FT Tiny Trainer | Fuselage Modification

This is my first article for FliteTest and I'm thrilled to be a part of this community!
Here is my fuselage modification to the already excellently designed Tiny Trainer.

This started out as a sketch based on the original profile and gives you a little more room for all those servo wires.

 I also did my own version of the power pod and created new thrust angles ~ 6 degrees down and 3 degrees right. I know it looks crooked, but it seems to mellow out the flight characteristics. I've noticed much less torque and less dramatic climb when adding power. I also extended the power pod to be used to support the 800 mAh 3 cell battery. Here is my full sized sketch being transferred to the foam board.

Here I'm working out the internal engineering of where to place the longer power pod, the two formers (front and rear of the wing saddle) and the servos.

 Here's a closer look. The rounded rectangles in the formers get punched out to allow for the throttle wire coming from the nose to the receiver... and the servo pushrods going back towards the tail surfaces. Yes that IS my rudder arm (the long one) I like to have a lot of rudder throw at my disposal. The bbq skewers (that are used to hold wing down) sit on top of the formers and are solidly glued to them to prevent pulling thru the foam board.

 So once I got the placement of the electronics worked out, I just glued them in place and then attached the sides and top pieces together while keeping the pieces square (using the table as my friend). Here is how it started to look along the way.

 And finally like this... a black marker makes quick work of those windows.

 I covered the entire bottom of the fuse and the tail with clear packing tape since the middle school field where I fly is often wet with dew in the early morning. This really helps prevent the foam board from warping. All up weight with the battery ready to fly is 11.7 ounces! Enough of these still pictures ~ let's see some video! Notice that on this maiden flight I get chased by a hawk, stall the plane into a tree and still manage to get it back in one piece. Great flying plane (mod or no mod) ~ yet another success from FliteTest.

 
Thanks for watching!

Dimensions:

 The outside width of the fuse is 1 5/8" ~ so it is just wide enough for the power pod to fit snugly inside.

 

PDF of Full-Sized Plans: Improved Full-Sized Plans (10/25/15)

Here's what she looks like with the polyhedral wing. Haven't flown it yet ~ but confidence is high!

Here's a video of the polyhedral wing on the modified fuselage.

 And the final evolution ~ with landing gear!