3m Saker model

[Ian F3F]

  I'm sure it won't come a great surprise to many people that I have been developing and testing a new 3m model.  3m seems to be the size of model that has dominated the F3F scene for many years, a model which makes a good F3F model seems make a great sports model also.

  There are more details about the model and it's development on the willow racing blog.  The main feature that is noticeable on the Saker, when compared to most models are the Air Flow Inducers under the wings of the fuselage.  These are designed to shape and control the air over the fuselage whilst helping the fuselage maintain it's high mechanical strength  I will attach a picture here that shows them,. thanks to Knewt.

  I have been test flying the prototype parts for some time and the completed model for the last few weeks.  The Dark Lord Dakin also had a stir of sticks after the English Open.  I have found it to be simply very stable and easy to fly, but responsive to control inputs when you want to thrash it about.  Yep I'm having a great time putting it through it's places.  Following some feedback and lay up changes the first production versions have been shipped to me.  I'll up date this thread when these arrive.

  The Saker will be available through Flightech, as always I have nothing to do with the commercial side of the models- in order to help keep the cost of the models down for the modelling community. 

 

 

[Ian F3F]

A exciting day when the new production saker have arrived. With a newer lighter lay up in the wing- that's always been stiff!

  The wings have come out at 680g each- not bad at all for a 3m wing

   Really pleased with how they look and feel out of the box. I'll be putting them together as those dark nights fly by!

 

[Ian F3F]

An early finish managed to get me to the slope with the Production version of the Saker, now with wings made with 80g carbon and a few other tweaks and mods from my earl;y experiences with first model.  As always she's kitted out with kingmax servos- the frames are definitely with it in the wings.

  The whole model came out around nearly 300g lighter than the test model I have been flying.  This was probably a good thing as the breeze never really got going but I just had to take the chance to fly her.

  I was a little conservative on the CG, 1.5mm further forward than the test model so after  a good arm launch she seems a little more positive to accelerate away.

  In lighter air the lighter wing lay up was really obvious and made the Saker a more agile model than I was expecting- I'll be reducing the throws down in future flights.

 A model that I've been enjoying flying now for a couple of months I think just got better!   I'll be dropping the other production model off in the next week for some more hands on thrashing.  

As always Neil at Flightech will be the source of these- I'll just be having fun flying

I'm a very happy camper today!

 

 

 

 

[JohnEP]

Some quick pics of my new Saker, all very nice

hopefully I will start the build tomorrow and place some better pictures plus a build blog 

JP

[JohnEP]

Got some nice King Max servos to try on this, Flightech suppliers of these with wing servo frames 

 

[JohnEP]

Fuz fit first 

This comes with a nice moulded tray that has a recess for fixing the ballast tube, needs a far bit off sanding to fit as I wanted. Not glued in as yet as I need to fit a nut under for ballast retainer, tube fits 19mm ballast slugs all this is in the Fuz there is no wing ballast. 
fuselage is very good quality and very stiff, carbon snakes for the tails with the outters fitted these feel a little stiff but this may be as the servo ends are not fixed yet. 

[JohnEP]

Servo tray fixed in with cotton flocks and glass rovings, ballast tube cut to length and plugged but will fit this after I’ve sorted the push rods

wing have no provision for any form off horns, so I will be fitting the LDS supplied from Filghtech. A bit of a fiddle as the flap and aileron wipers are on the large side, this shouldn’t be to hard as I’ve retro fitted this system on a few wings over the years.

[JohnEP]

I have Removed parts of wipers and cut slots in flaps and ailerons spars for LDS horns, still to be glued in as I’ve still got a little adjustments to make. Holes in wing sub trailing edge spars will need to be opened up a bit as well, will do a trail fix of servos and arms to check things out (normally a bit of a fiddle)

 

 

 

[JohnEP]

Next Elevator horns 

these are a simple wire bent to shape, small brass tube flattened one end for attaching clevis (sorry lost the pic) 

hard part on this was drilling the hole in the elevator spar, this was really hard work and sadly I did break the skin on one surface. When epoxying these in I made sure the hinge line is clear of excess epoxy, cotton flocks mix on this and key the wire rod here for a better bond.
today I will do the slot in the Fuz tail to accept these and final connect to the push rods

[Ian F3F]

Really enjoying watching your approach to this JP!

Fixing the elevator horns can be a bit fiddly.

Can't wait for the LDS fitting, I've always combined the Frames with the horns and clevises supplied.

 

Ian

[JohnEP]

Back end connected 

tails fitted with slots cut in Fuz to take elevator horns

[JohnEP]

Servo ends of elevator push rod outers glued in place, all seem free and easy so just a bit of fine tuning at some point 

[JohnEP]

Holes in wing sub spare enlarged to take LDS rods

[Ian F3F]

Had a great afternoon trying different ballast amounts and settings with my Saker today.  Looking forward to seeing this one going!

 

[JohnEP]

A little mod to the tail end for extra strength to the tail joiners, drilled all the way through and will be glued in  

[JohnEP]

Modified the aileron servo mounts to fit under bottom skin, I will need to add a little to flap servo mount these mods are so I can glue these to the bottom skins. Horns for LDS now glued in and wiring harness is made so next Assembly of all these bits is next.

[JohnEP]

Well I’ve had to make up some new pins for LDS arms for the surface ends, this is to make disassemble easier if needed.

sadly this has delayed the servo in stall a bit but should make any future maintenance better if needed. 
four new pins with tails and the original 

[JohnEP]

First wing servo installed, all went well if a little bit of a fiddle 

[JohnEP]

Servo arms from LDS units, I used the Third shortest for ailerons and third longest for flaps, middle two 

rods to surfaces can be third shortest for ailerons and the 6th longest for flaps, but these are my choices and can be different if surface horns position is different and servos an anther make.

I sand the rods for better free movement in the arms and horns, I feel this is needed as it feel a bit tight if use straight from the packing 

[JohnEP]

Flap servo ready to be installed

arm is offset on the flaps and straight on the ailerons, this will help for landing flap movement.