Versa Pusher Swappable Pod Adaptor Plans

by Tactical Ex | April 21, 2014 | (0) Posted in How To

 

What does it do? 

The benefit of this mod is that you don’t have to own an extra set of electronics for your FT Versa if you want it to be a pusher.   The adaptor makes the Versa fully swappable in both pusher and tractor mode.  All of this is done with ZERO modifications to your power pod.  It also give you A TON of space to add various equipment.

 


Who would want it?

            Simply put, this mod is for people who want the FT Versa to be a pusher and it still be a swappable.   

Be mindful that I don’t want to take away from the usefulness of the FT Simple Firewall which is your best solution for a pusher FT Versa Wing if you don’t want to add a center section.  Please, please, please buy the FT Simple Firewall from the Flite Test store if you need it, it’s cheap and you are supporting Flite Test by purchasing it.  

 

How was it created? 

This project started out trying to find a way to mount the power pod on the vanilla version of the FT Versa in a pusher orientation but the mod required cutting into the wing that made it too fragile so it was decided that a center section had to be used.  Earlier center sections started out at about 6 inches in width but once the blunt nose conversion kit was release by FliteTest, the same width the blunt nose kit used was incorporated into the design to keep the same CG and make it easier for the FT community to adopt.  

 

Before you get started, make sure you have built the following: 

 

What you will need (not including building tools) 

  • 1 sheet of Dollar Tree Foam board (Adam’s Readyboard) 

  • 2x Bamboo skewers 

  • 1x Plans  (Versa SPA Rev5 FULL Size)

  • 2 servo lead extenders 

  • 1 or more Pusher type propellers 


Video on how to build, add optional features and the maiden flight

 

 

The plans come in 2 main pieces, the bottom and the top.   The sides are built into the bottom piece and are joined with a B style fold. Once the B fold is established the top sits down inside.  There are 4 spacer pieces that are used to keep the top in the shape it is supposed to be in while the glue is drying.  Once the foam board parts are finished, 2 5cm long bamboo skewers are embedded into each side to reinforce it against stresses and then the wings can be attached.  

 

Downloadable Plans: Versa SPA Rev5 FULL Size


Don’t forget that you need to switch out the propeller to a pusher style propeller and make sure that it is facing the right direction! 

 

You can follow the forum thread documenting key points of development here … 

COMMENTS

suvansh on August 5, 2014
thats awesome man!! i was going to built something similar!!!! thanks a lot!!!!

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Nathan_116 on August 5, 2014
Anna easier way to do this would to mount the pod on the bottom and just cut out the 4 slots for the pod, add 2 skewers to the back for the pod, and put another zip tie in it for the sleeker in the back of the pod to hold it it. This way you can make in blunt nose or regular. This is how I did it and it works great without weakening it at all. If you at worried about weakening it then just add some Popsicle stick support to the bottom.
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Tactical Ex on August 5, 2014
Putting the pod underneath can be done as you suggested (its actually where I started with this project) but as you probably noticed it does some odd things aerodynamically because the thrust lines are angled improperly and it also looses a lot of efficiency. There is a forum thread that I believe you commented on if your forum name is the same there as it is here which covers all the reasons I didn't end up just attaching it underneath. http://forum.flitetest.com/showthread.php?5140-FT-Versa-Wing-reverse-power-pod-install/page2&highlight=versa+mount
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Grearson on August 13, 2014
Hi there and thx for your work =)
I just converted the Planes to printable Tiled plans, no clue how to upload them here so maybe the author maybe want to email me, and ill send it out so he can add it to the article
=> Grearson01@gmx.com
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Tactical Ex on August 13, 2014
Thanks! Just sent you an email. You can remove your email from your comment now if you have any security concerns.
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Tactical Ex on August 13, 2014
Scratch that, got a delivery error sending email. Hit me up with a pm on the forums. My name is "Tactical Ex" there as well.
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Versa Pusher Swappable Pod Adaptor Plans