Trident Redux

[technoid]

Very cool thanks for posting your build pictures. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. Take care and heal first, don't push it.

 

[wzard59]

Looks great! I can't wait to see the finished product. Good luck on your surgery.

I see you chopped off the points on the rudders. I kinda miss them, but they're missing on my C/L one, too. But not by design. They're too fragile & it didn't take much to break them off.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out as well. It's perfect in my head, but I know things change.
I don't have it in any pictures, but I have points on the rudders again. I had to re-cut both rudders, because I realized I had cut the first set in the wrong direction of the grain. (Rookie scratch building mistake) There's a different look I think might protect the points? I'll post some photos later.

 

[wzard59]

Very cool thanks for posting your build pictures. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. Take care and heal first, don't push it.

Thanks, Glad you enjoy them. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished plane, but I am in no hurry, and I'm taking it really slow. I'm off work for another 5 weeks, so there's plenty of time to rest and then work in short sessions. Plenty of planes to fly this season, so I can take the time and make sure this one is built right.

 

[wzard59]

I have a build update for the Trident replica RC plane I've been building. It has been some time since I posted any progress, and I got behind in building through the end of summer. I made some progress in the last month, and hoping to finish in a week or so.
There were several set backs due to my lack of scratch/kit bashing/building experience.
I think I've worked out the controls, and I believe if I balance it the same as I would the standard 4 Star 40 it's built from, I should be in the ballpark of stable flight. I'm going to be sure and turn down the throws on all my surfaces to keep it as stable as possible. It has a huge elevator and aileron surface, and I'm cautious of the twin rudder and how that might handle. I do feel it should have some stable flight characteristics, but someone with flying experience could probably twist this thing all over the air park.
I've gone through and checked the alignment and square on everything. I needed to correct a warped rudder, but the fix wasn't too difficult.
I'm doing the covering now, and it looks really good. I'm pleased with the outcome so far.
I would like to get it set up, and do some taxi tests, and if I'm lucky possibly a maiden by the first part of October.
Take care and good flying

 

[technoid]

I have a build update for the Trident replica RC plane I've been building. It has been some time since I posted any progress, and I got behind in building through the end of summer. I made some progress in the last month, and hoping to finish in a week or so.
There were several set backs due to my lack of scratch/kit bashing/building experience.
I think I've worked out the controls, and I believe if I balance it the same as I would the standard 4 Star 40 it's built from, I should be in the ballpark of stable flight. I'm going to be sure and turn down the throws on all my surfaces to keep it as stable as possible. It has a huge elevator and aileron surface, and I'm cautious of the twin rudder and how that might handle. I do feel it should have some stable flight characteristics, but someone with flying experience could probably twist this thing all over the air park.
I've gone through and checked the alignment and square on everything. I needed to correct a warped rudder, but the fix wasn't too difficult.
I'm doing the covering now, and it looks really good. I'm pleased with the outcome so far.
I would like to get it set up, and do some taxi tests, and if I'm lucky possibly a maiden by the first part of October.
Take care and good flying

Very cool I like it. Keep us posted !!!

 

[Bill Stuntz]

Looks great! How big is it? What power? I've loved that design since I first saw it in Nov 1962 MAN as the U-Name-It in a "Name this Plane" contest - designed by Larry Scarinzi. who passed away last year at age 90. I built a C/L replica a few years ago. 52" like the original, powered by a Thunder Tiger GP42 converted to a C/L Stunt engine by replacing the original R/C carb with a venturi.

 

[wzard59]

Looks great! How big is it? What power? I've loved that design since I first saw it in Nov 1962 MAN as the U-Name-It in a "Name this Plane" contest - designed by Larry Scarinzi. who passed away last year at age 90. I built a C/L replica a few years ago. 52" like the original, powered by a Thunder Tiger GP42 converted to a C/L Stunt engine by replacing the original R/C carb with a venturi.

