Dancing Wings S.E.5.a 1/10 scale biplane build

[tudordewolf]

Yeah it is. Step by step. I wish I had the confidence to fly a plane like that. But after that much work, it would likely spend it's life as a mobile in the hobby room where I'd constantly bang my head on it

I built enough static models as a teen that I wished could take to the sky. An F-14, a Blue Angels F-18, B-29 (included model nukes...), AH-64, an 18" long Saratoga class carrier.... The detailed models are fun, but building towards a working finished product keeps me going.

At worst, it's an in-production kit and I have most of the parts for the next one already.

I've decided I only want "active" RC's and engines I eventually plan to run in my collection. Never-started shelf queens don't bring me joy as much as they do melancholy. It helps me not buy anything I don't have a clear plan for, and helps me sell things I'm not going to enjoy as much as the next owner might.

 

[Doom!]

Looking forward to hearing how she does on her maiden flight. looks great.

 

[tudordewolf]

Looking forward to hearing how she does on her maiden flight. looks great.

Successful - didn't record the true maiden flight due to camera issues, but sorted them out for the second battery.

I tried it with a 500mah 3S first and it was barely flyable, I had in fact cut too much weight. Even with the motor & battery positions shifted forward to account for the reduced mass, there just wasn't enough weight in the nose. With an 850mah though, it flew beautifully. Tight loops like a 3D plane, floats to the ground with power off.

Poor roll authority, tends to "flop" more than roll. I might need to work on correcting with rudder or give it some positive expo, or I just wasn't going fast enough. Maybe not so surprising since only the lower wings have ailerons, I'm considering cutting ailerons into the upper wing and linking them to the lower ones, or building the upper wing from the "extra" kit with modded-in aileron servos.

 

[CertifiedMike]

It looks great in the air! Nice job!!!

 

[Doom!]

Glad she worked out. Came down nice too.

 

[tudordewolf]

Some more build notes, added a 3 x 0.5mm carbon fiber strip across the horizontal stab. for stiffness, and a wingtip skid to the tailskid, which is just foam that would grind down on concrete very quickly.

My two Dancing Wings kitplanes:

There's a PT-19 in this style but I've got enough builds to keep me busy for a while- they sell some balsa kits and ARF's, a couple of which I've picked up and will be posting about soon...

 

[Tunedfrog]

Awesome build and flight.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Some more build notes, added a 3 x 0.5mm carbon fiber strip across the horizontal stab. for stiffness, and a wingtip skid to the tailskid, which is just foam that would grind down on concrete very quickly.

View attachment 220373
My two Dancing Wings kitplanes:

View attachment 220372

There's a PT-19 in this style but I've got enough builds to keep me busy for a while- they sell some balsa kits and ARF's, a couple of which I've picked up and will be posting about soon...

Very nice looking planes!
I'm looking forward to the ARFs maybe because I can see myself trying to fly one some day.

 

[Doom!]

I used to use those wingtip skids, they come in handy.

 

[tudordewolf]

Flew it in some nicer weather. Interesting coincidence that E-flite just announced a 0.9M S.E.5

It'll cruise around at 60% throttle, which means on an 850mah 3s I can easily get 10-15 minute flights.

 

[CertifiedMike]

That plane flys so nicely!!!
You make flying look so easy! I really do love watching these vids!!!
That huge lot you were in... what a great spot!
Did the prop survive?

 

[tudordewolf]

That plane flys so nicely!!!
You make flying look so easy! I really do love watching these vids!!!
That huge lot you were in... what a great spot!
Did the prop survive?

No damage, fortunately. The low landing speed helps for sure.

It flies very differently from my other planes, it has enough thrust and tail authority even at a low flight speed that it can *nearly* do a 3D hover, but doesn't quite have the extra thrust to pull out of it. If I hold it in my hand and throttle it up facing upwards, it just barely has a surplus of lift.

It could easily accommodate a more powerful motor, but then you'd lose that "floaty" performance. The fact that such a small motor can swing a 9" SF prop means it's almost like a geared-down setup. I really like how the prop looks windmilling in the sun.

I tried adjusting the ailerons so they sat flat with the bottom of the wing rather than continuing the curve over the top, in the hopes that this would improve roll authority, it did, but it still "falls" out of a roll instead of completing it.

I might wire them as "flaperons" for extra slow landings, and still intend to modify the upper wing to have ailerons too.

 

[CertifiedMike]

No damage, fortunately. The low landing speed helps for sure.

It flies very differently from my other planes, it has enough thrust and tail authority even at a low flight speed that it can *nearly* do a 3D hover, but doesn't quite have the extra thrust to pull out of it. If I hold it in my hand and throttle it up facing upwards, it just barely has a surplus of lift.

It could easily accommodate a more powerful motor, but then you'd lose that "floaty" performance. The fact that such a small motor can swing a 9" SF prop means it's almost like a geared-down setup. I really like how the prop looks windmilling in the sun.

I tried adjusting the ailerons so they sat flat with the bottom of the wing rather than continuing the curve over the top, in the hopes that this would improve roll authority, it did, but it still "falls" out of a roll instead of completing it.

I might wire them as "flaperons" for extra slow landings, and still intend to modify the upper wing to have ailerons too.

Oh how cool!!! I really enjoy watching these little planes do tricks!!!
I'm glad it didn't get too banged up! It did FAR better than if I were the pilot I ASSURE YOU!!!
I feel like maybe this spring or summer might be my 'return' to flight. If I see a good deal on an easy foam job, I might just pull the trigger.
If I crash slowly, it breaks less, right?
I will watch to see your mods and try to figure out what they all mean!