Scratch Build "Turbo Crack Beaver"

[Derek]

A few more pics

Homemade stick motor mount

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Elevator pull-pull servo and linkages install

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Rudder pull-pull servo and linkages installed

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Wing is glued on

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[Vipertech13]

Holly Crack Turbo it's a Beaver! Looking really good Bro!

[Derek]

Thanks Gerald! I'm pretty happy with the results so far. There are some parts of the plane that I'm not real happy with, but, life goes on. I'm sure it will fly. Cameron was kind enough to share some specific measurements. The rest of the build was loosely based on the pictures that I Google'd. All that I need to do now is cut a few foam pieces that will be glued, vertically, to the main wing and the horizontal stab....that way it should really take on the look of the actual "Turbo Crack Beaver."

Cameron...I'm not sure that I documented the build well enough. I'm sorry about that. Something that I could have, and should have, shared was how I made the fuselage. I'll get some foam pieces around and I'll share a video that shows how I did it.

I also need to check the cg to find the battery placement. I have two 2S 800mah batteries and I have a 3S 800mah and a 3S 1100mah battery. I have to work this weekend so we should see a maiden flight next week sometime.

[Derek]

Well, I am happy to report that the scratch built "Turbo Crack Beaver" is complete and ready for a maiden flight. I just got done putting the finishing touches on the plane, adjusted the battery position for proper "initial" CG, programmed flaps and spoilerons, set the initial dual rates and LOTS of expo, lol, and I even added those small vertical stabilizer pieces to the main wing and the horizontal stabilizer. The motor is turning in the proper direction (very important, lol) and all the control surfaces are moving properly (also very important). I tried to take a bit of video with my phone but the 2.5 minute video was too long for my phone to send to my email. So, I'll have to wait until later when I can use the home PC (yes Paul, it's still in my daughters room, lol).

I forgot to mention the weight of my build. I'm pretty happy with it. Without the battery, the plane weighs 14oz. With the 2S 800mah pack, the plane weighs in at 16oz. The AUW of the real Turbo Crack Beaver, according to TwistedHobbies.com, is 7-8oz, depending on electronics setup and battery size. The actual Turbo Crack Beaver is made of EPP foam. The foamboard that I use is slightly heavier and I imagine the hot glue adds to the weight, too.

[pvolcko]

Nice. When you get to maiden it?

[Derek]

I should be ableto maiden this plane this week. Im working this weekend.

[Derek]

Just for laughs, I plugged in the 2S battery to the plane to see what kind of "power" the plane has. I'm sad to report that, although the plane will fly with this motor, it will not hover at all. I tried a 9x4.7SF and an 8x4.7SF. I tried the 2S and 3S. This motor is just not going to work for this plane. I'd like to share the specs for this motor but I don't remember the numbers (other than 1500kv) and HK doesn't carry this motor anymore.

I'll have to do some searching. If anyone has any suggestions for a good motor for this plane, I'm all ears. The plane, as it is, weighs 14oz without a 2S 800mah battery and it weighs 16oz with the battery.

[DamhDearg]

Hey Derek looks great! I have the T Motor At2206-17 1500kv.
Very lacking on 2 s but great on 3 s. That's the recommended motor.
Really like the way you did the servos and control linkages, looks much better.
CG for me was hard to find, still not sure its right.

[Derek]

Thanks Cameron! I think I'm just going to have to move passed the 2S batteries. I have a 2217-06 1500kv motor that is on my lil Delta Wing. This motor gives my Delta Wing 1000% absolute insane vertical climb and never breaks a sweat. Granted, my Delta Wing is lighter than the Beaver but I'm know it has tons more power than the bell style motor that I put on the plane originally.

As for the servos and linkages...I was going to just do a single linkage setup but I had this micro push rod sets just sitting here and I thought that a nice pull/pull setup on the tail would be real solid.

As for the CG, what I did was, once everything was in place on the plane, place the battery on the nose and then lift the plane up by the wing spar. If the tail dips, which it did, I move the battery forward a bit. If the nose dips, move the battery back a bit. Now, this process will give you a close location. Once the plane is in the air, the plane will tell you if it's nose or tail heavy.

Just remember...a nose heavy plane will fly poorly, a tail heavy plane will fly once.

I'm working this weekend but I will get the bell style motor off the Beaver and I'll get the 2217 motor installed, recheck the CG, and then we'll be ready for a maiden flight. I know, for sure, that the 2217 motor will be much better. Now, where did I put those 3S 1300mah packs???

[Derek]

What a busy few days it's been!!! WOW!

So...I do have my scratch built "Crack Turbo Beaver" completed....again, lol. I have the more impressive motor on the plane. I've found my 3S 1300 packs. I've redone the cg. I've even tested the new motor on the plane and it wants to pull itself out of my hands at 3/4 throttle, lol. If all goes well (please let it go well), I'll maiden this plane tomorrow morning.

[west0618]

Can't wait...video camera in hand.

[Derek]

Can't wait...video camera in hand.

...he's such a team player lol

[Graham Lawrie]

Bring on the video:)

[Tony]

Yeah let's see a vid D...

[Derek]

Dad is meeting me in the morning for some flights. We'll get video posted tomorrow.

[Derek]

Dad and I went flying this morning. I took the Beaver. It did fly but it was a handful. Needs MORE expo lol. You'll see in the video (coming soon) that the landing was a bit rough but the plane did survive and it will be back after some adjustments are made.

[Tony]

Look forward to seeing that D....