Lucky gets a new jump partner.

[wizard]

Some of you have seen the reference to my RC skydiver "Lucky". Well I decided that it was time for him to get a jump partner. This will be a build thread on an RC skydiver. I'm putting the build thread in the Nitro section, basically due to the fact that I'm using a nitro plane for a drop plane.

Here is a photo of Lucky.



The design was originally published in RC Modeler and the plans are available trough them. My original diver was purchased as a kit from www.rcskydiveusa.com I also purchased a drawing package that has the pattern for canopy. The divers from rcskydiveusa have some mods to make them operate better.

So here we go. This build will take awhile, I still have to order the canopy material and some hardware.

I started by cutting out all the major pieces. The body box has 6 main pieces cut from 1/8" ply. Front, back, top, bottom, and 2 sides. The front and back are the same and the two sides are the same. The box has a taper from top to bottom so the top and bottom pieces are cut separately. I did stack saw the front and back, and the 2 sides.

The arms and legs are made from 3/4" stock, I chose poplar for the good machining properties. The arms and legs were stack sawn so that they would be symmetric.

The shoulders are 2 pieces per side 1/4" ply and 3/4" stock. Each shoulder was stack sawn individually. The last major piece is the crotch piece to mount the legs.

Here is a photo of the major pieces laid out.



The pivot hole in the arms and crotch piece is lined with a piece of 5/32" brass tubing. Just drill the 5/32" hole and press a piece of brass tubing in place. I used a long piece, pressed it in place, then cut it close with a cut-off wheel. After I had the 3 pieces ready I used a belt sander to sand the brass tubing flush.



Assembly of the Body Box is pretty straight forward. I taped the back, sides, top, and bottom together. I then tack glued the pieces together with CA.



The next step is to glue in the joint bracing. I used 3/8" poplar for the bottom corners. 1/4" poplar for the back bracing. I cut and dry fit all these pieces. The bottom bracing needs to be sanded to the taper of the sides. I then glued the bracing in with 30 min epoxy.



The bracing in the top corners needs to be place after the top servo rail. Again I used 3/8" poplar for the servo rail. It was cut to fit and I used a servo to set the distance from the back. It was glued in with 30 min epoxy. Then the top corner bracing was cut to fit and glued in with epoxy.



That's all for tonight. More later.

[HuckinChikn]

very nice wiz! cant wait to see that little dude in action! speaking of wich, when are you heading out to my neck of the woods again?

[Redneck Shaun]

To cool ...........Great job. I hope you get a video as good as the last one..

[50%plane]

Wow Wizard. No wonder you are a paramedic! You can build a guy. lookin good!


50%

[Dan_nO]

Wizzard, id like to see a tandom jump lol, drop both of them at the same time.

[Boulder]

Heck yeah Wiz!!!

I like it...when does the kit hit the market?

[3D-Seth]

Whats this one's name? LOL Liked Lucky's dive without a chute . . .

[GremlinX]

Fantastic build... very creative!

[madmax]

Mike also has an extensive and rare Malibu Barbie collection next to the well in his basement, and likes FAAAAAAVA BEANS with his chianti - FAFAFFAFAFAFFAFAFA!

Call him "Bounce".

[Dangerous Dan]

If you plan on making the diver anatomically correct then construct a female maby lucky will get lucky

[pitviper51]

nice wiz! didnt want to try the 1/4 scale jumper eh haha, www.rcskydiving.com has some great rigs that might fit you driver, keep up the good work,, bounce is prefect name!
mike

[wizard]

I'm actually going to be sewing a new canopy for this diver. There is a place in IL where I can order the material (as opposed to human skin, as madmax would have you believe) and rigging lines.