View source for X-UAV Mini Talon Build Number 3

[[File:BTI.png|link=AIRCRAFT|AIRCRAFT]]<br>
[[File:cc_image.png|20px]]<i><small> Mark Qvale - February, 2017</small></i><br>
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="95%" border="0"
|-
| align="left" valign="bottom" width="30%" | __TOC__ 
| align="right" width="70%" | [[File:MTT01.jpg|700px]]
|-
| &nbsp;
| align="right" width="50%" | A Twin!
|}

==<br> Introduction - Mini Talon Number 3 ==

Not so much a "build" but rather a rebuild and conversion. Mini Talon #2 unfortunately was nearly destroyed due to an ESC failure so I decided to repair it and convert it to a twin motor unit using my recently designed twin motor mounts.<br>

'''Note:''' Please see [[X-UAV Mini Talon Build Number 2]] for more information.<br><br>

== General Specifications  ==

Distributor - [http://www.banggood.com/X-uav-Mini-Talon-EPO-1300mm-Wingspan-V-tail-FPV-Plane-Aircraft-Kit-p-983331.html BangGood USA]<br>Aircraft - X-UAV Mini Talon<br>Build Date - April 2017<br><br>

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="900" align="center"
|-
| align="right" | Airframe Type -&nbsp;
| Top Wing V-Tail FPV Specialist 
| width="75" | 
| align="right" | All-Up Weight -&nbsp;
| 57oz (1620g) w/ 4S/5200 Pack
|-
| align="right" | Wingspan -&nbsp;
| 51 inches (1300mm)
| 
| align="right" | Length -&nbsp;
| 33 inches (830mm)
|-
| align="right" | Wing Area -&nbsp;
| 3.23 ft^2 (30dm^2) 
| 
| align="right" | *Wing Load -&nbsp;
| 17.6 oz/ft^2 (53.7g/dm^2)
|-
| align="right" | Motor -&nbsp;
| Multistar 2209-980kv x2
| 
| align="right" | Max Continuous Power (4S) -&nbsp;
| 300 watts continuous (4S)
|-
| align="right" | Propeller -&nbsp;
| 8 x 5 Graupner Cam Carbon E-Props 
| 
| align="right" | Max Prop Power -&nbsp;
| 316 watts @ 2550ft ASL
|-
| align="right" | Static Thrust -&nbsp;
| 1496g @ 2550ft ASL
| 
| align="right" | *Static Thrust/Weight -&nbsp;
| 0.92
|-
| align="right" | Battery Type -&nbsp;
| 4S1P Lipo 
| 
| align="right" | Battery Capacity -&nbsp;
| 5200mah/10C
|-
| align="right" | In flight efficiency -&nbsp;
| ~130mAh/mile (~81mAh/km) Typ.
| 
| align="right" | Flight Time -&nbsp;
| Close to one hour*
|-
| align="right" | COG -&nbsp;
| 60mm @ Wing root (Stock)
| 
| align="right" | *With the&nbsp;
| 5200mAh pack&nbsp;
|}
<br>

== Flight Gear ==

The following are some of my selected components with links to some of my favorite vendors.<br><br>

==== Power Set-up ====

For power on this build I have chosen the Multistar 2209-980kv motors. For ESC's, I am using two HobbyKing Blue Series 20A with extra Low ESR capacitors added.<br><br>

:* Motor - 2X Multistar 2209-980kv
:* ESC - 2X Blue Series 20A
:* Prop - Graupner Cam Carbon E-Prop 8x5 CW & CCW
:* Battery - Multistar 4S/5200, 10C<br><br>

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:MTT03.jpg|600px]]
|}
<br>

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:MTT04.jpg|600px]]
|}
<br><br>

'''Power Test'''<br>

The results below are for a single motor using a flight pack for power.<br> 

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:MS2209-980_MT8x5.JPG|700px]]
|}
<br><br>

==== Flight Control ====

For flight control I used the same APM 2.8 already installed from MT#2. It is very inexpensive and in my experience completely reliable.<br><br>

:* [http://www.readytoflyquads.com/readytoflyer-2-8 APM 2.8]
:: w/Arduplane 3.4
<br>

'''RC Control'''<br>

For radio gear I kept my standard DragonLink V2 system.<br><br>

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:MTT07.jpg|700px]]
|-
| align="center" | Gear Deck
|}
<br><br>

'''OSD'''<br>

For an OSD I kept the Micro MinimOSD from MT#2 which is reliable and easy to set-up with the APM.<br><br>

