new depron plans and instructions available.
pick your building poison. The original amphibious pond / park flyer

NOTE: TWINKLE PLANS NO LONGER FOR SALE
Sales slowed to a trickle, and recently ran out of plans, so it's time to bring this part of the ride to a close. The plans offering has been great and I warmly thank everyone who purchased a set, I hope your Twinkle serves for many years.

Twinkle may come back as a kit or an ARF in the future, but it's all cloudy at this point and there's many things on the list to do before redrawing this little bird again.

For anyone genuinely interested in this plane, I'm happy to receive emails about it (arron@keyboardmonkey.com), a champion little plane. All the best.

- Arron










A new versatile building material has come along that is certainly popular with the kiddies. Throughout the original Twinkle discussion threads on RCGroups, people kept asking for a foam version. Depron brought the opportunity to make a foam version of the plane with no compromise, or the need for specialist hardware like a hotwire.

The depron plans were developed to create the exact same aerodynamic shape as the original balsa model. This was to ensure that the flight characteristics were the same, and people can be assured that when built to the plans they end up with the same versatile flying machine that was presented in the original.

...actually, you get a little more. With the plans followed, the plane can actually turn out a little lighter. The tip floats and wings form their own cells, so a leak in one doesn't mean it'll flow into the other. The depron takes a lot of scraping before a leak results, where the traditionally covered balsa plane needs to have the covering protected.

If foam is your thing, then get your Twinkle on with the d'Twinkle!


What's in the plans set?...
 The plans are developed for depron building from the ground up. They are accurate original prints straight from the plotter (photocopied plans can be innacurate) and printed in full colour for increased clarity.

The instructions document is 14 pages long (somehow it grew larger than the balsa build instructions) to ensure that all the important details of the build are provided. As much practical information as possible has been added regarding the building and flying of the plane as possible. While I'm not directly responsible for the outcome of customer's builds, I have attempted to provide all information and experience gained in the building and development of the Twinkle design.

All the parts are on the plans in old school scratch builder fashion. However many like to get photocopies to transfer parts by cutting through the copy and depron at the same time... so as an optional extra, a template sheet can be bought for this purpose at a price cheaper than copies from a copy shop. If you're up for some other transfer method, you're welcome to save these few dollars.



Order below...
note: you need to provide and address in the notes are when checking out for the plans to be mailed! :)

Depron Plans Set - $14
- Depron plans, original print straight from the plotter full colour
- 14 page instructions booklet that include building, trimming, and flying

USA-48 states ($4 shipping - US$18 total) - 
international ($9 shipping - US$23 total) - 


Depron Plans & Template Sheet Set - $16
- The above plans set (same plans and instruction booklet)
+ Template sheet of the parts you can abuse without hurting the original plans

USA-48 states ($4 shipping - US$20 total) - 
international ($9 shipping - US$25 total) - 































So, tell me about Twinkle...
Twinkle was made to accompany my father's NorthStar at a water plane meet in NSW Australia. After some adjustments, the first prototype proved to be a very enjoyable park flyer. After some nagging by others, I turned the pencil sketch design into a set of plans. After testing another prototype, these plans were drawn in CAD, printed, and made available to those interested.

The Twinkle plans have also been published in reduced form in FlyRC magazine. As such there is currently a building competition running for Twinkle builders. Winners get various products as an award. Stay tuned to FlyRC for the results!

Twinkle is a very capable little plane. It can fly from all surfaces... water, land and snow. Because of the configuration, it has the best surface handling of any plane I know... it's amazing fun just to run it around on the water like a boat, or to run around a parking lot like a car. It features a unique building method that is simple to undertake, yet other builders will be impressed with the results.

How does it fly?...
Twinkle is very capable in the sky... it's not a pattern ship, but is very aerobatic. A lot of effort was put into making sure that the Twinkle is a well behaved plane; Two prototypes were made, and the plans not released to the masses until the plane was trimmed to fly equally well upside down as the right side up (the tricky thrust line effects inverted flight the most when it's wrong). Twinkle is no trainer, but it is a polite sports plane that is appropriate for anyone comfortable with flying low wing aileron aircraft.

