An RFFS-100 Micro Pylon Racer??

[dhurd]

About a week ago Dan Leonard posted a plane as a micro pylon racer in another forum. I thought the plane looked sharp and sought it out, bought one and converted one for myself. Mine was a sister to the one he had done but had a conventional tail instead of the V-tail version that he had used. The gear is an RFFS-100 system (surprise, surprise ). Two DU actuator/servos wired parallel for the ailerons and a Bob Selman Designs actuator for the elevator. For the power plant I used the KP00 and U80 prop (although I considered using the included prop as it had a nice chrome spinner on it). I used a 170mah DWE Lipoly as the power source.

It hasn't flown yet (we had a wedding to go to yesterday and today it is raining). But I suspect it won't have any problems as the AUW is 1.1 ounces (29g).

Here are some pics (ignore my messing shipping area/workshop you can see in the background in some of them)

Top shot on the postal scales:

[dhurd]

the guts....

[dhurd]

From the top with the hatch open....

[dhurd]

ailerons....

[dhurd]

ailerons...a closer look....

[dhurd]

frontal shot.....

[dhurd]

From the side....

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Dan,
Cute plane. Is it a converted "toy" foam model? The installation is well thought out. While it is on my mind, what is the safe channel spacing for flying multiple RFFS-100 systems? This needs to be checked out to fly multiple plane races.
Take care, Dave

[dhurd]

Dave,
Thanks for the compliment.
Yes it is a converted toy. An Estes "Spicey Wings".
As for the gear placement I really can't take much credit. I saw pics of Dan Leonards plane and there really wasn't much of a choice as to how to lay it out. :) I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised that the plane came in at just over 1oz.
The channel seperation should be 4 channels in each direction to be plenty safe. Thats a pretty big spread unfortunatly and you probably could get away with just 2 but to be safe we say 4. If we did have a pylon race as an offical event using the RFFS-100 and had a lot of contenders we may have to come up with some way of making it easy to change channels.

Sincerely,
Dan

[Dave Robelen]

Hello Dan,
There is another possibility to get started racing. How about a postal event? Set the pylons at at say, 50', and run 10 laps from a flying start. Start finish line 1/2 way between pylons. Folks would be on an honor system regarding cuts, etc.
For the first go-around, why not leave it open to any model with an RFFS-100 system. This may give a better clue as to what design features, power options, etc. would be a good choice. Each entrant would send picture, specs, (or specs only if no camera) of model along with the time recorded. We could use this board for posting results, or if you are interested your website. In the free flight community we have a number of postal events, some of which are global in the field. Interested?
Regards, Dave

[dhurd]

Dave,
That sounds like a good idea. Perhaps we could even establish different classes of airplanes after we receive the results. I guess if someone had multiple entrants at the same place and they were too close channel wise you could always just have them timed seperately and best time wins. Although I would suspect having more then one plane in the air at a time adds to the excitement. :)

Dan

[Dave Robelen]

OK Dan,
As soon as the wind smiles at me I will run 10 laps with my little Brownie and post the results. This one has the 170 mah Li-Poly and an E-Charger motor w/7-1 gearing driving a 5-4 prop. About 40 sq. in as I remember.
Regars, Dave

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Folks,
I have started running my RFFS-100 Brownie around the poles and timing it. Let's start a new thread called "post your race results" in this section.
Regards, Dave

[dhurd]

Dave,
With the new upgraded software I think we are going to need to have that as a required spec. Old version or new version.

Dan

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Dan,
No problem on stating the version of the RFFS-100. Mine is still "old spec" until we can get together on the upgrade. Will the upgraded version fly faster?;)
Regards, Dave

[dhurd]

Well the new version could potentially give someone an advantage in that you can create a faster flying plane seeing that there is more force on the control surfaces.

Dan

[dhurd]

Well the new version could potentially give someone an advantage in that you can create a faster flying plane seeing that there is more force on the control surfaces.

Dan

[flyinhigh]

Dan n Dave
you guys are getting me very interested in this system...What can be done with it? I see you have a 4 channel setup Dan?
Im interested but the price to jump into it is making it hard to explain to the girfriend :rolleyes:
Looking like lots of fun :)
Mike....

[dhurd]

Mike,
My setup is actuall still three channels. I wired the aileron servos up in parallel on the rudder channel.
As for the cost....the price really isn't that bad considering what you get (ie...leading edge technology). And you end up saving a lot on kits and such because you can put them in little planes that don't take a lot of time,effort or money to build (unless of course you build materpieces like Dave and then you invest a lot of the first two ;) ). But even at that the radio gear is competitive in price. You can buy from me a combo with everything you need to fly execpt for a battery charger and a transmitter for $160.00. I think that is competitive with if not beating most similar combos. But even with out the combo, $125 for a receiver, speed control, and two servos isn't all that expensive.
Probably what makes the cost seem disproportionate is the size of the airplane that the equipment goes in. This also makes it more diffcult to justify to significant others who already think that you spend why too much money on your "toys" ;)

Sincerely,
dan

[Mike Taylor]

Besides the economy of the small planes you build for this system (ARFs are $6 to $12, built-ups from scratch cost 1 piece of balsa or $1.25, and FF and gliders to converst are $0.89 each), they also take up a lot less room. I usually have 3 or 4 planes in the house to admire :) , but three RFFS planes fit neatly on the desk and the demands to 'get those things out of here' have ceased... A whole squadron would fit nicely on a mobile... Aslo, I don't think Mary understands that smaller means priceier, so she assumes that they are fairly cheap to build. I emphasize the low cost of the planes (you can even leave the price tags on!) and ignore the initial costs in any discussion of the planes.

[flyinhigh]

Hiya there Guys
OK you got me convinced.and maybe one night I will be able to sneak an order for it in,But first I got a couple other projects to get done then I will be joining you guys with the micros:D
Micro Pylon racing sounds fun,and being there is nobody else around my area that flies,the way Dave is talking about racing fits my bill perfectly.All I need to do is desighn a plane oooohhhh sooo much fun:D you guys got me excited now
You Guys use contest Balsa on these planes?or will model grade sufice??
Good Day guys and thanks;)
MIKE

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Mike,
c'mon in, the waters fine;)
I buy my wood from the LHS (about 60 miles away). They stock SIG wood, and I can normally pick through the stock and find that sheet or two that are decent in weight, and nice and flat. Once you really get wrapped up in this size model, it may be worth making a special effort to get the "contest grade"
Take care, Dave