Bixler Build

My 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,

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.

Let me know if you have any feedback.

Small amounts of thin CA glue with pressure and accelerator work best for EPO hands down. You have a mishap at the field (cracked or broken EPO) Gorilla glue wont get you back in the air the same day. Epoxy does not bond well at all to EPO, so don't even use it. if the epoxy isn't UV resistant it wont take long for it to degrade after setting outside under the sun at your flying field. When using CA with EPO you can first rough the surfaces with fine grit sand paper before gluing. I have used Gorilla and Epoxy on EPOs' before, and both will give easily with relatively small amounts of force. I will say Gorilla does hold better than the epoxy.

I suggest using tape for your wings. You can spend countless hours setting up and detailing your aircraft, and then see it all go to pieces after your first few flights. Make sure the hardware is set up and configured properly first. Tape the wings for now, go fly some and tune your hardware if needed. The whole point of this hobby is to do it on the cheap.

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Comments

Eddie Furey July 13, 2012 at 4:45am

Some comments from building my FPV Bixler...

Replace the control horns with good quality ones. I glued mine in with gorilla glue and they have never come loose.

Don't glue the nose weights back in, use a larger battery instead. :)

I velcro'd my wings (along the seam where they touch). Neater than rubber bands, plus the rubber bands decay after a while. Use good quality velcro and trim some foam off so the wings are still flush.

I glued 3mm CF rods in my tail and 2mm rods in to slots I cut in the sides under the canopy.

I replaced the motor and prop with a 2200kv and a 6x4E. I get about 100kph.

Oh, and I enlarged the spar hole so it could fit an 8mm solid CF rod after a friend commented that my wings were flapping at high speeds.
Brian Perkins June 8, 2012 at 10:26am

It's probably a quality/process control issue, which isn't totally shocking, really.
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Michael Pursifull June 8, 2012 at 9:06am

I may be doing something wrong with mine, then. I've had an occasional problem with the prop spinning loose after a bit, even though (or perhaps because?) I tighten down the adaptor pretty well.
John Moore June 8, 2012 at 8:16am

I have had zero problems with the stock motor mount.
Brian Perkins June 7, 2012 at 7:00pm

I tried with two needle nose pliers, two vice grips and vice grips and screwdrivers, but I can't get the prop adapter to budge.
John Moore June 7, 2012 at 3:33am

Reinforce your wing spar. I glued a solid CF spar inside the stock one. For the wings I velcroed the two halfs together and then used tape when they were inside the fuse.
Todd Hill June 6, 2012 at 2:36pm

Don't use foam safe, won't work. Use regular thin CA with some CA accelerator. There are certain types of polyeurathane glues that will melt the foam. Firmly press together the parts to be glued, then hit the seam with some thin CA. The CA will wick itself into the seam. You can hit it with a "small" amount of accelerator before you let go of the pieces. In the matter of seconds you will have a super strong bond. Careful not to get the CA on your hands, it can burn you if you hit it with the accelerator. Good Luck:)
Brian Perkins June 6, 2012 at 2:21pm

I noticed the kite stores stock solid fiberglass spars. Has anyone tried this as a replacement?

I see some people claim non foam safe CA works with EPO. True of false?

I tried a bit of plain old superglue as a test and didn't notice any melting or anything.
Mark Bolton June 6, 2012 at 8:34am

Dear Brian, congrats on the new build, it build looks great. You seem to have picked up most of the best tips here and from the link. I will let others argue the toss on best glues - I use all of the them! A couple of other points that might be useful:

- I cant say I saw a comment from you on upgrading the spar as well? I have found the hooks (which are very good) are not enough on their own.
- a strip of reinforced tape along the spar join (lost a super strong Bixler build on Sunday when the spar popped.
- a second strip all along the underside of the wing just behind the leading edge adds a lot of stiffness, particularly towards the wing tip.
- couple of circles of tape around the fuse.

I have also taken to using the engine mount on ebay - lots of fun with different motors and props.

Let us know how you go!
Todd Hill June 6, 2012 at 5:42am

Small amounts of thin CA glue with pressure and accelerator work best for EPO hands down. You have a mishap at the field (cracked or broken EPO) Gorilla glue wont get you back in the air the same day. Epoxy does not bond well at all to EPO, so don't even use it. if the epoxy isn't UV resistant it wont take long for it to degrade after setting outside under the sun at your flying field. When using CA with EPO you can first rough the surfaces with fine grit sand paper before gluing. I have used Gorilla and Epoxy on EPOs' before, and both will give easily with relatively small amounts of force. I will say Gorilla does hold better than the epoxy.

I suggest using tape for your wings. You can spend countless hours setting up and detailing your aircraft, and then see it all go to pieces after your first few flights. Make sure the hardware is set up and configured properly first. Tape the wings for now, go fly some and tune your hardware if needed. The whole point of this hobby is to do it on the cheap.

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