FTScratchBuild
[video='http://youtu.be/U0fQLgv0VXk']
Here's the step by step build tutorial of the FT Mini Scout from the Might Minis Series!
The FT Might Minis Series are similar to our larger FT Swappable Series, but these smaller planes can be flown indoors, outdoors and in small backyards!
These fun foam flyers run off of smaller motors like this EMAX MT1804 2480KV Brushless Motor. More details on the electronics are available below!
[video='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axOnU5GKSJI']
You'll want to put together your mini power pod first!
More details available in the power pod article here:
http://flitetest.com/articles/mighty-minis-power-pod-build
The undercamber wing gauges are just some of the smaller pieces of this kit to keep an eye out for when organizing all of your foam board components.
The speed build kits offer easy to build laser cut pieces that make the building process go much faster!
With these FT Might Minis, we want to keep the weight down as much as we can. Reinforcing glue with clear scotch tape instead of the usual packing tape on things like the wings.
These Mighty Minis offer all the same building techniques of the FT Swappables.
Centering your servos is good practice with all of your scratch built airplanes, especially the FT Mini Scout.
A tool that's good to have for these types of foam board builds is a Z-Bender!
Ad tech sent us out some hotglue guns to try and we're really likeing the Ad Tech Pro 200!
The FT Scout Speed Build kit and the free build plans both come with these cool add-ons that, if painted black, will give your scratch built Scout the look of exposed cyclinders.
No matter what airplane you build, always be sure your CG is correct. Slightly nose-heavy is always the best option. And with that, you're ready to fly! Be sure to check out some of the additional articles posted below to learn about additional wheel options, build tips, and first flight tips!
FREE PLANS
FT Mini Scout [All in one Plans]
RECOMMENDED ELECTRONICS
All In One Electronics Kit: Lazertoyz - FT MINI POWER/ELECTRONICS PACK
MOTOR (Option 1) - EMAX MT1806 Brushless Motor
MOTOR (Option 2) - RTF Mini Motor X2204 v2 2300KV
4 Servos (Option 1) - Towerpro SG50 5g Micro Servo
4 Servos (Option 2) - HXT500 6.2g / 0.6kg / .08sec Micro Servo
ESC (Option 1) - Dynam - Dectrum 12Amp ESC w/ 3A BEC
ESC (Option 2) - Suppo 10A Brushless ESC
Battery (Option 1) - Turnigy nano-tech 460mah 2S 25~40C Lipo Pack
Battery (Option 2) - Turnigy nano-tech 460mah 3S 25~40C Lipo Pack
Battery (Option 3) - Turnigy 800mAh 2S 20C Long Lipo Pack
Prop (Option 1) - Direct Drive HQ Prop - 6x3 Black
Prop (Option 2) - Direct Drive HQ Prop - 6x4.5 - Black
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i wonder if i dont use landing gear than 9g servo will be okay ?
and also this battery Turnigy 2S(7.4) 800mah 20c (50g)
and prop 6x4 ?
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My setup:
Ready To Fly Quads 2204 motor (2300kv)
6x4 Prop
12amp ESC (tower pro)
2s 800 mah 20c battery (Turnigy)
4.4gram servos (Turnigy)
I am going to try a 3s 850 with a 5x5 prop next. will let you know how it goes.
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Jack
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Jack
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I have just one comment on the build video. Remove your prop pretty much any time you're powering up the rx and not flying. Prop bites are no joke.
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If you have discovered light foamboard in the UK, where do you get it from?
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Jeff
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Its stiff enough for this plane but havent flown it yet so not proven yet
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I found that my Hobbycraft nutball was about 30% heavier than it should have been if made with Dollar Tree foam, so I did a little research.
I understand a sheet of 20"x30" Dollar Tree board weighs 120g, which works out at 0.031g/sq cm.
The Westfoam board that you can buy in Hobbycraft and Rymans weighs about 240g for an A1 sheet, which works out at about 0.048g/sq cm.
This makes the Westfoam board about 50% heavier than the Dollar Tree.
If you remove the top glossy layer of paper from the Westfoam board this reduces the weight to almost the same as the Dollar Tree board. You can do this quite easily by sticking a bit of tape onto the board and pulling the top layer of paper off with it. Unfortunately this also reduces the strenth of the board by about 50% because you have removed a good deal of the compressive strength from the paper. You can restore some of this strength by coating the board in varnish as recommended for waterproofing. Just sponge on solvent based varnish and then wipe off the excess. Once dry, the board should be about 75% as strong as the original and still not much heavier than dollar tree foam. Fortunately hot glue will still stick to the board effectively, even though it has been varnished, because the surface is not smooth.
These are just the results of my simple tests. I haven't tried to put the theory into practice myself. You should do your own tests as the type of varnish you use may make a lot of difference to the results.
