Twisted Crack XL Nite build

[c/f]

So this has been on my bucket list for long time maybe 5 years and my LED controller is obsoleted 3x over so I jumped in and heres the latest.

Final build complete: UPDATED 2/8/21

AUW minus Battery ""ALL" Twisted Gear Equipped "NO LITES"____________652g (22.9oz )
AUW minus Batteries This build Lites Equipped________________________811g (28.6oz)
Net gain added to airframe for RGB strips/wires/controller/+Glue_________159g (5.6oz)

HackerLights https://studio.hackerlights.com/login
Wingnuttech https://www.wingnuttech.com/
MudLeds https://muddart.nz/product/mudled/

ALITOVE 5mm WS2812B Individually Addressable RGB
https://www.amazon.com/ALITOVE-Indiv...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Kit Twisted Hobbies Crack XL (Special order "ALL WHITE") $169

Motor Exceed Rocket 3015 1030KV $ 21

Swervos KST $ 54
https://alofthobbies.com/kst-hs08a-5...1-sec-11g.html

Graupner Falcon Rx
Graupner 60+T ESC

So the build really starts with figuring out how to put lights and wiring go within structure, The lights are whats reffered to as EDGE LIT, typically ones Ive seen to date you groove a channel on edge of foam to face LED inwards to form a lighted cartoon outline in the nite sky. Very cool best night flyers IMHO. So given the weirdness of the foam edges on this kit I changed it up a bit and cut off a uniform thicknes say 25mm on foam pieces, I grooved by hand a slot to hold LED strip then I reinstalled the cutoff piece so now the LEDS shine outward into the uniform 25mm edge and LEDS are totaly encapsulated within foam.

What Assignable LEDS strips are is with programming of software within the lite controller and single LED can be a choice of 8 differant colors and crazy other options as flashing/strobe/chase ect and can switch via TX control. Got the grandson in high school to get coding basically Arduano language and hes making progress just tinkering. Here is my first wing half, hard to film with camera overexposure. The other outline image is an example of others with fixed color LEDS.

https://youtu.be/ZVZ4wZ35A8w

[Straightup]

[McDDD]

I can't wait to see this plane at night in person!

[Motowncali]

Very cool!

[sparkplug]

Boy that do be sweet.

[randomando]

Sweet! When do we see the video of it night flying?
Just got a flying wing together for nights and it flys well.
Have a crack yack 32 with just a few lights but it is so old and heavy now it flys like a ^[email protected]%E

[c/f]

Build Continues,

Biggest part of build is figuring out wire routing and how distribute the ethernet signal. I can have a comnon ethernet signal in which all surfaces run same show, or I can have differant shows on any of the 8 inbedded strips. Grandsons getiing better at this SHOW thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMgREzv8jH4&t=13s

[McDDD]

Very impressive!

[FlightCrazed]

Very. Freaking. Cool.

[c/f]

Well all the foam bits are completed at the end you can see a full flying stab movement as well as ailerons, next up is servo install and motor mount.

https://youtu.be/9SG7kOLB408

[Motowncali]

Very cool.

Is there a difference between top and bottom?

How much weight did this add?

[c/f]

Ethernet strands assignment.

#1 top half of fuse
#2 bottom half of fuse
#3 left wing
#4 right wing
#5 rudder
#6 canopy
#7 left elevator
#8 right elevator

weights will be known shortly but I did want a larger
plane to support added weight. Im actually pleased
that it may be less than anticipated. I think wires are more than lites.
I did go supa lite on swervos
https://alofthobbies.com/kst-hs08a-5-2k ... c-11g.html

top and bottom not doable on wings but I plane to do
solid green and solid red wing tips with wht strobing
within, and wht strobe top of rudder

[Motowncali]

Cool! Keep us posted. I know when I added LEDs to a Parkmaster, I wasn’t really happy with the way it flew after.
I’ll just have to do a big night flyer again...

[c/f]

Finished up build over weekend, to cold to test fly,
AUW - W/O batteries 811g (28.6 oz) for those who live on sailboats

Here is a photo build log "never have I ever" figured out how to post pix on this site. why its not simple site downsizing of originals is beyond me in 2021.

Swervo Porn (warning* Not for those with difficulty breathing, heart condition or those who live on sailboats)

https://alofthobbies.com/kst-hs08a-5-2k ... c-11g.html


CRAKaLACTICA Snowman

https://youtu.be/MPsY6MkSWY4

[FlightCrazed]

That thing looks kick ass! Can't wait to see it in the air! Wonder what it weighs without the LEDs? Very impressive c/f

[c/f]

Thanks the workload was in electrical layout and LED mounting more than the kit build.

I typically do not fly allot at nite cause I like adult beverages, and preffer not to have my first string planes and radio out in the dark dampness and dew and alzheimer where in the dark I set my radio down. To this end this is more of what I can do with a "Fireworks" lite show platform that will I'm sure be an excellant CJ/Aerobat if 3d is not up to daylight fleet. From what Ive seen on videos its not up to par with a Revolto as its appears bulky and pokey but It will be CF POWA with other than Twisted Swervos to help out. All comments are its floaty.

[McDDD]

Are the lighting color pattern changes controlled directly from the transmitter? Or is this done simply by arduino onboard programing? Or some other way?

[c/f]

I've updated the OP to include links to items used. all three of the controllers I have been playing with have the ability to toggle a channel to ladder thru each show, or a pot to direct tune each show based on pot position without having to ladder loop thru all as with a toggle.

Each strip of LED can have its own "SHOW" I have 8 in total. But for starting I will run a common show on all 8 and have a pot set to select the various shows. One is all OFF wont be using it long but will be cool to appear out of nowhere.

[McDDD]

Thanks for the explanation!