Aeroic Gremlin build

[Motowncali]

This is a prototype Gremlin, so some of the accessories have been copied from a production model to get it in the air, radio/fuse former, there is also a vertical former that I will need to make.
When gluing formers in, I use thin CA to tack in place then use a syringe to apply 30minute epoxy and micro balloons. You can use rubberized CA, Goop, or a lot of other flexible glues to get the stiffness needed with a little give.
I built a carbon pushrod for the rudder with 2-56 clevis at the rudder and a 2-56 Z bend at the servo. This proves to be light and bind free set up.
The elevator servo is mounted in the tail, short 2-56 rod, Z bend at the servo, plastic clevis with the pin removed and drilled out with a 1/16” drill bit, provides slop free operation for the 1.5mm rod between the elevator halves. Because of the way that I mounted the servo, the rod can only fall left to right, so there should be no chance of loosing the clevis in the tail with the wire removed. Please note that with the top hinges elevator that even if using the supplied bellcrank, that it should be biased towards the front so that the rod angle is about 15degrees. I found with directly vertical mount that I couldn’t get proper down elevator control.

 

[Motowncali]

Always make sure to scuff any surface to be glued to on a molded kit with sandpaper and wipe with alcohol. There is almost always a thin layer of mold release, or just the sealed shines surface of the epoxy that glued do not bond to very well. Please note the angle on the elevator servo, it isn’t sitting like that just for the photo. When directly inline, the elevator didn’t like to go down very far. I believe that due to the top hinge, it needs to pull down and forward to get proper down throw.

 

[Konrad]

Love that use of skewed mounted servos. They allow the use of longer servo arms in a narrow fuselage.

Is the cantilevered tongue elevator servo mount included in the kit?

 

[Motowncali]

Thank you Konrad. The kits come with a bellcrank that can be mounted in the opening. This is plan B. I made the mount out of 1/8” ply.

Mo

 

[Motowncali]

Wasn’t sure which hole would be best, but with these servos, drilling out the dimple at the center of the arm give plenty of throw.

 

[Motowncali]

Pushrod length for flap and aileron servo in pictures. Also note the slight bends that are needed in the flap linkage for smooth bind free operation.
There wasn’t any area to glue the wing connectors to, so I cut some balsa blocks and sanded them to the correct thickness to line up to the holes. Glued them into the wing, then mixed up some epoxy and glued the connector to the wood. It is sitting curing now. Next will be to put a battery in and set the CG. Maiden on Saturday!

 

[Konrad]

Wasn’t sure which hole would be best, but with these servos, drilling out the dimple at the center of the arm give plenty of throw.

This isn't a problem unique to Aeroic. I wish many OEMs would provide servo arm length data. Particularly for buried servos, such as tail servos. I know this often is a personal preference issue. But like the Center of Gravity they might give a range like XX mm for XX servo rotation. I hate to leave a lot of the servo resolution untapped by using only 50% of the servo's rotational potential. And then there is the servo's power part of the equation.

 

[Motowncali]

This isn't a problem unique to Aeroic. I wish many OEMs would provide servo arm length data. Particularly for buried servos, such as tail servos. I know this often is a personal preference issue. But like the Center of Gravity they might give a range like XX mm for XX servo rotation. I hate to leave a lot of the servo resolution untapped by using only 50% of the servo's rotational potential. And then there is the servo's power part of the equation.

Too many modelers do not understand the mechanical setup of a plane. Just hook it up and sub trim the heck out of the servo and cut the throw down to 20% and wonder why things don’t center and they get blow back or even flutter.

 

[Konrad]

All the more reason for some guidance from the OEMs.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

EXCELLENT!!!

Doc.

 

[Wayne]

For the record, this is a fun flying plane. Here are a couple of shots from yesterday's fun.

Mo with the Gremlin at the Slot:

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Gremlin is a weird little plane, designed for weird people who don't like the plethora of piscatorial offerings today - not to cast aspersions on them at all.

So I designed this little whizzer to be something different, and good fun into the bargain.

It was really fun to watch some competent (Read "crazy") pilots put it through its paces, and with a bit of expo, and maybe a little less nose weight, it will be a blast in a good breeze.

Doc.

 

[Motowncali]

Video!?!?

 

[thenated0g]

Has anybody done a pitcheron version of the gremlin @Doc James Hammond ?

 

[Wayne]

It has been suggested.. Mostly by me. It could be done. But I'm a broken record, I'd suggest just a wingeron, not pitcheron I'd still suggest the flaps for easy landing.

 

[Doc J]

It has been suggested.. Mostly by me. It could be done. But I'm a broken record, I'd suggest just a wingeron, not pitcheron I'd still suggest the flaps for easy landing.

It was designed with a round wing joiner exactly for that conversion possibility.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[thenated0g]

Looks like i got the last one @Doc J
Am i going to hurt your feelings if i paint it?

 

[Doc J]

Looks like i got the last one @Doc J
Am i going to hurt your feelings if i paint it?

Hey Nate! That really is the last one. The moulds are stolen by Zhou (My previous manufacturer - same nice guy who apparently works with Jon Wells now) so there wont be any more.

Its actually a really good flyer, but in standard form its not a flipper (VTPR) just does good, but standard big aeros. Used to do great pinwheels off a big energy sweep.

Paint it? Be my ghost! I'd love to see what you come up with, as I am firetrucking useless at paint schemes. I'd love to see it get "Nated", as if anyone could do it, you'd probably come up with some really entertaining and radical ideas.

I always thought that maybe as a wingeron, but still with working ailerons it might be really interesting. Not too complex to do with the ailerons/flaps already done, and the open 'canoe' fuse.

I still think it was a work in progress, when alas I lost it.

Have fun and please do post!

Doc.

 

[thenated0g]

Do you mind sharing what kind of paint you used in the molds? Not sure if i will paint it but just in case be nice to match paint types.

 

[Doc J]

Do you mind sharing what kind of paint you used in the molds? Not sure if i will paint it but just in case be nice to match paint types.

Standard epoxy paint, Nate, but it married really well with car acrylics.

Cheers,

Doc.