Big Fun with the Tiny Trainer 4 Channel Conversion

by winglet | May 12, 2015 | (17) Posted in Reviews

I'm a pretty advanced modeler I guess.  I've been building and flying for a long time.  I've built and flown some great designs and I've even built a few that wouldn't fly at all. What I am trying to say is.... I've been around the block a few times and I think I have a pretty good feel for the good the bad and the mediocre.  I wanted to take the time to write an article about the Tiny Trainer (4 channel) because it has impressed me in so many ways as a really fun airplane.   This article is intended to be a companion article to my first article about the 3 channel version of the very same airplane. You can find that article   here http://flitetest.com/articles/tiny-trainer-a-little-airplane-to-love  or just click on it at the bottom of the page.

Mainly I want to highlight the differences between flying the model in the two different configurations.  I figure a newbe who has sucessfully flown the 3 channel version might have some reservations about the move to the more advanced model.  So I will at lest share my impressions with you. Then I will share a few details about my setup and some simple mods.

So you have sucessfully built and flown the 3 channel version of the Tiny Trainer.  Maybe you have even already built the 4 channel wing but you are just a little nervous about taking it for a flight?  How do you know it you are ready? When you feel really comfortable with the 3 channel and you arn't crashing  (much) anymore then I would say, "You won't have any problems."  

Before you go blasting off into the wild blue I would suggest that you make sure the top of your airplane contrast with the bottom.  Here I have used packing tape.  This is going to make it much easier to stay oriented as this wing is going to move along just a little faster.

 Launch this one just like you did your 3 channel.  You did check your CG again and you set your ailerons as per the plan right?  PLEASE make sure all of your controls move in the correct direction.  If you have done that then your are ready to launch it straight into any wind just like you did your 3 channel.  Use about half throttle.  If you have done everything mostly right, flying this should be pretty easy.  Go easy on the throttle until you get used to it.  Bet you grin the first time you fly a big ol loop with it in this configuration or pitch the nose up slightly and then move your ailerons all the way to the stop quickly for your very first aileron roll.  You are going to love it!

Old salts reading this.  This airplane is for you too. It can fly like a little pattern ship. (kinda) I mean in a Dollar Tree Foam Board kind of way.  You know what I mean.  It is smooth and stable and can take up a lot of sky if you want to fly it that way.   Or.. it does a pretty nice job low and slow.

I think the TT in both version does exactly what Flite Test wanted it to do.   I can see the 3 channel on 2 cells becoming the standard in trainers.  It should be fairly easy step into the 4 channel version after some time getting to know the 3 channel version.  The 4 channel with 3 cells is a little rocket but it isn't extreme either.

So what is my favorite version?  I guess that depends on which one I flew last.  I like em both!  The good news is, I can have both.  I have both versions programmed into by transmitter with different names.  All I have to do is select the wing and select the approiate version on my transmitter and I'm off having fun.

My airplane is mostly stock.  The only real mod is the location of my 9 gram rudder and elevator servos simply mounted to the outside of the fuselage near the tail.  The model does build quite nose heavy with most batteries.  Moving the servos made mine balance right on CG with an 850mah 3 cell.

I should also mention that I took most of the right thrust angle out of the mini power pod.  The TT doesn't need it.  In fact it will make the Tiny Trainer track to the right.

 

Okay, here is my setup.

Both of my setups are the same.  It looks like this....

6 channel Orange receiver of some version

9 gram cheapo servos in the tail for elevator and rudder

5 gram cheapo servos in the wings for ailerons. (the little ones fit better)

SunnyskSky X2204S 2300KV motor with and APC 6x4e (lots of motors will work. Had this one laying around)

Cheapo 10amp ESC that I had laying around.

Zippy (compact) 850mah 3 cell  25c

 

So the Tiny Trainer can be a lot of things. It is really up to you and how you choose to configure it.  It can make a really good 3 channel trainer, a good 4 channel trainer or a great little zoom around machine.  It is a model that in some form will probably exist in my hangar for a long long time.

 

 

 

COMMENTS

winglet on May 14, 2015
37 inches on the 3 channel and 37.5 on the aileron wing.
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raydar on May 14, 2015
Thanks for the info. I actually thought, the 3 channel wing would have the greater span and that would explain the speed difference. So, there must be a difference in power set up.
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raydar on May 14, 2015
Never mind, re-reading your article I see that the 3 channel was on a 2 cell and the 3 channel was on a 3 cell. Now it makes sense.
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winglet on May 15, 2015
I think that would probably work alright. The 18amp esc is not a problem. Would just need to get the prop right. Maybe someone else can chime in here with a suggestion?
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Torf on May 17, 2015
I have flown the Tiny Trainer with GWS 8x4HD GWS 8x4.3SF and APC 8x3.8SF using a 1400kv Suppo motor on 2S and it works great. 7" props just didn't have enough thrust on the 1400kv motor. I think that you would want a minimum of 8", and maybe even 9" if the motor can handle the wattage. On 3S, the 8" would surely work well, and expect to see close to 10A.
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karam.haddadin.52 on May 18, 2015
what battery are you using?
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umairf on May 15, 2015
@winglet
Sir can i use 1200Kv Motor with 18amp ESC ?
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raydar on May 14, 2015
Winglet, what is the wingspan of your 4 channel version as compared to the 3 channel version?



