I've started another build, my plan pack turned up from Ron Marston (www.pteroworks.com) for his 3D fish, a lovey looking model with few straight lines.
So what arrived, it came in a substantial box with my "80" Pterodactyl which I'll start in the near future. You get a plan and some of the best laser cut wood I've seen for a long time, and that's it, that said all you need to buy in addition is the carbon tube wing spar, and obviously your flight pack.
This is a builder kit, and as such there are no instructions only some photos on Ron's website, so what follows is how I'm doing it. I will aslo document the build on my web space at www.andy-green.co.uk/3d-fish
This is what it will look like when finished, I've not decided on colour nor power plant yet but Ron recommends an AXI 2208.
The parts just fell out of their blanks, truth to tell it would have been harder to try and keep them in than turn them out, a quick wipe with a sanding block had them ready to use.
To get a fuselage datum I first cyano'd the motor mount nose and internal former, over the plan at the correct angle. I then used white glue to fit 1 fuslelage side, this assembly weas set aside to dry.
NOTE: Glues, I dont like cyano for building, I like propper wood glue, I have found over the years that cyano tend to give a very local hard (hence brittle) join, where as white glue gives a more flexible joint.
The top ply spine was glued in with PU (Gorilla) glue, but I think I used a bit too much, just look at the foaming.
The wing was more straight forward, pin down the TE, slide the ribs onto the carbon tube, I glued the ribs to the TE but only the last 2 ribs on the spar, and that was my first mistake. The 2 photos show a problem I had with the LE. It looks like it was designed to be fitted before the end rib was glued. My solution was to cut a section from the LE fit it and gue the bit back afterwards. Seems OK now.
The parts marked A have to be fitted into the 2 ply (inner) ribs befor assembly, I didnt, and it was only the fact that I'd not glued the ribs to the spar that saved me as I was able to wiggle them in. Parts B are in 2 halves and fitted ok.
This shows the internal fuselage here you can see one of my mistakes and a mod. The servos had no backing pieces to screw into only 3mm balsa, so using some scrap from the laser cut parts I glued some Ply doublers in place. B shows the Under carriage fitting, I added the balsa to bring it to the level on the underside of the fus to make covering easier. And C shows my first mounting hole for the under carriage leg, through the centre of the top ply, but it pushed the leg to an angle that just annoyed me, so I moved the leg, and the hole will now be my aerial outlet.
Model waiting for final light sand and covering. In all (minus the gluing time as I like to use white glue where I can), it took about 4 hours work to get to this stage, I'd call that quick, and great fun.
I too have the 80" Ptero in its box waiting to be built. I was hoping to have it started by now but have a tucano, extra 300s artf's keekat (or is that kitkat) to start and finish before it gets to the bench. I looked at it originally about 2 years ago but thought the costs of brushless motors and LiPo's made it a lot of money for the time, but now(hehe I make 2 years sound like it was yesteryear) but now very much more affordable.
Too wet to sand tonight (has to be done outside, so got my Jart blocked so I'll have 2 sanding jobs to do.
Hi Nicholas, I'm looking forward to my Ptero build, I have evrything ready, carbon, spars, motors and speed controllers (from GiantCod). Have you seen this build at RC Groups I'm using his idea to preshape the spars with his template. I think all I'll have to buy is covering material and batteries.
I had seen the forum but only as far as the first flight and mis-hap. I hadn't checked it in a while whilst I was following another thread for a different project. Out of interest, which motors are you going for, I have watched his vidoes and it looks great but may want a little more speed for some nippy low passes. I was expecting to be heading towards 400 watt for the pair of motors and think folding props are essential given that you really don't want any form of undercarriage.
Just reading the thread makes me want to build it but have to work it in order as it were ( just ordered a flying wing today that will assemble in a few days for some extreme speed flying that will be squeezed before the build starts also)
I was also planning to run both motors from a single 4s1p battery and opto controllers to allow a small lipo for the recever and servos. what are your plans?
I intend to use 2 off A2217-6T with separate 30A controllers and batteries, and have each motor run from a separate channel. I'm going to experiment with mixing throttle with rudder to help with rudder turns, the assumption being that if I can slow a motor down it will help with yaw.
Not thought about power to the radio yet.
Enough enough; I've just got the plans out, and I'm measuring up, never a good sign, especially with a house move iminent.
Here's an update - just moved house, and now we can eat, sleep and sit down the next job is my workshop. Once thats done it will be full steam ahead again.
That said I'm allowed to cover in the house as it's not 'dirty, dusty or smelly' so hope to get it covered soon.
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