Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread

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Blue Note
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by Blue Note »

Step 14 : Center of Gravity ( CG ) & Markings

a) With all of the components in place, the Tomahawk SSC should balance at 2” behind the leading edge of the center wing panel. To achieve this, move the entire wing, tank, and throttle servo complex forward or aft until the plane balances level.

Image

b) Once the balance position for the plane has been determined, carefully mark the locations of the Wing Stop / Throttle Block, the leading edge of the wing, and the forward part of the notches in the trailing edge block onto both fuselage rails. The landing skid mounts into two nylon anchors that are spaced 9” apart from each other and centered at the leading edge of the wing. The forward rubber band retainer is even with the leading edge of the wing and the rear rubber band retainer is ¾ – 1” forward of the trailing edge block notches. These conditions are critical for the proper function of the wing alignment correction system. All holes drilled through the side of the fuselage rails are approximately 1/4” from the lower edge, as shown in the next step.

Image
Last edited by Blue Note on Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:27 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

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Step 15 : Mounting the Hardware

a) Remove the wing, tank, throttle block, and stabulator from the fuselage and place a bag over the engine to protect it from metal shavings produced during the drilling process. The holes for the four rubber band retainers should be drilled to 5/32” through both vertical sections of each aluminum fuselage channel. The holes for the nylon skid mounting blocks and Wing Stop / Throttle Blocks should be drilled to 1/8” while using a square to make sure the Wing Stop blocks are even and straight across both rails. Inserting a 1/8” drill bit through the screw holes of the Wing Stop blocks allows easy marking on the top of the fuselage rails. Make sure the holes are centered laterally in the rails so the nylon lock nuts will line up inside the rails. The landing skid should be installed in the left fuselage rail ( opposite of muffler ). Clean any flashing away from drilling the holes before assembly to ensure proper fit of components.

Image

b) The four rubber band retainers are created from the 3/4” #8-32 screws, the 1/4” nylon spacers, and the 1/2” aluminum binder nuts. The screws should be inserted from within the center of the fuselage, through the nylon spacers located between the channel walls, and then threaded into the binder nuts using blue thread lock.

Image

c) Install the Wing Stop / Throttle Block onto the fuselage rails with the #4-40 x 1 1/4”pan head screws, flat washers, and nylon lock nuts. Insert the screws from the top of the blocks, through the washers, through the mounting blocks, through the fuselage rails, and into the lock nuts which reside between the walls of the channels. Fold the throttle servo lead over onto itself several times and slide it into a short section of straw, leaving about 2 1/2” of the lead loose at the plug end. Do not glue the wire into the straw, but hot glue the straw to the top of the throttle servo. ( In a wing strike, if the wing is pushed back a significant distance, the straw will break free from the servo and/or the lead will pull free from the tube. This will minimize the risk of the throttle servo becoming unplugged from the wing and receiver.

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d) With the throttle servo in neutral ( mid-throttle ), the servo arm should be close to perpendicular to the fuselage rails to allow proper throttle linkage setup.

Image

e) The removable landing skid is attached to the left fuselage rail with two proprietary nylon anchors and blind rivets. ( If desired, the blind nuts may be replaced with a combination of #4-40 screws and nuts. ) The rounded portion of the nylon anchors should be positioned into the top of the channel for each direction. After the installation of the skid mounts, the 11” long 1/8” fiberglass rod is bent and inserted into the end of each nylon block to produce the arced skid. No gluing is required. The removed landing skid also serves as a tool to expedite the installation or removal of the stabulator pivot rod.

Image

Image
Last edited by Blue Note on Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:30 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

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Step 16 : Attaching the Tank and Throttle Linkage

a) The throttle push rod sleeve should be weaved within the lower layer of the foam tank cushion to keep it secured in place. The tubing should end roughly at the edge of the cushion to prevent interference with the throttle servo arm. Insert the z-bend of the .020” push rod wire into the appropriate hole on the throttle servo arm ( about 7/16” from the servo spline center in this case ) with the wire on the tank side of the arm. With the tank cushion folded double, attach the fuel tank to the rails using two 11” cable ties running around both fuselage rails and capturing the foam tank cushion on both sides by passing them through the holes of the foam weave. Stretching of the tank cushion may be necessary as it is intended to be a trim fit. Slide the tank against the Wing Stop / Throttle block and tighten the cable ties.

Image

b) Route the throttle push rod wire and sleeve to the throttle arm of the engine and secure the connection with a small quick connector. Make sure to use blue thread lock on the set screw for the throttle push rod. The positions selected on the engine's throttle arm and servo arm should allow full opening and closing of the carburetor barrel with the radio. This is a necessary safety feature to allow the engine to be stopped at any time. The push rod sleeve should be trimmed back far enough to ensure free operation of the throttle linkage. Connect all fuel tubing from the tank to the engine and check all connections.

Image
Last edited by Blue Note on Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by Blue Note »

Step 17 : Final Checks and All-Up-Weight ( AUW )

a) Install the stabulator to the fuselage with the 11” long 5/32” fiberglass rod centered horizontally. Attach the stabulator control linkage and safety tubing over the clevises. Secure the wing to the fuselage using one pair of rubber bands running straight front to back, 3 pair crossed over the top of the wing, and one rubber band around the front and rear rubber band retainers to lock the other rubber bands in place. Attach the landing skid and secure the propeller to the engine with a spinner nut so it stops horizontally to prevent propeller strikes during landings, which are performed dead stick. Plug the elevator and throttle servo leads into the wing and apply a drop of hot glue around the plugs for combat rounds for extra security in case of collisions.

