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