nnChipmunk - 800mm

Flight video

Speed run with radar

-AkimboGlueGuns from the FT forums

Nic you've outdone your self this time! it looks like a proper airshow Chipmunk and it is one of the cleanest tape jobs I have seen.

-SOOFLY from the FT forums

Great plane design as always nic. The tape job and color choice really are amazing. When I login to FT forum, the first posts I look for are your build threads. It nice to see somebody taking the FT designs to a more advanced level for the more seasoned pilots.

DETAILS

Hi Friends.

Even before releasing my own designs I focused on 800mm size planes. The FT Spitfire, and especially my 800mm version were my all time favorite planes to fly. That is until I created the nnChipmunk.

For those who have followed my previous builds it will come to no surprise that the nnChipmunk became my new love after just the first flight. It's stable, quick, forgiving, responsive, and a joy to fly. It only makes sense that it would be my first 800mm conversion. I have been planning this one for a while now and I'm very excited to finally have the plans ready to share.

Outside of the normal changes needed to reduce down the plans I also made the following changes:

Increased side of wingtip area near the ailerons
-On my full size these thin 'tabs' were some of the first areas to show wear. They are just a tad thin and on a reduced size plane it would be even more fragile.

Increased side tabs of h-stab
-Same issue as with the wing. These tabs were just too thin for DTFB.

Firewall top plate moved back .5 inch
-As you scale the plans down some parts don't work right. The size of your motor only changes a little, if at all on a 800 size bird, so this helps prevent the entire can from sticking out.

SPECS

BUILD DIFFICULTY 

Beginner – You’ve never flown a plane before, let alone done a scratch build
Novice – You’ve flown a plane but have no experience with scratch building
Intermediate – You’ve flown and built a few FT style planes before
Advanced – You’ve mastered the standard FT build style and are looking for a new challenge
Expert – You’ve mastered all build techniques and aren’t afraid to improvise or tackle tedious builds

The 800mm nnChipmunk is a Intermediate to advanced build.

PLANS

nnChipmunk - 800mm

FAQ

Will this plane work with the standard FT powerpod and electronics?
No. While the Beef package/park 425 or greater will work just fine, the standard FT powerpod is too large to fit in the nnChipmunk 800mm. You can use the same electronics but you'll need to build a new powerpod for my 800 size planes. A Blue Wonder type motor would also work just fine.

So if I want to build an 800mm nnChipmunk I don't have to fly it really fast, right?
That's correct. You can even use the same power setup from the smaller swappables like the FT Flyer and it will still fly great. 

How did you color your plane, it's amazing!
I used carton sealing tape from TapeBrothers.com It is very easy to work with and the results are very impressive.

You list flat aluminum as a needed material for this build, what's that for?
If you're planning to build a fast 800 nnChip then you need a wing spar. Please see this FT Forum post for more info on how to make an aluminum spar.

How fast is the 800mm nnChipmunk?
I will be posting the video soon but I got her on radar at 107mph!

Is there a forum post I can visit for more information?
Yes! Myself and other community members would be happy to help with any build questions you might have. FT Forum thread

PICTURES

REVIEW

The review is broken down into major characteristic groups that capture what most pilots will look to learn when researching a plane. I have also included details about how the slower BEEF Equivalent (BE) and faster PROJET Speed (PS) stacks up.

STALLS
BE: No tip stalls even at slow speeds. The wing tip under camber really helps here.
PS: Will tip stall if you’re not careful. She’s much heavier in this set up and you’ll want to keep your speed.

WIND
BE: Wind performance is great. Side winds are no problem and in a light breeze the 800mm nnChipmunk will hover in place.
PS: Handles wind with no issues but you won’t get a solid hover out of this set up.

LAUNCHING/LANDING
You’ll need to give her a good toss on launch and come in a tad hot.

ACROBATICS
Rolls, loops, and inverted are solid. You’ll need a decent amount of up elevator when inverted but the 800mm nnChipmunk is very stable upside down.

GLIDE SLOPE
BE: Does very well.
PS: Wants to drop pretty quickly.

LOOK AND FEEL
The Chipmunk is a unique looking plane with its tail ridge and cockpit. The final product really captures the look of the Chipmunk.

As far as feel goes, like the full size nnChipmunk the 800mm version is a real treat to fly. Finding a truly fun plane to fly can be tricky but the 800mm nnChipmunk is a solid bet. It has a huge speed envelope and appeals to a wide range of skill levels.

FINAL COMMENTS

If you’re looking to try a 800mm size plane then do yourself a favor and start with the nnChipmunk. I know you won’t regret it! Also, please share any photos, stories, or questions you might have. I love hearing from everyone and I hope you enjoy my planes.

Thank you for checking out the 800mm nnChipmunk! If you built a 800mm nnChipmunk and enjoyed it please consider donating a few bucks so I can buy more supplies to make more great planes.