The stall is complete, but provides plenty of warning. Because of the configuration of the plane, it does bring in some quirks that can be fun to toy around with. All-in-all, Twinkle is simply a joy to fly, and particularly interesting because it can fly in many different scenarios.

What's on offer?...
The plans for Twinkle are printed direct from the original CAD design, on a 100% accurate plotter, in full colour. Along with the plans is a 10 page booklet that includes building, trimming and flying instructions. The building instructions are filled with photos, and the flying section includes tips for flying off all three surfaces.

The plans are shipped in a mailing tube... they are not folded.






Order below...
note: you need to provide and address in the notes are when checking out for the plans to be mailed! :)
Balsa Plans Set - $14
- Balsa plans, original print straight from the plotter full colour
- 11 page instructions booklet that include building, trimming, and flying

USA-48 states ($4 shipping - US$18 total) - 
international ($9 shipping - US$23 total) - 


Balsa Plans & Template Sheet Set - $16
- The above plans set (same plans and instruction booklet)
+ Template sheet of the parts you can abuse without hurting the original plans

USA-48 states ($4 shipping - US$20 total) - 
international ($9 shipping - US$25 total) - 

Want Both?...
note: you need to provide and address in the notes are when checking out for the plans to be mailed! :)
Balsa + Depron Plans Set - $24
- Balsa plans, original print straight from the plotter full colour
- 11 page instructions booklet that include building, trimming, and flying

USA-48 states ($4 shipping - US$28 total) - 
international ($9 shipping - US$33 total) - 


Balsa + Depron Plans & Template Sheet Set - $26
- The above plans set (same plans and instruction booklet)
+ Template sheet of the parts you can abuse without hurting the original plans

USA-48 states ($4 shipping - US$30 total) - 
international ($9 shipping - US$35 total) - 



Want the best of both worlds?...   [ HYBRID ]
The original balsa version of the plane is really appealing to many, especially with the trussed ribs. However, covered with light covering, it's very prone to leaks from the covering being scratched. The depron version is much more rugged, it takes a lot of scraping to put a hole that leaks in the depron. But there is a way to get the best of both worlds, the hybrid. If you make the balsa plane, but substitute depron to make the fuselage and tip floats (especially the tip floats), you can have something that has the sexy trussed ribs, yet can take a scraping with little worry. If you want such a beast... go for the balsa plans (need the balsa spars and rib shapes/positions), the instructions has some explanation. The tip shape/profile is on the plan to make some parts from, and the fuselage parts are naturally parted out on the plans.

You could take it a step further and make a depron fin/stab also, but those specific parts are only on the depron plans. If you put "hybrid" in the checkout notes, I may be able to print a 8" x 11" sized sheet that has them on if you're interested.



I have the FlyRC plan, would I want the original plans?...
Maybe. The FlyRC plans are from the original CAD plans, so there's nothing wrong with the design. However, because the plans had to be reduced, the amount of text on the plans had to be reduced as it would become unreadable; the original plans are full of information. The plans set comes with instructions far more lengthy than the magazine article: the magazine article is an edited snippet from these instructions. The plans offered here are full size, and full colour: the photocopy of the magazine plans would be very expensive indeed if enlarged in colour (I also believe that the price is competitive with a simple B&W enlargement). The plans are also 100% accurate and full size from a CAD-CAM plotter... it doesn't sound like much, but there is a bunch of anecdotal evidence around that suggest that photocopiers can introduce some large errors when performing large format tasks.

So, from this you can make up your own mind :)

 

gear specs
Twinkle was really designed around the LensRC 17t brushless motor. Looking at the recommended prop specs for this motor, I had to try and find a three bladed prop to optimise the room available above the wing. With not many three blade props on the market, and the need to try out various pitch angles, this led me to the three blade VarioProp with 6.5" speed blades. So, the Twinkle was designed around the LensRC and the VarioProp.


recommended motors
This size motor has been in hot competition, and there are now very worthy competitors to the LensRC. Namely by CustomCDR and LittleScreamers. My second prototype runs on a CustomCDR single, and because of it's more advanced cooling, can be pushed a little harder. My motor recommendations are for spindle/tube mount motors, simply because this was what the Twinkle was designed around. The motor stick on top of the fin makes quick work of getting the motor rigged. Firewall motors can be used, but you will be left to your own devices to create the firewall and make sure the thrust line remains correct. Max motor weight I'd recommend is no more than 32g or 1.2oz. My recommended motors have very high power to weight, and are just 20-24g.

