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An idiot's guide to building a Barnstormer


Nigel Day
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Thanks Martin.

Unfortunately, the plug(s) from battery to deadman lead and deadman lead to ESC are different.

I wanted to use XT60s where I could and the battery came with a sheathed bullet pair already. I therefore fitted a sheathed bullet pair to one of the three ends of the deadman 'lead' and XT60s to the other two. At least I've had the sense to use a black lead for the negative (battery to ESC) and red leads for the battery to deadman plug and deadman plug to ESC.

I guess therefore that, for me, the best way would be to connect up the receiver-ESC then everything else but the battery. Last of all, connect that to the deadman lead - making use of the nicely shielded bullet connector to avoid the juicy spark?

Edited By Nigel Day on 25/05/2014 11:37:10

Edited By Nigel Day on 25/05/2014 11:37:48

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Danny, if you think that qualifies you as an idiot, you're not even at first base yet. Twice in the last couple of years, being foolishly distracted (inexcusable) when plugging In Lipos in the plane, I have pushed the positive into the negative and blown the battery, with interesting and expensive results. I am a specialist in idiocy and if one day you hear a loud boom from the general direction of Sutton Coldfield, it was probably me.

You'll soon have this sorted.

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OK now I see that is all normal just double check your polarity on the xt60 and battery end are OK ,just lay them out without making a connection if it helps you understand clearly draw on a piece of paper lines leading from each pair of leads with + and _

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Thanks Martin.

I'm OK with the connections now, I was just wondering whether there was a recommended order for connection, particularly the final one?

I suspect that there's not - other than the one with the least chance of generating the spark should be last. smiley

In my case I think that the sheathed bullet connector looks the safest.

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I'm glad to have helped,personally I always connect the Battery first and always make sure the power source on any component is fitted with female connectors.. I had a bit of fireworks the other day because I used inadequate cable to a couple of brushed motors not a pleasant smell and as my hanger is in the house SWMBO was not impressed oops

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Well I got around to connecting it all up again, starting with a newly paired receiver. wink

At first I thought I might have got a result at there was definitely at least one light glowing for a while in/on the ESC. That only lasted a second or two though and sure enough, when I tried to operate the throttle, nothing happened. Same when I connected up the programming card.

Ah well, at least it gave me chance to order a less oomphy battery with the replacement ESC to make Danny a little happier.

At least I know that all the plugs are now correct and fit together nicely. No nice big sparks when connecting it all up this time - good or bad!smiley

Edited By Nigel Day on 28/05/2014 08:22:30

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Posted by Colin Leighfield on 25/05/2014 12:43:28:

Danny, if you think that qualifies you as an idiot, you're not even at first base yet. Twice in the last couple of years, being foolishly distracted (inexcusable) when plugging In Lipos in the plane, I have pushed the positive into the negative and blown the battery, with interesting and expensive results. I am a specialist in idiocy and if one day you hear a loud boom from the general direction of Sutton Coldfield, it was probably me.

You'll soon have this sorted.

I think I get the award! I lost my petrol powered Pulse recently because I started the engine (with no restraints) and had forgotten to turn the receiver on, doh! crying

My next petrol plane, a H9 P47, I started to do exactly the same thing. The engine wasn't starting, and I suddenly thought, "have I turned the receiver on? no!! Doh!!" lucky escape...(and no, the model wasn't restrained the 2nd time either).

Great build....thumbs up

Rich

 

Edited By Rich2 on 28/05/2014 08:32:53

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LOL Colin and rich..

Nigel that ESC may still be alright give it a try after you have successfully got it running on a new setup ..sometimes they reset if switched on a full throttle with care then lower the throttle completely ,if it's burnt out it will almost certainly smell unpleasant

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  • 2 weeks later...

Not a lot to report but I've not been completely idle.

The rudder and elevator connections have been made

20140605_160615.jpg

20140605_160727.jpg

And the servos connected

20140605_160751.jpg

I do hope that my master doesn't pick me up for the excess length of the piano wires. That's not the neutral position by the way. I still need to make a few adjustments as the travel both ways isn't even yet.

I've made the holes through the fuse for the dowels that hold the u/c, added the dowels and drilled the holes in the u/c plate for the axles. I'm going to try using M3 bolts with washers and metal tubing.

I'm going to cheat a little and try a pre-formed tailwheel and mount combo.(Radio Active I think).

The covering has been purchased and my colour scheme will be stolen from the Barnstorming biplane

barnstorming biplane_1.jpg

I will start the sanding and filling ready for covering when I get back from hols next week.

In the meantime I'm starting to think about the wings. Shame that there's not both 'hands' of the wings shown on the plan. How do folks normally handle this? I've discounted getting a scanned, reversed version of the plan printed and will probably settle for tracing a copy of the one wing onto thin paper (using a ruler where possible of course), then turning it over.

Any better ideas out there?

TTFN

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Yes tracing paper ( greaseproof paper is OK if it is clear not brown) turned over and inked over to make a clear drawing. You only need basic rib and spar lines, no detail or tips.This can be used for both wings and saves messing up the plan. Use white paper underneath to see clearly whilst building.

Looks like those servos could just clash unless a servo arm is shortened or perhaps one servo raised higher. Disaster certain if the elevator gets jammed. Also the unused arm could hit the fuselage if not cropped off.

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I think that the Barnstormer ribs are equally spaced, so it is quite easy to build both wings over the one side of the plan without any need to trace, copy, or reverse it. Once you have one half wing complete, just lay it parallel with the plan as a mirror image of the wing to be built.

Plummet

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