New AXN Build with Trial Modifications
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 5:40 am
Hi again,
So having "retired" my first AXN at speed I finally opened the other one I recently ordered and began to decipher what might make my model stronger, more fun and provide some more challenges...
I came up with a few ideas that I will put here for you to comment on.
The first is I bought four digital sub-micro servos for it. Now some might say that was a waste of money etc, but as I said I want to experiment and these little buggers weigh only 6 grams and fit perfectly into the allotted spaces without any need to trim the foam at all. I have included pictures of the digital servos and the analogue equivalent. The digital's are $19.99 each and the analogue are $9.99 each, so they are way expensive compared to HK stuff, but I have a couple of E-flite planes and they perform with great reliability. I have also had great reviews from guys around the traps about them too.
Instead of putting the cheap ESC I bought back in it, I opted for a Dualsky 45A ESC ($30.00) as it is the preferred stock of my model store and they recommend this brand highly. (I will write a review in the where to buy from section soon because these guys are great and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee that I can vouch for personally). I went for 45A so that there was a reduced risk of the unit overheating and the one below this was 25A, so safe rather than sorry - again I am told these are great pieces of kit so why not?
I bought some foam safe spray paint so the AXN will be given a custom paint job and some stickers from the ESC manufacturer and the model shop I buy from should top off the aesthetics nicely. I also found a quaint set of landing gear that I just have to try out. My success in take off's is high, but landing with gear on the ground is a fat 0% to date, so I am hoping to use the ease of landing that the AXN provides to amend my statistics and improve my self-esteem with wheels down I know the gear is designed for a much lighter plane, but what the heck it's an AXN and they are made to be experimented with aren't they?
Mods:
I have used tongue depressors to reinforce the front end and as the battery seems to close off the airflow when pushed fully forward, I have made them so that the air is carried along from the intakes to the channel in the foam and then over the area holding the ESC. Please feel free to point out anything that you feel might make this unworkable etc.
The landing gear will be held in with the wire that was supplied and a tongue depressor sliver between the wire and the foam inside the fuse (pics to come). I have made wooden (from tongue depressors ) supports for the servos so I can screw them in in the hope that if I crash nose first again the servo will break loose rather than strip the gears. So I won't be using glue on the elevator/rudder servos - comments are most welcome.
Because of the picture limit I shall upload three photos now and some more as the plane takes shape later on today and into tomorrow. Please feel free to comment on any ideas or improvements you see in the process and feel free to offer anything that you consider will aid or assist in making a better AXN... Oh except for the cost of the servos and ESC lest she who must be obeyed sees the same and gets mad at me
Hallmark
So having "retired" my first AXN at speed I finally opened the other one I recently ordered and began to decipher what might make my model stronger, more fun and provide some more challenges...
I came up with a few ideas that I will put here for you to comment on.
The first is I bought four digital sub-micro servos for it. Now some might say that was a waste of money etc, but as I said I want to experiment and these little buggers weigh only 6 grams and fit perfectly into the allotted spaces without any need to trim the foam at all. I have included pictures of the digital servos and the analogue equivalent. The digital's are $19.99 each and the analogue are $9.99 each, so they are way expensive compared to HK stuff, but I have a couple of E-flite planes and they perform with great reliability. I have also had great reviews from guys around the traps about them too.
Instead of putting the cheap ESC I bought back in it, I opted for a Dualsky 45A ESC ($30.00) as it is the preferred stock of my model store and they recommend this brand highly. (I will write a review in the where to buy from section soon because these guys are great and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee that I can vouch for personally). I went for 45A so that there was a reduced risk of the unit overheating and the one below this was 25A, so safe rather than sorry - again I am told these are great pieces of kit so why not?
I bought some foam safe spray paint so the AXN will be given a custom paint job and some stickers from the ESC manufacturer and the model shop I buy from should top off the aesthetics nicely. I also found a quaint set of landing gear that I just have to try out. My success in take off's is high, but landing with gear on the ground is a fat 0% to date, so I am hoping to use the ease of landing that the AXN provides to amend my statistics and improve my self-esteem with wheels down I know the gear is designed for a much lighter plane, but what the heck it's an AXN and they are made to be experimented with aren't they?
Mods:
I have used tongue depressors to reinforce the front end and as the battery seems to close off the airflow when pushed fully forward, I have made them so that the air is carried along from the intakes to the channel in the foam and then over the area holding the ESC. Please feel free to point out anything that you feel might make this unworkable etc.
The landing gear will be held in with the wire that was supplied and a tongue depressor sliver between the wire and the foam inside the fuse (pics to come). I have made wooden (from tongue depressors ) supports for the servos so I can screw them in in the hope that if I crash nose first again the servo will break loose rather than strip the gears. So I won't be using glue on the elevator/rudder servos - comments are most welcome.
Because of the picture limit I shall upload three photos now and some more as the plane takes shape later on today and into tomorrow. Please feel free to comment on any ideas or improvements you see in the process and feel free to offer anything that you consider will aid or assist in making a better AXN... Oh except for the cost of the servos and ESC lest she who must be obeyed sees the same and gets mad at me
Hallmark