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Flying Surfer Dude!

Discussion in 'Strange Aircraft' started by theothers, Jul 8, 2009.

  1. theothers

    theothers Administrator Staff Member

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    Flying 'SURFER DUDE'

    Check out the RCgroups thread here http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1082461




    - Moved the CG back a little by moving the widest part of the surf board in the front to the back

    - Elevon angle is greater and elevons are slightly bigger now

    - Added a second center stringer that includes the rudder mod. So now you have the choice of using either the elevon only setup with a normal center stringer or you can go with elevon/rudder and use the new center stringer with the rudder mod.

    - Redesigned the stringers to move the smaller ones forward for a realistic effect like the ones that Dan and Adam are flying

    - Added two more hat accessories (Jester,Ball-cap) along with the standard mo-hawks. The hats have been pocked so that you glue the two halves together and the hat slide on to the Surfer Dudes head for quick change of looks

    - Moved the servos position forward some and placed them on the stringers to help maintain the look of the surfboard in an attempt to hide the servos and take some of the weight away from the back of the Surfer Dudes board




    Also included, compliments of 3DMON, are the tiled plan sets for those of you who still hand cut your planes ;) You will want to make sure it's centered and use 8.5X11 paper.


    NOTE: When you balance him you need to be sure to use a battery that will keep him balanced slightly downward so that he does not act tail heavy and try to alpha. I use the 3S 900 mAh works great all the way to the front as seen in the build video below. This is not a good windy day flyer :)


    Motor-Blue Wonder
    Battery-3s 900 mAh
    Prop-9x47
    Servos-hs50
    You can buy all the needed electronics here: http://www.lazertoyz.com/

    Free Plans/Cut files for the Phlatprinter

    [​IMG]






    Here is the BUILD LOG video

    As with all the plans on this site this is a copyright protected aircraft under the Phlatboyz,LLC 2009 Copyright
    You may download and use the plans for non-commercial use only.



    ______________________________________________________________________________________
    Other Videos[/i]
    This is a short video of the first prototype


    This is the LIVE FLY show we did for the second prototype (Glen) Evil Tunes was there helping us with his puppy Betty :) Thank you Glen We had a blast with this one.

    [ustream]http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1780058[/ustream]
    We are working on what we hope will be the final version, and hope to release the plans over the weekend or the start of next week :D It will be a lot of fun to see everyone sky surfing :mrgreen:
    It will be nice to see all the different characters (surf dudes) you guys come up with!


    Here is part 1 of us cutting and building the 2nd prototype Surfer before we go out side for the LIVE FLY show (The video above) :)
    [ustream]http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1779671[/ustream]


    Here are a few teaser pictures :) Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] B/converted_files/7825=9085-FlyingSurferDude.dxf" target="_blank" class="gc-files">FlyingSurferDude.dxf (1.2 MB)Â FlyingSurferDude2.skp (2.6 MB)Â Surfer Dude Model tiled 8.5x11.pdf (139 KB)Â Surfer Dude2-Sheet1.cnc (77.3 KB)Â Surfer Dude2-Sheet2.cnc (33 KB)Â
     
  2. Crash

    Crash Moderator Staff Member

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    That looks like so much fun...TREE SURFING!!! :D
     
  3. tvcasualty

    tvcasualty New Member

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    Very neat how it flys like that!
     
  4. 66tbird

    66tbird Moderator Staff Member

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    That flys great! Lots of eye appeal. I may have to give that design some thought and do a small one. I'm about to trash a 4oz. 3D plane and its parts need a place to go.
     
  5. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

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    Amazing! I would not even want to try flying anything with all those trees lurking so close.

    Great flying Mark! Even if you did do a little tree surfin.
     
  6. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Very cool, That was awesome !!! He was just landing to take a break up in that there tree :)
    Great Job Mark!!!

    John
     
  7. 3DMON

    3DMON Moderator Staff Member

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    So cool! I love it. I've been looking at the Green Goblin. I don't think it would be too hard to do him either.
    All I can think of is E-T's song for it.....Wipeout :lol: .
     
  8. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    That would be sweet 3D... !!!! I was thinking speeder bike/biker scout from Return of the Jedi ( Star wars of course) profile style :)


    John
     
  9. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    Thanks you guys! Now I am really under pressure to get this right! :mrgreen:
    Green Goblin and speeder bike/biker scout sounds really cool looking forward to seeing those.
    I am trying out different elevon placements to see what will work best.
    I like this style but alias it does not work :)
    Have another idea though :D
    Mark
     
  10. Jnida63

    Jnida63 Member

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    That is tooooooo cool!!!
     
