OWL ViperJet 50mm and 64mm EDF
~ LW-PLA Digital Balsa and Foam Series ~
Videos and Pictures
SuperOWL Jet is designed so that it can use 50mm or 64mm EDF with 4s ranging from 1500mAh to 2200mAh LiPo battery. With 2 types of EDF size options, it is up to you to make it fly faster and powerful with 64mm EDF or with standard power 50mm EDF. You can start with a 50mm EDF and upgrade it later with a more powerful 64mm EDF.
Initially, we were not sure if a model can still fly excellent when powered with 50mm EDF. In the middle of development, we came up with an idea to make the model available to fly not only with 50mm EDF but also 64mm EDF. During test flying, even with 50mm EDF, it still can fly excellent. If you would like to have a lighter setup, 50mm EDF 4s and 1500mAh 4s LiPo battery would be your best choice. 64mm EDF 4s and 22000mAh 4s LiPo battery would be your best choice when you want more speed. We suggest using QX-Motor 64mm EDF for 4s with 3800kv for having a powerful setup.
Please note, since we push 64mm EDF size into the model, it is required to remove the intake lip before installing into the fuselage. SuperOWL Jet can not use 64mm EDF with fixed intake lip *** will not entertain any request for EDF with fixed intake lip ***.
We continue releasing the model with a “digital balsa and foam” approach. So far, we get happy feedback from some of our customers when slicing the model designed with that approach.
To protect from scratches during landing, you may want to use fiber tape (you can find it in details below in this page).
If you are not familiar with launching an EDF jet, we would suggest you use our OWLplane Catapult Launcher (it is human free error from throwing the model). During maiden, also suggest using that launcher to get you familiar first with the model. When you have trimmed aileron and elevator control surfaces already, you will have no worry and no need anymore setting the control surfaces at the same time.
In general, this model must be printed with LW-PLA/ePLA-LW/PolyLight 1.0 filament only (you still may want to experiment printing some parts with PLA * for example printing wings with PLA for having extreme maneuver *) and no landing gear (hand launch or catapult launcher type of model)
Flying Play List
Digital Balsa and Foam Series
Printing Profiles with Gyroid Infill :
As you can see from the pictures below, they illustrate a 3D printed part when using gyroid infill and ribs. You can pick infill percentage to you preferences where the higher you set it will be stronger. To get optimal result, we also still use ribs so that we will achieve parts using optimal gyroid infill percentage. With having gyroid infill, we have tried to use top and bottom layers. The good news is that the AUW is still acceptable for the jet and allow it to use like lego style blocks to assemble.
We run some research and experiment with some number of setting values for infill percentage. Final values will be used in OWLplane slicer profiles. Feel free to increase or decrease the values including playing with other settings if you feel better than ours (we are happy listening / getting your input/feedback, so keep us posted about your build in our facebook group).
Like Playing Lego :
As explained above, here are some pictures after cleaning the parts, they can assemble like playing “lego” blocks.
Expected Some Stringing but Easy to Clean :
Since active foaming filaments such as LW-PLA is not affected by retraction, some stringings are expected. The good news is that they are easy to clean compared to printing with standard PLA/PLA+.
(Note : sample parts from F16 model)
- Suggested using knife to clean initially.
- Once completed using knife, continue using sandpaper for sanding some strings that still attached to skin.
- Sandpaper could also used to make smoother skin.
- For the plug-in blocks, also use sandpaper to eliminate excessive materials.
Sandpaper Cleaning the Excessive Materials Surrounding Plug-In Blocks :
Sanding parts would make assembling much easier and clean. Excessive materials can be found on the top surfaces. For example, the circle in the picture need to sand so that there is no need to push the part later to fit into the next part.
Sand The Surfaces To Get Smooth Ones :
Comparing surfaces before and after sending it. LW-PLA material let you smoothing surfaces where it would not be applicable with standard PLA or PLA+.
Specification and Some Details
- Wing Loading : 70-95.8 gr/dm^2.
- AUW/Flying Weight : 850gr-1150gr (with battery 1500mAh 4s to 2200mAh 4s).
- Wing Area : 12 dm^2.
- Wing Cube Loading (WCL) : 20.4 to 27.7.
- Flight Performance Category : Racer.
- Radio Channels : Throttle, Aileron and Elevator.
- Length : 835mm.
- Wing Span : 776mm.
