David McGinnis Georgia Battle Axe
Cick on any thumbnail below
for enlarged photo view
SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION PROCESS:
The frame rails are made from 1/4" End Cap aluminum, available from Lowes and
Ace Hardware, cut to 24". The engine is then mounted to the front of the rails and
this determines the 1" width of the frame. Then the pylon is inserted and small
clamps are used to hold it in place. The pylon is 12" long and is beveled to be
slightly longer than the chord of the wing to allow CG adjustments. It is 2" tall and
wide with the bottom 1/2" indented 1/2" on each side to create the 1" width that
fits into the frame rails. It is covered with 1 layer of packing tape to protect it from
fuel.

The servo mounts are cut from .020" or .025" aluminum sheet and measure 1-3/4"
wide. The rear mount is 1" long and the front is 3"long. Both are pop-riveted in
place with 1/8" short aluminum rivets. You will want to mount the servo, battery
and needle valve as far forward as possible to help with balance.

The 4mm coroplast tail feathers are sandwiched between two 2x4" aluminum rails
with double sided carpet tape on the horizontal and vertical sides and then
riveted again with 1/8" rivets. The assembly is then riveted to the frame rails with
the elevator hinge being located at the end of the rails.

Mount the receiver in a cavity carved out of the pylon and cut channels leading
from the receiver to both the front and rear for servo leads.

Once the fuse is finished, temporarily mount the wing to find the location for the
correct balance. Mark the rubber band hold down locations directly below the LE
and the TE. I use 5mm carbon fiber rods but wooden dowels will work fine.

The wing is the same as on the Georgia Gorilla (AeroWright). Some of the Hilltop
pilots use 2 servos in the wing, others use 1. Using 2 allows me to increase the
gap next to the pylon so the rubber bands will not cut into the hinges when the
midair occurs. We also use aluminum roof valley flashing 6� wide over the
center of the wing to stiffen it and to keep the rubber bands from digging into the
foam.

Using Hitec HS81-mg servos and a 1.2oz battery, the fuse will weigh in from 21oz
to 22oz and that will allow you to build your wing at 18oz to 19oz, which is easy to
do. Adjust the amount of armor to pinpoint the weight of the plane at 40oz.