  11. iflyos

    iflyos Member

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    oh man....all I can say is my MKII CANNOT get here fast enough!!!! That is tool COOL!!!!!

    Mark, looks like inspiration struck again. You did a GREAT job!

    Tim
    AG4RZ
     
  12. iflyos

    iflyos Member

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    Oh...what gear are you using Mark?

    Tim
    AG4RZ
     
  13. 7up

    7up Moderator Staff Member

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    It would so cool to set it up to take off and land on water. Really awesome design.
     
  14. Crash

    Crash Moderator Staff Member

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    LOL I was telling Mark yesterday that this plane had your name written all over it! :D
     
  15. theothers

    theothers Administrator Staff Member

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    Ok this is the latest video we have figured out a way to correct the flying without having to extend the elevons! :)
    This technique will allow for future designs that need the tapered or smaller tail section
    The last prototype has been printed and is ready for electronics then we will post
    Sorry for the delay but it will be up soon, just want to make sure its right.
    Mark
     
  16. iflyos

    iflyos Member

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    OK...you guys NAILED IT!!!!

    The SS rocks, and I am looking forward to cutting one out. You can bet that will make it into our indoor show!

    Mark, Trish, you guys are amazing. Not only have you brought us the PP, but you continue to crank out awesome designs! Thank you so much for all you do for our hobby!

    Tim
    AG4RZ
     
  17. theothers

    theothers Administrator Staff Member

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    Thanks Tim :D your too kind its all in good fun for us.
    This one is a lot of fun to fly thats for sure! :)
    I will post the plans asap.
     
  18. 7up

    7up Moderator Staff Member

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    Good build video Mark. Looks really simple. The videos say go to Phlatforum.com to download plans, did I miss the plans somewhere? :)
     
  19. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    The plans are at the top of this post now
    Sorry 7up, you must have been looking as I was adding them :D
    Mark
     
  20. 3DMON

    3DMON Moderator Staff Member

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    Rightous Dude! :D
    I might just have to build one of these now.
    I'm thinking of making mine small enough to fit on one sheet of foam though. This will give a length of around 31"-32" instead of the 40" of the original. With this I will probably do a 2s setup to keep the weight down too. It should fly fine at this size.

    Well done on the build vid Mark. Short and to the point...keeps a person watching :D .

    Surfs Up!
     
  21. iflyos

    iflyos Member

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    Well, Mark's first Silver Surfer kit has been shipped and received! It just got here a minute ago, and although I have 1.5 tons of mulch to spread, I had to slip it together for a picture! Man it is NICE!!! When my PhlatPrinter gets here later this week, I know I will have to cut another of these!

    Anyway, I just thought you guys would want to see a picture of it slid together on my bar...I will build it later today after I get the mulch done....

    TIm
    AG4RZ Attached files [​IMG]
     
  22. iflyos

    iflyos Member

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    OK..so after church today, and after my FB took a nap, Brandy, Eli, (my flying buddy) and I loaded up a couple of planes and headed over to my private testing facility. ( I am lucky to have access to a nice, clear section of land that is fenced in. That's where I test all of my new foamy's before taking them to a public field.)

    Anyway, I flew the RaptorGS first, to knock the dust off, so to speak, and get me ready for the Surfer. After a couple of flights on the Raptor, I slid a battery on the Surfer, double checked the controls, and slid the throttle up. It was pulling nicely, so I said a quick prayer and let it go.

    MAN DOES IT LOOK COOL!!!!!! A click (beep) of down, and a click (beep) of right, and she was on the money. I could not get over how neat it looked in the air. Eli was laughing and pointing, as only a 19 month old with an airplane fetish can! Brandy, who isn't normally enthused with airplanes, commented on how neat it was in the air as well.

    I ended up using gear I had on hand, 2 Eflite S75's, a FC 28-05 1600KV motor with an 8x4 GWS HD, and an Eflite 10 amp speed control. For batteries I used a 3s1p 730 Thunder Power, as well as a Kokam 3s1p 640. I hate to admit it, It hit me today I have never owned a Blue Wonder of any type! (I plan on correcting this soon!)

    I ended up balancing at the back of the finger marks, but it felt fine. I tend to like my stuff a little more tail heavy then most people. She turns left like a dream, but takes a little coaxing to turn right. I feel that this is due to the equipment I used and in no way reflects on the design. Mark has proven in the videos it turns fine to the right with his setup.

