[adrenalnjunky]

Ok -- here's my dilemma, I built a home made foamy off of 3DX plans, but the thing was made from that paper-backed foamboard, and ended up weighing 27 ounces all up, and was terribly tail heavy due to that type of foam construction. I was using some generic micro servos that were 18 gram servos similar to Hitec HS81's, but not near the quality.

I decided to order a depron Raven kit from Levi @ 3dFoamy.com and it just showed up. Levi had some downtime and took a little longer than expected to get the kit here (that's NOT a jab at Levi -- he's been straight up honest, and easy to contact for status updates) Plus I got the kit in grey depron, which I like a lot better than the white. In the meantime, I decided I wanted a park flyer I can try and teach the wife on, and possibly some nephews, so I bought a Wattage Hyper Wing - it was delivered yesterday - in anticipation for the hyper wing, I bought 2 GWS Nano PRO BB servos (slightly larger than the standard NANO, 13 gram with 22oz/in of torque) and havent installed them yet.

soooooo - I guess here's my question(s)
the raven requires 4 servos, I didn't realize that -- I only have 3 of the HS81 wannabees, and I'm not going to order another one of them, due to geartrain failure I have had on 2 others. Plus I'm thinking the lighter, the better on the Raven. I have a Himax 2015/4100 GWS D-ratio, Phoenix 25 ESC, and I'm going to move to Lipos - either a 3s1p or 3s20 1300-2100 setup.

1) What are others running on similar setups for servos? I like the pricing on the GWS servos, the 8.8 gram standard NARO with 11 oz/in of torue - are these strong enough for all the control surfaces? Esp if I'm using dual aileron servos?

2) should I keep my 2 slightly heavier NANO pro's and put them in the raven? If so, you think they would be better on rudder/elevator, or aileron?

3) Are the Hitec HS55 tha tmuch better of a servo that I should try picking a few of them up too?

I think 2 of the 18 gram servos I have are going to end up in the flying wing for knockaround use, so pretty much I just need to know where to place which servos in the Raven.

Anyone else built this kit with the pull-pull rudder setup? Is that possibly getting too fancy for what this kit is, a cheap 3D trainer for use in yards and parking lots?

sorry for the long rambling post -- I'm bored at work.

 

[Quicker]

Are those the generic servos from ebay? I was having good luck with them and ordered another batch, which were totally different and suck. Some move lightening fast, some are dog slow. Last night I had one fail on the right aileron of my foamy edge.

I've bought the guy's 18 gram and 9 gram servos....Not buying any more of those. I'm thinking I'm going to order a pair of the Micro9's from allerc. At only $12.95 each, that sounds good to me.

I think the 18 gram servos might be a little heavy for a foamy 3D plane. You could go with 6 gram, but they are on the small side.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

Yes, the generic ones from ebay - seller's ID is egrandbuy. Draganfly also offers some light ones too, but I don't have any experience with them.

I saw the micro9 from allerc.com -- I didn't know much about them, but the price did look good. I've ordered several times from that company and had good results with them.

Which control surfaces would require a stronger servo on these planes?

 

[Quicker]

Yep, those are the same junk ones I bought. It seems to be hit-n-miss with them. A have a few bad ones, and them some that seem really good.

I don't think any of these foamy control surfaces need more than 9 gram servos, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Ulf]

I really think that the best servos for foamies out there are the Cirrus 4.4 gramm ones. Very fast and nice torque too besides the light weight. Much better then the GWS Pico servos I think. Not cheap, but it's only money :shock: :lol: .

 

[adrenalnjunky]

well the big issue is that you can't tell how durable a servo is by looking at specs. You can tell it's torque output, but not how strong it's geartrain is.

The older Hitec HS80 would strip easily, but the 81 is much more durable. I wish there were a real-world test of all of these that I could use for reference. I just don't wanna spend more that $18 each on servos for a sheet-foam airplane.

