build it
Clark Salisbury’s SkyEye Mini
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Fifteen years ago, my original SkyCrawler design was published in Model Aviation
magazine. At that time, LiPo batteries and brushless outrunner motors were unavailable and video cameras were still big and bulky. As the new batteries and brushless outrunner motors became accessible, and HD (high-defi nition) video became available in small point- and-shoot cameras, I decided that my old
SkyCrawler design needed an update. I changed to a lower landing gear position on the model, so a camera wouldn’t hit the ground if I installed one. This also allows takeoffs from grass fi elds that might not have been mowed for a while. In my updated SkyEye design, I use
a brushless outrunner motor, and a 3S 1,300 mAh LiPo battery. This airplane has been a lot of fun to fl y, and hand
launching is unnecessary because of the model’s big wheels and high stance. The video camera that I carry on
the SkyEye is a 1.5-ounce Polaroid Cube (
polaroid.com/cube) camera that records the fl ight in 1,080p HD. I thought some of you might enjoy doing what I have been doing—shooting aerial video. This videography is just for fun, and AMA rules need to be followed at all times. The SkyEye is fun to fl y, even without
an attached camera. It will take off from any larger grass fi eld and lands nicely on the same. Let’s build the SkyEye. First, cut out all of the pieces for the
entire airplane. The oak suspension mounts should have the holes drilled in them before they are cut to shape. As noted on the drawing, some of the parts require two, four, or even 16 of the same parts to be built. Stack balsa or light plywood, and carefully glue around the edges, then cut out the multiple parts as noted. I used a glue stick to put the patterns on the wood. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers
BUILD YOUR OWN CAMERA-CARRYING PARK FLYER 10 PARK PILOT [Winter 2016]
can be glued and pinned to the building board or a piece of drywall and then allowed to dry. Waxed paper should be laid over the plans so the pieces don’t stick to the plans. When the pieces have been removed, slot the edges for the hinges after you mark the centerline in the balsa using a T-pin. Test fi t the hinges into the slots. The ribs of both wings are glued to the LE (leading edge) and TE (trailing
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