smirkracing2024
Strong User
Punishment fits the crime.
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crazy fast 1s micro glider, RET only
- Thread starter smirkracing2024
- Start date
Rough start for a prototype. The red thing is the battery cell shown for scale. This is all pretty tiny. I'm really proud of the invisible tail. 
(not drawn yet.)
Debating just printing up the fuselage. A little canopy in the nose to get to the battery and motor screws. Maybe the canopy and wing are mounted with tape as a single unit. Lots of access that way, and the wing can cut the tape should someone have a wingtip impact.Just a wild thought..
(not drawn yet.)
Debating just printing up the fuselage. A little canopy in the nose to get to the battery and motor screws. Maybe the canopy and wing are mounted with tape as a single unit. Lots of access that way, and the wing can cut the tape should someone have a wingtip impact.Just a wild thought..
smirkracing2024
Strong User
@Wayne You are so fast! Didn't realize doodling proceed so quickly.
Tantrum! Awesome name.
Love this comment (even struck through):
I have never been a big fan of sanding a plank of wood as it invites a ton of errors from builders
I saw that in the original builder's video and I wrinkled my nose. I hate hand-sanding an airfoil or whatnot. In 2026 there has to be a better way.
Good stuff!
Tantrum! Awesome name.
Love this comment (even struck through):
I saw that in the original builder's video and I wrinkled my nose. I hate hand-sanding an airfoil or whatnot. In 2026 there has to be a better way.
Good stuff!
zeo0nie1
Strong User
Haha, I was thinking about this over the weekend, in spite of having 10,000 things that are more pressing.
Glue sacrificial end pieces to the wood, with CF rods as guides, or use long clamps for securing and guide.
/procrastination
That is not far from the idea I have. My idea is a pair of sanding blocks. The front block goes from the leading edge to the thickest section of the airfoil. Same for the rear, but on the rear we are only sanding the top section. (I'm going to use the AG-38 airfoil (or one of those..) Part of the sanding blocks have no sandpaper and are guided by the wood block itself. We will probably build the sanding blocks here to get the correct sandpaper in the correct placement.
My method will not get you 100% of the way, but pretty darn close. Final hand sanding for the thickest part of the airfoil and the leading edge would be required, but this would be very minor.
I'll make up a set pretty soon and test the idea.
I do like zeo0nie1's idea though..
The good thing is at this size, the airfoil is a lot less critical as far as I understand things. Currently as drawn (just eyeballing things at this point) the span is 630mm, chord is about 100mm as I would like to sand the wing from a 4" plank of balsa. Thinking minimal taper on the wings, but we shall see how that works out with the sanding blocks. Maybe just a hershey bar planform... I like the looks of a taper.
My method will not get you 100% of the way, but pretty darn close. Final hand sanding for the thickest part of the airfoil and the leading edge would be required, but this would be very minor.
I'll make up a set pretty soon and test the idea.
I do like zeo0nie1's idea though..
The good thing is at this size, the airfoil is a lot less critical as far as I understand things. Currently as drawn (just eyeballing things at this point) the span is 630mm, chord is about 100mm as I would like to sand the wing from a 4" plank of balsa. Thinking minimal taper on the wings, but we shall see how that works out with the sanding blocks. Maybe just a hershey bar planform... I like the looks of a taper.
zeo0nie1
Strong User
I like that. I've been thinking of doing something along those lines for LE sanding on my next build. Haven't fleshed it out.
Still need to finish the Slingshot!
Nice.
I got a little more doodling time.
The grey canopy would be glued to the wing. The canopy then tapes into place at the leading and trailing edges. Remove the tape and the entire area blow opens up. Clean and simple V-tail, currently with a 110 degree angle in the center as I am thinking I would like to bias towards better pitch accuracy.
AI doing silly things:
I can taper the fuselage a little easier as I have dropped the wing down into the fuselage. Probably add a fairing on the bottom of the wing to reduce the induced drag in turns.
Am I going in the right direction?
I got a little more doodling time.
The grey canopy would be glued to the wing. The canopy then tapes into place at the leading and trailing edges. Remove the tape and the entire area blow opens up. Clean and simple V-tail, currently with a 110 degree angle in the center as I am thinking I would like to bias towards better pitch accuracy.
