I'm sure many of you will be aware by now that Motion RC has a new range of models under the name of TechOne. The entire range of TechOne model are made of foam. Some are supplied as kits and some are PNP. Many of the models are designed for indoor flight or very light winds outside. The merest hint of anything much above sill air will be too much for some of these models. Please bear this in mind when you choosing a model from this range and the environment in which you intend to fly.
I have the TechOne Yak 55, and this is a profile model made from EPP foam. Mine the PNP version and although it is a very complete kit. It includes the motor, ESC, and the servos, it does have to be assembled and some glue is required. I will include pictures here to show the model, both in the box and during the assembly. A nice 12 page illustrated instruction manual is also included. The instruction manual can be found on the Motion RC website at the link below.
http://www.motionrc.com/content/manuals/techone1/Yak55.pdf
The model arrived packed in a double box with everything taped in place to prevent damage during shipping and handling. The degree of tape holding things in place would make it very difficult for anything to get damaged. Having checked all the parts for damage its time to begin the assembly. I used three different types of glue during the assembly and I will cover each one and where I used it as I explain the assembly process. The model is supplied pre colored, so no painting is required.
The wings are the first thing to fit, and these are glued to the flat horizontal centre section of the fuselage. I use foam Tac for this process. I want a strong joint, but I also want it flexible to some degree. The assembly should be carried out on a flat surface, to prevent warps and twists being built into the model. After the wing joint as set, the next step is to fit a wooden wing spar. This runs the full span of the wing and carries the load through the fuselage as well. A pre cut slot is provided in the wing for the spar. The spar fits nicely in the slot and only requires gluing. I used a super aliphatic glue for this job, it a very thin glue almost like water. It penetrates well and dries to a strong joint. Unlike Foam Tac it does give you time to work before it dries. I placed a couple of light weights on the wing to keep it flat while the glue set. The horizontal stabilizer was glued in place at this point using Foam Tac.
The vertical part of the fuselage has to be fitted next, and this requires parting down the center so it forms a top and bottom profile shape to the fuselage. The bottom piece is fitted first, followed by the top. The top half also includes part of the vertical stabilizer. The bottom piece has two thin pieces of foam glued at 45º between the vertical and the horizontal joint of the fuselage. This increases the strength of the fuselage. These were glued in place, again using Foam Tac.
The undercarriage is made up of mixture of carbon fiber,plastic and epoxy parts. I used thin CA to assemble the undercarriage and glue it to the model. A word of caution here. CA will glue carbon fiber like you won't believe and one drop in the wrong place will cause much gnashing of teeth and spitting of blood. EPP foam is CA safe, so if you wanted to, the whole model could be assembled using CA. However CA does dry hard and brittle and won't have the same flexibility as Foam Tac.
The final foam part to be attached is the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. I used Foam Tac here also. At this point the basic airframe is complete but it still requires the control horns, push rods and servos etc to be fitted. The control horns are made from very thin epoxy sheet, as is the motor mount. I used thin CA to glue these parts into place. The slots for the control horns are already cut in the foam. The push rods are made from very thin carbon fibre rod. The elevator and rudder push rods are supported along the length of the fuselage by small brackets also made from epoxy sheet. They work very well and do provide rigidity to the push rods. They are simply glued into the fuselage with CA.
The servos that are supplied with the model are really excellent. Small, quiet in operation and very smooth. They appear to be very well made. The push rods are connected to the servo arms and the control horns with small plastic clevises the push rod is held in place with a small screw.
The motor is secured to the motor mount with four small screws. The battery, ESC and RX are held in position with small strips of velcro tape. The last thing to fit is the propeller, and this is simply held in place with a rubber "O" ring. This model has been designed to be very light. Don't be tempted to add more weight by strengthening it, this will effect the flying performance.
The model is now ready to fly.
Those of you who have read this post and are waiting for the flying report, here it is.
I test flew the model outdoors on a very calm Sunday morning, and I can say the model is equally at home flying outdoors as it would be flying indoor. The flight performance proved to be what I would expect from a profile foam model. Its a fun model designed for extreme flight performance. It has a blistering roll rate with the servo travel set to 100% and with the elevator set to the same rate it will perform inside and outside loops in its own length. It will perform some spectacular aerobatics, it not a precision aerobatic model by any stretch of the imagination, but it is fun and it will sharpen the reflexes and keep you on your toes.
I have the rates set at 100% and 50%, and I have exponential set at 60% with 100% rate and 40% with the rates set to 50%. With these setting the model is comfortable to fly and not to twitchy. Although it is lively when you want tit to be.
I'm not a 3D pilot, but I did have a go with it a safe height, and with a little practice I may be able to hover it for a short time. The large control surfaces are very effective and make corrections very quickly.
Take off can be either off the ground or let it fly out of your hand. Landing are very easy, close the throttle and it will settle into a short glide. It won't glide on for long because of the square cut L/E on the wings and tail surfaces. I found a little power to be best for the landing. The undercarriage although quite strong being made from carbon fiber, it is quite springy and flexible. Having now flown the model, I think I can move the battery back slightly to move the CG back a little. Straight and level flight requires a little up trim.
