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Doc's D-Lite - A new thermal build at Aloft
- Thread starter Wayne
- Start date
Konrad
Very Strong User
Saw this again on my last visit on Friday. @RafaelAvila I need to be careful what I say as some of my comments are making their way into the design.
(I need to make it clear I'm not on the design team).
The second prototype has flown and some short comings with the control system raised their ugly head. Doc is reworking the empennages to try to allow for the servos to be placed aft in the tail surfaces. As I mentioned earlier I like seeing fleshed out surfaces.
But with the narrow tail chords I'm wondering how the airfoil will look (work). At low Cl values I often find the stab has a dead zone. I think the SD 8000 series of airfoils was trying to address this. If the stab can't encapusulate the elevator servo, I think mounting the servo in the tail boom under the stab might be an option. (I've done this with some of my 2 meter Pulsar type models).
As Doc has some concerns with tail weight I'd like to see the use of a 4 lead wire loom with planes that place the servos in the tail (common bus bar architecture).
Does the Aloft hive mind have any opinion on how to run the wiring loom to the rear servos?
Wow, the finished wing is really stiff, resistant to twisting! The plywood leading edge and aft arch really are functioning as planed. I'm confident that one doesn't need covering any heavier than Oracover lite with this wing.
(I need to make it clear I'm not on the design team).The second prototype has flown and some short comings with the control system raised their ugly head. Doc is reworking the empennages to try to allow for the servos to be placed aft in the tail surfaces. As I mentioned earlier I like seeing fleshed out surfaces.
But with the narrow tail chords I'm wondering how the airfoil will look (work). At low Cl values I often find the stab has a dead zone. I think the SD 8000 series of airfoils was trying to address this. If the stab can't encapusulate the elevator servo, I think mounting the servo in the tail boom under the stab might be an option. (I've done this with some of my 2 meter Pulsar type models).
As Doc has some concerns with tail weight I'd like to see the use of a 4 lead wire loom with planes that place the servos in the tail (common bus bar architecture).
Does the Aloft hive mind have any opinion on how to run the wiring loom to the rear servos?
Wow, the finished wing is really stiff, resistant to twisting! The plywood leading edge and aft arch really are functioning as planed. I'm confident that one doesn't need covering any heavier than Oracover lite with this wing.
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Yeah, pleased with the wing. Just need a few cleanup areas, and will will be redesigning the outer panels wing tips a bit. Also some changes to the wing joiners.
Yes, we have been discussing the tail a lot. From layout options, wiring, linkages etc. I think we have debated just about everything possible including RF shielding options.
Yes, we have been discussing the tail a lot. From layout options, wiring, linkages etc. I think we have debated just about everything possible including RF shielding options.
Sorry, not much. We have been putting a lot of focus on a couple of other projects like the Silly Stick, Javelin, Trix and BOW all off which are in their final phase of testing and refinements.
Since we are still waiting on our longer fuselages for the D-light, we have slowed way down on this project I think we will be releasing the first 2 beta builds next week.
The second prototype has flown a couple of times. The first flight was rather embarrassing. With so many people involved in the build, oddly enough a few mistakes slipped passed our inspections. We are not used to having so many hands on one build. First flight had almost no control as the pushrods were dancing around in the fuselage. A simple fix, but not a good start. Anyhow, we got her back down without damage. A few weeks later we had another opportunity to sneak out with great weather and do some CG testing.
Right now some new wing tips panels are being made as one of the current tips had some build errors in it due to being rushed and we added a little more refinement while we were at it.
Sorry for the slow progress.
Since we are still waiting on our longer fuselages for the D-light, we have slowed way down on this project I think we will be releasing the first 2 beta builds next week.
The second prototype has flown a couple of times. The first flight was rather embarrassing. With so many people involved in the build, oddly enough a few mistakes slipped passed our inspections. We are not used to having so many hands on one build. First flight had almost no control as the pushrods were dancing around in the fuselage. A simple fix, but not a good start. Anyhow, we got her back down without damage. A few weeks later we had another opportunity to sneak out with great weather and do some CG testing.
Right now some new wing tips panels are being made as one of the current tips had some build errors in it due to being rushed and we added a little more refinement while we were at it.
Sorry for the slow progress.
A little.
We are waiting for some fuselage parts to arrive, this will help us refine the CG. Currently we have to carry a ton of weight in the nose to make CG. The nose will probably end up about 1.5" longer. We knew this from the start, but has taken a while as all things fiberglass seem to slow down.
Doc has a new design he would like to try for the rudder linkage, so need to draw that up and make a sample. The goal is a fully removable tail without a bunch of work.
We are waiting for some fuselage parts to arrive, this will help us refine the CG. Currently we have to carry a ton of weight in the nose to make CG. The nose will probably end up about 1.5" longer. We knew this from the start, but has taken a while as all things fiberglass seem to slow down.
Doc has a new design he would like to try for the rudder linkage, so need to draw that up and make a sample. The goal is a fully removable tail without a bunch of work.
We have been quite on this one for a little while, but progress has been steady. We are now on the third version, and really think this will be finale and released in kit form unless something major is discovered.
Focus on this round has been cleaning things up, reducing weight and fine tuning materials.
As a teaser, here is the nearly completed tail I have been working on. A few more details will be added. (different wood colors just for clarity)
Rafael has been working on the wings with the first samples being test fit.
Focus on this round has been cleaning things up, reducing weight and fine tuning materials.
As a teaser, here is the nearly completed tail I have been working on. A few more details will be added. (different wood colors just for clarity)
Rafael has been working on the wings with the first samples being test fit.
Hawaii Sloper
Very Strong User
Was just discussing this model with someone and thought I'd add a quick update.
We have 3 beta builds going on right now. (Thanks to the volunteer builders.) There have been a number of small changes to improve fit and finish, cosmetics and maybe a bit of performance. We will take feedback from the builders and roll that into the final kit. We are finally approaching the finish line on this project.
We have 3 beta builds going on right now. (Thanks to the volunteer builders.) There have been a number of small changes to improve fit and finish, cosmetics and maybe a bit of performance. We will take feedback from the builders and roll that into the final kit. We are finally approaching the finish line on this project.
