Did the FT Duster build together with my son!

by j0bro | October 27, 2013 | (22) Posted in Just Fun

After seeing the FT Duster clip I knew I had to get myself some foamboard and parts and build this one together with my son Tim, who is a big fan of Planes :)

Normally, I am busy building and flying my FPV quadrotor and plane, but the experience of doing this scratch build with my son was just great. We went to buy two foamboards and next to some electronic parts I already had, I ordered a few extra things to get us going. "Dusty" had one short flight but it was really too windy (and still is here in mid autumn) to take it out for a few spins more.

Since the pictures tell more than I can write down, I'd say take a look at them and enjoy them as much as we did while building!

-- Jeroen and Tim

The build plans printed out and arranging them on the foamboards.

Children's glue stick, great for sticking the plans on the foamboards.

Approved by Dusty, let's get cutting!

Tim watching closely at how a power pod is put together.

I ordered a prop & spinner from a Hawker Hurricane at HobbyKing, they match the original one very closely.

Cutting, cutting and more cutting.

Tim enjoys taking pictures too ;)

A tape dispenser and coffee cup seem to be excellent tools for getting the wing dihedral right.

Checking the build video by Josh in the meantime to see how the fuselage is put together.

These white analog servo's from HobbyKing seem to be perfect for the job.

Creating the holes for the wing to pass through.

That looks just perfect :D

It's already starting to look like a real plane!

Had some wide orange tape laying around, it is even re-stickable without tearing the paper cover of the foamboard. This makes it perfect for trying a few times until it is aligned as it should.

Getting close! The landing gear including the tail wheel is the one for the Bixler 1 and 2 planes, it fits this FT Duster like a glove.

The FT Duster is ready! Put some blue masking tape on it and used a waterproof black marker to add some detail. I spray-painted the spinner grey like the real one.

That is one fine looking FT Duster!

A closeup of the cockpit with the distinctive eyes.

Here's the Turnigy 8 channel receiver. Maybe a little overkill, but I had a few spare ones and it does the job.

As you can see, the Bixler landing gear is made for this plane! I reinforced it at the top with a barbecue skewer and hot glue. After the first flight, I'd suggest putting a ziptie around there as well because the glue comes loose easily (it did for me and the wheels flew off!)

The tail wheel. Since it is connected to the rudder, you can even steer on the ground while taxiing :)

The motor is a Turnigy D2826/10 1400 KV outrunner; I think a little too small for this prop. A slightly bigger motor with less KV would fit better, or just use a smaller prop (8" APC or similar).

I used a 25A Turnigy basic ESC. Nothing wrong with that one, works like charm.

Here are the two tail servo's. They actually work great; I also used them for the ailerons.

I had ordered a set of Bixler servo horns, nice and very easy to install since they work like zipties. You basically insert them through a slot that you cut with an X-acto knife and clip on the fixer plate. Cut the excess plastic and use a drop of hot glue while you're at it. 

Closeup of the tail wheel. Also from the Bixler landing gear set; highly recommended!

Job done! My son and I liked the end result very much and all the kids on the playground immediately recognized their hero from the movies :) Waiting for the stormy weather to clear so we can take it up in the air!

Thanks for reading :)

-- Jeroen and Tim

COMMENTS

EZ Air on November 4, 2013
great little motor you put in there with a 50 amp esc you can't beat it

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Exhodus on November 5, 2013
Why on earth would you pair it with such a huge ESC? that motor is rated for 10-15Amps, if you overprop it badly, it might pull 20 or so amps, but it would burn before reaching 30, so that 50 amp Esc is a waste of money, and adds unneeded weight
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
Indeed. 50 amp ESCs belong in 2kg aircraft, not in foamboard scratch builds ;)
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renesijnke on November 5, 2013
Hema! Really nice build! Congrats
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
Thanks!
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N222NY on November 5, 2013
Does anyone know what the diameter and pitch of this nice three bladed prop is? I think this is the one the author used:

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIB 1000mm - Replacement 3-Blades Propeller (USA warehouse)

The METRIC system is the tool of the DEVIL!!! --Grampa Simpson
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
It's about 10 inches but actually too big for this little airplane. I'd fly it with an 8" 2-bladed prop because this scale one from the Hurricane is horribly unbalanced, but good for scale pics :)

PS Here's one for you: http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6053/zlqxj.jpg
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
Thanks all for your really nice comments!
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Bedrock on November 15, 2013
Bernie, what do you mean can't get the kit? I have ordered from Flite Test - they will ship to UK (it is a little pricey I'll grant you).

