FT Explorer (4.0) -- Scratch Build and Maiden Flight | CustomRCMods

[@ronaldwitt2533]

Great job taking 2 inches off tail boom helps alot with the Explorer..they seem to be quite tail heavy..built a few of these ...they do great...fun planes

[@CustomFPV]

Yeah, It worked really well. In the past I have put 4 big bolts under the battery tray to compensate for the tail weight, but now I don’t need them! It also is a lot more snappy and agile all around!

[@markvm1209]

Great job Noah, it looks like taking 2" off of the tail really helped.

[@CustomFPV]

For sure! Gives it a lot more control!

[@Adam_Carbone]

Nice video! If I ever build one, I will definitely take your modifications into consideration, seems like it flies amazing with this setup! I like how the skis looks on this airplane too lol

[@CustomFPV]

For sure, really good flyer, the skis are a lot of fun too!

[@olgoz1]

Your videos are getting better and better - keep it up!

[@CustomFPV]

Thanks!

[@larrygrinstead5949]

I would think with the ski's tilting up would be creating drag/lift. Did you notice any affects of the ski's while flying? You did say it was the best flying ft explorer that you have flown, so it must not affect it too much.

[@CustomFPV]

You are right, after the landing gear popped off (after I was done filming) I flew it again with no gear, and it was much more agile, fast, and fun. It didn’t fly bad at all with the skis, just was definitely noticeably different. I think I am going to install a lower profile landing gear setup for it, to keep weight and drag down. stay tuned.

[@realozark2349]

Noah, first let me tell you how much I enjoy your builds and reviews. I'm your grandfather's age, and been flying since the days of chrystal freq. control radios. Was out of the hobby for roughly 4 decades but electric motors, DSMX hopping and economical DIY foam planes dragged me back in. Been back for a couple of years now. Loving Flight Test and all of their innovation ( I've built an Explorer in both formats, an FT Alpha and Bravo along with a Master Series. F-4U Corsair and a Mini Arrow). I really love my two Arrow's RC planes ( both EDFs) a Marlin 64mm and the 50mm Viper. Also picked up an E Flight F15 Eagle, which is a high-alpha drug. Now, to the point of this comment: may I recommend my receiver of choice for your consideration? If you fly a DSMX transmitter, spend just a little more on Receivers. Motion RC offers the Admiral RX600SP with 3 axis tuneable gyro stabilization with an additional panic recovery option, full 6 channel plus one receiver for only 30 bucks. It is 10 times simpler to program than a Spectrum AS3X, costs less than half as much with equal flexibility and range, and best of all, it works great in any plug n play that you plan to fly on a Spectrum gen 2 or 3 transmitter. I have one in every plane I've listed and have yet to have a signal problem. Receiver and gyro stab in one as well as panic recovery with simplified programming! The best of all worlds on a budget. I know this sounds like an advertisement, but its really just an endorsement😉

[@CustomFPV]

Nice! Thanks for watching!! I will have to check those receivers out. Lately I have been using the Radiomaster Receivers that run FrSky Protocol, convenient for my TX16s and you can get all the way up to 16 channels for about $12. They have been great for me, also because I don't typically use any stabilization at all. I will have to see about those, because they may be a good option for my audience, mainly beginners, who could benefit from something like that. Thanks for the comment!!

[@adityathakare7997]

Hi I wanted to make this model, I was wondering if can put ailerons on the polyhedral wing . Wanted to have the stabilization of the polyhedral with the ability to turn a little better. Will it work??

[@CustomFPV]

Certainly not as well, but yes it will!

[@tinybloodywonder]

awesome skis!

[@CustomFPV]

Thanks! They were a lot of fun ;)

[@BillKisel]

Nice build. Nice flight. I am curious though Noah... why such a sophisticated feature rich receiver for this plane? I think you said 6 axis plus satellite. I new guy like me would certainly benefit using a "SAFE" like receiver but I think a guy with your experience can easily get by with a simple/basic receiver.

[@CustomFPV]

Thank you! This plane is awesome! I think you may have misheard me. scrub to 3:40 to hear it again. I’m running a LemonRX 6 Channel RX, with a Satellite (an extra RX module mounted far from the main unit on the plane to increase signal quality and range), so it’s a pretty basic RX without and stabilization features, only like 15-20$ - www.powerhobby.com/lemon-rx-lm0028-dsmx-6-channel-receiver-w-satellite-end-pin-dsm2-compatible.html Anyway, no worries, thanks for watching my videos as always, I look forward to reading your comments!!

[@BillKisel]

@@CustomFPV Yeah, for some reason I had "axis" and not "channel" in my mind when I posted. Sorry. So, satellite does not mean the module communicates with a satellite but that the module is a "satellite" to the main receiver, right? Anyway, that looks like a really good deal, assuming a quality product, for $20..

[@CustomFPV]

No worries, Yeah the satellite is just another rx module that can be placed somewhere else on the plane (with better reception) to improve signal quality. Overall the unit isn’t bad for the price!

[@severinharrington9919]

dang noah this looks awesome!

[@CustomFPV]

Thank you!

[@ここん東西-p9l]

I thought it was a good idea to wear skis on an airplane. I would also like to refer to it.

[@CustomFPV]

Yeah, it is a lot of fun during the winter!

[@jijotincy]

Awesome video

[@CustomFPV]

Thanks!

[@potatosalad1485]

Hey! what battery did you use Noah.

[@CustomFPV]

2200mah 3s!! Thanks for watching!

[@achmadrizal.a1]

Awesome

[@voyhager3]

I have also been having trouble with my explorer wing, the main problem comes when I try and put in the dihedral. Do I need to put the dihedral in? Or can I leave it out and just put reinforcement across most of the wing?

[@CustomFPV]

This model has 0 dihedral, I put a carbon fiber shaft in there to keep it flat and rigid. It definitely loses out on some stability but is an amazing sport plane.

[@voyhager3]

@@CustomFPV I ended up putting a large thinish piece of wood for a spar, it spans almost all the way from “base sheet” (idk what to call the bottom piece of foam) and it made it soo much more fun, it was surprisingly more stable but that could be due to existing damage. It is now a fair bit faster and way more fun to fly. I do need slightly better servos for the ailerons tho. The only problem is flutter at high speeds, but it is easily avoidable. Thanks for the tip/inspiration!

[@voyhager3]

@@CustomFPV oh and another thing, the plane really likes to pitch down in the sport wing, I considered the thrust line but even when gliding it still does it, it did this with the stock sport wing too. And according to the spec sheet I got with it it is really tail heavy

[@voyhager3]

@@CustomFPV I think I will do the carbon shaft because I was just out casually flying nothing crazy and it just snapped. So hopefully that will work

[@jijotincy]

Guess what who is first today (to comment)? 😉😉😉😉

[@CustomFPV]

You! Thanks :)

[@jijotincy]

I think it need some dyhedral

[@tinybloodywonder]

it has aileron so dyhedral is not a problem.

[@tinybloodywonder]

for 3ch plane, dyhedral is important

[@CustomFPV]

Dihedral is great for 3ch planes, and especially for beginners. Yet it isn’t required, and can often have negative impacts on flying characteristics for advanced pilots like myself looking for all out capabilities.