RC skydiving and I’m putting together the plans and materials to build an RC skydiver. I have been flying RC planes for about a year and a half and have been having the most fun I ever had from a hobby. I have played with parachutes since I was a kid, including building a small air cannon a couple years ago to launch them for my grandchildren. I purchased templates and DVDs from one of the online resources (can I mention the name?) and have studied the Gitchell chute plans as well. I bought a few yards of zero porosity ripstop, 50 lb. Dacron kite line and #30 bonded nylon thread from the internet as well. For a practice build, I downloaded the flat chute plan from the let’s jump site and cut it out with my soldering iron and my wife sewed loops on it made from the ripstop to tie the lines to. I built it a little smaller than the plans and I am going to use a 12� GI Joe for a jumper. No RC on this one, just drop and pop and see where it ends up. I am going to use a 6� drogue chute to help it open. I think there has to be a better way than the loops to attach the lines. In the Gitchell plans, it says to tack the lines to the ribs with a drop of CA, sew them vertically before you sew the ribs into the chute. Enough about me, here are my newby questions: 1. If the lines are sewed in, what about replacing them if needed? 2. Has anyone tried sewing the cell edge ribs with the material edge outside on the bottom of the chute instead of inside and then install small grommets on this “rib� to attach the lines? (my wife’s idea, she even has the tiny grommets from a scrapbooking project) 3. Will a larkshead knot at the attach point work? Or do you need something else. I saw the post from GaryV using the no tie method and it looks great. I will use that if the 50 lb Dacron is not too small. 4. What about rigging the flat chute with a couple degrees negative incidence? Would that give it a little forward drive and make it drop a little faster to keep it from floating away on thermals? I think if you go too far it might not fill and it would just plummet. I will try it from the roof or something first. I am sure I will have more questions as I go, but most of them will be answered with a search of this forum. Again, thanks for the forum, Mike
Posted on: 11/14/2008 1:50 PM by Author "mikecward" in the forum "R/C Sky Diving"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8147041