Guillows Virgin!

[samwalker]

Hi all!! Well I've just started my Guillows Zero kit...this is my first time in making a plane of any sort and I have hopes of making this an r/c plane (I have also never flown an r/c plane!!!) A long shot you may think being the first but I have high hopes!! (and fingers crossed) I suppose I'm writing this to confirm a few thing that I have researched just to make sure I am doing things as I should.

Firstly... Here is my fuse....taken probably 15 hours on this alone just to get everything straight and fitting nice....although the kit is good some of the die cut parts aren't quite as precise as I would like.







I have literally just finished the first process of the wing and will put up pics once I am happy with the finished piece.

So here's what I plan to do!

I'm going to have ailerons and elevators. Ailerons with servo built in to the wing with some kind of RDS for movement. I plan to have a turnigy 2200 outrunner and a 2s lipo up front. ESC and elevator control servo. Spektrum reciever and transmitter 4ch.

I am also looking to build the elevator control within the fuse so no external wires and am thinking of coneccting the 2 halves of the elevators through the fuse then applying an arm to the connector rod and having the servo up the front controlling.

So thats me so far I think. please feel free to comment and I will up date throughout the process.

Might be nice for other first timers to have info from someone who is also a first timer!!

[SteveM]

These planes certainly can be built for RC and it looks like you're off to a good start. However, I'm afraid that the saying "Don't fall in love with you first RC plane" is quite accurate and I'd hate to see you destroy your Zero learning to fly. I still have my first RC plane, a Molt Models Tyro 100, but it has been repaired countless times and will never look nice again.

It is also easier to learn to fly with a plane that is more aerodynamically forgiving. They have planes designed for first time pilots that can recover from any situation you get into provided that you let go of the control sticks and have enough altitude for it to recover into a glide path. My advice is to build something a little less forgiving and quicker/easier such as the Tyro then have an experienced pilot help you trim it out and learn to fly it before bringing out the Zero.

[ADW 123]

Welcome to the forum. May I recommend the cox models extra 300 as a good rc plane for you? It is about the same size of your zero and all of those models in that series. It even has a prop that snaps off on impact. This prevents damage to that engine and inner nose area. Also, I would recommend the SFA forum as well. They have some smart guys on there who will help. Also, the extra comes ready to fly with everything you need. All I bring to the field is the plane (of course) remote, battery, screwdriver (comes with the rtf) to unscrew the wing, landing gear, and some super glue just in case. Most of those items you might find will fit in a little Ziplock

[cliffm]

Seeing the quality of your progress and the content of your research it sounds like you have put a considerable amount of research and planning into your project. I'm sure your plans don't include shooting wheel landings on the tarmac on the planes first flights. Some of the more cautious would have one start with a plane that assembles from about 8 or 10 pieces and comes in a plastic bag. Having seen the results of adequate preparation,planning,reliable support and the talent for its use any goal is attainable so go for it and looking forward to your posts.

[BillParker]

I'm going to have ailerons and elevators. Ailerons with servo built in to the wing with some kind of RDS for movement. I plan to have a turnigy 2200 outrunner and a 2s lipo up front. ESC and elevator control servo. Spektrum reciever and transmitter 4ch.

I am also looking to build the elevator control within the fuse so no external wires and am thinking of coneccting the 2 halves of the elevators through the fuse then applying an arm to the connector rod and having the servo up the front controlling.

I been doing this stuff for forty years, and he knows more about electrics than I do... go for it dude...


bp

[samwalker]

SteveM - ADW 123 ~ In many ways I think that you are completely right and I have looked into several starter planes/kits etc. To be honest the Guillows kit came into the equation out of the blue and whilst out shopping found the zero for £8 aprx $13 brand new.....a complete steal! So with funds not being a great deal went for it! But I appreciate your advice guys...and I know it will be heart wrenching when I crash the Zero but hey it's all a learning curve!!

Cliff M ~ You hit the nail on the head, you can only plan to a certain extent, and as much as I have researched/planned etc. I am certainly expecting something that I've missed or an unforseen occurance on take off.....just something that will put a spanner in the works and reduce my zero to kindling but hey.....that's what its about for me.....learn from errors and develop further. and being 26 I've hopefully plenty more years of tinkering with planes. Thank you for your words of encouragement and I hope my efforts do come to fruition!

BillParker ~ Thank you for your kind words. The internet is a wonderful thing, and to be completely honest with you, if it wasn't for guys like you on forums like this then I would never of been able to acrue the information that I have and put a direction on what I am doing. Some of the workmanship that get's posted on the forums is really quite inspirational.

[samwalker]

So just a quick update then guys... the wing is pretty much shaped and completed. A little bit more tinkering perhaps but nothing too dramatic now just the tail piece etc for the initial construction to be completed.












