I found it necessary to stretch the Bixler fuselage 2" in order to accommodate the wire bundle that comes out of the APM 1 while using the electronics tray.
it was not possible to connect the battery with the tray installed prior to the mod, now I can install up to a 5000Mah battery, set the tray in position and then connect the BEC and battery leads.
A 2" U-shaped foam plug made out of 1/4" blue skinned depron on the outside and 1/4" EPP on the inside was used. A foam hatch covers the gap behind the tray.
Flight test showed a small change in CG that was corrected by placing the battery slightly farther aft in the fuselage.
Comments
I might have to take a serious look at the Bixler II. I see it has aileron hinges from the factory. but you are still stuck with the problem of not having any room up front if using the tray. So if I need to to cut the nose off a new one I could just as well build a new nose for this one...
Your right not the airframe of choice and I also have a scratch build wing on the bench I need to finish, there are tough as nails!
I laminated my entire wing and also 3m storage taped the control surfaces. It carries APM1.4, GPS, mag, 600mW ImmersionRC 5.8GHz vTx, camera from readymaderc that I can't remember the number and xbee. I use 3300mAh 4S and get 20 minutes. Enough for me to go to the top of a 1km mountain 1.5km back and fly back in 15 minutes with 5 to spare and that is coming down slowly using RTL. I need to increase the amount of down pitch the autopilot allows because the bixler can handle more of a dive. I'm using the crap motor that came with it but with a better prop. I also had to change out the rudder servo after it failed and the aileron servos I didn't even trust so replaced them from the start. I land in a mountain area that has NO flat ground to land on so I'm getting good at stopping it on a dime (more or less) :) It's not my choice plane. I have a zephyr 2 and a dead skywalker that I prefer but when the skywalker died, it was a quick replacement and it's served well. Ascratch build will be replacing it soon as it's starting to show it's age.
The Bixler is not built strong enough to carry any kind of weight or expensive gear. Too many critical mods are needed to make it suitable IMO.
Vtx is the 200mw 5.8 from range and sits on top of the vertical stab. Ibcrazy clover on the tx and a CP on the rx gives me good clear video.
Nice mod. What are your motor and prop specs? Where did you put your VtX?
I also use a windscreen over the "open cockpit" tray, it seems to make a difference in reducing drag.
Thanks to Mccafe!