Flyer 1

Finally got plus 40 - degree weather and low winds today. I got to take out the SS with it's new aileron setup, one Futaba servo for each wing.
It's set up as flaperons, with full aileron travel in both directions.
What a difference! This plane will now turn in an incredibly tight radius. I mixed in rudder (50%), and that helps. I tried a few turns rudder-only at a few mistakes high and it's so sluggish it's ridiculous - just plain too heavy, I guess.
However, NOW this plane scores a solid A+ for AP. The ability to make a SS instantly DROP that wing the wind has lifted is priceless. In fact, I just kept landing and taking off, for a total of over ten flights. It was fun just lifting off, tearing around the schoolyard dodging trees like never before, then dialing in the flaperons to instantly settle back to earth.
Tomorrow, the camera goes on.
Flyer

aviatordave

Cool Flyer! any chance you can post some pics of the aileron mod for us to see?

I plan on maidening this SS tomorrow and get some pics & video too. I'll be posting some pics here in a bit with more detail on the hinge and tail area.

Dave

Flyer 1

Yep, I'll take some pics as soon as I get home.
Dave, our planes are very similiar in setup/weight - we're both using far-rear mounted servos and pretty heavy motor/battery combos. In short - we're NOT flying "slow" SlowSticks anymore (although this one isn't TOO fast).
I would definitely recommend the aileron mod. On it's maiden, this SS was nearly uncontrollable in a small area - turns required (and I'm NOT kidding) a space not much smaller than a football field. You'd apply full rudder, and the plane would fly straight for several seconds before initiating the turn. This is NOT the kind of behavior we want for flying in tight spaces! With the ailerons it's an absolute blast to fly in the same space now (my little baseball field). It's no longer a "beginner's" plane, true, but we're not beginners!
I'll have pics up soon. I also just uploaded the last video I took with my EZ when I got buzzed by two F-16s from the local National Guard base - I'll link to it as soon as YouTube has it processed (they seem to be getting slower these days at this).
Flyer

aviatordave

I took some more pics of how I put the tail together. I use good old packing tape which works, but there are better ways to hinge this and maybe some others will chime in. I have never had a problem with my method, but to each his own

Click on a picture to see the notes

Dave

aviatordave

When you finish the plane, you can add a tailwheel and route your antenna on the plane. I personally dont use a tailwheel because I mostly take off and land from where I am standing. I added some pictures showing my tail skid and how I routed my antenna.

Dave

Flyer 1

Here's the pics of my aileron setup.






I used the pre-molded aileron outlines - they work just fine. Servos are Futaba S3114s. Control horns are from my scrap box - don't remember where I got 'em!
I hinged the tail surfaces like Aviatordave. The ailerons are hinged with strips of strapping tape in a method that's got a name that I don't remember. For each piece, two 1 inch sections are cut and 1/4 in. of the adhesive side joined together, and taped onto the top of the wing, folded down, then taped onto the bottom of the aileron. This process is reversed for the next hinge tape just beside it. Repeat until you're done!
This creates a VERY tight but almost friction-free hinge. Granted, it takes a bit longer than standard tape hinges but it's worth the effort.
Finally, the ailerons are mixed to act as flaperons. As ailerons they function normally (they're not up-only). Turning the flap knob lowers both simultaneously. This REALLY drops airspeed FAST - it's very effective for spot-landings, but be ready to apply a ton of up elevator to flare in for touchdown!
Frankly, having read a lot of negatives about SS aileron effectiveness, I was surprised by their performance. It now flies very much like a standard aileron trainer, except slower.
Flyer

SAVS

This info should be enough to get me completed, thanks! I can work on the SS while the GGlue cures on my EZ after my HWFT (High Wind Flight Training) today. You know' where the battery tries to exit through the front of the plane by landing hard on the nose.

JustinD123

Today I went out to fly my SS with the 350 motor with almost no wind what so ever, and the plane was totally uncontrolable. Kinda weird b/c i flew it yesturday and it was perfectly fine. Nose was going up and then diving down. So confused something is messed up. probably the CG. Back to the drawing board.

Justin

aviatordave

Thanks for the pics Flyer! Looks like I will try with rudder only tomorrow and maybe upgrade later. Say, are you using a BEC with the additional servos or using just the ESC?

Dave

Flyer 1

Just using the ESC - it's a Venom 25 amp that seems to handle the extra drain just fine.
Flyer

aviatordave

Just got done with the maiden, plane flies perfect and goes where I want it

The motor wont have enuf to pull a camera so I am recharging the battery and switched to a himax 2025-4200 6.6:1 gb w/ 12 x 8 prop thru a CC 25 amp esc. That will pull a brick in the air. I'll have to get with Jeff at Heads Up RC and see if he has anything that will suit my needs.

I'm going out again with the new motor and hopefully a inflight video too.

Dave

Flyer 1

Glad it worked out - I think maybe I OVER-strengthened my wing. Oh well - it should handle some pretty killer winds!
I took it down today for another round of flying (just for fun). The danged motor wouldn't start. Putter-putter-putter, the classic sound of a brushless with a bad contact somewhere. I looked at everything that could be loose; no luck.
Then, I took a look at the receiver connector. Turns out I'd stretched it a bit, and pulled one of the pins partially out of the plug. I deformed it in the process so will have to re-wire the whole lead.
I'll be sure to make it longer this time!
Flyer

aviatordave

Flys nicely with camera aboard.

Here is the video -------> Maiden flight with camera (19 meg)

for best results right mouse click on the link and select, 'save target as'

It was nice here today...snow is melting....

The camera I used is a Pentax Optio S6 which was set to medium level video. I wish I had seen that earlier, the video doesnt look that good IMO.

