RCCanada - Canada Radio Controlled Hobby Forum - FPV mini Wings: Teksumo/Popwing/Swiftetc knowledge base

Pat asked me for some advice about the small EPP foam wing called the Teksumo from Hobbyking. I love this plane. Would love to have a thread on here for others to share info about this and similar small FPV wings.

I have not tried all the small fpv wings, so if you have done so, post em up! At least a pic, or an opinion.

NOte - 'Teksumo' is merely Hobbyking's version. Nitroplanes sells this exact kit as the 'popwing' in a couple size options. Many other companies make similar 30-ish inch wingspan wings too - Ritewing Mini Zephyr, TBS Caipirinha, CrashtestHobbies SwiftII, Zebro, etc

I had known about the Teksumo for a couple years before I built one. It was not a popular plane at all for a long time. Hobbyking did their best to paint it in a very ugly colour scheme too. The prejudice was always there too - it's small, it can't carry a lot, it is unstable, it is hard to launch, it's a toy, too hard to fly etc. But then I noticed a flurry of guys building these about a year ago on RCGroups and FPVLab. And making some great flights and videos with them. So I figured, $30 kit, give it a try.

Boy was I wrong. From the first flight it was such a comfortable fun plane to fly via FPV. Almost taylor made for FPV flying. And in fact I hated flying it LOS, but just felt one-with-the-plane when flying more than any plane I had flown. The Superman feeling. Can rocket around at WOT, aerobatics, or just float along for 30 minutes with the eagles. Loved how the light weightedness kept it super crash resistant. And full-on build with FPV the planes was under $200 investment - ie highly expendable.

I have hooked the Teksumo on my backpack, hiked up and hour and flown off the peak of a nearby mountain too .. there was no landing area! I just bounced it onto the rocks and no damage. Fits in your car on top of everything - very flat and minimal space used up. very hangar rash resistant. Some guys remove the winglets to make it even flatter. I would like to try that with a hunting bow case some day for air travel.

Only downside to this plane is the one compromise: the weight/size in thermals. OK it has more wing area than a Bixler, which is great. But then it is so light at about 500-600g for a FPV setup like I suggest. That combo means it will get kicked around a lot in gusty-thermally conditions. I find that happens only on certain days in the summer, though your local climate will vary from mine. Of course you can build it heavier and fly it in gustier days. Also, I found I could still fly it on those thermally days even when all the LOS guys are grounded, but it was a bit too nervous for comfort. A big heavy Zephyr2 or other big plane will be much better on those days. But most days, the convenience of the small plane and small batteries wins out.

video made with my first Teksumo a year ago New Years day
https://vimeo.com/56670867

huge thread on FPV Teksumo on RCG http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1519868

Here are the specs on my first FPV Teksumo.

- Tek sumo kit from Hobbyking
- 2 x Corona metal gear 929MG analog servos. Important! I have tried a handful of cheaper nylon gear servos and every time wound up with stripped servos because the elevons impact the ground every time you land
- 2818 1370kv motor. Now hobbyking exhausted the early model, and now has a nicer version with a prop saver that works great. Just the right weight and power for this plane and a ...
- 7x5 APC type prop
- 25-30A ESC - plush is always good
- 2200mah 3S 20C battery

For the build:
- cut out the bottoms of the battery/receiver bays. Reglue them to the bottom of the wing. The original design was for the battery andRx to be mounted on the underside (!) - very bad idea.
- lay down a strip of hot glue right along the CG so you can feel it and check it before every flight.
- smear Goop glue all along the leading edges of the wing, about 1/2inch back. This makes it tough as a tennis ball for any kind of impact. Otherwise the EPP will chip and tear.
- can glue the kit with CA, or hotglue, or Goop or PolyUrethane. I use hotglue but it can melt on a very hot day, or in a hot car
- smear goop all over the wood motor mount to give it more strength and resilience.

To Fly:
- you need about 10 degree reflex (up) on the elevons for test flight
- I recommend frisbee toss if the plane is under 700g. Need to get more creative if it is heavier.

some pics:

I like to simply run interchangeable all-in-one FPV pods on my Teksumos. You can do this, ors simply build in FPV to the wing itself

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psbdea1d15.jpg

this was my first build - with a waterproof FPV pod

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...222_164144.jpg

more build detail - I recommend this layout with 2200mah. FPV runs on a pigtail tap from the main battery.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...r/IMGP0348.jpg

the new HK motors I like

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps98893e91.jpg

can spray paint your colours

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps9fda26b7.jpg

my latest Teksumo build. Long range, HD cam, UHF/1280, 2700 mah ... this does not launch easily as it is getting too heavy. I advise against this kind of build unless you add a few inches of blunt centre section to gain more lift.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psafbb91ff.jpg

Video from this latest orange/white heavy version:
https://vimeo.com/77194971