kuzer

Here is my latest make-over: The Mars Lander....In honor of my favorite Estes rocket. It is the same canopy as posted before but moved the landing gear struts out and added cf bracing. If flies well and looks realistic.

TheHindmost

That's great!

How do you maintain orientation with all the rotors the same color?

Will

Sky High

The UFO man is back!

kuzer

I don't really have much problem w/orientation as I try to focus on the rear of the canopy when flying and not the rotors. Keep in mind I fly this like a helicopter. I usually fly no higher than 30' so visual feedback is not a problem. Of course if I flew it w/the camera there would be issues w/orientation.
I have not given up on the idea of a fully enclosed UFO yet. I have made a 36"x36" vacuum form table and am currently trying to find a sufficient heating heater unit.

kuzer

TheHindmost

I don't have enough flight experience yet to say this with confidence, but I think I see what you mean about focusing on other than the rotors to maintain orientation. Actually, so far, I've found maintaining orientation to be not a big issue, as long as you stay on top of it. Good yaw control is key to flying the DF (and probably any heli) well (IMHO). (The DF is my first real RC helicopter of any type...I'm new to this for sure!)

When I let my buddy fly for the first time, that was his main problem...The nose got away from him, and of course it wasn't pretty from there... [] Nothing like being nose-in and not knowing it. I've temporarily solved that problem for my newbie self by flying strictly nose-out and being an absolute hawk on yaw control, but of course I know I won't be a true RC pilot until orientation doesn't really matter to me.

Will

TheHindmost

That sounds really cool! But...how "fully" enclosed are you talking?

Will

Sky High

Kuzer has been at this for a while now and I think he's going for a total enclosure of the center.

poorjohn6

Just where can I buy a set of landing gears like you have?

John

kuzer

Thats correct Sky. It will be enclosed in a round disc with openings for the props to pull in the air...much like the experimental Avro in the 60's (I believe).

kuzer

Are you referring to the ones in my gallery? If so those are made from carbon fiber tubes. They were functional but I would not recommend them sec. to weight issues.

TheHindmost

Pull in...and blow out, I hope!

You're going to be waking a few neighbors with that when you get it flying, that's for sure! I can't wait to see it...

Will

coptercaper

Kuzer,

Very, very cool, please keep us posted. For those unfamiliar with the Avro Car, I have attached some pictures and links:

http://unrealaircraft.com/wings/avro_car.php
http://exn.ca/starwars/antigravity2.cfm

coptercaper

Even better: http://www.gfsprojects.co.uk/index.html ! Check this one out, the British have made their own Draganflyer, way creepier and much cooler!

Sky High

ajc, I saw that disc on Discovery and the History Channel. If they had that back then, there's no telling what is available now! The other one that you showed was very interesting too.

Sky High

Kuzer, have you thought about using a fine mesh screen completely encasing the whole thing including the rotors and then painting it. From a distance you couldn't tell it was a screen. This would allow air to pass through in all directions.

kuzer

Yes Sky I have thought about mesh but can't figure out how to form it. If I had to make a frame then I am getting back to the weight issue.Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Sky High

If the mesh is stiff enough and each half is very low profile you wouldn't need a frame. Maybe just a couple of vertical carbon fiber supports in the center on the top and bottom.

kuzer

Anybody out there have any experience with Depron? I've ordered a couple of sheets of 6mm Depron as a possible solution to my saucer body.
Does anyone know if it can be shaped or heated?

Thanks
kuzer