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Lastly I used 9 gram servos and I will have to move them further forward or and/or get lighter ones. I too need a 850mAh battery to balance and I want a lighter plane for indoors. I have ordered some smaller servos. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks,
LooseBruce
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I didn't need to cut the leading edge of the wing either. Where did you hear that you needed to?
And I'm going to build a scout out of 3mm depron today in the hope that it will enable the CG to come far enough forwards without the need for a rock on the nose. I'll let you know if it's a success.
Andy
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I am hoping to fly mine on an 11 gram 2000kVa motor but a more powerful motor is on the way just in case.
I will install the new servos in a couple of days when they arrive. I am slowly learning not to fly planes until they are as good as possible.
LooseBruce
You can see it in the video and he talks about it when he is installing the wing.
Good luck to you with your scout
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YOWZA... it flew like a DREAM. I could not get my wife down to the field to film the maiden but it was a thing of beauty.This is by far the slowest plane I have. I could easily keep it within the bounds of the hay field which is difficult with my other planes. Very stable and smooth. I don't need to change anything on this plane.Flew at something less than 1/2 throttle even with this little motor. There was plenty of power for a loop from level flight!
I flew it for about 5 minutes with 2 landings. I could have flown more but I did not have my battery checker with me. Also I wanted to quit on a high note. When I got home I found the battery cell voltages were still at 3.9V. I generally them down to 3.75V. I could not be happier.Total weight with the battery was 189 grams.
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I just completed my kit construction, and I'm so impressed with the planning and design that went into laying out the parts. It just takes two or three quick pokes with a blade to free each piece from the background, and the way Josh uses the waste background to carry the additional accessories (Velcro, pushrods, skewer, etc.) is really clever.
Can't wait to take mine for a test flight, hopefully this week, weather permitting.
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Thanks
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What is the inner width of the Fuselage (ie between the 2 inner lines on the plan) with 100% scaling mine came out as 31mm or 1 7/32 inches, which seems a funny size, I think they print slightly undersize as the Scale markings are a fraction short as well.
Also does the Wing actually get glued in as none was used in the video.
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http://www.rcbazaar.com/products/2400-avionic-m222618-kv2570-micro-brushless-motor.aspx
Specification:
Motor: Avionic M2226/18 KV2570 MICRO brushless motor
KV (rpm/v): 2570
Power: 80W
Winds: 18
Resistance: 327 mOhm
Idle current: 0.8 A
Weight: 23 gms
Combination of usage:
PROP - 7x5 E or 6x4 E or 8x4 E
Lipo - 2 cell to 3 cell
ESC - 12 to 20 amp - See more at: http://flitetest.com/articles/ft-mini-scout-build-mighty-minis#sthash.q1gvWAfy.dpuf
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Thanks
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One question: what the heck is this plane? Like it's real counterpart? Been looking all over google trying to find a likeness for paint...?
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Thanks'
Ganguy
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Use super glue to attach pin to cf tube.
I have used 1mm cf tube like that.
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with 18 amp esc and 2s battery ?
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I've just finished a scout, built here in Australia with auzzie foam. The foam here I think is slightly heavier. The plane with servos only (no pod or battery) is about 125g.
With pod and motor it's about 150g.
To get the CG in the spot indicated (just forward of the undercamber crease) I need a heavy battery right at the front (1000mA 3S approx 90g). The model ends up weighing about 250g.
I didn't go crazy with glue or anything. Do you have any tips to resolve the issue. I noted similar problems with my Old Fogey, FT Soarer and Slinger. All needed bigger batteries and/or longer noses than specified.
I think I might try a add-on longer nose for the scout.
Thanks for great plans and videos, we've been having a lot of fun.
John
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What equipment are you using?
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The good news is that with a 1000mA up front it flies really nice anyway.
The bad is that we hit a tree and lost the battery :-(
The plane is fine though!
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I ended up having to rebuild the airframe, as I could not balance it up, not even with the bigger motor, a 2206 and a 550 mah battery. I had to place the wing as the last bit, so that I could have it balance up perfectly. I ended up moving the wing 40mm further back than the original plans. That is a bit extra though, as I wanted to place the bigger battery as far back as possible, as it would otherwise be exposed in a crash. With recomended battery size and engine It would be less.
So if you like I build with heavier foam boards, consider cutting out the holes for the wing as the very last step when everything else is done. This way you can get the CG correct for your plane.
Now, today will be the maiden if the wind just would like to calm down a bit.
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Iam planning to use the following for making the power pack:
1818 4500kv motor;
6X3 prop
12 amp esc
500mAH 2S LIPO battery.
the estimated AUW is ~180 190gms.
will the above set up be able to make a successful flight ?
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I see you report your model weight to be 225gms.
can you please share the weight of individual components...
And what type of motor /esc are you using (the specifications)
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I build a mini scout and I had dificulties when flying with wind, then recently I flew it without any wind and saw that the plane tends to pull to the right, do you have an idea of what can be causing this?
Thanks
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