 

[ChuckAuger]

I have some GWS Pico BB servos I have been flying for almost a year. No failures, no slop. They might not be as good as the $34 Cirrus 4.4's, but nobody who flys the ChuckFlyers complains about servo speed or control authority.

I have trashed 2 HS-55's, lousy servos IMHO.

 

[ChuckAuger]

well the big issue is that you can't tell how durable a servo is by looking at specs. You can tell it's torque output, but not how strong it's geartrain is.

The older Hitec HS80 would strip easily, but the 81 is much more durable. I wish there were a real-world test of all of these that I could use for reference. I just don't wanna spend more that $18 each on servos for a sheet-foam airplane.

The HS-81-sized servos are way too big for these foamies.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

Yeah -- I was just using them as an illustration -- I'm not going to put my 18 gram servos in my new foam profile kit.

allerc.com has the mighty9 for $12.99, the Pico+ for $17.95, and the 10 gram Naro+ for $14.95.

I'm thinking the Naro+ is the way I'm going to go for the $$$.

My naro pro's are slightly wider and taller, and weigh 3 grams more each - I'm going to put the 18 gram ones in this new flying wing, and order a pair of Naro+ for the foam 3d plane, use the Pro's on rudder and elevator, and the pair of NARO + on the ailerons. (Unless anyone thinks I need the stronger servos on the wings, and then I'll swap them around.)

 

[ChuckAuger]

No, you'll have plenty of torque. I was amazed at how large the control surfaces on these things can get with just an 11 oz-in servo.

 

[DanHoH]

I use the pull-pull method using upholstery thread, I got from K-Mart or Wal Mart. As I was walking to the check out stand, I took some thread loose and tried to break it. Damn near cut my hands. OK, its good enough. 20 year supply for 1.99 or so.

Stretching has never been an issue. I use a 1/8 dowel, glued through the moving surface, split both ends, wrap the thread, and into the split end and CA'ed. Thread to the servo ends using the holes in the arm, and securing the thread under the sccrew head, therefore adjustable, if needed.

Never had to adjust.

 

[Quicker]

a guy over at rcgroups posted this about the allerc micro 9's:

I have quicker. To me they are the same as the cheap ebay ones. They strip out just as easy.I bought some of the micro 9 from allerc and they stripped out trying to get the control horn on. I have gone to all Hitec hs-55 they are a little heavier but are WAY tougher. I have tried the GWS pico one and I really like them but they are a little bit more expensive.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

That's what I was afraid of. I stripped 2 of the generic 18 gram servos just moving the servo arm with my handwhile testing the servo for smooth movement.

I'm going to go with the GWS Naro+ 10 gram weight, 22 oz/in of torque. $14.95 each at allerc.com.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

Got the raven almost completed last night. Used the Naro Pro servos on the wing, and Hitec Hs-55's for the ele and rudder.

Anyone see any glaring problems? It weighs in at 9.6 ounces (.6 pound) with all servos and controlsurfaces rigged, and with my Phoenix 25 sitting on the wing. I'm short my receiver and batteries. Rx is going to be a .3 ounce GWS Naro 6, and an estimate for a 3s1P Lipo of 4 ounces should put be right at 14 ounces all up I think. right now it balances about 3/4 inch behind the spar, so I think that I should be able to get it to balance wherever I want it to by moving the battery around some.

I'm contemplating pulling off the hinging tape and gluing on CA hinges across the top of the wing and ele -- does anyone think that would be a better setup in the long run, and how do I set up a double beveled rudder that way?

 

[cropdusterdave]

What kind of tape are you using on the hinges? Looks like it might be a bit heavy...but I'm speculating. I don't double bevel either...but I use bluecor. As far as the 9 gram servos from allerc go....maybe they're not the best out there...but I've not had any gripes about mine. Just make sure you shave every single solitary ounce off these things as you can...it makes a difference.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

The tape is from www.fast-pack.com - I had some colored packing tape laying around from building my SSC combat planes. The stuff is actually very thin - almost translucent, and lighter than standard clear tape.

I'm still thinking about going to regular CA hinges though, to take all slop out of the system.