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Mini Ugly Stick 27

Discussion in 'Single Wing Aircraft Plans' started by Gere Sport, Mar 16, 2012.

  1. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    Even though there must be dozens of Ugly Stick variations out there, here is another one!

    I was having a few issues designing more complex foamies in Sketchup and after several stalled designs I decided to simplify things down to an Ugly Stick…. having now cracked this I will get back to the shelved projects….

    I wanted to have plans with tab and slot construction so they rig themselves straight and true. I also wanted to calculate the size of top and bottom sheeting to the exact size rather than leave the builder to fit oversize foam and trim to fit. This was more important when CNC routing models with a Phlatprinter.

    Even though I originally used this as a training exercise for cutting foam to check that I had all the sizes correct (thinking that smaller would be less wasted foam if I goofed), it has ended up in a great flying model.

    Specs are:

    27" Span
    2204/14T Turnigy Outrunner from HobbyCity
    10A Turnigy Plush ESC
    3 x 5gram HXT servos
    6110 Spectrum RX
    2s 500maH Lipo
    8 x 4.3 GWS SF prop
    Weight inc lipo but no paint, 7 oz

    Note the outline has been modified from the original 60" Ugly Stick by increasing the aileron width and tail area. The fuzz is also slightly oversize to enable the gear to fit.

    The weather has been unkind in the UK, but I have managed a few test flights in less than ideal 12-20mph winds at the local park. The video is a bit dark as it was almost raining and my first attempt at using the GoPro Hero camera attached to my hat.

    Flight report was good with a reasonable turn of speed and good aileron/elevator authority. I am tempted to try a 7 x 6 prop for a bit more speed or perhaps a Blue Wonder motor.

    Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] tforumVB/converted_files/33832=14177-IMG_8157.JPG" class="gc-images" title="IMG_8157.JPG" style="max-width:300px" /> [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    Tracy Groller likes this.
  2. 3DMON

    3DMON Moderator Staff Member

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    Good job! :good:
    I like the way you did the landing gear. Looks like a great little parkflyer.
     
  3. rcav8r

    rcav8r Moderator Staff Member

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    Nice. :doubleup: As simple and plain as it is, the Ugly Stick has always been one of my favorites.
     
  4. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    Thank-you for the comments guys!

    I've used this UC on a few designs and found that the thin wire tends to bend in a rough landing without breaking the foam. It then only needs bending back in shape by hand to be flying again.

    A few photos of the finished model. I messed up the paint job! Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  5. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    Here is the plan and CNC file.

    Please note that despite usually having wider 6mm depron sheets, I have limited the safe area to 22" x 35" to suit a wider range of 1/4" or 6mm foam sheets. CNC file is for overhead gantry Phlatprinter 3 and the stock 1/8" bit.

    The Sketchup file would be needed for the lite ply parts and anyone who wishes to re-generate the CNC data.

    Please post some photos if you decide to cut one!

    Steve Attached files Mini Ugly Stick V3_1 CNC.cnc (70.1 KB)Â Mini Ugly Stick V3_1 CNC.skp (4.3 MB)Â
     
  6. rcav8r

    rcav8r Moderator Staff Member

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    I can't tell where.... Looks GREAT. I like the blue as opposed to the traditional red.
     
  7. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    The Blue is a very bright blue/purple colour acrylic. The mess was the black which I mixed wrongly and it kept blocking the airbrush. Added to the fact that the card templates I made for the crosses let through lots of overspray hence they look a bit like a WW1 aircraft which is well used and sprayed in engine oil!
     
  8. rcav8r

    rcav8r Moderator Staff Member

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    OK, I see the splotches now.... Still nice I shoot for the 20 foot paint job...as long as it looks good at 20 foot :) I like the shading of the black. I always try for that effect, and it turns out like a 5 year old did it.
    IT would be an understatement to say my airbrush skills are in need of major improvement.
     