Image

Image

b) Confirm the deflection direction and control throws for the elevator, ailerons, and throttle.

Stabulator : High Rates : +/- 3/8” ( at Leading Edge )
Low Rates : +/- 3/16” ( at Leading Edge )
Ailerons : High Rates : +/- 3/4”
Low Rates : +/- 1/2”
Throttle : Full Throttle : Barrel Fully Open
Idle ( with full down trim ) : Carburetor Barrel Fully Closed ( Kill )


c) The final All-Up-Weight for this “fully armored” Tomahawk SSC is 40.62oz. Differences in building techniques and component selection may produce slightly different results. Initial flights should be performed on low rates until comfortable with the flight characteristics of the plane. Final trimming is performed based on test flights. As long as the CG was accurately determined, any radio trimming required with the stabulator and ailerons in neutral should be corrected by adjusting the aileron linkages. The stabulator and radio trims should always remain neutral for optimum performance. Enjoy!

Image

BNC
Last edited by Blue Note on Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by Blue Note »

Tomahawk SSC Pictures

Here are some finished pictures of the Tomahawk SSC as built for the manual.

Image

Image


The break-down design of the fuselage of the Tomahawk SSC allows for compact storage and traveling.


Image

Image
Last edited by Blue Note on Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:31 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by Blue Note »

Tomahawk SSC Videos

More video to come. This is a sample of the Tomahawk SSC in action against other planes in the class. This does not truly show the full potential of the plane but does show the the survivability of the design. The final mid-air and crash resulted in little more than a broken propeller, at least for the Tomawawk....

Last edited by Blue Note on Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by Blue Note »

Tomahawk SSC
http://www.bluenotecreations.com/

Kits are being produced in accordance to demand. See the exploded views in the first post for information on the Base and Accessory Kit contents. I am offering a Magnum 15 XLS version of the fuselage rails for those that have experienced the hassle of screw clearance for that engine on rails in the past, or you can drill them yourself in the blank version.

Tail Color Options : Vertical & Horizontal ( Mix and Match )

Black
White
Red
Yellow
Orange
Dark Blue ( limited quantities )
Medium Blue ( coming soon )
Green ( coming soon )

Sticker Sets - "Tomahawk SSC" and "www.BlueNoteCreations.com" ( Mix and Match )

Black
White
Red
Yellow
Orange
Medium Blue
Green ( coming soon )
Purple ( coming soon )

Pricing :

Base Kit ( undrilled for engine ) $75
Base Kit ( pre-drilled for Magnum 15 XLS ) $77
Accessory Kit $20

Other items such as colored tape, spinner nuts, servo extensions, and replacement parts will be periodically available.



The http://www.bluenotecreations.com/ website is currently under construction, so contact me directly by PM or through Contact@bluenotecreations.com if you are interested in the Tomahawk SSC.
Last edited by Blue Note on Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

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Reserved
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by dbronst3790 »

Nice design and documentation. I didn't see any info on an Open B version. Have you fitted a Magnum 25 yet?
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by Blue Note »

dbronst3790 wrote:Nice design and documentation. I didn't see any info on an Open B version. Have you fitted a Magnum 25 yet?

This Manual / Build Thread is specifically for the Tomahawk SSC. I have flown mine with the Magnum 25 XLS and it preforms quite well, but this design is specifically tweaked and balanced for SSC. The Tomahawk B will be notably different to optimize wing area, wing loading, and balance due to the heavier engine...not to mention the survivability issues that come with heavier and faster planes. If truly optimized, differences may exist even between the Open B and Limited B versions...at least in my fleet.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by boiler »

Great detail Chris. A lot of thought went into that design. I know it flies great with your transmitter too.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by gsjames »

Nice work Chris. That has GOT to be the most detailed and best documented SSC kit and build thread ever done. Congratulations! Your exploded views are excellent! What CAD program did you use?
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

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gsjames wrote:Nice work Chris. That has GOT to be the most detailed and best documented SSC kit and build thread ever done. Congratulations! Your exploded views are excellent! What CAD program did you use?

Thanks. My goal was to make it easy enough for the novice builder to feel comfortable putting the Tomahawk SSC together. For experienced builders, the detailed instructions may not be necessary beyond the first build, which is why I also included the Quick Build instructions at the top of the thread.

All CAD work was done using AutoDesk Inventor 2011 software. The finished aircraft view is a bitmap export of the assembled components. The exploded views are 2D drawings of an Exploded Presentation of the 3D assembly. The Material List and other text added to 2D drawing.
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by midair02 »

Great work on the design and manual.

Nobody buy these. They go fast, roll quick and loop tight and are hard to track. You don't want them. Trust me. :twisted:
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Re: Tomahawk SSC - Build Manual / Thread - Now Kitting

Post by gsjames »

Blue Note wrote:
gsjames wrote:Nice work Chris. That has GOT to be the most detailed and best documented SSC kit and build thread ever done. Congratulations! Your exploded views are excellent! What CAD program did you use?

Thanks. My goal was to make it easy enough for the novice builder to feel comfortable putting the Tomahawk SSC together. For experienced builders, the detailed instructions may not be necessary beyond the first build, which is why I also included the Quick Build instructions at the top of the thread.

All CAD work was done using AutoDesk Inventor 2011 software. The finished aircraft view is a bitmap export of the assembled components. The exploded views are 2D drawings of an Exploded Presentation of the 3D assembly. The Material List and other text added to 2D drawing.
Outstanding job! I've got SolidWorks 2010 and CATIA v5 as well as some low-end CAD programs, but I can't do work that nice...
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