AJ Laser 230z 73" Build Thread

[AKNick]

Fast rollers and blenders finally caught up with this bird. Right wing bolt support cracked! Wing moves about a 1/2” with the bolt installed.

Made some thin G10 board support and epoxied it in place. Much more robust, but still flexes a bit.

Went flying with the repair, and it held up quite nicely. Need to do the other side.

Worked on my throttle curve. It’s not so jumpy on takeoff and hovers with a buffer at 1/2 throttle, then spikes for my throttle bumps for rollers.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xpress]

Try and set your servo up so that it has a mechanical curve built into the throttle linkage, it really smooths things out and makes the throttle feel way more linear.

 

[AKNick]

I set mine up at the half stick/valve position and adjusted my end points. Created the an electronic curve to supplement the lack of a mechanical curve like you just shared. Funny, originally I thought I was setting it up wrong starting at low stick/valve position which actually created a mechanical curve but I redid it for a linear linkage setup as was posted by someone else. The method you shared makes way more sense. Luckily I can create a electronic curve to achieve essentially the same result. For the moment I am happy with the way it is and will introduce a mechanical curve on my next build. Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xpress]

Throttle curves in your transmitter will help to smooth out the midrange but can make a very sudden and often ballistic top end power range. Mechanical curves are really the only way to overcome this issue.

 

[AKNick]

Noted. For the ballistic on the top end... my steep climb starting below half stick position at about -40% (at what would be half stick position 0% without the curve) to create a retarded half stick position at +25% advance (the new 0% for half valve position for this linear linkage setup)... this makes the top end throttle valve (past half throttle stick position) linear from half stick to full stick which isn't ballistic but rather subtle in this case. If anything it seems to lack power lol. But like I said, it works for me. I love that chart you posted, worth printing off a leaving it around the shop. Thanks for that!

Edit: I read somewhere that all the small gassers 35cc and under lack an upper throttle range above half throttle. So they peak pretty quickly too which might skew the chart.

 

[AKNick]

VIDEO!
After the years this assembly thread has been posted, My maiden video was terrible... my wife tried but I couldn't edit enough to post (bless her heart). I finally made a video of this plane flying around doing some 3D maneuvers. It's shot with a GoPro Hat clip cam, so it looks farther than it really is.

edit: (Posted this video on the first page as well)

 

[pawnshopmike]

VIDEO!
After the years this assembly thread has been posted, My maiden video was terrible... my wife tried but I couldn't edit enough to post (bless her heart). I finally made a video of this plane flying around doing some 3D maneuvers. It's shot with a GoPro Hat clip cam, so it looks farther than it really is.

Great flying, great edit and beautiful scenery! What’s not to like?!

 

[AKNick]

Great flying, great edit and beautiful scenery! What’s not to like?!

Thanks Mike!

 

[AKNick]

Great flying, great edit and beautiful scenery! What’s not to like?!

Just for a scale reference. The mountain to the right is a 4,000ft peak. The Mendenhall Glacier is to the left of that. I am very close to sea level. I do take the view for granted from time to time...

 

[AKNick]

Still running strong this one! Flew it today and had lots of fun flying XA with it.

Made a retro addition to my worn out aileron wire extensions LOL!!!
They were starting to feel loose when plugged in so I figured it was time for new ones.