:* [http://www.readytoflyquads.com/micro-minimosd Micro MinimOSD]
:: w/Firmware r800
<br><br>

==== Video Downlink====

For the video downlink I kept the RMRC 400mw 1.2/1.3G VTx with a DragonLink video dipole. For an FPV camera I kept the HS1184 from MT #2.
<br><br>

== Airframe Build and Assembly ==

For this conversion I printed up some previously designed motor mounts.<br>

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Mount Assy v4.JPG|600px]]
|-
| align="center" | Simple Twin motor mount
|}
<br><br>

The motors must be pointed exactly the same so I lined them up vertically using two straight edges then using a long straight edge I made sure the motor mounts were parallel<br><br>

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:MT Twin Top Sketch.jpg|700px]]
|-
| align="center" | Motor mount alignment
|}
<br>

==== Gear Deck ====

The Gear deck was pretty much unchanged from MT#2 with the exception of adding the two 20A ESC's underneath.

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:MTT06.jpg|600px]]
|}
<br><br>

=== Ruddervators and Wings ===

Nothing new or special here. I kept them unchanged from MT#2.<br><br>

== Maiden Video! ==

The maiden of the Twin Mini Talon #3 was, well, iffy! It was a beautiful 78 degree morning in Spring Canyon and wind was near zero. After a very crazy/scary launch everything worked as I'd hoped and I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of power out of these two tiny motors. Next will be some longer range shake-down flights.<br><br>

Enjoy!<br>

<plainhtml>
<table align="center" width="900" border="0"><tr><td align="center">
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7loRlovH1OU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Maiden Day - 14 February, 2017</p> 
</td></tr></table>
</plainhtml>
<br><br>

== Flight Characteristics and Impressions ==

The first thing I noticed is connecting the battery is a little concerning because you must put your hands between two spinning swords of finger death (props) to get to the connectors.<br>

I won't lie, the launch is terrifying. Even with 0 degrees thrust angle, the plane wants to dive on launch. It doesn't roll at all because I am using counter-rotating props but that is the only good launch characteristic. After several near death experiences I finally started throwing the plane as hard as I could on full power and then it would just take off straight like a bullet! Once I figured this out I launched a few times on the flat dry lake bed I usually fly with success. But it was still scary.<br>

As far as in flight manners the plane is a rock. No strange tendencies, stall is flat with no tip drop. It will stay straight level and at altitude with only 24% throttle which makes it slightly more efficient than it was with the Cobra motor. It doesn't like to do rudder turns but coordinated aileron turns are fine.<br>

It sounds very cool and it is <u>very</u> quiet at cruise speed. Landing is a non-issue.<br>

There is a lot to like about this conversion although the launch characteristics are a concern which I will try and work out.<br><br>

'''Update:'''<br>
After 26 flights and various changes to try and get the twin to behave on launch I have destroyed it in a crash. A completely '''NOOB''' error on my part caused by being in a hurry and plugging a PnT into the RX without powering the RX from the servo rail. This caused the FC voltage to drop below 3.5v when I went to pan the camera and reset the Flight controller.<br>

{| border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="700" align="center"
|-
| align="center" | [[File:MT3 Fail.jpg|800px]]
|}
<br><br>

== See Also  ==

:[http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2043439 Mini-Talon on RC Groups] 
:[[Mini Talon Noses]]
:[[Mini Talon Parts Compilation]]
:[[X-UAV Mini Talon Build Number 1]]
:[[X-UAV Mini Talon Build Number 2]]
:[[X-UAV Mini Talon Build Number 4]]
:[[X-UAV Mini Talon Build Compilation]]
:[[Parts Catalog - Mini Talon]]
<br>

=== Project 3D Print Files ===

For more information, please see my Thingiverse postings here:<br><u>[http://www.thingiverse.com/markqv/designs Mark_q Thingiverse Designs]</u><br><br>

=== Some of the Vendors I used for this project ===

: [http://www.rcdude.com/default.asp R/C Dude Hobbies]
: [http://www.readytoflyquads.com/ Ready To Fly Quads]
: [https://alofthobbies.com/ Aloft Hobbies]
: [http://www.readymaderc.com/store/ Ready Made RC]
<br>

=== Comments? Questions? ===

:'''<u>[mailto:qmar80@hotmail.com?Subject=About%20The%20Mini%20Talon%20Number%203&body=Question? email me!]</u>'''

<br><br><br>
[[Category:Contents]]
[[Category:Planes]]