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