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udo789 on May 14, 2015
Great review. I'm sold. TT is next!
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1959cutter on May 15, 2015
i found that my flying was better using "bank and yank" method for learning to fly...in fact I still fly 3 channel with a taped straight rudder on most of my planes with no loss of control.
I think it was mikeys rc that I learned from, with his trainer design.
this was before flite test,still a great website for plans.
thanks for this article!
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winglet on May 14, 2015
No, actually I am running both on 3 cells. The speed difference come from the shape of the wing.
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winglet on May 18, 2015
The Zippy compact 850mah 3 cell 25C fits perfectly and works great.
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scott firman on June 26, 2015
Everyone is complaining about how nose heavy their tiny trainer is.I finally found your article and plan on moving both my servos to the tail of the plane mounted to the outside like you have them.I think it makes more sense than crossing the control wires over each other internally as the original plans show.I may try building my next one as original as planned.I cut out multiple copys of the plans and saved one as a master.I also want to extend the wings as you have to make it as an amazing glider.
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caleb_rc on July 7, 2015
I have just recently been flying my TT, currently i have a 2206 motor, a 6x4.5 prop, and no right thrust angle,.. I ordered my props from hobby king, which only sells props of this size in both CCW and CW. My original plan was to use no thrust angle because i was aware that I would have to use CW props. I started out using the normal CCW props, it flew fine but it did pull to the left a little (which I was expecting) but I could overcome it. After a couple of rough belly-landings I broke all of my CCW props. So I reversed my motor and put on the CW props,only this time it pulled to the right a lot more than I was expecting( I could even feel it pull when I was holding it) when I tired to hand launch it, it pulled to the right and straight into the ground. (Again there was no difference except the rotation of the props) I realize that the designs are build around CCW props but I had no clue that it could make such a difference. So far I guess I just need to order more CCW props and use the right thrust angle. Thanks for reading my long rant haha.. Any suggestions or explanations are appreciated :)
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winglet on June 26, 2015
Yep, moving the servos to the back is really makes a great difference and just makes sense.
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AIR_MODEL on June 19, 2015
Where did you download this drawings?
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sherman8tor on June 23, 2015
Tiled: http://www.stonekap.net/ftplans/FT-mini%20Tinytrainer-TILED-PLANS.pdf
or
http://www.stonekap.net/ftplans/FT-Mini%20TinyTrainer-plans.pdf

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Ron B on August 7, 2015
I built my tt with the 4ch set up and used 1 1/2 glue sticks so as you see not a lot of glue. Mine came out at 8 oz with out battery and I have a complete ft set up. I put servo's in the tail and glad I did as I have the esc back beyond the power pod and put the rx even farther back than where the servo's were suppose to be and with the 800mh I have half of the battery past the power pod to get the cg right
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Phil3915 on January 9, 2016
I just completed a Tiny Trainer plane with aileron wing using spare parts for an Assassin wing... 2812 motor, 30a ESC, 1300 3S battery. As expected, it's heavy at 410 grams auw. I put E & R servo's at rear to help balance. Balances about 2" back of leading edge. Could someone please tell me the recommended CoG for this plane?
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Ron B on August 1, 2015
I ordered the complete packaged TT and was wondering if you had flown the 4ch set up on a 2s and if so how did it fly? I have the 2s and 3s coming with my order.
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DrDiff952 on December 9, 2015
Building a Tiny Trainer right now. It is my first fixed wing I just got the Power Pack yesterday and havent put in the servos. Will moving them to the back of the opening help any. My control rods are already mounted in the rod guides. I guess it is too late...
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P51 Mustang on September 29, 2016
I'm a newbie and bought an EPO foam trainer. I could not fly it at all. Crashed on every attempt. Was very discouraged and didn't know if I should continue in the hobby or not. Determined and not willing to give up I decided to build the Tiny Trainer and give it a try. I was amazed at how easy it flew. Put on the wing with the ailerons and was doing loops and rolls and landing it without crashing. Now I'm building a 65% larger version. I've also built and flown the Mini Scout. Built the FT Mustang and just waiting on my electronics for it. Thank you everyone at Flite Test. :-))
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donalson on May 9, 2018
well it's a few years out on your article but it came up on some from some TT searching... I just built mine the other day and went out on it's 2nd day of flying with it. I'm enjoying the poly wing but think I'll enjoy the 4ch control a lot more, but the poly wing is nice and calming. I'll have to copy your tail mounted servos on my next build, as it stands my 850mah 3s doesn't balance on the nose/power pod so it sits under the belly; I'm a cheapskate so the further I can make my control rods go the better... I'd imagine I could build 3 or 4 planes worth with what the standard length use.
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Big Fun with the Tiny Trainer 4 Channel Conversion