CustomCDR single stator, tube mount, no integral prop saver (I think this little motor is divine :)
LittleScreamer "deNovo", no integral prop saver

The "power" package will be the CustomCDR or LittleScreamer. These motors have awesome power.
With three lithium cells and the recommended prop, it makes the plane what I call "ballistic Twinkle".


props
Swing anything that fits! :)
To maximise the room available, I used the three blade VarioProp with the 6.5" 'speed' blades. This prop is simply impressive... looks fantastic and really performs. Although this prop is quite economical after you have the hub, it's not the cheapest option. Basically, swing whatever will fit. The APC E-props are also usable if you would rather go the cheaper 2-blade route. In testing, many smaller props worked fine, especiall on the three lithium cells... but none outperformed the varioProp for generally haul'n booty! :)

VarioProp
hub - '6A' size three blade hub for 3mm shaft. (if using the above motors, otherwise fit your shaft size).
blades - 6.5" 'speed' blade for the 6A hub.

Short time ago there wasn't a 'one stop shop' to get all the bits of the vario prop (hub and blades), but AirCraft-Wrold have finally come through... they have all the hubs and blades in stock! w00t!... AirCraft-World. I fully recommend ACW. They are in Japan, but for just $3 shipping on small items (here is there shipping info page), you can have your goods in under a week! I've ordered on friday to have the gear on monday. As good a mail order service you could hope for.

You can also get the hubs at e-flightline, but they don't have the desired sized blades.


batteries
Whatever will fit! :)
It's up to the needs of the power plant, but with the motor and prop recommendations, you'll need just 2S lithium cells. So find 2S batts that can keep the juice up to your motor and you're fine. I've used a few battery sizes, from 450mah to 1200mah... as long as everything balances properly, Twinkle won't mind at all. I do prefer the lighter setups, so general hopping around I recommend 640mah 15C discharge Kokam. They can sustain the current draw for the above power setup, and a pretty good match. If you want insane amounts of power, I recommend the above motors/prop combo, and 3S of the 640mah 15C Kokams. This will provide way more power than is required, allowing the Twinkle to accelerate in vertical climbs and be generally insane. :) ...do not try this unless you're an experienced pilot as it does turn Twinkle from something harmless into something that could seriously hurt. For general flying, I do rather the lighter load of the 2S packs... makes three point landing and general nonsense a little more fun.


speed controller
I use the Phoenix10 by CastleCreations, although any suitable brushless controller around this size will do. I'm looking forward to trying out the Thunderbird-9 also by CastleCreations, as changing from 2S to 3S batteries would no longer require resetting the low voltage cutoff, as it'll do it automagically.


radio
The original prototype used GWS Pico servos, and the second used Blue Arrow 4.3g servos. Reckon that any servo under 8-9g will be up to the task. The receiver... the first prototype had a very bad interference problem because I ran the motor wire from the nose to the tail. This made horrible interference. Using a basic GWS single conversion Rx, it almost cost me the life of the plane several times. I upgraded to a dual conversion M5 from FMA direct and the problem simply vanished. However, on the second prototype, I made all the motor wires as short as possible, and housed the ESC at the base of the fin. With this setup, I was able to return to the basic single conversion Rx without the old interference problems. So if you fancy the longer motor wires, use a dual conversion Rx like the M5, or keep them really short and use whatever. I like the peace of mind in using the M5, which is also now my favorite Rx by far, simply because it could get a clear signal through all the interference mush of the first prototype.

The Tx I use is the Futaba 7CAP... but that's almost inconsequential. :)
(it is a fantastic radio though)




I hope that you find out soon how much fun flying a Twinkle can be.

Arron.
(Twinkle's designer)