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