DH Vampire Pusher prop swappable (better video)

by motoringmaniac | April 17, 2013 | (4) Posted in Projects

Vampire plans rough      

         Ok got a short video today. Its not great as the wind was still very strong (as you will most likely see). As soon as the weather begins to co-operate I will post a better one and maybe one of version 2.0 hopefully adapting some of the suggestions people made (Thanks for those everyone!). Its just a very quick video I threw together before work so its not the greatest. Gopro on head and a keychain camera on the vampire. 


 

I was fooling around with some ideas for my swappable pod and thought I would have a go at a swappable DH Vampire pusher prop. I made it completely from scratch, making things up as I went along, using techniques I learned right here on flight test, but it was a very simple build. Its a very simple conversion from the standard power pod just reverse two wires and turn the prop around. It is only version 1.0 and I have to make a proper fitting for the power pod to fit into yet but it flies really well. 


Only three servos elevator and aleron 


 

It actually glides pretty well too


So weather sucks here again with heavy rain and 30 km/h winds. The plus side is that version 2.0 is well underway 

New and much stronger tail section using a box style. A bit shorter too hoping to reduce the amount of nose weight needed in my first version.



I am putting a rudder on this version just for giggles as it flies just as good without them.

Here is a look at my pod locking mechanism, just like others in the swapable series.

Fits nice and snug.

Fuselage on this version is slightly longer and narrower. All that is left is the wings.

Ready for electronics!

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

COMMENTS

rcspaceflight on April 18, 2013
I was thinking of building a P-38 out of foamboard but starting it as a pusher and then maybe later making a twin engine version. It would probably look just like your Vampire. So, what I'm getting at, is that I would love to see video of it flying. When you have time that is.
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motoringmaniac on April 18, 2013
will do! might be a few days as the wind is gusting about 70-80 km/h today
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rcspaceflight on April 20, 2013
I noticed that you have a nut to hold the prop to the motor and that you said that you reversed the motor and turned the prop around. You might want to get a pusher/counter rotating prop and have your motor spinning forward again. The nut will eventually get loose with the motor spinning backwards. Nothing worse than losing a prop mid-flight.

Great plane otherwise and I'm looking forward to the video.
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motoringmaniac on April 20, 2013
Ya good idea I will look into it all I have at the moment is the regular props and a big old motor of another plane (I think its a dt 850 or 1000). far bigger than needed but its all I had as a spare. It might fly better with a smaller motor and a better prop config like you suggest.
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RoyBro on April 19, 2013
I second the sentiment on the flight video. I'll be watching for it.
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Coopus2013 on April 19, 2013
you should buy retracts for it!
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motoringmaniac on April 19, 2013
maybe on version 2.0 which is in the works might post some pics of that too

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gdrcpilot on April 19, 2013
I can't get the butane vampire jet out of my mind!
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oneiwily on April 20, 2013
nice work , m8!
few thing that you may take into consideration :
1. make true airfoil , not KF step , looks better and perform way better , both symmetric and asymmetric ones.
2. maybe use the "swappable swappable" style they did with the cruiser for FPV / regular nose..

looks nice m8
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motoringmaniac on April 20, 2013
Thanks it has a true airfoil similar to the cruiser, but it is hard to see. It tapers out to the tips which are kind of kf step. I guess it is a hybrid wing.
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Eric Herman on April 27, 2013
How are you attaching your tail booms? I made a twin boom plane and I'm not sure about the stress on the wing/booms from the weight of the booms.
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motoringmaniac on April 27, 2013
I cut notches in the first few inches sort of like a key. the "teeth" are about 1/2 an inch each with a space about the same between each. Then I cut corresponding holes in the wing and glued it with hot glue. I have done some mild acrobatics with it so far and no problems. You could use a better glue for sure if you are worried. I did notice some creases in the trailing edge of the wing, around those connections, on my first version from picking it up by the tail but with the new design on version two I think I have solved that. I am thinking of laminating some balsa on the underside of that area just to be sure but as long as your tail is relatively short and light you should be fine. Good luck
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Auxiliarypower on May 9, 2013
Hot! this looks like a rocket!

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gr1999 on July 23, 2013
Can you please put up plans for this plane?? I would really like to build this awesome plane! well done!
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motoringmaniac on July 23, 2013
I will have a go.
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motoringmaniac on July 24, 2013
I put some very quick plans I don't really have a good program for this. If you have any questions let me know

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DH Vampire Pusher prop swappable (better video)