The parts to the fuse were relatively well cut in comparison to the wing pieces....to be honest I was a little bit dissapointed with the quality but hey, just means a little bit more tinkering!!


I've been scratching my head with regards to the ailerons....just trying to figure out how big I should actually have them and how I'm going to drive them so I thought I'd post a pic of what I think and ask for your views!!



Thanks all!

[cliffm]

Consider the front of your aileron as an axle and the axle continues on the inboard side into the fuselage, do this for both ailerons, if the axles are piano wire bend the ends to fit into the bellcrank you will need to put the servo on. I have seen some pretty complicated rigging for ailerons but this way is quite simple and you can mount your servo in about any angle you chose. I hope you can understand my gibberish and hope this helps.

[ADW 123]

now, i dont do many r/c conversions because of how expensive equiptment can be. and oh, i dont care if people say you can find stuff real cheap. that just means its gunna break soon. i dont mess with it.

anyways, the ailerons you can probably find a decent scale outline of them usually on the wing layout in dashed lines. i always thought that the electronics should be installed before the frame is completed, and that any mods that are needed should also be made at an earlier stage. i just dont like trying to get wires and r/c gear into a plane when my fingers are just too big. once the stringers are added it kind of makes it a little harder to work on the interior of the aircraft. if i did an r/c conversion, i would make sure that i know where i want my reciever to be, along with the battery inside of the fuse, and place it so it wont screw up the CG. i would add these electronics if you think they will be hard to install once the stringers are added before you have added the stringers, or i would install only the bottom stringers or something. make sure to have acess panels.. more on that later. these might require some mods.

i might recomend that you build a 3 channel for your first one. that means throtle, rudder, and elevator. now, i have found that flying with ailerons is pretty fun, however the conversion process at least in terms of mods will be much simpler. if you decide you dont want to mess around with the wing because it might be hard to make those mods now that it is all put together, this is a good fallback since you havent put together the tail feathers yet. also, electronics fail. make sure you have acess to servos and the receiver just in case something breaks on you.

like i said, im no expert. this is just how i would do it.

[samwalker]

cliffm ~ I like the idea of a direct connection to the ailerons. how would you propose to install ( if using piano wire ) to the aileron itself. I've also cosidered the thought that you may get some twist in the piano wire aswell?? have you ever experienced this. my only concern would be that it may give un balanced controlled between the two?? Again I don't know just hypthesising!

ADW 123 ~ In the pictures it does make it look difficult to install the servo if mounted in the wing.....and minus a few stringers would definately make it easier but i'm pretty confident that with some gentle persuasion I can add the equipment. To be honest my initial concern was ensuring there was enough strength in the wing and although the stringers aren't specifically for strength they do add some (I think! ) With regards to the battery/reciever/servo for elevators/ESC they are all going to be up front.

So to elaborate, the battery is a 2s lipo that is small enough to fit up behind the firewall. Behind that will be the ESC (my only concern with this placement is the heat that is given off by the ESC and any potential fires as I've read that this has occured on some occasions!) my reciever will be placed in the cockpit area teamed with the servo for controlling the elevators. I'm initially looking to place the aileron servos within the wings but aligned with the cockpit. My main thought process is offsetting the weight of lipo and outrunner with other ancillaries.

I'm aiming for an overall flying weight of 200g-220g.

My biggest fear is that I've completely messed up and the thing won't even glide let alone fly but like I've said before.....this is just a learning curve model for me and if it flies (or should I say if I can fly it!!) then I'll be chuffed. If not then why not and try that agin in a different model.

[cliffm]

Design the front spar of your ailerons to be a 2 piece laminate. Put a couple of small Z-bends in your wire, compress the wire between the laminate spar then glue. If you use too small diameter a wire you may get some torsional flex,but wire used on any light landing gear should be sufficient. If distances between hinge points remain the same on both sides you will have equal travel to both ailerons.

[samwalker]

I like the sound of that cliff, sounds like it could be a very effective method. Thank you...I shall post how I get on and what direction I take!

[Xanadu]

Check out thsi build thread of a Guillow's P-51 converted to RC. Shows a great way to use one mini servo for your ailerons in conjunction with Sullivan Gold cable. I have used it before, and it works very well.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=887977

Here is another link to a ton of RC converted Guillow's, peruse though at your leisure, you will find tons of info there.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=827861

Nice build so far, that is one I have not built yet.

[Xanadu]

Another idea to learn on flying first before trying your Zero is a HobbyZone Champ. Great to learn on, nice flyer, and fairly cheap considering its is complete, ready to fly including controller, etc, for less than $100.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/De ... ID=HBZ4900

[samwalker]

Xanadu ~ that does look like a very good method. Im pressuming though that if connected to one servo would it only provide pull on one aileron and push on the other and then vice versa (if that makes sense!?) Looks like this could be a very simple way of doing things though....thank you for your help.