Anybody else notice the pyjamas? Nice touch!
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onemoreflite (John Michaels) on November 4, 2013
Nice build! Just wait till your son can go flying with you, and fly himself... great memories! My 7 year old loves to buddy box with my superslo28.
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NoUsername on November 5, 2013
Outstanding job! It must have been a great time building the plane together with your son.
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hanggar_mungil on November 5, 2013
nice look..!
are you use Turnigy 9x? can you give transmiter setup for this plane?
regard,
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
Sure thing; download it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yysff5tcyz2enga/ft_duster.eepe

You can use the Companion9x tool to open the file and view the settings. Good luck!
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Jens1970 on November 6, 2013
I see you live in the netherlands (the glue stick, could be wrong though) and I want to know where you buy your foamboard, because I want to start scratch building, but the foambord is only optainable in 25 packs for 100€, wich is a little to expensive (and too much)for me.
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
Hi Jens, I got it at our local art supplies shop, Van Beek in Eindhoven. About €8 for a large A0 sheet.
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Bernie on November 9, 2013
Nice build ,going to do one myself .unfortunately we can't get the kit in the UK so I will download the plan.
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FliteOmega on November 20, 2013
I wish you had a good time with your kid.
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RCPrairieFlyyer on November 5, 2013
Very nice build!
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Exhodus on November 5, 2013
Very nice build! Looks cute :D
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Jensomon on November 5, 2013
Hey Jeroen, somthing tells me your from Holland, i'm from Belgium i would just like to know where dit u get that beg piece of foamboard ?
Thanks in advance
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
You guesses right! I got it from our local art supplies shop, Van Beek in Eindhoven. They sell foamboard in all sizes, about €8 per A0.
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Jensomon on November 8, 2013
ok these guys even deliver i just wanted to ask, is the thikness of the board exact 5mm, the ones i now use are 6mm, and this means that i have to alternn the plans and gives problems sometimes.
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j0bro on November 9, 2013
They are exactly 5mm, don't worry.
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p-air-o on November 5, 2013
looks perfect ! great build !
hope you two will have lots of fun with dusty

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DreamFlight on November 5, 2013
Good thing that it came with an iPad! jk.
Great looking plane with awesome detaling
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Splat01 on November 6, 2013
Heh. Don't tell Josh Scott that it came with an iPad.
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j0bro on November 6, 2013
FYI that is a Nexus 7, not an iPad ;)
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docmetal on November 20, 2013
Good Job it looks like it will fly nicely .
I would like to see the flight video .

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N222NY on November 5, 2013
Oh and beautiful job on your build! Let's see some video in flight!!!
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jilles oom on November 9, 2013
hey ik kom ook uit nederlands en vroeg me af waar jij je foamboard haalt.....
ik zou heel erg graag antwoord willen sinds ik ook een scratchbuilt wil maken:P

jilles
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j0bro on November 9, 2013
Staat hierboven al een paar keer ;)
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jilles oom on November 10, 2013
oh oke bedankt voor het antwoord:P

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giuliano on February 25, 2014
One more question, the blue tape looks like you used painter's tape, is that right?
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giuliano on February 1, 2014
Great job, looks amazing!!!
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giuliano on February 25, 2014
Hi j0bro,

Question, what kind of tape did you use? I got this one but it is translucent, it is light but translucent, yours looks perfect.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CYNQNJ8/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Please advise
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J_Force789 on August 11, 2014
hey, ik heb gezien dat jullie ook belgen of nederlanders zijn dus ik zal de vraag maar in het nederlands zeggen.
Hoeveel kost het voor de duster te maken?
alvast bedankt
Jeroen
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elpirobo on August 20, 2014
Could you please tell me what is the length of the body of the FT Duster and what is the size of the propeller with three blades and congratulations you did a nice work with your son. I would appreciate that you will help me with this.
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Did the FT Duster build together with my son!