FTScratchBuild
The FT DR1 Triplane was designed to build fast, fly slow and look great on the ground and in the air!
Start by building the power pod. Don’t forget to make sure the screws are not close to the motor windings, otherwise you could damage your motor.
Connect your ESC and make sure your motor is spinning counter clockwise.
Remove the fuselage pieces and cavities in the foam. Fold the top plate of the fuselage and glue the sides of the fuselage.
After the fuselage is dry, glue down the bottom plate. Make sure you hold it nice and square while it dries.
Add the notch piece and glue it down to the back of the fuselage. Reinforce the fuselage with the cheek doublers.
When the doublers are dry, install the bottom wing saddle piece to finish off the fuselage.
Remove the rudder and elevator tail pieces. Cut a single sided bevel on the thicker portion of the stabilizer.
Repeat the same process on the rudder. Attach the elevator to the fuselage. After the elevator is dry, attach the rudder.
Install your control horns and push rods. Then install your servos.
Remove all three wing foam pieces. Start with the smallest wing and score along the joint. Install the four under camber gauges, and glue the wing down when you’re happy with the fit.
Install the dihedral gauges and hold the center section down to make the dihedral. When you’re happy with the fit, glue down the seams and scrape off the excess.
Repeat the process with the middle sized wing. Leave the dihedral gauges on the wing.
Score the seam on the largest wing and install the gauges. Glue the seam when you’re happy with the fit.
Set the large wing on top of the middle wing and center it. You want the dihedral of the largest wing to match the dihedral of the middle wing. Glue the center section when you’re happy with the fit.
Install the smallest wing on the fuselage, and glue it down.
Position the middle wing along the trailing edge of the center section. Make sure the two wings’ leading edges are parallel to each other. Glue it down when you’re satisfied with the fit.
Pass the wing struts through the wings, and glue them down.
Glue the formers on top of the fuselage. Install the poster board piece on top of the fuselage.
Install the cobains on the wings. After they’re dry, flip the plane over and install the landing gear, wheels and tail skid.
Once the landing gear, wheels, and tail skid are installed, install and connect your electronics.
Assemble and install the cowling, then take it out for a maiden!
FT MINI DR1 SPECS
WEIGHT WITHOUT BATTERY: 9.3 oz (263 g)
CENTER OF GRAVITY: Directly on the fold of the top wing
CONTROL SURFACE THROWS: 12 ĚŠ deflection (elevons) – Expo 30%
WINGSPAN: 24 inches (609 mm)
RECOMMENDED MOTORS: 2204 sized 2300 kv minimum
RECOMMENDED PROP: 6 x 4.5 prop CCW
RECOMMENDED ESC: 12 amp minimum
RECOMMENDED BATTERY: 800 mAH 3s minimum
RECOMMENDED SERVOS: (2) 5 gram servos
PICK UP A SPEED BUILD KIT HERE!
FT MINI DR1 PLANS
STORE LINKS
https://store.flitetest.com/ft-mighty-mini-dr1-triplane/
https://store.flitetest.com/power-pack-f/
New to the R/C hobby?
Here are some resources to help get you up to speed!
Beginner Series: WATCH HERE!
Electronics Setup: WATCH HERE!
First Flight Quick Tips: WATCH HERE!
Scratch Building without Knives: WATCH HERE!
Got glue?? Get Some Here!
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Flys great but tends to act a bit squirrely at moderate alpha. Almost like its tail heavy, however it balances out fine but will tip stall and assume the death spiral position very easily. Am I flying too slow, have too much throw on the control surfaces (stalling them out) or a combo of both?
Hats off to the entire FT team for putting this plane out there, I'd love to see more bi/tri planes from the early days of aviation.
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https://youtu.be/orHGZbL751w
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