I will add more pictures in due course.
Martin.
I have the TechOne Yak 55, and this is a profile model made from EPP foam. Mine the PNP version and although it is a very complete kit. It includes the motor, ESC, and the servos, it does have to be assembled and some glue is required. I will include pictures here to show the model, both in the box and during the assembly. A nice 12 page illustrated instruction manual is also included. The instruction manual can be found on the Motion RC website at the link below.
http://www.motionrc.com/content/manuals/techone1/Yak55.pdf
The model arrived packed in a double box with everything taped in place to prevent damage during shipping and handling. The degree of tape holding things in place would make it very difficult for anything to get damaged. Having checked all the parts for damage its time to begin the assembly. I used three different types of glue during the assembly and I will cover each one and where I used it as I explain the assembly process. The model is supplied pre colored, so no painting is required.
The wings are the first thing to fit, and these are glued to the flat horizontal centre section of the fuselage. I use foam Tac for this process. I want a strong joint, but I also want it flexible to some degree. The assembly should be carried out on a flat surface, to prevent warps and twists being built into the model. After the wing joint as set, the next step is to fit a wooden wing spar. This runs the full span of the wing and carries the load through the fuselage as well. A pre cut slot is provided in the wing for the spar. The spar fits nicely in the slot and only requires gluing. I used a super aliphatic glue for this job, it a very thin glue almost like water. It penetrates well and dries to a strong joint. Unlike Foam Tac it does give you time to work before it dries. I placed a couple of light weights on the wing to keep it flat while the glue set. The horizontal stabilizer was glued in place at this point using Foam Tac.
The vertical part of the fuselage has to be fitted next, and this requires parting down the center so it forms a top and bottom profile shape to the fuselage. The bottom piece is fitted first, followed by the top. The top half also includes part of the vertical stabilizer. The bottom piece has two thin pieces of foam glued at 45º between the vertical and the horizontal joint of the fuselage. This increases the strength of the fuselage. These were glued in place, again using Foam Tac.
The undercarriage is made up of mixture of carbon fiber,plastic and epoxy parts. I used thin CA to assemble the undercarriage and glue it to the model. A word of caution here. CA will glue carbon fiber like you won't believe and one drop in the wrong place will cause much gnashing of teeth and spitting of blood. EPP foam is CA safe, so if you wanted to, the whole model could be assembled using CA. However CA does dry hard and brittle and won't have the same flexibility as Foam Tac.
The final foam part to be attached is the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. I used Foam Tac here also. At this point the basic airframe is complete but it still requires the control horns, push rods and servos etc to be fitted. The control horns are made from very thin epoxy sheet, as is the motor mount. I used thin CA to glue these parts into place. The slots for the control horns are already cut in the foam. The push rods are made from very thin carbon fibre rod. The elevator and rudder push rods are supported along the length of the fuselage by small brackets also made from epoxy sheet. They work very well and do provide rigidity to the push rods. They are simply glued into the fuselage with CA.
The servos that are supplied with the model are really excellent. Small, quiet in operation and very smooth. They appear to be very well made. The push rods are connected to the servo arms and the control horns with small plastic clevises the push rod is held in place with a small screw.
The motor is secured to the motor mount with four small screws. The battery, ESC and RX are held in position with small strips of velcro tape. The last thing to fit is the propeller, and this is simply held in place with a rubber "O" ring. This model has been designed to be very light. Don't be tempted to add more weight by strengthening it, this will effect the flying performance.
The model is now ready to fly.
Those of you who have read this post and are waiting for the flying report, here it is.
I test flew the model outdoors on a very calm Sunday morning, and I can say the model is equally at home flying outdoors as it would be flying indoor. The flight performance proved to be what I would expect from a profile foam model. Its a fun model designed for extreme flight performance. It has a blistering roll rate with the servo travel set to 100% and with the elevator set to the same rate it will perform inside and outside loops in its own length. It will perform some spectacular aerobatics, it not a precision aerobatic model by any stretch of the imagination, but it is fun and it will sharpen the reflexes and keep you on your toes.
I have the rates set at 100% and 50%, and I have exponential set at 60% with 100% rate and 40% with the rates set to 50%. With these setting the model is comfortable to fly and not to twitchy. Although it is lively when you want tit to be.
I'm not a 3D pilot, but I did have a go with it a safe height, and with a little practice I may be able to hover it for a short time. The large control surfaces are very effective and make corrections very quickly.
Take off can be either off the ground or let it fly out of your hand. Landing are very easy, close the throttle and it will settle into a short glide. It won't glide on for long because of the square cut L/E on the wings and tail surfaces. I found a little power to be best for the landing. The undercarriage although quite strong being made from carbon fiber, it is quite springy and flexible. Having now flown the model, I think I can move the battery back slightly to move the CG back a little. Straight and level flight requires a little up trim.
I will add more pictures in due course.
Martin.
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