My current design is practically the same model which I have flown since
2004 (when I visited USIC and West Baden). All balsa construction, with
the exception that the latest model has slightly thinner balsa for motor
tube and required some boron to prevent _sideways_ buckling, a rigging
line to the aft wing support was enough to stiffen the tube that way.
Both motor tube and tailboom are 380mm long (a bit over 9"); I have
found this dimension good. The long motor tube is under some strain,
especially as my motors are shorter than the tube, but with the motor
contributing to 1/3 of total weight, that helps to pull the CG aft. I'm
currently flying with 120% CG.
The wing and tail are indeed solid balsa, no boron nor carbon. The
fuselage splits in two alond the standard F1D practice, that helps to
pack the model into a compact box.
I have practically always used built-up props for F1M, and am happy with
those. Easier than trying to find the super-duper balsa needed for solid
blades, and seem to work OK. Talking of balsa, short of the motor tube
and tailboom wood for my latest model, I only build M's from hobbyshop
balsa. If you get some good, light and stiff 3mm (1/8") wood and cut to
shape, you get good enough material for F1M. For the 2004 model I even
sanded the fuselage wood down from hobbyshop material, but those parts
show some weaker spots, it is much easier to get some decent fuselage
wood from people who cut indoor wood.
-Tapio-
- application/x-ygp-stripped attachment: stored
Received on Sat Apr 20 2013 - 20:46:58 CEST