    My AUW with the TP's came in at 8.1 ounces, so I am happy with that. I intend to get a Blue wonder of suitable KV and swap the motor and prop out, as well as pick up some slightly higher capacity (and slightly heavier packs.) I want to get the CG where Mark intended it and fly it the way Mark intended before I settle on the location I have it at now.

    Mark, you did a GREAT job with the design, and I look forward to getting in alot of fun flights on this ship. I told Brandy on the way home that I would be cutting a couple more of these when I get the PP built, and I plan on doing one surfer dude up with Eli's profile picture on him and painting it like him as well.

    Congrats on a job well done and THANK YOU!!!!!

    Tim
    AG4RZ
     
  23. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

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    I built my SurfsUp late Saturday and had it ready to head to the field on Sunday morning.

    Everyone always gathers round my car to see what contraption I'll bring next, so it was without surprise that everyone once again found their selves agap in wonderment as I pulled out the flying surf board!

    With the help of a fellow flyer we launched it successfully but it would only turn in left turn circles.

    Back to the car for some adjustments. After 3 flights, we managed to get it to go left and to go straight but right turns could not be coaxed out of it.

    Then just as things were getting exciting, the ESC decides to burn up and that ended the flying sessions.

    Later when I got home, I replaced the speed controller and tried it again. This time the motor was getting pretty hot, so I decided to put a different motor on it, but alas, the only one I could come up with was one that had some frayed wires and it was not suitable so I waited till this morning and headed off to the LHS. Did I say Local? Two and half hour round trip.

    Well anyway, I purchased a BP 2212-13 motor from Graves RC in Orlando. When I got home and took the motor out of the package I discovered they had sold me a used motor! This is not the first time they have pulled this stunt, to me and many others! The outter case was all scraped up and the bearings were grinding.

    Needless to say, I was ticked! I called Bill Graves to complain and was passed off to his son who told me I could bring it back for an exchange. I explained it was a 2 1/2 hour round trip and he should just send me a replacement, which he agreed to do.

    So once again, I am still waiting to see if I can get this baby to fly.

    We got it to fly straight and left turn only by putting a heavier battery on the port side. It desparately needs some kind of rudder. The elevons did not seem to have much reaction other than as an elevator.

    I think it needs a rooster tail wave added and setup as a rudder :lol: That or make surfer dudes butt the rudder :lol: Attached files [​IMG]
     
  24. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

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    addendum: I just had to see this thing fly today. I removed a BP 2217-9 motor from another plane and mounted it on the surfer dude. I turned the motor mount 180 degrees to let the prop push more air over the top surface. That seems to help. I have more control now than before, but it is still a left turn machine.

    This motor may be overkill for this size plane, but amazingly, it did very very well. In fact, I went to a smaller prop size, 8x4 and it flys very well with it.

    Nothing I have tried so far will correct for it. I was thinking maybe make the bottom center fin into a rudder?

    As long as the wind is calm, left turn circles are fine, but Sunday, the wind kept pushing me further and further out since I could not get it to straighten out.

    The balance points seem pretty critical.

    But all in all, this is one cool flying thing of a ma jig! I don't know if I'd call it a plane :lol: but it is an attention getter, that is for sure!

    Great work Mark! You never cease to amaze me. Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  25. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    Tim and Flash thanks you guys for the kind remarks.
    Tim that was a great story and glad to hear you got him flying well.
    It seems both you you guys had trouble with right turns and that's no good. I am thinking that there may be too much of a bow in the front area. Judging from the picture Flash took from the side view. It have thought about it and its the only thing I see different in the setups that I have been using. The bow is ever so slight. Its my fault for really stressing that the front should be bowed in the build video. If you guys could take a little of that bow out and let me know how it goes that would be great.
    Flash that was a horror story the whole time I was reading it I felt so bad for you. Unreal that people try to get away with that kind of insanity.
    I hope that this is a quick fix for this surfer plane for you guys. I really have not had a problem turning unless it was in a really high alpha, but that is understandable. I am using max throws and on the lowest hole I can get on the control horns to get all the throw I can.
    If the bow is the problem. I will make a template stringer for the top so that people building it will have a gauge to go by as they glue the real stringers in place.
    Any ideas you guys may have are always welcomed.
    I am very interested in the bow, I hope this will fix the problem. I really would like to know if that works.
    Thanks again guys
    Mark

    BTW here is another short video of us taking the kids and the Surfer Dude to the lake
     

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