AI doing silly things:
I can taper the fuselage a little easier as I have dropped the wing down into the fuselage. Probably add a fairing on the bottom of the wing to reduce the induced drag in turns.
Am I going in the right direction?
smirkracing2024
Strong User
Looks pretty amazing! Controls are R-E-T correct? No ailerons. Although, R/E collapse into Vtail1 and Vtail2 in this design, which is pretty cool, even simpler and cleaner than traditional rudder/elevator.
You mentioned 630mm wingspan, so it is a small plane. At that size, I'd leave it assembled all the time if I could. Not sure if that's feasible or not. That would require some way to install the battery without removing the wing.
You mentioned 630mm wingspan, so it is a small plane. At that size, I'd leave it assembled all the time if I could. Not sure if that's feasible or not. That would require some way to install the battery without removing the wing.
Yotaman1985
Very Strong User
You guys inspired me to try my hand at a small quick plane. Dont mean to hijack as I like the direction yours is going but wanted to share. It will be 3d printed in PETG. I have a bunch of drone parts laying around so planning to run an out-runner motor external to the fuse, small esc and use a 2s 450mah lipo as I have a bunch of them. It will just be ailerons and elevator and the wing will remove to change batteries. I got a couple servo mounting trays for a 1m DLG that Im going to look into using and mount the aileron servos in the fuse with the arms sticking out the side to keep the wing simple. Carbon tubes will run inside the fuse and internal in the wing. It will be about 710mm span in its current form but might try to get that down a little more. Still have a lot to figure out but its been fun so far.
EDIT: After some more reseach and looking at what motors I have available, I will need to drastically shrink my design down to the 600mm span if I want any speed out of it. Learning as I go...
EDIT: After some more reseach and looking at what motors I have available, I will need to drastically shrink my design down to the 600mm span if I want any speed out of it. Learning as I go...
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Love it!
You might need to move the wing back some as it sounds like a very light battery and motor will be used.
For the Tantrum I'm debating using the carbon on the outside of the fuselage. Make it is visual aspect of the plane.
It will have grooves for the carbon. Just an idea. Could save a bit of weight and makes it easier to glue. Not sure I have seen anyone do it this way.
My concern is overall weight gain from printing zapping some of the energy from the plane. So the fuselage may go to wood if this is deemed worthy of being a kit. Last night I was thinking I probably need a higher KV motor. I really need to run some calcs on the setup, but have little time. Today probably zero time to play with it.
You might need to move the wing back some as it sounds like a very light battery and motor will be used.
For the Tantrum I'm debating using the carbon on the outside of the fuselage. Make it is visual aspect of the plane.
It will have grooves for the carbon. Just an idea. Could save a bit of weight and makes it easier to glue. Not sure I have seen anyone do it this way. My concern is overall weight gain from printing zapping some of the energy from the plane. So the fuselage may go to wood if this is deemed worthy of being a kit. Last night I was thinking I probably need a higher KV motor. I really need to run some calcs on the setup, but have little time. Today probably zero time to play with it.
smirkracing2024
Strong User
Love it!
You might need to move the wing back some as it sounds like a very light battery and motor will be used.
For the Tantrum I'm debating using the carbon on the outside of the fuselage. Make it is visual aspect of the plane.
My concern is overall weight gain from printing zapping some of the energy from the plane. So the fuselage may go to wood if this is deemed worthy of being a kit. Last night I was thinking I probably need a higher KV motor. I really need to run some calcs on the setup, but have little time. Today probably zero time to play with it.
I think carbon on the outside sounds just fine. Could look cool to have think black 'racing stripes' perhaps.
Maybe the prototype can be 3d printed and if the design is promising you can move to balsa later for the fuselage. Given the performance specs and the amount of power in the battery, I think there's a bit of energy to spare. Don't need to break the 2-hr endurance record, or the speed record, on the v1 prototype
In general, depending on the airframe, I am a hardcore gram-counter. I am currently getting rid of xt30s on my Twisted Hobbies Nemesis Racer (sub 200-gram plane) because they add needless weight and that plane will never break 10 amps, let alone 30.
Exactly my thought too.
White fuse black stripes.
smirkracing2024
Strong User
found a nice example of external CF:
(turn on sub-titles and have them translated to english)
(turn on sub-titles and have them translated to english)