I had to download a DIVX codec for it to play on my PC, let me know if anyone has problems with playback.

Dave

JustinD123

VERY NICE DAVE!!! love it! your a very good pilot too. cant wait to get started on my SSOS.

Flyer 1

Nice video, Dave.
I switched out ESCs in time to make another flight tonight before dark. Another great session.
In your video, during your self-bombing run, did you experience any wing flutter?
I do this frequently with my planes, too (that's how I got the pic for the last contest), and today the SS fluttered it's entire wing. I wasn't worried about it breaking - it didn't bend at all - but thought it might just be a common characteristic of the SS.
On the OTHER hand, maybe I just didn't have tight enough rubber bands on the wing! That would certainly account for it. From now on, it's super-heavy-duty silicone bands.
Flyer

aviatordave

I didnt notice any flutter......one thing I like about this plane is you can point it straight into the ground during a dive and it really doesnt go all that fast (compared to other planes). I used 6 rubberbands - 3 on each side (2 x-cross and 1 straight)

I plan to get out today for some pics, I'll do some more dive bombing to see....

of course with the camera hanging out there it is like a air brake also

Dave

SAVS

I can not wait to complete my build! I want to see some video set at high and do something with that antenna it's blocking the view...

aviatordave

Yep plan to do some high quality video and already moved the antenna out of the way. I knew it was trailing behind but would of thought it to act as a streamer instead of just laying there...oh well - figures.

I'm making a mount for my 10 oz sony camera, I trust this plane will haul it no problem, I'll add pics later today....

its getting a bit windy here today, might have to wait till this evening. Good thing we get an extra hour of sunlight !

Dave

spartman

It sounds like you guys may be running the stock cg. You may want to set it to 4 and 1/8 as per the ultimate slowstick thread on rcgroups. You may find the handeling and behavior of you ss to be much improved. The factory cg is to far forward. (in my opinion)

Flyer 1

The way I've got my battery set up (Electrifly 3S1500), I'cn move it forwards and rearwards about two inches. The plane doesn't really seem to care...
I'm beginning to think this is an enchanted SS or something. It will not, repeat NOT, fly with rudder only. I hauled it out today and got way upstairs first, then tried rudder (now on the left stick). Absolutely NO WAY does it want to turn quickly. First there's a slight yaw towards the intended direction, and then it begins a MILD bank. Fifty yards farther on it's begun to turn.
Not, however, that I'm complaining - I couldn't be more pleased with it's flight characteristics. Someone once said that things like this (planes, cars, etc.) take on the "vibes" of their operator, and since I've been flying warbirds almost exclusively until I got the AP bug, it's just behaving like one. That sounds funny, doesn't it - the SlowStick Warbird! Hah.
There was a young fellow today flying a Hobby Lobby Cessna (the one without ailerons). He was attempting his first rolls - he's a newbie but can handle the basics and land just fine. We were both in the air, me just tooling around, but he was dead serious, concentrating on that plane. He'd get into a roll and about halfway through getting a bit mixed up applying down elevator. Result, an aborted roll and loss of altitude. Climbs back up and tries 'er again. Good attitude, has the makings of a great pilot.
I thought I'd be a bit funny.
"Here, you gotta do it like this! First, ya roll then gently push that stick forwards...".
Well, I applied full left aileron - and pulled a almost perfect roll, though a bit barrelish. No elevator used at all. I couldn't believe it.
It's pretty much GOT to be my landing gear arrangement. I used a piece of quarter-inch CF square tubing and cut it to make shock-absorbing gear, which actually works quite well. It's mounted directly behind the front wing mount though. Since it's a LOT heavier than the stock gear (and has 3 inch foam wheels), there's the combination of weight and added drag.
Flyer

SAVS

I had a total loss on my S6 when I hit a block wall about 2 stories up and it ejected from my EZ. I had it set for video (Hi-res) to test out what we were looking at. I had fun taking it apart, any one need some really small parts ?

To replace it I ordered the new S7 so I can use the same battery and SD. The bad part was I guess the video did not have time to write to the card as I was only up for about 30 seconds and it must have been in some kind of memory buffer area. Too bad it was pretty cool the way it sounded when it hit the wall and then the concrete.

Oh yea' the EZ does not have a scratch!

JustinD123

I need an opinion. Dave is using the 2825-09 outrunner on his SSOS i was thinking about getting and using the xt400... but its week compared to his and so i found this. GWS OUTRUNNER BRUSHLESS MOTOR 2215-12T which is the 004A model outrunner.. Any opinions or thoughts?

Justin

aviatordave

Denny,

Seems as time goes on, they reduced the video quality of the Optios. I have the s5z and it is alot better in movie mode than the s6. It looks like the s7 copied the s6 (DIVX) for maximum compression. If your interested in movies more than anything, I would suggest buying a Nikon 3700 which in my opinion puts out the clearest & sharpest movies (MOV format). They can be had on ebay for around $100 and are about 5 oz in weight.

I tried some video in the 'best' mode w/ S6 and am still unsatisfied.....but I am still going to experiment with the picture mode on the S6 as that may still be good or great.

Dave

aviatordave

Justin - that outrunner didnt have the power to pull a camera in the air. I switched to a himax 2025-4200 with a gearbox, 6.6:1 turning a 12 x 8 APC e prop. That setup has loads of power and only draws 17 amps at WOT. I'm going to leave that on as it works good. I changed the ESC to a Castle Creations 25 amp, which is good also. If you have a dislike for gearboxes, stay with an outrunner - but go more powerful than I did.

Dave

<edit - this is what I am running http://www.rctoys.com/rc-toys-and-pa...MOTOR-ESC.html >

JustinD123

i just decideds to go with the 400xt instead after reading some review its the best bang for the buck.. Thanks dave