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ALOFT: AH-100 Build (new title)
- Thread starter G-man
- Start date
u2builder
Strong User
Looking good but I though I would offer some feedback for consideration.
The hatch looks like the Mini Wanderer hatch which works very well but a slight mistake sanding soft balsa can make the clean fit less than perfect.
The servo hatch access looks too small. I often have to access the servos in order to change the the position of the the control arm on the slot or how many holes out from center the control rod attaches. Small hatches make this process difficult and makes me wish the designer had provide more space, My Introduction kit had a small hatch. The only real mod I did to that kit was to make a full length hatch, much easier for access, but it doesn't have that canopy look too it.
The nose looks very long, good for balance, and there seems like there would be room to move the servos forward into a (longer) hatch. Function vs form. There looks like there will be plenty of room.
Peter Goldsmith has probably the lightest simplest most invisible hatch on his Opal: a single piece of thin flexible ply that is just slightly longer than the opening, rests on rails on the inside of the fuselage with tabs on both ends that slide under the front and back of the opening. To put it on or take it off you bend it to engage the tabs. Super simple and light. Again, more of a hatch than a canopy. The prettiest IMHO are those 3/8" thick blocks of balsa that the build gets to sand to shape with nice curvy top and sides that blend down to the motor but my guess is that is not what folks want unless they want to try their Aloft wood eraser!
There is often some resistance in control rods where the rods exit the rear fuselage and also of course from the pressure of the air on the control surfaces. One thing I have noticed with small light control rods is they tend to bend between bulkheads which isn't good. I usually add a few crosswise stocks of balsa with hole in the to additionally support the housings or glue the housings to the sides of the fuselage or use thicker and heavier control rods.
Anyway, looking good!
The hatch looks like the Mini Wanderer hatch which works very well but a slight mistake sanding soft balsa can make the clean fit less than perfect.
The servo hatch access looks too small. I often have to access the servos in order to change the the position of the the control arm on the slot or how many holes out from center the control rod attaches. Small hatches make this process difficult and makes me wish the designer had provide more space, My Introduction kit had a small hatch. The only real mod I did to that kit was to make a full length hatch, much easier for access, but it doesn't have that canopy look too it.
The nose looks very long, good for balance, and there seems like there would be room to move the servos forward into a (longer) hatch. Function vs form. There looks like there will be plenty of room.
Peter Goldsmith has probably the lightest simplest most invisible hatch on his Opal: a single piece of thin flexible ply that is just slightly longer than the opening, rests on rails on the inside of the fuselage with tabs on both ends that slide under the front and back of the opening. To put it on or take it off you bend it to engage the tabs. Super simple and light. Again, more of a hatch than a canopy. The prettiest IMHO are those 3/8" thick blocks of balsa that the build gets to sand to shape with nice curvy top and sides that blend down to the motor but my guess is that is not what folks want unless they want to try their Aloft wood eraser!
There is often some resistance in control rods where the rods exit the rear fuselage and also of course from the pressure of the air on the control surfaces. One thing I have noticed with small light control rods is they tend to bend between bulkheads which isn't good. I usually add a few crosswise stocks of balsa with hole in the to additionally support the housings or glue the housings to the sides of the fuselage or use thicker and heavier control rods.
Anyway, looking good!
Wings and wing plans are off for prototyping. wife is out tonight so snuck in some design time on the fuselage. Was going to blow a bunch of holes in the plywood doubler like the Lele, but thought we might want a full doubler on this one.
Bulkheads in the nose section are a little thicker than normal.An extra mm of material really makes a difference.
Toying with some ideas for a battery tray or grid to make it easy to lock the battery and radio gear into position.
Bulkheads in the nose section are a little thicker than normal.An extra mm of material really makes a difference.
Toying with some ideas for a battery tray or grid to make it easy to lock the battery and radio gear into position.
LOL (must be a really big workbench)
Locking the design for prototype testing. Wings are already in laser production que as we designed this around a fiberglass fuselage before starting on the wood fuselage design.
We shall see how the fuselage build goes. May get some large changes if my calculations were off.
My CAD software has a new AI feature, so that is what the last photo is. LOL
We shall see how the fuselage build goes. May get some large changes if my calculations were off.
My CAD software has a new AI feature, so that is what the last photo is. LOL
u2builder
Strong User
Not many issues with a soldering iron, but a few cuts with the Xactos over the many years, a lot more than twice, and more than a few close calls when the knife rolled off the workbench and stuck into the foam padding on my floor inches from my slipper overed feet. Soooo, today, after reading this, I just ordered an Xacto brand retractable blade handle that is designed not roll like a round one for my #11 blades. Better late than never.
GardenGate
User
I've printed a bunch of these and have them all around the house - they don't roll and the handy cover keeps them relatively safe when not in use.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5665083
I have not had good luck with the snap off blades. Generally not very sharp, and just annoying to work with. We have them kicking around at Aloft, but don't think anyone here likes them either. They tend to be the last knife left in the drawer while all of the others go missing. LOL
u2builder
Strong User
Try this OLFA. All stainless. Small and light and easy to hold. Retractable, doesn't roll. Inexpensive. Kind of a forever tool really, Many blade options but I think the carbon steel are the sharpest.
I use it for cutting film against a straight edge, and of course for cutting balsa sheet with and against the grain, carving, One of my my most used tools along with a razor saw. The Xacto 11 gets a lot of use too but I think the OLFA is a little safer because it doesn't have the pointed blade.
I use it for cutting film against a straight edge, and of course for cutting balsa sheet with and against the grain, carving, One of my my most used tools along with a razor saw. The Xacto 11 gets a lot of use too but I think the OLFA is a little safer because it doesn't have the pointed blade.
Attachments
Back on topic - We will be cutting parts for the AH-100 wings today. Fuselage a bit later.
We will be doing a limited group build of the wings on both the East and west coasts. That should be a fun project. We will be developing the instruction from these alpha builds.
We will be doing a limited group build of the wings on both the East and west coasts. That should be a fun project. We will be developing the instruction from these alpha builds.
Think the wings are ready to ship out, We are going to do a quick test build first. Here is a look at the outer poly brace. We added some new features to make it even easier to align.
I was out sick most of the day, and I wondered through this afternoon and Rafael had a little present to show me. Woohoo. First cuts for the fuselage. It's looking good.
I was out sick most of the day, and I wondered through this afternoon and Rafael had a little present to show me. Woohoo. First cuts for the fuselage. It's looking good.
We have been refining some very small details, and coming up with a much better wing brace for the polyhedral. It took us a few revisions, but we are now about half the weight, stronger and much easier to build. You know, our mantra. Not much to see, but here you go:
Funny how much time can go into a very simple part. Often times the balancing of manufacturing and builder ease can oppose one another, but we are getting better and better at uniting the two. Thank you very much to Rafael for his suggestions to improve this little guy.
The fuselage is going through its refinement steps. Once the next round of bulkheads are printed, we should be able to build the first example.
Funny how much time can go into a very simple part. Often times the balancing of manufacturing and builder ease can oppose one another, but we are getting better and better at uniting the two. Thank you very much to Rafael for his suggestions to improve this little guy.
The fuselage is going through its refinement steps. Once the next round of bulkheads are printed, we should be able to build the first example.
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