Brutale Kit - Any interest?

[sean]

Was just wondering if anyone out there is interested in getting their hands on a Brutale 'kit'. I have one definite and one possible so far, so thought it might be worth cutting a few while I was at it, if there was any interest. I have no desire to get into the kit manufacturing business but would love to see a few more out there (it would help me justify the time I spent building mine....). The price would be material cost plus a little for my time (but only a little, not looking to make money out of it). That would most likely make it cheaper than almost any imported commercial DS style foamy kit.

Kit would definitely include EPP cores and EPP fuse, Could also include spars, dragpspar and TE stock, but buyer could also source those for themselves if preferred. You'd need to track down a broken graphite golf club shaft for the fuse although I might be able to help there (have a few leads). They are usually free or very cheap depending on how nicely you ask your local Pro Shop. You definitely wouldn't need to go all out with kevlar, bolt on wings etc etc like I did, infact probably better that you didn't! A degree of experience building foamies would be a very good idea too. I could provide building advice but there wouldn't be a detailed build manual.

It's a really fun plane - I haven't flown my Erwin since its maiden!!!! It was designed purely as a DSer but I've been pleasantly surprised by how much fun it is on the front in good lift. Wouldn't be much good on a small site though, best for decent lift and lots of space. It does fly in reasonably light lift but it's not very exciting, a lighter more nimble plane is better for those conditions (eg Skua, Duck etc).

Don't everybody knock down my door at once!!! (yeah right!..)







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[thevon]

Sean, not sure if you want to go to the effort, but I reckon a few guys would be very keen if you could supply with composite elevons (and maybe fin?) It seems to me that the composite elevons really make a difference to the feel of these fast foamies but for most guys it's not within their scope.

[skyboyken]

Hi guys,

If Sean's willing to do the bagging on the elevons that'd be great. They really do look fabulous.

FWIW I've had very good results with elevons just glassed on my benchtop with no vacuum. I've also been REALLY happy with elevons covered in laminating film. I reckon they are 90% of the composite ones in performance, and a snap to do.

I'm a definite starter for a Brutale, and Sean I'm keen to do bolt-on wing if it's not too difficult. The reason for that is my poor ex-Reaper always separated at the fuse/wing join when it crashed. So with (hopefully) better flying and plastic bolts perhaps that'll mean a longer life for the Brutale, if I can source the bolts at a reasonable price. Any ideas welcome on that one!

As for sourcing the spars, elevons and drag spar, Hobbyrama at Stafford has everything needed. Their 6mm carbon tube is only 1m long but they have some thin brass tube that's a sliding fit, so I figure that'll be a good joiner and I wouldn't put it in the centre, but rather at the end of 1m tube at the left on top and at the right on the bottom so the centre is strong.

Roll on Brutale!!!

Ken.

[thevon]

Sean how did you hinge the elevons on your Brutale? I agree with Ken, the laminating film is great. But I'd love to be able to hinge with silicon! IMO the best hinge, but it doesn't stick well to the Lam film (nothing does !!!). I get sick of tape/ film hinges going tatty. The good thing about composite surfaces is that silicon sticks like the proverbial so a composite-wrapped or epoxy coated wood dragspar and a composite elevon is a good combo for silicon hingeing!

[sean]

The bagged elevons are a fair amount of work, not much less than bagging a whole wing really. I don't think they're completely necessary, but they start making much more sense the faster you go. My Reaper was pretty quick with simple Profilm covered elevons. My Brutale's kevlar elevons are looking really daggy already but I have been pretty rough with it... I'd like to see how it flew with lamintaing film covered elevons, I don't think there'd be much difference.

I hinged the Brutale elevons with silicon. It works well alright!

The nylon bolts seem to work well though it does add a significant amount of work. You need a router or Dremel with router attachment to fit the plywood bearing plates. I used blind T nuts mounted to ply plates in the fuse for the bolts to screw into.

I used 4mm carbon rods rather than tubes for the spars. I wouldn't recommend tubes as they shatter very easily, whereas the rods are tough and stiff. I bought them from Kitemagic who sell them in 1.5M lengths so you don't have to join the spars in the wing centre, making the build that little bit easier .

Sean.

[nick]

hi sean

have you been up to horse shoe??

[shane]

Looks like crazy DS mountain . ;D
Put me down for a basic core kit Sean ,saves me getting EPP and working out the plan form. I HAVE A JOB ;D

[sean]

Yeah... I went up Wild Horse a few weeks back but the wind was dead-calm (it had been blowing pretty strong at home).

Glad to hear you're keen Shane, will be great to see what you come up with. Did you want a fuse too? Great to hear you're working again! How's the Supra coming along?

I flew the Brutale yesterday afternoon and was having a blast with some light air DSing. But something clicks inside my head when I'm flying foam, I just start flying lower and stupider until something breaks.... I eventually put it in during an inverted lap. The crash broke a wing bolt (first time), mushed up the TE of the fin and put some nice creases in the burly...

The burly film makes for a really nice strong, smooth, and quick to build wing but I don't like the way it creases in a crash, there's no way to remove the creases it seems. I'm thiking of re-covering with a more flexible laminating film.

The kevlar parts are strong and survive crashes well, but again they crease and bend and it's almost impossible to get them straight again. I have a feeling glass bagged surfaces would be better, they'd break rather than bend and mush, and should be easily fixed with CA.

[ezza]

I would absolutely love one of these, but I already have two foamies on the bench, that have been sitting there for about 1 year. Been too busy.

Eric

[ezza]

Sorry wrong thread.

[shane]

Sean, i don't need a fuse ,will use my reaper one i still have.