  9. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    I should of brushed the markings on or cut them from stick on trim, but I was rushing to get the paint on. I even used a hairdryer to speed up the process so I could get a coat of lacquer over it and reinstall the motor quickly. Then the UK weather prevented the maiden for a week or so until I found a dry patch in what was almost drizzle (you can see from the video). Current weather forecast is looking like another Sketchup weekend!
     
  10. blindflight

    blindflight Moderator Staff Member

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    Great job, fly's really great!! :doubleup:
     
  11. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    Thank-you! I was pleased how well it handled a bit of wind for a little 1/2lb model with 50W of power.

    This whole Sketchup, Phlatprint, build cycle is very adictive..... I'm half way through scaling it up 30% to about 36" for 150W of power, a KFm4 wing and 16oz target weight.
     
  12. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    Fantastic looking project! :doubleup:
    Thank you for sharing this
     
  13. thunder hawk

    thunder hawk Member

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    Great job on the design and paint. :good: :good: :good: :good: :good:
    You've done a great old design proud.

    Cheers.
    GHB :D
     
  14. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    Thank-you for the kind comments guys.

    Thank-you for the shout out in this weeks PhlatShow, Gere is pronounced Gear.

    Gere Sport is one of my favourite homebuild designs from the 1930s. It must of been amazing to take aircraft plans from a magazine, some materials and an engine into a large workshop and produce your own plane!

    Below is part of the real plans and a little foamie model of the Gere Sport biplane using the same electrics as the Mini Ugly Stick. More detail on RCGroups

    http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1283362 Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  15. ToxicToast

    ToxicToast Down in the weeds. Staff Member

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    That looks fantastic and very thought-out design, great work. I have a thing for stick style planes, and love them for touch and go training.

    Again, awesome work!
     
  16. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    Thanks for the heads up Gere and the info on this cool build :good:
    Nice job thank you for sharing!
    Mark and Trish
     
  17. woodworknick

    woodworknick New Member

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    Here's a variation on the landing gear. I have a laser so I cut out three pieces with one haveing slots cut as shown. I glue the three togeather with the slot piece and the wire sandwiched between the other two. the wood is 1/16th ply and the wire is 1/16 dia. Thanks for your consideration.

    Nick Napier woodworknick@yahoo.com

    PS to fit in the plane it would of course be cut to the proper dimensions this shape is just to show the concept.

    Nick Attached files .JPG][​IMG]
     
  18. rcav8r

    rcav8r Moderator Staff Member

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    Very nice...:D
    I've done something similar where the module slides in a slot in the fuse... This way I could remote for flying from a rough field, or add when flying off of asphalt. After time the fit got too loose, and I had to add a screw to keep it in.
     
  19. Gere Sport

    Gere Sport Member

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    That's a great idea Nick. I think I may use this on future designs because I always end up stabbing myself with the sewing needle. On a previous design I neatly stitched the wire on and epoxied it, only to discover that the U/C wire was pointing towards the middle of the fuz rather than the outside, so I had to make a second set. Your idea would not suffer this problem.
     
  20. woodworknick

    woodworknick New Member

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    Is there anyway that sketch-up files can be converted to coreldraw files?

    Nick Napier
     
  21. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    Does Corel Draw imports .dxf files? If yes, you could export a .dxf file form SU.
     
  22. woodworknick

    woodworknick New Member

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    I don't see anyway to save a sketch up file to .dxf. Is there something I'm overlooking?
    Maybe the better question is how do you get a sketch up file with a .dxf extension.

    Nick
     
  23. rcav8r

    rcav8r Moderator Staff Member

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    SU has it's own native file format. I believe only the "pro" version lets you export to DXF. I also believe there are plug-ins that will allow export to DXF with the Free version of SU.

    I've never explored it as I never needed it. I do occasionally import DXF to SU.... That's why I stayed with V7.x
     
  24. lovebugjunkie

    lovebugjunkie New Member

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  25. woodworknick

    woodworknick New Member

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    Has anyone successfully converted from sketch up to dxf files. If so what settings did you use.

    Nick
     

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