Nico Hobbies Profile Mini-22 Pusher Jet - Free Plans

[crxmanpat]

This is an 18.8" wing span profile Mini-22 made from 3mm and 6mm depron. This plane was originally developed in 2008 by Adam Bradley. After he created this and a few other planes, he started the Nico Hobbies website for sales of kits and accessories. Last weekend I purchased Nico from him.

Here are the plane's stats:

Wingspan - 18.8" (478mm)
Length - 25" (635mm)
Flying Weight - 5-8oz (140-227g)

Here's how I outfit my plane (these items are available for purchase on the site):

Motor - Aexon AX1806N 2500kv 19g
ESC - Generic 10A
Prop - GWS 4530 on a Hyperion prop saver (prop reamed out to 7/32" to fit the adapter)
Servos - 2x HexTronik HXT500 5g
Lipo - Hyperion G3 3S 850mAh 25C
Receiver - XPS Nano-E 6-ch RX

This entire power package (minus the XPS receiver) is also available for purchase from Nico Hobbies. And if you purchase a Kit and a Power Package at the same time, you save even more!

AUW with the above configuration is 6.8 ounces/221 grams. The above power system puts out about 10 ounces of thrust, so the plane has good speed and unlimited vertical.

Assembly is pretty basic. I use a 3mm wide by 1mm thick CF stick for a wing spar, 1/64 ply control horns and .039 piano wire for the control rods. A full construction guide is linked on my website, http://www.nicohobbies.com/store/fre...ly%20Guide.pdf.

There are a variety of glues you can use; foam safe CA, GWS glue, UHU Por, Beacon 3-in-1, etc. For the wing spar I like to use 5-minute epoxy, and for the motor mount and control horns I use high temp hot glue.

This plane has been a real hit on RCGroups, so I thought I'd dedicate a thread to it here as well. I'm including the plans here, you can download and use them as you like (non-commercially of course). If you are not up to the task of cutting out your own kit, they are available for sale at my site.

These plans and decals are for personal use only and may not be copied or altered for commercial use.

[Billmanak]

Thanks, nice plans. Could you list which parts are 3 or 6 mm?

[crxmanpat]

All of it is 3mm except for the top and bottom forward fuse sections (the pieces that have the cockpit and the lower fuse).

I will post some build pics soon that show how construction goes, but it's pretty straightforward.

[simibill]

The link to Nico Hobbies doesn't work.

[cisc0box]

Couldn't you use hot glue on the entire build?

[crxmanpat]

Originally Posted by simibill

The link to Nico Hobbies doesn't work.

Still working on a few details before reopening the site. Should be back up next week.

[crxmanpat]

Originally Posted by cisc0box

Couldn't you use hot glue on the entire build?

Yes, you could. The only tough spot would be the intake sides as you need to work fast before the glue starts hardening.

[crxmanpat]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the website is now back open again. Unfortunately, I don't have any Mini-22s in stock at the moment, but will be ordering some this week from the laser cutter. I do have other kits available though.

[foxy]

i cannot recomend this plane enuff it a very nice plane to fly holds inverted very nice its basically got me good at inverted can do prolly 10 laps round my field upside down flys fast or slow high alpha is also quite good if you build or buy you will not be disappointed and ive flown mine in 10mph winds, not bad for a 120g AUW i love it its my fave plane at the min love it and you will too so get building thats an order lol

[crxmanpat]

foxy,

Good to see you here as well. Welcome to WattFlyer!

Thanks for the nice comments. I had mine out this weekend in 15-20mph winds. I was able to hover, hover flying backwards and hover flying sideways. What fun!

And I did something new as well. Normally I like to go vertical, then cut power and hold the plane level into the wind and let it "elevator" straight down. This time I did it inverted!

But I still have not dared an inverted launch. Soon though.

[foxy]

yep now then crx i always forget about wattflyer lol and also forgot about that vid with inverted launch if i remember and dont bottle it when i go fly next i might try it, just throw it higher than normal with some down trim on just in case could be fun, ive also got to try the torque roll launch as well as in full power and let it twirl on your palm and then lift hand off and straight in to vertical while rolling looks way cool as well

[crxmanpat]

I finally got a proper build guide done for this plane. You can download it from my website from the Mini-22 page.

http://www.nicohobbies.com/store/fre...ly%20Guide.pdf

[iflyrc1012]

just cut the foam and i should be done and ready to maiden it by next saturday I cut double of everything because i know my buds at the field will be hittin me up for this one!!

[crxmanpat]

Looking good! Be sure to post up some pics of the completed planes.

Your parts remind me that I've revised the plans somewhat. Nothing major, just a few tweaks here and there. I'll try and remember to put them up on the first post (don't have my USB drive with me at the moment).

[iflyrc1012]

sure!! After i cut the parts!! lol!!

[iflyrc1012]

after about 1 hour of work.. all parts assembled except rudders still to be attached, and electronics to be installed.
white gorrilla glue still to be sanded. then painted. i'm thinking blue angels or thunderbirds.or maybe
Edwards a/f base Chase plane? red & White???
no low vis grey PLEESE!!!!

[crxmanpat]

Originally Posted by iflyrc1012

sure!! After i cut the parts!! lol!!

OK, so I've gone back and added updated plans on the first post.

But to help make up for putting them up after you cut out foam, I also attached decal files for both First Fighter and Edwards Chase.

You're welcome.

[iflyrc1012]

Thanks Pat. your a pal!!

[Alpea42]

James and I got ours done. Pat donated it at a Fun Fly we went to and we won it in the pilots raffle. Pat said he was glad to see a Wattflyer won it.
We'll give it a flight this weekend.

[crxmanpat]

Looking good Al and James! I was out tossing mine around again this morning, love this little plane!

And just an FYI, I used Testors 1930 for the light gray, and 1994 for the dark. I first sprayed on the dark, then masked it with card stock paper with blue painters tape attached to the back. The tape raises the card stock off the airframe just slightly, and once sprayed over with the light gray, it looks like it was airbrushed. Pretty simple to do.

[iflyrc1012]

i'm falling behind on this and other projects but i hope to have mine in the air by sunday!!!!

[Alpea42]

Oh Yeah ,,, Oh Yeah,,,, Maiden flight went A O-K. All together put 3 flights on it and a half dozen Renegade Club members got to fly it and everyone liked the way it performed.
We get about 8-9 min. on the 450m battery. And it's so much fun to fly the 9 min seems to be up in 30 seconds.
It's so stable On the second battery with it trimmed properly I hand launched it ,myself at about 1/2 throttle and let it fly out and away for about 45 seconds befor I touched the sticks and started the 1st turn. Scott got some nice pictures so I'll post them when he gets them up.
I think we'll paint the top gray and blue camo effect and leave the bottom white for reference.
Thanks for a great flyer Pat.

[crxmanpat]

Sounds great Al. Glad you guys are loving it!

Yep, that's one characteristic of this plane, when trimmed properly it will just fly away from launch with no input.

In fact, I got so lax one time that I launched and completely forgot to put my finger on the right stick. A small wind blew the plane down and into the ground and broke off the nose.

I picked it up, pulled the nose completely off at the intakes, and flew it again!

[Alpea42]

That noseless thing just don't look right , Pat.
Scotts pics of our unpainted maiden and flights 2 and 3 are up here http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/show...ostcount=14142

[iflyrc1012]

i'm almost there w/ mine but no workin in the shop tomorrow....
it's flyin weather!!!! 90 degrees and a gentle 5 mph wind!!!
during the week i'll make the time to put in the servos and set up the pushrods, and put on the rudders everything else is done

nice sharp pics ALPEA