My new improved Stryker!!

[elkmaster01]

I took a design from Gabe,,,but here's my new Stryker;








I replaced the small CF rods in the wings with a couple of my wifes hunting arrows,,LOL. They are 1/4" CF tubes,,,very light and VERY strong. They meet in the middle of the fuselage and go out the wingtips. I also ran another CF rod along the trailing edge of the wings,,,just like in Gabes Stryker build. I epoxy'd the entire bottom of the wings!

I got the aluminum motor mount and I took a 4S EDF brushless outrunner motor from one of my jets and put in it. I'm not sure what KV,,,I think it's 2100KV and I'm running the APC 6 X 5.5E prop. Bench run looked/sounded great on a 4S 2200mAh 40C battery!

Test flight to come!! I shouldn't have any problem with seeing this thing,,LOL!!

Thanks for the help Gabe!!!

[Gabe]

Whew! Sweet Randy!

You did a heck of a job for your first build! You really took the paint job to the next level too. It's a beauty of a plane. You should be able to see her from a mile away!

I'm not sure how many amps an outrunner pulls compared to an inrunner, but I know you'd have higher amps at that KV.

Be sure to tell us how the maiden goes! Double check that COG too. Slightly nose heavy right on the dots in the finger slots. Good luck!!

[elkmaster01]

I just got back from the maiden flight!!



The CG was great. I really like what I did. Launching it is a little stressfull,,this has a lot of torque. I tossed it at about 40% throttle,,,I guess I need to start with about 10 clicks right ail,,,and about 5 up.

It flies GREAT. This outrunner has all the balls I need. I lost some flight time thou,,,,about 6 1/2 minutes compared to 8 1/2 with the stock motor. I was using a Turnigy 4S 2200mAh 40C battery. The motor/ESC/batt all came down slightly warm.

I think I can upgrade the prop on this setup,,,yes?? What's next in line from the 6 X 5.5 ??

The CF rods make a huge difference,,,,it will hold a WOT 90 degree turn. I can really feel how much stiffer it flies. Slow flight is still great. From a full-stall it will excellerate straight up big time.

It is MUCH faster than the stock motor on 4S even with the extra weight.

I love it!! Way kool!!!

[Gabe]

Awesome to hear it went well!

Next prop is the 7" prop. You can try 7x4 and 7x5. I'd check them on the bench with an amp meter though. Do a 3 second run up and watch the amps. If you're good, launch away!

[19000rpm]

Great work Elk.

[Gabe]

Oh Randy, I forgot to mention to check the ailerons before and after every flight. The stock ones are great up to a certain speed, then they start deflecting. Just give the foam where they connect and the actual hinge a once over before you toss it to make sure everything is good.

You may want to set you flaps on your radio for the launch too. Maybe use the gear switch if you're using a DX6i or DX7. Try using the mix function so you can give yourself the up elevator and aileron deflection you need. I've heard it makes a big difference.

I toss with my left hand so my right is always on the cyclic for control - so I haven't needed to try the launch settings yet.

[elkmaster01]

Gabe,,,this would be easy if ACRO mode uses flight modes like a heli,,,each flight mode had it's own trim settings. You could set launch trims for take off. But I'll have to figure out how to use the mixes now,,,any tips?? I use the DX7

And I'm no electrician,,I haven't a clue on how to check current draw. I know how to check voltages with a meter,,thats about it. Oh,,,I can check ohms too,,,LOL. How do you check current draw? I assume you have to run the meter in series between the ESC and motor right? I think I'm at the point I need to invest in some ICE ESCs with data logging.

I have a generic 40A ESC in it,,,,I have another 45A ESC if I need it but it's a lot bigger,,won't fit unless I do some more cutting!

[Gabe]

See post #1922 by murdnunoc for the DX7 setup:
www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8867370/anchors_10008324/mpage_77/key_/anchor/tm.htm#10008324

As far as the amp meter goes, I'm sure we could find a link online for you for a decent one. I use ICE data logging and I love it. It's really easy. As you prop up, the increase in amps needs to be monitored so you don't blow your ESC or your motor.

[19000rpm]

Here ya go elk. secure.hobbyzone.com/catalog/HZ/search/EFLA110.html

HK has one for less. Either one will give you amps, volts and watts.

[elkmaster01]

Gabe,,,here's what I did for 'Launch-mode';

[PROG.MIX5]
>GEAR-> ELEV ON
RATE: 0%
+ 9%
SW: ON
OFFSET: 0


[PROG.MIX6]
>GEAR-> AILE ON
RATE: 0%
+ 9%
SW: ON
OFFSET: 0


Now,,,with the gear switch at '0' nothing changes.
With the gear switch at '1' I can hand-launch without the plane torqeing.
If you watch the flight controls,,,because the left aileron is programmed to drop 9% for right aileron,,,AND raise 9% for up elevator,,,the left aileron doesn't move when I flip the switch.
The right aileron comes up about 4 or 5 degrees when I flip the switch,,,,this keeps the wings level when the prop-torque tries to roll left and down with no airspeed. Once the plane gets some speed going you have to flip the gear switch off,,,,,this takes about 3 or 4 seconds,,,plenty of time to get control of the plane on a hand launch.

9% works perfect for my setup and launching at about 40% throttle. The plane just shoots forward,,,slightly nose up and wings level!! If I wanted to launch at a higher throttle,,I would have to increase the mix numbers. But this works great and takes a lot of the stress out of hand-launching!!

I like it,,,a lot,,,,thx for the reference Gabe!!

[Gabe]

That's great! It's always nice to hear success stories! Keep us posted on your flights.

Also, let me know when you're ready to come to the Darkside - muah ha ha ha ha ha! (evil laugh)