rowdy b64, Was it tail heavy?

Paul

Looks a bit underpowered. Hate when things like that happen. At least it survived to try again another time.

I think it had a Camel on its tail. Martin do you like that RED?

What motor do you have in it?

I was scanning in old slides and found this from my college days. I still have the plans maybe I need to make another one and paint it red too.

Neat looking little tripe Degreen!! I like it red too!!! Steve

You're right Boys! I'm seeing RED! Martin

Hi Guys,
A few problems I think ...
First .. most certainly underpowered and trimmed badly .. bad combination into a headwind :blah:
Pretty sure it was good COG wise .. although not certain .. no details on COG from LX model (nice of them ....:mad: )
It has an RC SMART 1480 outrunner with a 3S lipo. That should have powered it OK ...IF i had put a prop of a reasonable size of it that wasn't vibrating to the hilt !!! Had a 9 x 4.5 on it ..have upped that to a 10x7 (that got rid of that horrible vibration.)
Also ordered a watt meter to check out the draw before I try again.

I've had this model for over a year now ... have never had it set up well enough to fly .. and always a bit scared to dive in at it without being sure. Am glad it was unbroken and am confident I will have it right the next time. :D:D I am very used to have this hanging in my office as a static model ... in it's pristine state!

BTW this bird weighs in at 1 KG .. so I am thinking the motor in it will not be enough ..
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/RC-Hobby-1480...QQcmdZViewItem

Thoughts ???

Cheers
Rowdy

Hello Rowdy, with the motor you've chosen, try to put a watt meter on it and see what you're drawing. I believe you could get away with an 11x4.7 and be under 30amp draw, and have considerable more thrust on 3 cells, although I run a smaller prop on a glider of the same weight that pulls vertical on a 9x7, 3 cells very nicely. Basically you need to use a watt meter to select your prop so you don't over draw your motor or esc or batteries.Also chec your motor and batteries for heat if your running full throttle forn long periods of time, this can also tell you that your set up isn't 100% and needs to be ajusted
Don

Maybe it is just me but I have not had any success using a low pitch prop outdoors. My Sopwith Tripe(right at 1lb) has a 9X7 prop and my Sopwith Camel(just over 1lb) has an 11X8. Both climb out nice. I use heavy Nimh 6 cells in both planes so I do not have to add dead weight for balance. Both planes draw less than 10amps. Neither plane will loop from horzonal flight but both loop after just a slight dive. They both have a 2410-09Y brushless.

Lower pitch is for thrust. Higher pitch is for speed. You really don't want your WWI plane to go fast. But when you decrease pitch you can add diameter. A 9x7 is usually going to have the same AMP draw as a 10x4.7 but the 10 inch prop will give more thrust and less top speed. Steve

Bipes and tripes also have a lot of drag, so a slower turning larger diameter prop may even be able to pull the plane at a better speed. Had a BUSA Phaeton that came with a .40, barely get off the ground and needed to dive before doing loops and rolls (like many man-carrying planes). Changing from a 10-6 which is normal for that size engine to an 11-4 cut the take-off run by almost 60%, and let me start doing consecutive loops from level flight. Just flew all-around better. Even though the RPM went from 14500 to around 12000. The smaller prop just couldn't pull against the overall drag.

Thanks for the help explaining this 50+!!! It might make more sense to him because of your example. Isn't it great how we all help each other? I know that I enjoy it!! Thanks for being here guys!! Steve

And Rowdy, as a rule a lower KV motor spinning a large diameter-low pitch prop works more efficiently on the WWI birds. Usually an outrunner with a Kv of between 700-1000 works best. Hope we're helping!! If you need a cheap outrunner for it look on www.hobbycity.com because theirs are cheap and their descriptions usually tell you all the information you need. I have never been disappointed with any of their products. Steve

I should've put my DR1 build thread in here! But it is made from FFF!


http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/show...65&postcount=1


Hillbille

That's a great link Steve, I've ordered from there too. I've also ordered from www.rchotdeals.com ,which delivers right to my country mailbox at the end of my driveway. I've had great luck with their TP combo's at a really great price.

We don't care what the planes are made of Hillbilly. We all fly planes built from a wide variety of building materials. Do you have a video of your tripe flying? Steve

Just more Camel food. I think this thread has more Dr1s than Fokker ever made. Fokker only built about 320.

I just have a VERY short one that is of poor quality (far away) - I'll try and see if I can find the link to post. These are very lightly loaded and fly absolutely great. They are designed for 4 channels - but the ones I have built so far only use three - no rudder. It is an easily modded desigh to yeild a biplane (D VII) and I have built that also in the hangar now is a SE5a of sorts but I haven't put the servos or controls on yet.

