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Spada - GoFast 3M
- Thread starter Doc J
- Start date
Doc J
Very Strong User
Spada will be just like the Redshift, but with:
- Smoother aerofoils
- New mould technology (Smoother, slipperier mouldings)
- Different control surface hinging method
- Larger tail surfaces
- Different V-Tail angle
- Skinnier fuselage
- Bottom radio access
- FAI nose radius
- Different sine wave spar material
- Bonded with industrial adhesive
- Lighter and stronger
- No pre-installed control horns (Unless ordered)
.Another plus point is that it will still be far less of an investment than a Euro-mouldy F3f, because its not an F3f - unless you want to fly it in that competition. Actually is just a GoFast/TurnFast model (GT).
Cheers,
Doc
Shoelace
Very Strong User
Looking forward to seeing this in person. Looks freakin' sweet, probably even better in the air.Well, its coming to a Banos near you...
Doc.
Red
Very Strong User
ll the Spada has made it across the pond. First impression is it is of excellent quality. Fit and finish is on par with the nicest I’ve seen. You’d swear it was Euro if you didn’t know any better.
It came with a nicely complete hardware pack including all the pushrods if you want to go traditional style, two sets of covers (bump and flat) plastic servo frames, carbon tail pushrods as well as a premade harness with Graupner style connectors, a nice touch.
The joiner is a beefy 36 x 12 x 368MM and there are nice ballast slots and pocket for the connector molded into the wing. The fuse is a bottom loader style which I happen to like.
Raw weights are:
L wing 657g
R wing 652g
L stab 48g
R stab 47g
Fuse 363g
Joiner 132g
Total 1899g
I’ll be using Tomas Liu LDS frames and most likely MKS servos.
Red
It came with a nicely complete hardware pack including all the pushrods if you want to go traditional style, two sets of covers (bump and flat) plastic servo frames, carbon tail pushrods as well as a premade harness with Graupner style connectors, a nice touch.
The joiner is a beefy 36 x 12 x 368MM and there are nice ballast slots and pocket for the connector molded into the wing. The fuse is a bottom loader style which I happen to like.
Raw weights are:
L wing 657g
R wing 652g
L stab 48g
R stab 47g
Fuse 363g
Joiner 132g
Total 1899g
I’ll be using Tomas Liu LDS frames and most likely MKS servos.
Red
Attachments
Red
Very Strong User
I got started on the fuselage this morning. The tails have nice molded pockets for the included aluminum horns. They required minor fitting with a file, then they were bonded in place with rubber toughened CA. The aft fuselage must be relieved for the horns to pass through which I did with a Dremel.
The included pushrod ends were too large for the carbon pushrods, so I chucked them up in the cordless drill “lathe” and used a flat file to reduce the diameter. Then they were bonded in place with the same rubber toughened CA. I then sleeved each end with some more CA and heat shrink tubing to help prevent splitting. Pockets were marked and cut for the MKS 65’s and mounted in place. I like Tomas Liu hardware and used his clevis’ at the servo. Finishing out the front end are a 6ch RX and a 2S lithium ion pack. Space is tight, so you must choose components carefully.
Pretty straight forward so far. On to the wings next.
The included pushrod ends were too large for the carbon pushrods, so I chucked them up in the cordless drill “lathe” and used a flat file to reduce the diameter. Then they were bonded in place with the same rubber toughened CA. I then sleeved each end with some more CA and heat shrink tubing to help prevent splitting. Pockets were marked and cut for the MKS 65’s and mounted in place. I like Tomas Liu hardware and used his clevis’ at the servo. Finishing out the front end are a 6ch RX and a 2S lithium ion pack. Space is tight, so you must choose components carefully.
Pretty straight forward so far. On to the wings next.
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Red
Very Strong User
Well, it looks like I had the wrong LDS frames after all. The good news is Wayne had them in stock so I placed and emergency order lol.
In the meantime, it’s nice to see the wings are LDS ready. The pockets are cut in the surfaces and the pass through from the pocket is clearanced.
In the meantime, it’s nice to see the wings are LDS ready. The pockets are cut in the surfaces and the pass through from the pocket is clearanced.
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Doc J
Very Strong User
Red, does this mean that the carbon pushrod holes were smaller than the supplied ball link 2mm rod?
Also, please dont forget to thread the pushrods though the supports epoxied into the fuselage boom. Thats is an extra we just added to the build, in order to prevent any possibilty of rattling or excessive movement. Problem is if you dont know they are there (and I didn't tell you) then its quite possible get them in wrong.
Doc.
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Red
Very Strong User
Doc, the threaded rod has a larger base on it. Looks like they were pull pull hardware actually. If it was just the rod itself it would be too small. Hope that makes sense.
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Doc J
Very Strong User
OK I think I got it.
The ones in the kit were maybe like this:??
OK, yes they were - I just had a closer look at your hardware pic. Dooohhh!Actually, this is exactly the kind of feedback I need. As a designer and manufacturer its so easy to think that the whole kit is OK, when nobody comments, but as we all know its the little things, the small conveniences that make the big difference.
As a matter of fact, I normally use 2mm bike spokes which fit the balljoints and (almost) fit the carbon tubes, but are made of half hard carbon steel. Anyway I'll re-specify those for the production models to make life easier. The heat shrink is a good idea to finish the ends nicely and stop splitting.
Thanks, Red - it makes so much difference having a professional on the job!
Doc.
thenated0g
Moderator
Doc J
Very Strong User
Hi Nate,
the CAD is done on the DarkStar, but I'm a bit hesitant to make it into a commercial project.
Most people tell me that the (almost) pure wing one kind of plane that despite all its advantages, would not be too popular. I guess some people dont like planes that are not "Plane" shaped.
So I'm still on the fence about it, and I have a few other models to get into production that I know would be popular first.
Maybe in the future.
Cheers,
Doc.
Red
Very Strong User
Thank to Wayne and the Aloft crew for the quick service, the rest of my Tomas Liu frames showed up tonight. I was able to get them assembled, but the actual installation will have to wait until tomorrow.
I’ll be using GDW1906A’s for the ailerons and MKS6130’s for the flaps, that way everything should fit nicely under the flat covers.
I’ll be using GDW1906A’s for the ailerons and MKS6130’s for the flaps, that way everything should fit nicely under the flat covers.
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Hawaii Sloper
Very Strong User
Shoelace
Very Strong User
Yeah... No doubt. I was drooling over that hardware almost as much as the plane itself. Wow. What a package.
