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Trix - Restarting the project.

Wayne

Administrator
Staff member
Trix Evo I guess will be the correct name as it will be getting the full EVO treatment. I have been playing around with adding the electric power options. I don't know this motor will be enough for her, especially with a sheeted foam core wing. So probably hold off for a bit while I work that one out.

Screenshot 2026-05-25 at 12.11.55 PM.webp


You may recognize the tail. I was drawing up a new tail for her based on the last prototype, but improved, and it dawned on me, that is was very similar to the LeLe's tail. So I went and checked and they were nearly identical, so I just copied that over, and she is a perfect fit.

I think I will go with a new airfoil on this one.

First flying model will be a built up wood wing while we get the foam cutting up and running.

Might do something else that is kind of fun if there is room.
 
OK - played around a bit with my silly idea.. This is actually what I have been wanting to do with the Trix from the very start. This is a concept for some wingeron linkage. Thought I might need to make the fuselage taller, but looks like it will fit. Just a mockup. The silver thing in a ring magnet that locks the wing in position.

Screenshot 2026-05-25 at 1.13.18 PM.webp
 
I use Shapr3D. I was going to jump over to Fusion, but decided to stay with this one for now. It does 95% of what I need. Think Fusion only costs a little more, but the learning curve scared me a bit. My brain is already pudding.
 
Still playing with the wingeron concept.
Screenshot 2026-05-29 at 10.23.50 AM.webp

At this point a single screw will allow the linkage to slide right out of the plane for easy setup or maintenance. The servo is .08 speed and 10kg of torque, so will be very locked in. Have some other fun ideas for her. This will be a very customizable model!
 
Messed around with a new wing design yesterday and it all I ended up with was a big headache.

Today I focused on the motor and a new spinner. This will be our newest motor in a spinner combo, on 3S we should have about 90 mph and think it was 40 ounces of thrust. I'm sure the spinner will need a lot of refinement. It is currently about 32.5mm in diameter at the rear. (The same spinner will be a good choice for RES gliders, but a little less pitch on the prop.)
Screenshot 2026-06-02 at 5.59.40 PM.webp

Screenshot 2026-06-02 at 5.59.40 PM.webp

(We test printed already, turned out better than I expected.)

Here is a more fleshed out design for the wingeron linkages.
Screenshot 2026-06-03 at 1.11.02 PM.webp
 
I know it is boring, but I'm rather proud of my new spinner. It will be a great addition to our little family of spinners with motors in them. Except this one can support far bigger loads. This means we can design some bigger planes like the Trix, or 2 meter ships, etc.
Screenshot 2026-06-03 at 8.51.10 PM.webp

Screenshot 2026-06-03 at 8.51.37 PM.webp

Screenshot 2026-06-03 at 8.51.52 PM.webp


Will print this one out in the morning, but do not expect any issues.
 
looking forward to it 👍

I have an (unbuilt) balsa wingeron with two wing servos that I was looking forward to tinkering with the angle of attack on. I guess it's not useful enough to bother with two servos every time?
 
Pitcheron vs Wingeron
When you have a servo for each wing, you have a pitcheron. The wing handles roll and pitch duties. There are some excellent models that do this. There are also some so-so models that do this.

Wingeron provide roll control only, no pitch. In my experience it has some advantages:
I like the handling qualities of the wingeron. (think of it as front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive)
Budget friendly -only one higher end servo is needed, and a smaller cheaper servo for elevator.
One servo weighs less than two. (again using a lighter servo for the elevator)

I may be completely wrong, but in my experience a conventional elevator handles the pitch duties much better. Most pitcherons seem to have heavier wing loading, so perhaps that has something to do with the equation. I usually am flying lower wing loadings on my designs.
 
You can also do a wingeron with 2 servos couldn't you? Seems like it wouldn't require a special mechanism to rotate the wing halves as long as they aren't fixed.
 
I bought the Pug Twisty because it was one of the only four-control surface balsa kits I could find. It also looked like an interesting platform to explore different styles of control since you can basically actively use two or four servos.

I haven't built it because I know I'll crash it in the first session or two at this point.

I think a larger, foam wing like the Trix will be a good next step after I destroy enough 3D printed planes.
 
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