This was originally a semi 3D design but I don't think anyone but an expert 3D flyer coud do it with a triplane.


Hillbille

Steve,

As I am pretty auful at the video venue here it is such that it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmneG8aS2iE


PS - I grew up and graduated HS in Amarillo.

Hillbille

How about a great flying FFF (Fun Flying Foamy) stand way back D VII? Made from the same basic plans with only slight mods?



Hillbille

Steve / Don / Hillbillie .. Thanks for your help/advice on this one. Weathers been aweful down here for the past few days .. No trials possible. I certainly will measure the draw when my Watt Meter arrives. I'll keep you posted!
Off to the Point Cook airshow to see some real birds in action!!
Cheers
Rowdy

Clamp on ammeter
 

Here's what I use to check amp draw. No need to disconnect anything, just use the clamp on ammeter. Available at your local auto parts store under the DORMAN brand name. Martin

http://www.dormanproducts.com/images...rap1/86274.jpg

I think I know a guy that works for Dorman!! Wink wink!! Steve

Hilbilly, cool video!! Steve

Good luck Rowdy!! Glad we could help a little. Stay in touch with us so we can see it flying!!! Steve

Sure will Steve,
Thanks mate!
Rowdy

Okay guys lets get this going again!! What's new? Any new WWI plane kits or ARFs that I don't know about? Anybody building anything? Where are all you guys? Steve

Hi Steve....I was on vacation for 3 weeks in Southern California...visiting girlfriend...no building or flying....
Got back last night...gotta work for a few days, then pack, then moving south to be with her...

So....no new airplane related news.

have my dr 1 repaired n ready for test flight....winds last weekend 10-15mph....little to windy for dr 1 test flight if u know what i mean.......suspose to rain this weekend....one of these days i'll have an chance

Hey Steve...long time no talk...just working on a couple projects...1/4 sized E111 and another model we won't talk about yet...
Ron

Hello Gang....winds are up here too, along with the snow.Expected to get 40cm by next morning, so I too is in the build shop...working on a few projects, 1/4 scale E3 ,almost have this one ready for flight,but decided to put a glow engine,electrics were putting the plane way over budget for this project(some where in the range of $1200 dollars for lipo's-esc and motor),but might convert it later once I add a new Spectrum DX7 for this season.
Also have an Estes StratoBlaster,aquired this at a swap meet.Took the 049 off it and upgraded to a brushless and a 3cell.
Almost finished a couple of electric pylon racers for our club,but nothing scale. I am looking at a sopwith tri-plane,thinking of building one of to add to my allied stable, drawing up some plans for a 39in electric version...let you know how this progresses later towards spring. Other than shoveling we're not up to nothing new for electric ww1 planes at the moment.Haven't come across anything really inspiring for now, but I'm sure that will change once we get out doors for a few flights.
Don

Hey Murph,
good luck moving south, and I hope the new lass loves airplanes...lol
Don

ACE,

once I finish my current projects, 1/6 Cub, 1/6 Tiger Moth, 3M Bird of Time, I am considering building the VK Models 1/6 Fokker Triplane, 48" wingspan. I like to have all my favorites in the same scale.

http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/p...vk/dr1/dr1.htm

if anyone has built this one or the one from Aerodrome RC I would love to see the pic's.

AD

Aerodude there are some good pics of Aerodromes 1/6th tripe on their website that I'm sure you're aware of. Can't wait to here what you decide on! Any idea of the colorscheme yet? Steve

Great to have ya back Ron!! You've always had some kind of interesting project going on!! Steve

Sounds like Murph is lovesick!! Good luck Murph!! If you like her then I'm sure she is a fine woman!! Steve

I've gotta go to our flying field for a workday today so no building here! Steve

Thanks for the Best Wishes Don.:)

My Gal said I could have the garage for my airplanes.
Also she said she would be willing to learn to fly them.

I think I will put together or build a high wing trainer for her and her kids to learn on. (When I get settled in down there).

Then instead of a quarrel you can go have a dogfight.

The snow has stopped and I am waiting for the wind to stop blowing so I can go try the Morane Saulnier L again. I bought this plane about half built. The person that had started the build put ailerons on it. I finished the plane A/E/M with a flat wing. I have only flown R/E/M till now. I am having trouble controling the plane. Don't know if the problem is control setup or pilot.

Last week I met barmonkey and we flew our Jennys together.

Hey there fellow WWI flyers ..
Well the day came for my DR1 to finally hit the sky .. and then the earth ...<sob>
Power failed not sure why .. suspect I was pulling to many Watts.
Damage to the cowling and the motor mount box smashed off.
Gotta say ... she glides like a brick !!!! :mad: :mad::mad:

Here's the footage ..
Cheers
Rowdy

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtncMf4c2ZE&feature=user[/media]