My V-Tail Build

by Yellowihss | July 22, 2013 | (7) Posted in Projects

I built this V-tail last month after the intro of the Bat-Bone Frame.

Now that David released the V-tail video, I decided to share mine.

 

Starting with David's frame, and 12mm wood.

I tried to do the bent aluminum, but didn't like the look, so I got some "erector set" pieces for Home Depot.

They sell little 45deg metal angles that worked great. I bent them a little more to get 35deg

 

 

I built a little V to ensure the arms didn't get any closer together since the props are so close to each other.

I built this out of a piece of aluminum angle that I folded over.

 

 

Then I built the front arms just like a Tricopter.

 

 

Then added electronics.

 

 

Then a Gopro Gimbal (too heavy) and all the FPV gear.

 

 

Then decided to upgrade the DT-700 motors to SunnySky 2216-11 900kv motors.

 

Frame - David's Tricopter frame

Landing Gear - Flite Test

Booms - 12mm wood

Controller - KK2.0 v1.6

Motors - SunnySky 2216-11 900kv

ESC's - SimonK flashed HK F-20a

Props - 11x4.7 front 10x14.7 rear

V-tail at 35deg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also.

Always disarm your multirotor before approaching.

This is what happens when you get in a hurry, and are too excited to follow simple safety measures. I spent all day building the new V-Tail. I took it out to fly it, and my dogs were in the back yard. I armed it, but motor 2 had come unplugged. I set the remote on the porch, and went to fix it (still haven't flown it), and my dog Gabby, being curious, wanted to see what would happen if she moved one of the sticks while my face was over the helicopter. 4 cuts, and, 20 stitches later. One cut went all the way through my right nostril.

I got home at about midnight from the ER, and had to see if it flew. 

It does, as long as you don't put your face above it. 

Mods, feel free to remove the pics if they seem to "gory"

I just figured I show my mistake so others wont repeat it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMENTS

rcspaceflight on July 31, 2013
Ouchy! They are gory pictures, but a very important reminder.

Great build by the way. I like the pieces you used to get the 45degree angle.
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kah00na on July 31, 2013
Just curious... why made you choose to get the "SunnySky 2216-11 900kv" instead of the SunnySky 2216 1200kv motors? I guess you can use the 10" and 11" propellers with the 900kv but you could use all 8x4 propellers with the 1200kv motors. I'm curious because I am going to build this V tail as well using the same frame. I used 1300kv motors in a tricopter that I want to do acrobatic stuff with but I'm hoping to make a V tail more geared toward FPV. When I see the 900kv rating, I think they would be too slow and start thinking more about the 1200kv - but then again, I've only been into this hobby for about 4 months so what do I know?
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RobertL on August 29, 2013
It has to do with the thrust amount in relation to the amount of amp draw. SunnySky's site shows a 980Kv motor at 11volts with a 1047 prop will thrust 870 grams and draw 13.2 amps.
While a 1200kv motor with a smaller 9047 prop at 11 volts will thrust only 800 grams and will draw a heftier 16.8 amps.

So, lower KV with a larger prop sometimes gives more thrust while drawing less amps. (Depends on what the "dyno testing" is.) The biggest result is longer flight times.

Not that I knew all this but your question made me wonder also so I looked up the specs.
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RoyBro on July 31, 2013
Nice construction. I especially like the V tail brace from aluminum. Did you make that from "L" or "U" stock aluminum?
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Yellowihss on August 13, 2013
L stock
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Brocknoviatch on July 31, 2013
Great looking v-tail! Safety lesson now etched into my brain. Hope your face recovers.
Would love to see some video of it flying and maybe some fpv?
Thanks for sharing.
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Antheman54 on July 31, 2013
Great instruction pictures are easy to follow hope that nose is okay lol great job

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GFergy on August 1, 2013
Great build bro! Who knew FPV was a contact sport?! Don't worry about your nose... a little hot glue and it'll be good as new! ;-)
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Cyberdactyl on August 1, 2013
We all get battle scars sooner or later. . .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/Cyberdactyl/Multirotor/cuts.jpg

Mine were from carrying an armed quad and the strap hooking the throttle. I was LUCKY, I was using flimsy Slow-Fly props. If they had been carbon fiber, it would have been REAL nasty.


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kah00na on August 4, 2013
What are the "erector set pieces for Home Depot"? I went there and none of the employees I talked to had ever seen them. Do you have a SKU number for them? I'd like to get the same ones.
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Yellowihss on August 13, 2013
Cant find them on the HD website, but they also have them at Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=364269-37672-884488&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3478183&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=364270-37672-884487&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3478185&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=rel&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
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kah00na on August 13, 2013
Cool. Thanks! I'm going to see if they have them here!
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Yellowihss on August 13, 2013
They are in the Hardware drawers.
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ghostrider03z on August 5, 2013
A finger is bad but dang, your face would be horrible! Sorry that it happened to you. The auto disarm in the kk2 is a great feature for sure in the new firmware.
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Yellowihss on August 13, 2013
Yep. Auto disarm was probably 1-2sec away from disarming.
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gizmatron on December 27, 2013
What arm lengths did you use?
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My V-Tail Build