Mictronics Skywalker Build Thread

[Mictronics]

Finally I got my hands on a Skywalker. The plane came as ARF version like shown on the image below. All components are cheap Chinese no name without any markings.


The fuselage was already glued but thanks to the low quality glue they used it was easy to separate. Next I removed all the unnecessary stuff.


The wings and tail was reinforced with flat carbon spars. Bottom and top of each wing, also each fuselage half on the tail.
The paint scheme was shamelessly stolen from Derek_S.


Another reinforcement of the upper fuselage section is done by 2mm plywood. New servos are installed and the cables routed. The GPS will go on top of the horizontal stabilizer.


New servos are also installed in the wing. Ailerons hinged and connected to the servos.


I made a new motor mount since I want to use a 10" prop. The mount is made from 6.5mm plywood and 4 wooden dowels will distribute forces into the foam.



The removable canopy foam block was reinforced with 2mm plywood on the bottom. Cut in shape to take a Gopro and another plywood block glued in to take the FPV camera inclusive pan servo.


Another flat carbon spar was glued into the bottom of the fuselage. A short one on each side of the canopy opening.


While thinking how to fix batteries inside I came up with the idea shown on the image below. Used plywood again and made some slots on either side to use velcro straps to fix down the batteries. The white velcro will be used for the FY21-AP autopilot.


The Skywalker will be used without landing gear so a belly protection is needed. This time I tried something new instead of strapping tape. Scotch 3M Aluminum tape will protect the belly and tail skid during landings.

[Mictronics]

Details of the rudder to servo connection. Nylon hinges are used for the rudder.


The ESC found a place in the upper bay. Two holes on each side of the fuselage will allow air flow through the bay. The ESC is way overestimated with 60A, so I don’t expect this is getting hot.


The electronic in the first installation stage, still a mess. On the bottom the FY-21AP, top is the OSD AP117 and the yellow EzUHF receiver will stick to the side wall.


After gluing the horizontal stabilizer in place the elevator got linked to it’s servo.


The GPS found it’s position on top of the horizontal stabilizer.


Motor is fixed to the mount. A Multiplex connector is used to connect and distribute the signals to the aileron servos. The black/red wire provides power for the wing lights.


Finally electronics and wiring is sorted, all tested and working.


My Skywalker FPV canopy with GoPro Hero in position. The camera is fixed with two velcro straps and protected by the LayerLens from getfpv.com



Canopy bottom. A Multiplex connector is used for the pan servo and FPV camera power and video signals.




Canopy fixed on the Skywalker just with the original screw. FPV camera is a ReadyMadeRC RMRC-700XV fixed to a 180° pan servo.

[Mictronics]

Possible battery setup:

• 3S1P 3200mAh total
• 3S2P 6400mAh total
• 3S2P 4400mAh total

Half wave dipoles are used for the EzUHF antenna. They just stick in the wings foam, removable and connected using SMB connectors. The lower part is made flexible by using silicon fuel hose.


Ready for take-off.




My Skywalker setup:

• Motor Turnigy NTM 3536-1400
• Prop Graupner Cam-Prop 9x6 (favorite) or 10x4
• ESC Turnigy Super Brain 60A with 4A SBEC
• uThere Ruby Autopilot
• uThere Ruby OSD
• EzUHF RX 8ch
• 4+1 Servos turnigy TY90S MG
• FPV Camera RMRC-700XV with lens 2.8, pan only
• Gopro or weight dummy
• 1.3GHz video link with SPW antenna, placed on the wing top, center line
• Some illumination for night ops
• Batteries 2x 3200mAh 3S2P or 2x 2200mAh 3S2P or 1x 3200mAh 3S1P or 1x 5000mAh (all balancing at CG 105mm)

Input power with 9x6 @ 100% throttle: 476W ( 42.5A/11.2V)
Input power with 9x6 @ 50% throttle: 104W ( 9A/11.6V)


Maiden video

[DPS-Dave]

A very nice and bright build so far
I added two extra spars when building mine one in the tail and another from the motor mount both going into the main tube down the tail and then glasses the inside of the fuselage

[msev]

Michael how much amps does this power setup pull?

[Mictronics]

Uh not yet tested. eCalc says something around 30A max.

[NDw]

Where are you putting your uhf antennas?

[Mictronics]

The UHF antennas going out on to the wings. I will make two half-wave dipoles like this: http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread....dipole-for-LRS

MCX connectors will be used on the wing center as a connection to the fuselage where short coax stubs will connect to the EzUHF receiver.

[NDw]

Nice. Out of curiousity why have you decided on 105mm as the cg? I've tried at further back but think mine might be a bit tail heavy.

[Mictronics]

Two reasons:
1. I read through the whole Skywalker thread on RCG. Ian aka Daemon mentioned more then once that the CG should be around 100-105mm from the edge for much better performance.
2. Ralf aka rabe2000 and his flying mate are using the CG at least 20mm behind the servo wires and there Skywalker fly great. Both tried the factory mentioned CG with worse results.

Anyway, I'm flexible with battery placing so can shift the CG as desired.