Some pretty cool FPV video from Sweden

This guy has some beautiful transmission video. I have no idea how he can get that clear of a picture and clean transmission, but I think I'm beginning to see the value in a flat 9db patch antenna. I suspect I will need the signal tracker to properly keep it focused on the plane at only a 15 degree horizontal/vertical window. The alternative is to get an expensive diversity switch that allows you to multiplex in two separate receivers with two different antenna. That begins to get expensive, though.

EZ* Pod Camera

I got the camera pod for the easy star all built. It has the servos for moving the camera all installed, place for a 650mAh 3S1P lipo (for the camera/tx) and I'm trying to figure out the best routing for the servo wires, camera wires and the rx. Uggghhh, don't even want to think about how this is all going to route when I get the elogger/OSD and sensors all in there. Need some double-sided servo tape for the camera and tx and some torrid coils for the camera wires. I think I'm going to try to put the GPS rx back the very end of the tail on the top of the fuse for best reception and most distance from the 900MHz tx. I figured out a motor mount for the obliterated EZ* I have (simple 2.5" angle bracket epoxyed into the old motor pod (which should help with the heat that was building up before in the foam enclosure and allowing the motor to torque and twist and melting the plastic). The mount is also a little further up/away from the fuse and will allow me to use a 6x4E prop with plenty of clearance. Then I'll transfer everything over to the new kit I have coming once I play with it in this reglued frankenstein I have now.

WARNING!!!! FPV initiated.

I took the plunge and ordered an FPV system. I got it from Digital Products Co in Folsom. Thomas Black is super on support and I would highly recommend ordering a system from him. I got a 480p Super HAD CCD camera and am transmitting with 500mW over 900MHz with a dual A/V output reciever and got the Eagle Tree Systems data logger and OSD Pro (for on screen display of data) with GPS and return to home features. Added altimeter and temp sensors. The eLogger seems to be dead, so I'm sending that back to have Thomas check it out. Hopefully I get it back soon to try everything out. I was having problems getting the camera to show anything but B&W, but it looks like it was falling back into B&W because of low light conditions. Once I got enough illumination (especially sunny outdoors I think it will be very good), it cleared up. Colors are a little off, and I need to play with the automatic gain control (AGC) and white balance (AWB). I think when flying everyone recommends turning some of that off, so that flying into the sun doesn't adjust and make everything else visibile go dark.

Flight Sim Neglect

Well, I have packed up my triple display monitors, touch screens and flight controls to make my desk more useable (it always was just a prototype setup to test out stuff). Did that last December, and I'm REALLY getting pangs of wanting to get back to flying. But I'm not going to do it at my desk. The setup is too chaotic and temporary. I need to figure out if I can build a small cockpit enclosure and get stuff put in. When? I don't know...but I sure would like to get back to flying.

More later.

Electrifly Pluma 3D Build

Started building my Pluma 3D. I'm REALLY stressed about how thin the 3mm foam is on this. It folds/breaks so easy, I'm pretty sure this plane isn't going to last nearly as long as my beloved EPP Piaget, but I sure love flying the Pluma 3D on my RealFlight sim.

The build seems pretty straight forward, so far. I like the aileron connectors and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be getting the linkage lengths all matched. I'm pretty disappointed that my CA glue is eating the foam (I haven't had to worry about foam safe CA ever on any of my planes...and actually thought that the ZAP CA+ was foam safe...nope!). It is eating a little of the foam, but seems like if I hit it again after it and accelerate it pretty quick, it stops the eating.

55" BAF YAK-54 from DWFoamies

I want to get a 55" BAF Yak 54 from DWFoamies for some large scale park flying. Here is some good video of a great Tiger paint scheme BAF. Can get one for around $100 from RC Foam, too. Like the torque rod controls and I think this would be a great way of doing all my larger flat foamies in the future. Looks like you want about a 40A ESC and 3S1P 2200mAh lipo. Flying weight looks like about 36oz, AUW.

There is a great build thread here on RCGroups.com. I'm pretty sure the Turnigy 35-42C 1100kv motor from Hobby City that I got to put on my Typhoon would work on this great, along with the 40A ESC I have for it. Then a Neutron 6ch Hitec Rx and hopefully the HS-81's would work ok (though the guys building it don't seem to think the HS-81's are strong enough). I WANT to build this plane...hummm.

On a semi-unrelated note, check out this amazing Red Bull Pylon race video

Piaget in the Park

Put a new video up of me flying the Piaget in the park. This has become one of my favorite planes. It is getting pretty beat up, and I really need to work on my Pluma bi-plane foamie. With spring days like this, if the wind would quit blowing (it did today!) I could really fly a lot.

Piaget Video [400MB]

Electrifly Pluma 3D

I picked up an Electrifly Pluma 3D at the LHS for $49. I figure on putting some HXT 5g servos in for the elevator/ruder and one of the 9g servos for the ailerons. I'm going to use the 24g blue wonder motor and a 10A BESC and figure on using 410mAh 2S (indoor) and 640mAh 3S (outdoor) lipos. I sure like the way this plane floats in the simulator, so hope it is as good in real life.

I need to find a good place to fly indoors, some time. It is amazing how well my piaget flies with 2S1P 460mAh lipos when the wind drops to just a whisper outside. Hovers get much easier. I still need to get better doing rolling harriers...

Tiger2 Electric Conversion

I have had an old Carl Goldberg Tiger2 40 that I had a .61 ASP in that I built over 15 years ago and crashed. The right rear horizontal stab was broken. Anyway, it has been gathering dust in my garage for years, and I was thinking I would try to repair it and outfit it with a new electric motor. Just came across this thread in RCGroups, too, that seems to discuss it.

Cliff Soaring

I have been thinking I really should try to take my Multiplex Easy Star over to Table Rock and try and do some cliff/slope soaring with it. Well, I had my replacement Hitec Mini 6S (yeah...more about that later) that they sent me that still needed trying out, and it was too windy to do any 3D flying with the Piaget, and my Typhoon 3D wings were not being held in by the small plastic tabs that screw together (it had split out last time I flew it), so why not. Plus, it was sunny and the kids might like the drive and hike.

Well, we got up there, and the last mile of the road was closed to keep the mud and ruts from getting too bad, so we hiked. It was really breezy/gusty up on the edge, but got my helmet cam mounted finally and everything ready. Did the hand launch with much concern (those wings catch a LOT of air, and it was pretty breezy). Anyway, the stupid glitching in the Rx was aparent almost immediately, but I just delt with it. I was a little worried about how easy it was going to be to bring it back in and land, because there are about a million power/radio towers and lines up there (more about that later too...sigh)...