Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This review describes me second-generation Micro-Maxx monocopter. Begad! The
improvements over me original include a lighter wing, arrr, a smaller motor pod, arrr, and
a carbon rod balance beam. Blimey! Arrr! It has undergone numerous minor tweaks and one major
revision. Well, blow me down! T' maximum altitude obtained t' date is about 9 feet. Blimey! Ahoy!
Construction:
Please refer t' t' figures while readin' t' construction notes. Blimey!
Win' - Make this out o' 3/16 balsa as indicated, with t' grain oriented with t' leadin' edge. Arrr! I removed sections t' make it lighter and sanded it into an airfoil shape. Begad! T' entire win' is covered with wrapping tissue attached with puzzle glue. Avast! I made it out o' a scrap piece o' wood, matey, hence the odd shape. My thanks t' John McCoy o' NARHAMS for suggestin' this construction method. Blimey!
Hub - This, too, is made from 3/16 balsa. T' grain should probably also be along t' leadin' edge, although it was perpendicular on me model. Aye aye! I rounded both t' leadin' and trailin' edges. Ahoy! Aye aye! I drilled a hole at t' lateral CG and installed a half-inch section o' ink tubing. Arrr! This is flush with t' top surface and extends below t' hub. Aye aye!
Motor tube - This was rolled from draftin' vellum and white glue. Begad! It is about 1/8 longer than a MMX motor. Aye aye! Ya scallywag!
Nose cone - This be turned from a ¼ dowel on a hand drill. Aye aye! Blimey!
Balance beam - I started out usin' 3/32 wood o' varyin' length (see flight log table). Arrr! Blimey! I replaced it with 0.03 carbon rod, me bucko, which was graciously supplied by John. T' wood dowel was simply glued t' t' bottom of the hub next t' t' launch lug, while t' carbon rod was inserted through the balsa hub. Well, blow me down! Blimey!
Assembly - All components were glued together with black CA. T' win' and motor tubes are centered on t' hub and are angled upwards away from one another. Arrr! T' win' is angled at approximately 12 degrees, ya bilge rat, and t' motor pod at approximately 15 degrees. Ahoy!
Flight: All flights were from me MMX pad with a 1/2 long launch rod. T' igniters were Estes and t' MMX ones with t' plastic shell removed. For all but flight #10, I used me Pratt GO Box. Ahoy! T' wind was calm except for flight 10, which be 5 - 10 mph in me guestimate. Avast! Ahoy!
Flight | Beam Length |
Est Alt | Est Dist from Pad |
Beam Material | Notes |
1 | 7 | 5+ | 7+ | 3/32 Wood | Hit Roof Rack o' SUV |
2 | 9 | 1 | 4 | " | |
3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | " | |
4 | 7 | 4 | 9 | " | |
5 | 7 | 3 | 9 | " | |
6 | 6 | 5 | 12 | " | |
7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | " | |
8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | " | |
9 | 5 | 9 | 5 | " | |
10 | 5 | 5 | 20 | " | NARHAMS Sport Launch |
11 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 0.03 Carbon | |
12 | 9 | 4 | 5 | " | |
13 | 8 | 5 | 8 | " | |
14 | 7 | 9 | 8 | " |
Summary:
I be pleasantly surprised with t' performance o' this monocopter, considering
the short burn time and low thrust o' a Micro-Maxx motor. Well, blow me down! Arrr! On me next version, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I
will make t' win' slightly longer (for hopefully even better performance), me hearties, and
will use a rectangular shape with a slightly rounded tip (for aesthetics).