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.
Comments
I'm waiting for my Bixler and found this page with huge list of modifications. Check it out if you haven't done that yet.
As for wing attachment. Check out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgLPARhEbD0 - skip to 4:14. He used velcro for that - it seem to me quite nice idea.
Good tips already given .. maybe you want to move the ESC to the outside for cooling down better. Also, I installed the APM at the bottom of the electronic chassis, so it is better protected.
Nice build ! Never keep the antenna, horizontal, this I am saying from my experience.
http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread.php?6044-Darker-s-Eagletree-FPV...
This a build log i put up yesterday. Have a look.
With gorilla glue, always use water and pressure. It will bind without either, but adding both will significantly increase the bond.
The APC is in the mail. I was using the current prop as a placeholder.
I've also played with Gorilla glue after reading about epoxy concerns. I have non adhesive backed velcro on hand and nothing seems to work all that well to stick it to the EPO. Gorilla glue might be the best by a small margin, though I think that roughing up the EPO surface may make a bigger difference than the type of glue.
I would upgrade the prop to an APC 6x4E, and replace that prop adaptor to something you can tighten better. I've found some of the stock prop adaptors don't hold as well as I'd like.
I use Gorilla glue rather than CA or hot glue. It has served me well. I also use a strip of velcro running the length of the inside of the fuselage to help position batteries. I'm worried about the battery coming loose during turbulence or death dive shutters (i.e., certain other autopilots shutter the whole plane violently if you put it into a dive while it is in stabilize) and this can dislodge the battery, even if well velcro'ed. However, I don't have a solution, and it's never happened to me (so far.)
Good point, I'll see what I can do about tucking them in.
No worries, Brian, Robert can take the credit, but he's too nice a guy to take the blame for some questionable idea I give you ;-)
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