Brian Perkins's Posts (2)

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More Bixler Mods

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A couple of technical and personal delays are going to push out my Bixler's first flight, but I thought I'd share a couple of pictures.

Mike Pursifull suggested increasing rudder area, which seems like a reasonable thing to do.  I used a cardboard photo mailer and glued the edge together with white glue, and used silicone calk to glue it to the rudder.  The result is light and super stiff and about doubles the rudder area.  I used calk hoping it'd be easier to undo if I want to try something else.

 

Here are the two halves with a notch for the control horn:

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Here's the extension while it's installed:

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I also implemented the rubber band and Command hook idea:

3689464196?profile=originalI'm not very satisfied with this solution.  It was too fiddly to install and I'm not sure I have enough tension.

 

Feedback is welcome.

I also had a minor disaster; one of the crummy aileron clevises broke when I was adjusting it.  I'd like to replace it with something better.  Does anyone have a good option to replace these?  My local hobby store only has larger ones.

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Bixler Build

3689460831?profile=originalMy Bixler is mostly assembled, but there are some odds and ends. I need to secure the ESC inside and figure out a good way to secure the wings.  Mike Pursifull suggested using Command hooks and a rubber band.  Any other ideas for that? 

 

I've heard complaints complain about inadequate rudder area so I may try to add some with some index cards or something similar (also Mike's idea).  I'd be interested in feedback on what people have used to accomplish this also.


I did lots of ground testing adjusting servos and verifying the correct control orientation.  I think it's all set.

As suggested by a couple folks I removed the nose weights and the control horns with hot water and reglued them with 5 minute epoxy.  I've read some people don't like epoxy on EPO, but my new joints seem pretty solid.

I got failsafe working by holding down throttle cut while binding and verified that it went into Circle immediately and RTL after 20 seconds,

 

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Here's a closeup of the cockpit. You can see the packing tape I put on the bottom and the chinstrap velcro for the electronics chassis, which is an idea I borrowed from Eagle.

 

 

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Let me know if you have any feedback.

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