Cheetah 6S: My first cat!

[larryrose11]

I installed the motor, and the servo. and th cooling lines.
Instead od using bulkhead fittings. i used the 1 size larger tube holder method, just like the stuffing tube, and the cooling exits. Now, all the hull penetrations are removable!!

Here you can see the grommets Im using to hole the lines in place, the just slide into the holdes I made easy. YOu can also see that the tube passes through the hull


longer view

[larryrose11]

The interior is done!!




sorry about the string from the light switch photo-bomb. The orange balloons you see at the top of the photo are the BEC and the connector, all inside of balloons that I cut a a small hole in the top of.

[kfxguy]

Have you run it yet? Btw, get rid of the ugly balloons.....take each component apart and coat the circuit boards with 5min epoxy. Waterproof then. Trust me, it works. I've submerged mine numerous times and no issues. No need to dry the electronics out right after you submerge it...get right back to it.

[larryrose11]

kfxguy
Yes, I ran it, it went like hell. Sorry no vid or GPS. I only had a few chances by the end of the season here in Mi. The wind really picks up in the fall.
On the last time out, with a x450, I torqued the motor and the mount from the hull!! Nothing else was damaged. I guess I did not roughen up the mount feet enough. Since then, I have drilled a bunch of holes in the motor foot for a better bond. I found that having 6S, 10 ah total was just too heavy. Running 6S, 5Ah and it loosened up. I like the whole setup. I have yet to push it hard. everything came in cool.

[kfxguy]

kfxguy
Yes, I ran it, it went like hell. Sorry no vid or GPS. I only had a few chances by the end of the season here in Mi. The wind really picks up in the fall.
On the last time out, with a x450, I torqued the motor and the mount from the hull!! Nothing else was damaged. I guess I did not roughen up the mount feet enough. Since then, I have drilled a bunch of holes in the motor foot for a better bond. I found that having 6S, 10 ah total was just too heavy. Running 6S, 5Ah and it loosened up. I like the whole setup. I have yet to push it hard. everything came in cool.

That's how I planned on running my cheetah, 6s 5000mah with a 1717 1650kv castle motor. Hopefully it will run more than 2-3 minutes. I have (2) 5000mah 3s 50c packs ill be using. Im trying to get it together before its too cold.

[larryrose11]

An update.

I was also unhappy with the battery mounts. The velcro straps are fine, but I didnt like having all that pool noodle foam in there, its ugly.
So, I took out the battery trays I made. Lucky. I had them glued in place with RTV silicone, as recommended by KBB. This made removing them easy.
So, I took it all apart, and going to rework some things for aesthetics, and ease of use.
I plan on doing:
- custom Battery sled-tray system,
- custom Servo mount
- custom ESC cover
CNC graphics on whatever I can.
2 part foam flotation in the front.
I would like to try to hydro-dip the exterior. We will see.

[kfxguy]

An update.

I was also unhappy with the battery mounts. The velcro straps are fine, but I didnt like having all that pool noodle foam in there, its ugly.
So, I took out the battery trays I made. Lucky. I had them glued in place with RTV silicone, as recommended by KBB. This made removing them easy.
So, I took it all apart, and going to rework some things for aesthetics, and ease of use.
I plan on doing:
- custom Battery sled-tray system,
- custom Servo mount
- custom ESC cover
CNC graphics on whatever I can.
2 part foam flotation in the front.
I would like to try to hydro-dip the exterior. We will see.

Guess I'm gonna find out soon if my motor mounts are gonna stay! Lol

[kfxguy]

[/QUOTE]

Your motor looks a bit further forward than mine. Any reason for this or it just ended up that way?

[larryrose11]

kfxguy,
It was a battery balance thing.
I wanted the option of running a 6S OR 6s2P setup. The CG on this hull is around 9.5 inches from the sponson transom.
Having the motor a little farther forward help me achieve that. You also have expanding foam in the front, which will counteract that.

Im going to rework some things, as I noted above, which will mess with the balance. Well see.

[larryrose11]

A note from Fluid about the cheetah hull. Im putting it here as a reminder.

..... in theory your motor and prop (TP mtr 1600KV, Ice 240 ESC, on 8s, 452 prop) could propel the Cheetah into the mid-80s. The Cheetah has too much lift for that speed unless you have made a few modifications - it will fly off the water. That large prop is part of the problem too, the Cheetah is really a 32" cat and that is a large diameter prop for a hull that size. An m645 has the same pitch as the x452 but will give far less prop walk. It will also load the motor less so that you may be able to keep your electronics from gong BOOM.

[kfxguy]

Mine like a x447/3 best. I have an m645 also.

[ray schrauwen]

subbed for reference...

[Fluid]

A note from Fluid about the cheetah hull. Im putting it here as a reminder.

I still stand by what I wrote months ago for those conditions.................but my own Cheetah runs on 4S1P with a pitched-up x457/3. Yes, I set up the hull to allow it to scream without propwalk. Averages around 100 amps and close to 50 mph - but not with a Leopard or TP motor.

A fellow club member runs an x447 (IIRC) and his Cheetah runs as just well. Just two different ways to get to the same result....except I think he has a higher amp draw. The Cheetah seems to run nice and clean with minimal drag, prop efficiency is high based on logged data. Oh yeah, I made no changes to the ride pads other than a mild truing up with 220 grit....




.

[ray schrauwen]

You're running a HET something?? 1400kv'ish? you mentioned on FB. I wonder if my TP 4070 -1440kv in a Cheetah would be as efficient?

[Mad Racer]

Looking good.

Keep the pic's coming please