Spar Requirements :
- 1 x 6mm OD and with 310mm long fiber carbon tube as front fuselage and wing spar.
- 1 x 6mm OD and with 310mm long fiber carbon tube as back fuselage and wing spar.
- 2 x 5mm OD and with 275mm long fiber carbon tube as wing spar.
- 2 x 5mm OD and with 190mm long for stabilizer spars.
Locking Belt for Attaching Wings to Fuselage :
Aileron/Wing Control Surfaces Rods:
Elevator/Horizontal Stabilizer Control Surfaces Rods:
Electronic Positions :
Feel free to locate the electronics for getting the correct CoG.
50mm and 64mm EDF Bracket and Installation :
Two type of EDF brackets are provided, they are for 50mm type of EDF and 60mm type of EDF. Please note for 64mm EDF that only removable intake lip EDF can use the bracket. STEP file is provided if you want to modify for brands not in the list. It means that fixed intake lip would not be supported only for 64mm EDF. Make sure your EDF are supported by the model since we will not entertain if your EDF can not be installed. Please check if your current EDF can use the provided brackets by printing them. It is free to download by clicking the button below.
In summary *** requirement to use the brackets *** :
1. 50mm EDF – need to keep/to use intake lip. Please hot glue the EDF into the bracket. Since it uses hot glue, it should be easy to remove the EDF later from the bracket using hot water to loose the glue if you would like to reuse the EDF.
2. 64mm EDF – need to remove/take out intake lip. Since it uses hot glue, it should be easy to remove the EDF later from the bracket using hot water to loose the glue if you would like to reuse the EDF.
Below are 50mm and 64mm EDF bracket pictures from the CAD :
Below some QX-Motor 64mm EDF pictures installed into the fuselage :
Left side : using hot glue for 50mm EDF.
Right side : using hot glue for 64mm EDFs.
Special note when gluing 50mm EDF bracket :
Make sure that the 3 cables from EDF about perpendicular with EDF bracket arms as shown by the picture below.
Trimming Canopy :
EDF Hatch Support Rods :
Please insert support rods 1.0 – 1.2mm OD into the provided holes to make parts stronger as shown by the pictures below :
Center of Gravity (CoG) :
- CoG is 92.6mm from Wing Root Leading Edge (see the pictures below).
How to Launch SuperOWL 50/64mm EDF Model :
Two methods are suggested to launch the model. The first one is to use OWLplane Catapult Launcher. Please visit OWLplane Catapult Launcher product page under “PRODUCTS” tab after clicking “ALL PRODUCTS”(you can use your own Catapult Launcher, you may need only to use the adapter). The second one is by hand launching.
It is recommended to launch the model by utilizing OWLplane Catapult Launcher or your own launcher since it is human error free.
#1 – By Utilizing OWLplane Catapult Launcher.
Watch the following videos how easy it is to launch the rc model with OWLplane Catapult Launcher and human free errors.
#2 – By Throwing.
Follow the following tips to launch :
– Lean your body backward.
– Put your fingers on designated locations (shown in the following section below).
– Start throwing by also moving your body forward.
Note : Above pictures are illustration only, using 50mm BAE Hawk T1 – 50mm EDF instead.
Printing and Preparing SuperOWL 50mm and 64mm EDF Launcher Adapter :
If you plan to launch the model with your own catapult launcher, please print the parts shown on the right side from “SuperOWL Jet – SUPPORT ver 1.0\CATAPULT ADAPTER\STL and GCODE” for the puller and need to glue the hook bar “SUPEROWL HOOK # GR3” from “SuperOWL Jet 50mm and 64mm – STL, 3MF and G-code ver 1.0\1. FUSELAGE\STLs” directory.
Feel free to use your own catapult launcher or you can print OWLplane catapult launcher for free.
Finger Resting for Hand Launching :
If you choose to launch by throwing, please put your fingers as shown in the following pictures.
Optional : Fiber Tape Protecting The Model During Belly Landing
By using fiber tape attached to the belly skin, it will protect a model during landing from rough surfaces. Not only protecting, you may no need to clean the belly after sometime by replacing it to get back clean.
We have tested it and really happy with the result. The model is still in a good condition after landing it on rough surfaces.
*) Using F16 belly part as illustration only.
