bjk896

Don, That is an epistle to frighten a budding builder/pilot but with my first read through, I saw that it was written to help not to frighten. My first read also said it was an enormous mouthful to chew which is OK by me. I shall put it into the place between my ears in stages and see where it takes me. Thank you, I'm an old data techo from wayback so the electrons and smoke aren't a mystery but the sequencing and variations are and will be. I might be old but the big writing (font) wasn't necessary but probably helpful !! Simon, to you too, I am indebted because you took a long and wide view of things which reminds me that a bloke called Electriflier on this forum built a Herc a few years ago. I recall your comments there about cooling and airflow and maybe trying to place either heatsinking or electronics on exposed surfaces. More there later for me to consider I'm sure I shall see where it all takes me Thanks to all Brian

Thanks for that Simon I have parked those details away to have a look at. I had earlier looked at Avios specs and wondered if I could copy them off for my Herc and thought that - (1) I wouldnt learn anything if it worked and that was still a long way down the track of the build (2) A month or so ago, I'd put Avios numbers thru one of the US Calculators and was bewildered when it reported it wouldnt fly !!! (3) If my Herc's weight was agonisingly different, what would I have to change to make it fly and I wouldnt get a clue about that till I was at heaven's door. Hence that really was why I started this thread - to better understand the progression of calculations to get a more certain or less risky outcome. PS the Ebay scales haven't arrived yet

Guys, This is getting a bit off track. I notice this unfortunately happens on every forum I have ever visited in my learning path. It is not particular to RC flying either. Add to that my attempts at previous replies have been thwarted by the foul up fairy or a close relative. Here goes again I do not have RC fixed wing experience. I'll wear the consequences of that. If I lose it I'm in a pretty big club with about equal number of experts and novices walking away with a few bits in their hands on a first flight.. I will try to mitigate that with learning, simulator time, sound advice and reasoning. I do very much appreciate the things experienced people are telling me and the concern for my inexperience but please appreciate that this is what I want to do. Now, please, I'd like to move on and get back to my question which may have been a bit round about but I repeat it below.. Beginning with four props that I wish to use because they fit the original intention of this as a display aircraft, what sequence of calculations are needed to drive them, perhaps even in what order, and get hardware to do just that. Yes I may have problems along the way but it is what I want to do., I would really appreciate your guidance to that end. Thanks PS I tried three times to load a photo and each time got a "Code 200" This attempt No 4 of the Herc as of last week The really observant may spot the camera slot in front mid windscreen

I'm having so much trouble answering previous posts its not funny. This isnt a contribution but rather an attempt to see of my post is successfull bjk

The Plan I used is an oldie I was given and was a control line plan However its numbers are close to the Avios and I an only hope my weight guesstimate is way too high. Time will tell. I have 4 props purported to be same as Avios and I got those because they were scale but that is probably the basis for my whole quest. That is having the props, can I get reliable methodology to work for calculating all the bits in the power train. As part of that I need to understand it fully Sorry Simon I haven't weighed it as I have no scales but Ebay promises to fix that in two weeks and maybe then I will have a better picture Mattyb I have no fear of learning to fly straight off regardless of consequences. That said, I very much appreciate your comment. I am a qualified drone pilot and for years sailed A class model yachts so I'd think I'm not starting as a complete dud. As well I decided early on that simulator, simulator simulator and carefully plan the steps on the path to leaving the ground. I live in a rural part of Australia so my choices are limited. However it will happen !! Three tries at loading a recent photo have failed so that'll come later

Eric The Sunderland has me totally jealous. Looks fantastic but your numbers are the real interest for me because it is the whole story and a lot of reading I have done never has the total picture for a new fella to get some confidence about the subject. I shall try to understand what your numbers mean and thank you

Fellas, Thanks for the interest so far MattyB A translation is that at 81 the choices are do something or sit on the backside so Plan A was do something and a Herc seemed like a good idea at the time. As I began getting things together, friends commented about where, when, I might fly it. It evolved from those comments that if a flying machine needed a radio, radio installation, servo installation, power, linking bits etc etc they couldnt be added when it was finished as a display model - so do it along the way. That decision took 3 months or so. Thats also why the weight is a bit of a guess. I have no idea what it will weigh when complete. Chris There are no photos of significance now as I lost my phone pics but attached is one early on when I took it inside to use the smoother less cluttered table to assess levels etc and before dihedral brace was made for wing.. It has progressed far beyond that with fuselage painted and looking a bit more complete I shall take one tomorrow and post it This might seem like a casual approach but that is what it is. Hence the sums needed are to actually work it all out never having had the experience and finally use 6.5 x 4 props that are scale for it.

I’m an old bloke (81 yo) picking up model aircraft activity with a build of a C130 Hercules that was intended to be a display model. It will now be a flying model because as the build progressed, some things needed to be done along the way or else it could never happen. Its 1600 mm wingspan and in the 3-4Kg weight range built of depron. So a great learning curve got started and rolled on and things are now to the power train stage with a lot of sums to be done. In the course of getting there “someone” asked the rhetorical question “A Herc has four engines but could you run it on two electrics and 2 dummies?” Whilst I doubt that will happen it is an interesting concept and DID raise some questions in my mind about the things that happen when one makes a propeller, or propellers, spin. If a given electric motor with 7 x 5 prop rotates at “x” RPM the craft has “y” thrust and an end distance “z” meters through the air. If an additional engine/prop combo is added, what are the dynamics that occur? Will the power(watts) to the two be halved, is the air distance doubled or what relationships occur or change or remain the same? I’d appreciate the discussion

Way back in 2014 a bloke called Electriflier outlined his 98" depron C130 Hercules build on these pages. This past year I decided to come back to modelling and a Herc was high on my list. It is actually happening and in depron at 48/63 inches. I use Electriflier's journal as an illuminating guide to my activities as he often explained why things were done in the depron context and had a beaut way of talking thru his activity. However, when it came to wing ribs, he showed something that didn't get an explanation and I couldn't reason one out. In his picture, attached and taken from his story, there is a dotted line which is roughly in the middle of each rib. It also shows the 6mm strip to be cut out and removed from the rib so they can be glued to fit on either side of the wing. What has me whacked, is what are these dotted lines for. Any ideas, help or explanations please?? bjk896

I decided after 70 years to build a 48" electric C130 in Depron. The purpose is the build not necessarily the flying. A work in progress is to make the wheels and hubs which Ive found to be most interesting so far. I've made some jigs so I can cut identical treads and sidewall profiles. The material for the tyres is what I believe to be EVA foam from Gym mats and Ive worked through the problems of sizing, sanding, and production on my lathe. The issue I'd like to resolve is whether the foam will be OK with the weight of the Herc in heavy landings should I ever fly it or to what degree unsightly Flats will be created if it remains a static display.. AUW of the Herc ? Dunno but the wheels are 2' nose and 2.5" Mains and I cant see it weighing more than 3Kg under worst circumstances I'm interested in a wide range of thoughts about about what happens to foam wheels generally.

I have read so many glue Posts across the waves, I'm a bit confused. I will be starting a new build with Depron. (Its a 48" Herc). I know UHU Por is the recomended glue for Depron but the oneshot placement of components is limiting to an old fella like me. So-o-o-o there seems to be a reluctance of posts to outright recomend or deny PVA, so please - PVA with limitations or PVA only with aliphatic or PVA any old white stuff pupporting to be Polyvinyl acetate or dont touch it with a 40 foot pole ???