Mini Wanderer

[agarchitect]

The sanding was rather easy. The assembled parts are rather delicate so keep a light grip and don't squeeze too hard. A few of the ribs popped loose, but a drop of CA fixed that.

Install the servos or apply the covering next ???

 

[Wayne]

If you put in the triangle stock, you can round down that fuselage a lot more.

I like to cover, then do the radio gear.

 

[agarchitect]

If you put in the triangle stock, you can round down that fuselage a lot more.

I like to cover, then do the radio gear.

I didn't realize that the little 1/8" x 1/8" balsa sticks were for the corners. Instead I used some larger triangular stock in places, but not consistently so I don't want to push my luck with over sanding.

I will not be able to attend build night so you are on your own for pizza.

 

[Wayne]

No worries -Thanks!

Think you had one of the kits before we started selling. Production kits got the triangle stock.

 

[Small Bird]

I have to get more gentle with parts, when building small glider.
Small gussets will not add weight.
Aliphatic glue only - after all, stress distribution in the structure get more uniform.
And, no rush for me, I live in the snow belt of the US.

 

[Flylegacy500]

Trying to use up some of my spare gear I have in my stash. Managed to squeeze in a brushless 1306-3100 motor and CN 6x4 prop and spinner which fits nicely. Bench testing showed it pulling around 8A but I’ll probably only need half the available thrust in the mini Wanderer. The whole powertrain weighed in at 20g.

Should have it ready for covering by tonight. Thinking about an orange covering scheme like in the music video. Also, might reduce the pushrod size to 0.025” to shave a tiny bit of weight from the aft end, but we’ll see how the CG looks first.

Anyone know any good tricks for removing the barcodes from the balsa where it’s too thin for sanding?

 

[Small Bird]

Pushrods supplied in this kit 0.8mm (don't have standard calipers) work just fine without tubing in this size airplane, with guiding holes. But you seems to already glued your tubes. Late advise.

 

[Wayne]

Very nice install with the brushless. You will for sure want to drop tail weight with the brushless setup. Sand, sand and then sand that tail some more. Every gram will help avoid nose weight to make CG.

Ideally for a brushless setup we would use thinner stock for the fuselage and tail, have lightening holes in the rear, etc. But the downside may be too light a wing loading to deal with turbulence, and a fragile model. I did debate it for a brief period. I honestly didn't think I'd see people jumping it over to brushless this early.

Look at the massive ESC. LOL

 

[G-man]

Flylegacy500> Managed to squeeze in a brushless 1306-3100 motor and CN 6x4 prop and spinner which fits nicely.

Very cool to see the plane with motor and ESC installed.
Thank you for showing it to us.

 

[Flylegacy500]

LOL. I borrowed the ESC from my Dune Freak just to help with the setup.

Rafael mention the brushed motor weight is 24g so I'm hoping my setup will be in the same ballpark for CG. Should know by tomorrow after covering.

 

[G-man]

Mine arrived today. A day ahead of schedule and on a national holiday yet. Extra happy about that.
Many kits these days leave out the full-size drawings .
This old school builder is very happy to have the drawings to build over.
It will help me to build a straighter, truer airframe.
// Dave

 

[Flylegacy500]

It's a great little kit! I'm still on the fence deciding whether to fiberglass the center section per the instructions. My wing is curing now, so I won't be able to check the strength for a few more hours. Suspect I'll err on the side of caution and add one layer of 18g fiberglass cloth just to be safe.

 

[Wayne]

Honestly, we have not glassed any of our prototypes and in testing we have not been able to get the wing to fail.

Dave- is it done yet?

 

[Flylegacy500]

Finally finished the trim and spinner for the mini Wanderer. It is a blast to fly, thermals great and is the perfect size for my smaller flying field. Here is my final set-up:

Motor SunnySky 1306-3100 with CN 6x4 folding prop
ESC SunnySky 18A BLHeli (Little overkill but lightweight & programs easy mounted under the wing)
RCVR Lemon DSMX Diversity LM0034Z (mounted under the wing as far aft as possible)
Servos EMAX 2 x 9052MD
Batt Onyx 280mAH 2S
Cover Overall orange ParkLite with white & yellow trim and black pinstripes.
AUW: 148g

 

[Wayne]

She looks great!!

 

[gnichola]

I am curious what the weight difference is between this one with the brushless setup and the one the folks at Aloft did with the brushed. @Wayne can you tell us what yours weighed?

 

[Wayne]

149 grams for the brushed setup.

 

[G-man]

CLOSE PIN CLAMPS

The MINI WANDERER is back on my workbench, and the kit makes me smile just looking at the drawings and the parts.
This afternoon I installed the push-rods and closed up the fuselage.

Here is a page from the Old School Modeler Make Your Own Tools book.
Disassemble a regular spring close pin, and reassemble it backwards and inside out and you'll have a useful modeling clamp.

Features are:
1. Low cost
2. Longer reach than some other small clamps
3. Gentler pressure than some other small clamps

 

[Small Bird]

Anybody measured current draw when running "Aloft" "Brushed Drive with Folding Propeller for Mini Glider"?

 

[Wayne]

We measured it a while back.. We recall it being about 4 amps. Our memory may be accurate.. LOL