Bill,
Sorry for the delayed response, I haven't been online here recently and only this week realized how long it's been since I last posted.
I really misjudged how long things would take to get completed. A couple months back while in the process of doing some final checks I found a couple build mistakes that would have caused major problems, if not a crash. I ended up rethinking my build and how to get things balanced and straightened.
In the long run this plane is now balanced and should fly OK based on whatever research I could find about eliminating weight and changing up the fuselage to balance on the CG of the wings main spar per specs and not add much weight.
I had found my original build was far more tail heavy than I thought. Adding dead weight was a possibility, but 8 ounces or a bit more in the nose was far too much. So, that started the process of a rebuild.
I did some weight reduction in the tail and rear fuselage area. I moved the ESC and motor out farther on the front which required extension of motor mount and my balsa cowl. Actually, in the long run adding some length up front made the fuselage look a lot more like the modeling done in the simulator design by Technoid.
Everything worked out well, I ended up eliminating about a half ounce in the tail area and took 5 ounces of dead weight out of the nose. The plane is balanced and ready for flight with 3 ounces of weight in the nose. It's not ideal, but it should be alright. Granted it is a bit heavy.
Unfortunately, the season is gone for the year, and I'll need to wait until spring for the maiden. I'm looking forward to seeing if it flies as good as it looks.
The specs are WS 54-1/2" Fuselage 49"
It's set up with electric using a Badass power 3520-970 Kv motor spinning an 11x7 electric wood prop, 100Amp ESC with 4S 4000MaH Lipo batteries for power. It's supposed to be the equivilant to a 40-50 Nitro engine.
I shortened the 4 Star 40 kit wing by 2 bays (one on each side). Wingspan ends up at 54-1/2" just like the SIG ARF 4 Star 54 that I currently fly.
I liked the flight characteristics of the 4 star, so I felt it would be stable platform to try this crazy kit bash.
It was fun in RealFlight flying the model Technoid designed, and I felt it would be fun to fly for real, so it started this project that ended up taking a little over a year to complete. Once I get it airborne, I'll do my best to post a video if I can get one.
I've included the last photos taken after I had the plane balanced and ready for the maiden. I still need to add some decal work on the wing along with some numbers, and bottom wing markings. It's a shame my timing is just as weather won't allow flying until spring.
Thanks for the interest in my project. I'm glad I found the RealFlight exchange and found this design made by Technoid.
This should be fun, and pretty in the air.

 

[technoid]

Bill,
Sorry for the delayed response, I haven't been online here recently and only this week realized how long it's been since I last posted.
I really misjudged how long things would take to get completed. A couple months back while in the process of doing some final checks I found a couple build mistakes that would have caused major problems, if not a crash. I ended up rethinking my build and how to get things balanced and straightened.
In the long run this plane is now balanced and should fly OK based on whatever research I could find about eliminating weight and changing up the fuselage to balance on the CG of the wings main spar per specs and not add much weight.
I had found my original build was far more tail heavy than I thought. Adding dead weight was a possibility, but 8 ounces or a bit more in the nose was far too much. So, that started the process of a rebuild.
I did some weight reduction in the tail and rear fuselage area. I moved the ESC and motor out farther on the front which required extension of motor mount and my balsa cowl. Actually, in the long run adding some length up front made the fuselage look a lot more like the modeling done in the simulator design by Technoid.
Everything worked out well, I ended up eliminating about a half ounce in the tail area and took 5 ounces of dead weight out of the nose. The plane is balanced and ready for flight with 3 ounces of weight in the nose. It's not ideal, but it should be alright. Granted it is a bit heavy.
Unfortunately, the season is gone for the year, and I'll need to wait until spring for the maiden. I'm looking forward to seeing if it flies as good as it looks.
The specs are WS 54-1/2" Fuselage 49"
It's set up with electric using a Badass power 3520-970 Kv motor spinning an 11x7 electric wood prop, 100Amp ESC with 4S 4000MaH Lipo batteries for power. It's supposed to be the equivilant to a 40-50 Nitro engine.
I shortened the 4 Star 40 kit wing by 2 bays (one on each side). Wingspan ends up at 54-1/2" just like the SIG ARF 4 Star 54 that I currently fly.
I liked the flight characteristics of the 4 star, so I felt it would be stable platform to try this crazy kit bash.
It was fun in RealFlight flying the model Technoid designed, and I felt it would be fun to fly for real, so it started this project that ended up taking a little over a year to complete. Once I get it airborne, I'll do my best to post a video if I can get one.
I've included the last photos taken after I had the plane balanced and ready for the maiden. I still need to add some decal work on the wing along with some numbers, and bottom wing markings. It's a shame my timing is just as weather won't allow flying until spring.
Thanks for the interest in my project. I'm glad I found the RealFlight exchange and found this design made by Technoid.
This should be fun, and pretty in the air.

