Projects Lees's Scratch built Flying Wing

[Lee]

I'm finally taking advantage of my friend Bobs workshop. He has a board making factory for Surfboards, Kiteboards and Windsurfboards. He's also very famous for his fin designs, so knows a lot about profile shapes for wings.

First we needed a bit of foam.

Cut the profiles out of 2mm G10.

Bob sanding the rough bits off from our shaky hands

Couple of mistakes on the first test wing as the wire wasn't hot enough, and our timing was a little off between my side and bobs.

The first try came out ok with a little sanding needed.

The final wing, and we have 3 more ready to put together.

I think we still have some foam left for a couple more LOL

The cut offs.

We will be wrapping the leading edge with carbon to give it strength. Tomorrow we will arrange the electronics.

 

[Derek]

OH WOW!!! This is exactly what I wanted to do! Just awesome, Lee! I've built a 49" flying wing, from foam board, using a KFM4 airfoil and I hope it works out well but when the weather gets a bit warmer here...I wanna make a wing like this. I've seen several videos on Youtube about doing this with a hot wire cutter and it just looks awesome. I'll be following this thread, for sure!!!

 

[wolfman76]

WOW that is one big freakin block of foam.. nice work Lee and Bob....

 

[breeze400]

Good job lee! What power plant you going to use?

 

[Microbus]

Look like you're off to a great start!

 

[Tony]

First picture not working.

But great job on the flying wing. Something like this has been on my to do list for a while now.

 

[Lee]

Fixed it, Thanks Tony.

 

[Lee]

Ok, so we got a bit more of the plane done.

Here it is with the cutouts for electrics and the wing tips. We cut down the wing size and used the ends to make the tips.

We filled with a special polystyrene water based filler, that once dry adds negligible weight to the model.

The battery tray i made slightly deeper than the battery, to allow for CoG alterations.

The airfoil tips after sanding.

We are adding one layer of glass to this model, for strength and a little durability as this will be Bobs plane and he's just learning. The second model will be mine, with all the refinements from this one

Adding the resin. Giving it the fake carbon look with dark resin

Weights are to keep it from warping in the drying process.

Once this is dry, we will turn it over for the bottom layer.

 

[Graham Lawrie]

Awesome project one day.........maybe.....

 

[wolfman76]

Hey if anyone comes across some good photos of the b2 stealth bomber could you e-mail them to me wolfcav92@yahoo.com for reference in building my edf powered wing

 

[Derek]

WOW Lee! This thing is looking great! I love the shape!

 

[Lee]

I'm considering making a X8 style FPV plane next with a big storage compartment for camera gear. But i also want to make a Edge or similar 3D plane and my dream is to build a Spitfire. My friend Bob has a Unit upstairs from his workshop that will be free in a couple of weeks. He says i can use it and build as many planes as i like. There is no shortage of foam, glass fibre and carbon. I really want to learn how to use his CNC machine as well. Problem is none of this will pay the bills, but maybe in the future. I have already had a guy in the US ask me to cut him some wings, but he though i live over there.
I have named the plane. It is now officially called the TFC Wing after my friends company Tarifa Fin Company.

 

[Derek]

Yeah, I'd love to have an X8 style wing. Just like you said, with a big storage compartment for camera gear and such. That would be awesome! What size motor and esc are you planning for this wing?

 

[Lee]

We have a Pulsar 20 980KV motor with a 11x5.5 prop from Germany and a 40A ESC. The servos will be Hitec 81 something, cant remember right now. And the battery is a 3S 3300mah. It will run 4S on this set up too.

 

[Tony]

Looking good. Are you guys going to leave the foam in it, or are you going to melt it out?

 

[Lee]

The foam will stay inside. If this flys well, we may look into making a plug from it and building a mould to make multiple wings quickly.

 

[Derek]

The foam will stay inside. If this flys well, we may look into making a plug from it and building a mould to make multiple wings quickly.

That would be awesome!!!

 

[Tony]

You guys put too many "U's" in your words lmao. Mould, Colour... Mold, Color... lmao

that would be a pretty cool idea though. I have thought about it, but that's all I need, another project lmao.

 

[Lee]

Thats because when the English sailed across to the Americas, they became lazy HAHAHAHAHA

 

[Tony]

I guess that is why we invented Radio Controlled hahaah. Nothing like a hobby you can do and never have to move...

When are you going to get this wing in the air? I hate waiting... lmao