DART VADER - a scratch build FPV platform

by Christian Jeppesen | February 15, 2014 | (4) Posted in Projects

 

 

DART VADER - a scratch build SKYWALKER adversary

 

 

 

 

I have always wanted a SKYWALKER for FPV, it just seems to be a very good allround FPV platform. So eventually I decided to build myself an aircraft, that would compete with the popular SKYWALKER model. The clichè name for my plane came later as a joke, but after I made the logo I decided to stick with it anyways :).

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Here is a PREVIEW of The DART VADER

 

 

 

Please note that i used SFX ( soundeffects ) there is no magic mini cessna 157 engine

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

The DESIGN IDEA

 

 

The general idea wasn't to make a foam board copy of the SKYWALKER, but rather a scratch builder friendly "Adversary" to the well known and loved SKYWALKER FPV platform.
I tried to keep the frontal shape aerodynamic, but it will never be better than a front mounted GoPro case anyway.


There are some trademarks which I think is a MUST HAVE on a good FPV platform. And they are all implemented in my platform.

 

+ Strap on Wings (sounds sexier that way, and it makes me able to transport them in a normal car)

+ EASY accessible MAIN battery (the FPV/control bat. under the wings can go for 3 times longer than main bat.)

+ EASY accessible ON connection for MAIN Battery.

+ EASY accessible camera mount.

+ a fair Distance between RC RX & Video TX.

+ Pusher configuration (nothing in view of camera)

+ You can build it from scratch yourself, and you can rebuild it from scratch again.

+ LOTS of space for FPV gear & APM + accessories

 

 

The areas where it does not compare to its EPO adversaries.


- It has the aerodynamics of an open sausage wagon, compared to the finish of any semi good EPO FPV platform.

- It is heavier, at least with the tape cover.

- Wings can't be disassembled halfway (and the top of the ends are a little fragile, which makes transport even more fun)

- Not as water tight as EPO models (or forgiving when it "lands" on water)

 

Im sure that there is many other minuses with DART VADER compared to the mighty SKYWALKER, BUT its made from materials we all have access to (all so in Europe ;D).

 

 

There are NO plans for it yet, but

 

There are NO plans for it yet. If there are people enough out there that has an interest in building one I will of course make them and share them. wait until I have maiden the platform first.

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Here are some pictures.

 

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PARTS & SPECIFICATIONS

 

Plane Specs.

  

Wingspan. 1.7m ( incl. winglets ) wing calculations http://j.mp/1mjXxOB 

Length. 1m 

weigth. 1.4 - 2.5kg. 

Foamboard 5mm: 2 x ( 700mm x 1000mm ) or 4 x ( 700mm x 500mm ) 

12mm x 12mm wood tail boom

 

  


Plane Parts.

 

Motor: Turnigy 3010C 1310KV

Prop: 10x7 MASTER AIRSCREW 

Motor Battery: Zippy 3S 5000mah 20C 

ESC: HK 50A 

Servo: Turnigy 9g. & HEXTRONIC 900 9g. ( bla bla bla, buy better ones if you want ) 

HK LOST plane alarm.

 

 

 

FPV. 

 

GoPro 3 Black. + 10 pin mini-USB w. 100k resistor.

5.8ghz 1000mw tx BOSCAM w. clowerleaf. 

2 x RX 805 5.8ghz w. skewplaner and 7 turn helical. 

EASY DIVERSITY. 

A/V USB for PC (blackbox). 

FatShark BASE SD video headset. 

Car jump-starter 12V power for ground-station.

 

  

Control.

  

AMP 2.5 w. UBLOX GPS + Minim v1.1+ voltage & current sensor

FPV / APM / servor Battery: Zippy 3S 2500mah 3C 

UBEC: 3A 5V 

Futaba T8FGs. w. Orange RX. + 1W wifi booster.


                                                                                                                                                                               


 

General building tips for Beginners

 

 

When i first started scratch building RC I thought that some kind of rocket science was involved when starting with the design and the overall aerodynamics, and with a background as a Toolmaker I know that most things that gets mass produced has been well thought through. Meaning that any kind of Molded aircraft has a lot of engineering hours behind it, and they are therefore hard to compete with in terms of aerodynamic design and surface smoothness  etc.

 

Having that in mind I started investigating what the minimum requirements for an object, that should be able to maintain flight was. I ended up with a short list compared with what I thought I would have.

 

My magic Guidelines for scratch building

 

* Use a Wing Center of Gravity calculator: http://j.mp/1mjXxOB (remember it is a wing CG calc not a flyingwing CG calc only difference is the CG position percentage) 

* Make it push or drag itself through the center of mass

 

* Minimum 3/5 thrust to weight ratio (this is all up to the individual pilot to decide what he/she wants the aircraft to do)

 

*Let the airfoil do the work. Let the wing and tail flux. (for some reason I build my first planes with the main wing in like a constant flap DON'T DO THAT, unless you want to fly like a dolphin swims)

 

 

If these things are are OK you can make just about anything fly.


                                                                                                                                                                               


If you read this then that means that you have read my article and I thank you for that, and when you are at it let me know what you think.

Will it FLY or will it DIE?


And like always rate, comment, share

                                                                                                                                                                               



This Article was Made

By

Christian Jeppesen






COMMENTS

noah on March 7, 2014
make some plans,that looks great!
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Christian Jeppesen on March 7, 2014
Thanks, after I'm done with the maiden video ill make video which describes the dimensions and all details worth knowing about the design :)


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Timebom on March 8, 2014
KFm2 main wing? Really enjoyed the video and cant wait for the maiden flight.
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noah on March 7, 2014
Thanks, I will definately build one if you do that
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apnewton on March 7, 2014
Very impressive. Great video techniques and sound effects, you have gone to a lot of trouble BUT……

For an A+ you need a cleaner less cluttered background, make it shorter (most viewers won't bother with anything longer than 3 min) and include some flying footage. Your video is much better produced than most, keep up the good work.
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Christian Jeppesen on March 7, 2014
Thanks Apnewton, and you are right about the video's length. It was meant to be a video with a voice over, but I ended up cutting it out because I wasn't satisfied with the outcome.

lets just say that if been watching a little knoptop & Indymogal + other helpfull YT channels. it helped me better my general camera work a lot.

I still have a lot to learn when it comes to semi professional video making, but just like with most tech hobbies. "The more you know, the more you know that you don't know" if get what i mean. :)

And by the way, is Le Fish still flying like a champ? :P
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apnewton on March 7, 2014
Le Fishes are both doing well, I have a new 460g ultralight version which is amazing, a real floater. Must do an article about that one.
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DART VADER - a scratch build FPV platform