Very nice update, and thanks for the pictures. It looks really cool be sure to give us a madien flight report when you get it in the air. Do you ever fly the Trident I build for Bill? I could make your color scheme for it.

 

[wzard59]

Very nice update, and thanks for the pictures. It looks really cool be sure to give us a madien flight report when you get it in the air. Do you ever fly the Trident I build for Bill? I could make your color scheme for it.

Yes, Thank you so much. A color scheme I could download would be amazing! I have in fact, downloaded and flown the Trident models in Real Flight. Your models are the reason for my build. I enjoyed the look of the Trident in RF and knew I would like to see it for real at the flying field someday. It's been a long project with a lot of delays and re-designs, but in the long run I think it will be a good flyer. I won't get to maiden it until spring, so I have another plane to repair and once that's done it will be time for a new build. I'll be in touch, and in the meantime practicing in RF. Thanks again!

 

[technoid]

Yes, Thank you so much. A color scheme I could download would be amazing! I have in fact, downloaded and flown the Trident models in Real Flight. Your models are the reason for my build. I enjoyed the look of the Trident in RF and knew I would like to see it for real at the flying field someday. It's been a long project with a lot of delays and re-designs, but in the long run I think it will be a good flyer. I won't get to maiden it until spring, so I have another plane to repair and once that's done it will be time for a new build. I'll be in touch, and in the meantime practicing in RF. Thanks again!

Okay cool I'll go ahead and make your color scheme. It won't take long so check back in two or three days and see if I posted it on the swap pages. I'll also reply to your post again so you'll see a message waiting for you when you log in.

 

[technoid]

Yes, Thank you so much. A color scheme I could download would be amazing! I have in fact, downloaded and flown the Trident models in Real Flight. Your models are the reason for my build. I enjoyed the look of the Trident in RF and knew I would like to see it for real at the flying field someday. It's been a long project with a lot of delays and re-designs, but in the long run I think it will be a good flyer. I won't get to maiden it until spring, so I have another plane to repair and once that's done it will be time for a new build. I'll be in touch, and in the meantime practicing in RF. Thanks again!

I just finished your blue-orange color scheme. I'll fly it for a bit and then upload it here on the forum. I couldn't tell from your pictures what was on the vstab but if you'll give me a link to it or post it here I can add it for you.

 

[wzard59]

That is amazing! Thanks for making the color scheme for the plane. It is greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to practicing on the SIM with this The logo on the vstab is Bad uranus power systems. I attached a photo

 

[technoid]

That is amazing! Thanks for making the color scheme for the plane. It is greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to practicing on the SIM with this The logo on the vstab is Bad *** power systems. I attached a photo

Thanks. I'll add your decal and then upload the color scheme to the forum in a reply to your post. After you try it out and make sure there aren't any problems with it I'll upload it to the swap pages. I should be able to get your decal added tomorrow so come back tomorrow night and it should be here.

 

[technoid]

That is amazing! Thanks for making the color scheme for the plane. It is greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to practicing on the SIM with this The logo on the vstab is Bad *** power systems. I attached a photo

I added your decal and here's a beta of the color scheme. Give it a good look and let me know if there's anything I need to fix.