HobbyKing Online R/C Hobby Store : TM Predator UAV 74in Spy Plane ARF

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7/9/2010
gamekeeper (-50%)
Hi guys,
Could this 'plane be launched by hand?
Regards
John

smallbird (0%)
I would recommend that it has a proper landing strip....

gamekeeper (-50%)
Hi Smallbird,
Thanks for the reply.
That was one of my concerns, with the rear stabaliser underneath and no under cart I could see it getting ripped off.
I have plenty of fields to fly from but no runway.
As the 'plane has plenty of room at the front of the body it seemed to be ideal to fit the electronics of an auto pilot I am building into that area.
Just have to keep looking!
Thanks again.
John

6/15/2010
urov (25%)
how big can the motor be?

3/22/2010
SJackson (9%)
is the Turnigy 2217 20turn 860kv 22A Outrunner or the Turnigy 2209 28turn 1050kv 15A Outrunner better for this plane, and is it stable???

SJackson (9%)
I'm just wondering what would be the best cheapest motor or this plane that will keep it in the air???

10/17/2009
SoMoney (49%)
VERY FAST! Thin wings require fast landings too... IS THERE SUCH A THING AS AN EPP FOAM PREDATOR?!

SoMoney (49%)
We really need manufacturers to stop selling this tip stalling beast and start selling an EDF Version of the NEW Predator C Avenger uav instead. It looks MUCH Better

logieberra (13%)
Looks and flight characteristics (tip stalling) are unrelated... Thanks for the info.

RattleSnake (77%)
All I did to stop the tip stall was mix %70 rudder to alerons and the problem was solved.

I still get ppl from my club coming up to me and commenting on how good the plane looks, even though they have seen it a few times!

9/23/2009
logieberra (13%)
Guys, can you please list what motor, prop, ESC, and battery combinations you are using. And how you like your setup.

Should I just get one of the motors that Hobby City lists?

Turnigy 2209 28turn 1050kv 15A Outrunner

Turnigy 2217 20turn 860kv 22A Outrunner

Thanks :)

RattleSnake (77%)
my 1000kv motor will fly it ok but I feel that 1500kv is needed for better results

7/21/2009
rampage-1 (86%)
THE cg IS 50MM TO 55MM

5/31/2009
rampage-1 (86%)
Mine did not come with instructions. What CG does the manufacture recommend for the CG?

RattleSnake (77%)
how are you controlling it with 2 servos?
2 for the alerons and 2 for the vtail makes 4 servos.
Do you actually have this plane?

5/31/2009
rampage-1 (86%)
It only needs two servos a third if you want the nose gear to turn. If your radio does not mix for a v-tail you will need to buy a v-tail mixer. Mine flys great

4/6/2009
RaWe (99%)
TM Predator UAV 74in Spy Plane ARF review at*

***********hobbycity****/hobbycity/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=719

RaWe (99%)

h t t p://w w w.hobbycity. c o m/hobbycity/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=719

RaWe (99%)
Links
***********hobbycity****/hobbycity/store/wikishow.asp?idwiki=98
h t t p://w w w.hobbycity. c o m/hobbycity/store/wikishow.asp?idwiki=98

RaWe (99%)
***********hobbycity****/hobbycity/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=719

kurgan (67%)
Raymond,
yes the wings de-attach automatically upon impact,
and I"m sure you can make them removable fairly easy yourself,think CF rod

kurgan (67%)
hey ya,
I am going for the same, just ordered the new Revolectrix Autopilot II from FMA, I want to set it up for FPV and endurance.
Seems very light for 74in/187cm wingspan, it should allow for long flights. Any ideas for a good motor?

Ivan IV (48%)
Which motor Esc and prop i must buy for this plane? i must buy also a motor mount?

thank you guys!

tonywayne (78%)
this is not a predator. its the reaper. predators V-tail points down.

RattleSnake (77%)
I dissagree slightly :

***********defenseindustrydaily****/images/AIR_UAV_MQ-1_Predator_vs_MQ-9_Predator-B_lg.jpg

RattleSnake (77%)
The other link didnt seem to work, try this one instead:

RattleSnake (77%)
*******img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=predatorlr7.jpg

Mustang Sally (97%)
Check for Predator B!

RaWe (99%)
Predator B

Beaufighter (25%)
It is most likely freescale anyway, and the V-tail is up due to practical reasons. This is not the kind of airplane you would be displaying in a scale event, so why worry...

RattleSnake (77%)
Mine arrived today, only about a week to get to Australia!
First off, I havent put it together yet but this is my first impression:

It came Very well protected in a double box plus air padding, that was also put inside another box to allow for the other items I ordered with more Air padding.

On the box it says "Scale Like" , so it not a scale plane but still looks cool.

It looks to have very good construction with no odvious faults/faults.
The outer skin is flawless and all of the hinges for the alerons and v-tail are pre assembled.

The camo pattern painted on could have been a bit neater(slight overspray) but will definatly not be noticable from more than 2 meters away.

I dont have any scales but to me it feels lighter than my stock Super Cub.

The Turnigy SK3542 1000kv that I had hoped to use wil not fit unless I make a custom mount (which is my fault for getting a to big motor.

The Instructions that come with it are very basic but should be enough to construct it.

I will post back after cunstruction is complete.

