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. It has undergone numerous minor tweaks and one major
revision. Aye aye! T' maximum altitude obtained t' date is about 9 feet. Ya scallywag!
Construction:
Please refer t' t' figures while readin' t' construction notes.
Win' - Make this out o' 3/16 balsa as indicated, shiver me timbers, arrr, with t' grain oriented with t' leadin' edge. Begad! 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. Avast! Begad! I made it out o' a scrap piece o' wood, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, hence the odd shape. My thanks t' John McCoy o' NARHAMS for suggestin' this construction method. Aye aye!
Hub - This, me bucko, matey, too, shiver me timbers, is made from 3/16 balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' grain should probably also be along t' leadin' edge, although it be perpendicular on me model. I rounded both t' leadin' and trailin' edges. Begad! Blimey! I drilled a hole at t' lateral CG and installed a half-inch section o' ink tubing. Avast! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! This is flush with t' top surface and extends below t' hub. Begad! Blimey!
Motor tube - This was rolled from draftin' vellum and white glue. Begad! It is about 1/8 longer than a MMX motor. Arrr! Arrr!
Nose cone - This be turned from a ¼ dowel on a hand drill. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!
Balance beam - I started out usin' 3/32 wood o' varyin' length (see flight log table). Avast! Avast! I replaced it with 0.03 carbon rod, matey, which was graciously supplied by John. Blimey! T' wood dowel be simply glued t' t' bottom of the hub next t' t' launch lug, while t' carbon rod was inserted through the balsa hub.
Assembly - All components were glued together with black CA. T' win' and motor tubes are centered on t' hub and are angled upwards away from one another. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' win' is angled at approximately 12 degrees, and t' motor pod at approximately 15 degrees. Ahoy! Blimey!
Flight: All flights were from me MMX pad with a 1/2 long launch rod. Ya scallywag! T' igniters were Estes and t' MMX ones with t' plastic shell removed. For all but flight #10, I used me Pratt GO Box. T' wind was calm except for flight 10, which be 5 - 10 mph in me guestimate. 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. Aye aye! Aye aye! On me next version, me bucko, 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).
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