Some Note for Slicing STL Files :
Default Value are :
– Retraction : Set enabled only to make “extra restart length = 0.05mm” (PrusaSlicer), “extra restart amount = 0.05mm” (IdeaMaker) or “retraction extra prime amount = 0.5mm^3” (Cura) to compensate loosing materials due to stringing issues.
– Heatbed: 55 degree C.
– Hotend: 245 degree C (you may want to change it between 240 – 250 degree C).
– Extrusion Multiplier : 0.55% (feel free to update this value).
– Extrusion Width: 0.40mm (feel free to find your preference value, but it will be around that value).
– Extrusion Height: 0.25mm (greater is faster but less stronger bonding).
– Printing Speed: 35mm/sec.
– Retraction Speed : 50mm/sec.
Weight and Time Estimation :
Following tables show the weight of printed parts, number of required filament rolls and time required to print. But the number may vary from printer to printer due to:
– Stepper Jerk value.
– Stepper Acceleration value.
– Steps per unit (either calibrated or uncalibrated).
– Extruder quality/condition.
– Nozzle quality/condition.
– Filament quality/condition.
– Etc.
Here are the summary table (Under Construction) :
Table of Contents
Update History
None.
Recommended Setup
*) Freewing 64mm 12-Blade EDF 4S Power System w/ 2836-3300Kv Motor may be available to use with QX-Motor with lip bracket. We never test it. Just download the bracket zip file above to test.
Note : we tested 64mm to fly with for both 3500KV and 3800KV and with ESC 60A, we did not see any issue or excessive heat whatsoever.
- Motor Options : 64mm EDF 4s above where their EDF brackets are already provided. EDF bracket STEP files are also provided just in case you need to try with not listed above but you need to make some modification by yourself.
- Servo Options : 4 x 12gr servos for aileron (left and right) and elevator (left and right).
- ESC Options : ESC may be enough with 50A, please consult to your EDF manual if safe enough to use.
- Battery Size : LiPo 4s 1500mAh - 4s 2200mAh rated 70C with weight around 185gr - 265gr respectively.
Hand Launch Setup Recommendation :
- Use high power QX-Motor 3800KVmotor.
- Tested with ESC 60A and it works fine (please test it before flying with ESC 60A if it is good enough).
- 1500mAh battery with 70C rating.
- All printed with LW-PLA except “FUSELAGE-BONE-L # GR3” and “FUSELAGE-BONE-R # GR3”.
- Try to achieve weight around 1050gr.
Tools and Materials
- Printer, in general 200mm x 200mm x 200mm (W x L x H) for all OWLplane Models.
- Filament: LW-PLA from ColorFabb, ePLA-LW from eSUN and PolyLight 1.0 from 3DLabPrint.
- CA glue with accelerator. Use thick glue to join surface to surface. Use thin CA glue for coating the joint surface areas.
- Velcro sticker/polyester hook and loop peel-n-stick self-adhesive for locking the battery.
- Fine sandpaper.
- Sharp knife.
- Screwdriver and/or allen wrench for chosen screws/bolts.
- Pliers, needle-nose pliers, nippers.
- Steel bolt cutter.
- Dremel/rotary tool for cutting carbon fiber tubes and rod with more than 2.5mm.
- Electric drill, its drill-bit size from 1.5mm - 5mm and step cone drill.
- Propeller shaft reamer or hole puncher reamer.
Hardware Needed
For Fuselage and Canopy:
- Self tapping screw M3x25mm or M2.5x25mm with their washers (optional) for mounting left and right wings including fuselage lid - 6x (4x wings and 2x fuselage lid).
- Ballpoint pen springs for Canopy - 1x.
For Aileron and Elevator Servos:
- 1.5 - 2.0mm rod for aileron and elevator hinges (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod but preferred TIG Aluminum Rod instead).
- 1.5 - 2.0mm rod for aileron and elevator pushrod (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod).
- 2.0 - 2.5mm rod for aileron, horizontal stabilizer and canopy support (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod).
- Landing gear wheel stop set collar 9x2.1mm for aileron and elevator - 4x.
- Linkage stopper D2.1mm for for flap, aileron, rudder and elevator - 4x.
*) Illustration only
Assembly Figures
OWL ViperJet 50/64mm Fuselage Assembly
OWL ViperJet 50/64mm Wings Assembly
OWL ViperJet 50/64mm Stabilizer Assembly
OWL ViperJet 50/64mm Canopy Assembly