My goal here is to mount a camera and some gyro stabilizers for a nice smooth camera plane!

RaWe (99%)
Keep us informed on progress and impressions of this kit!

tonywayne (78%)
Oh and whats the flying weight? specs say 560grms! thats pretty light for a bird this big.

0MoTheG (-25%)
yes, please someone answer this.
someone said 1180g which sounds a bit overweight and he reported stalling.
those wings look realy nice, but after all they are not as big as they seem. I guess the weight needs to be <<1.2kg
for the aileron stalling I suggest giving them some up-bias.

tonywayne (78%)
whats kind of flight times can you get with this?

RattleSnake (77%)
Oh well, I just ordered mine :)

RaWe (99%)
Any information yet on whether wings are detachable?

Felar Furlong (85%)
here is additional info about this plane.
h t t p://w w w.topmodelproduction. c o m/Predator-EP.htm

RaWe (99%)
thanks for link!

Dragevo (83%)
Thanks, Felar. Airliners n e t didn't have pics of that one. : )

Dragevo (83%)
Funny, when googling the predator(* airliners****) - it seems that the real one has the vertical stabilizers pointing downwards. Ie, 180' opposite to this scale model - how come..? Did the *mentioned* photographer glue these as well ? : )

Felar Furlong (85%)
there is a varian of the predator with stabs pointing upward.
wikipedia "MQ-9 Reaper"

bronya (86%)
ESC is located at the back. You need to make wire extension to connect the battery in the forward fuselage. Use at least 16 guage wire. To reduce the amount of RF interference with the receiver twist the wires in the
extension together and also wrap them tightly with 3 or 4 layers of
household aluminum foil.

Felar Furlong (85%)
thanks, your information is helpful

bronya (86%)
Here you can find additional details for smaller version of Predator:
h t t p://w w w.rcuniverse. c o m/forum/m_5826832/tm.htm

RattleSnake (77%)
bronya, Its strange that you say that because there is no room for an esc at the back unless you do something custom.

Felar Furlong (85%)
the wings are bolt-on and detachable, or not?
another question - where is the esc located? i foresee difficulties connecting battery in the nose with the esc meter away...
anyway, i'm thinking about buying one :-)

RattleSnake (77%)
the wings hold on with a alumminium bar and rubber band.
I have my esc up front and have no problems.
There is no room for it at the back anyway unless you do something custom.

Felar Furlong (85%)
i believe, she needs 5 servos, because of v-tail + controlled front wheel.

RattleSnake (77%)
It needs 4 Servos not 5, it doesnt mention that the front
wheele is steerable. Look at the view of inside the cockpit, there is no provision for a steering servo.

bronya (86%)
You are correct both. I own 69" version of predator. By default front wheel isn't steerable, but it's too hard to take off with fixed wheel. So i added one servo for front wheel. But you should know it's not so easy to mix v-tail with front wheel.

Good luck

RaWe (99%)
Simple Nose Wheel steering setup!
Use an external V-tail mixer and 'Y' connector instead of mixer on transmitter. Connect V-tail mixer to receiver as usual then connect 'Y' connector to rudder servo output on V-tail mixer. Connect nose wheel servo and remaining servo for V-tail to the 'Y' connector. Works like a dream on mine with minimal weight gain if you use lightest V-tail mixer!
DIYnoseSteering
V-tailMixer
LGmodify

RaWe (99%)
Correction on the above comment*
From V-tail mixer connect one lead to elevator channel on receiver. The 'Y' connector goes into the rudder channel. The remaining lead from V-tail mixer and nose wheel steering servo is connected to 'Y' connector. Connect the 2 servos controlling V-tail to the V-tail mixer output terminals and you're all set!

reducteurfou (50%)
Really eye-catcher and it was the reason of my purchase. Perfect finish but a big default : the alu bar joining wings is not strong enough. The 1st time, despite of a very smooth taking off, wings made V after 50 meters, alu bar folded and twisted. Solution : in place of 5.5mm high and 4mm wide bar, a 4mm steel rod at bottom and a 4mm width,2mm thickness,3cm long piece of ply on the top to replace ( whithout loose ) provided bar. Retaining wings system by internal rubber bands, hard to couple, has been replaced by 2 x 30mm bolts through each wing, 2cm from leading edge and 2cm from trailing edge, 5mm inside wing from fuse, letting 10 mm front and 20mm back in excess under wing, then 2 pieces of plastic or alu drilled at the exact width of bolts and secured by nuts. Now, my Predator is O.K., I am fond of it and give 5 stars for the ratio price to result obtained.

SJackson (9%)
what is the better motor for this? the turnigy 2217 20turn 860kv 22A outrunner, or the turnigy 2209 28turn 1050kv 15A outrunner? im thinking of buying this is it stable???

bronya (86%)
What's the servo size suggested?

RattleSnake (77%)
It says 16g on the box but Im going to use the HXT900 servos.

rampage-1 (86%)
It only needs two servos

rampage-1 (86%)
A third servo if you want the nose gear to turn

Citation560v (97%)
I Used 3 x TG-9 Servo's and 2 x HST 500 For the Ailerons

RattleSnake (77%)
rampage-1 , Why would you say that it only needs 2 servos?
Clearly it needs 2 for the V Tail and 1 for each aleron, which makes 4 total.

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