Skywalker X-8 User manual

Skywalker X8 
Assembly manual January 2013






ThisManualWasCreatedbyRayGraubergerwww.raygrauberger.com

Technical Data
This is the X-8 FPV wing from Skywalker Technology. The BIG FPV wing!
The X-8 has been specifically designed for FPV and UAV, customized for F-Tek stabilizer
systems.
An awesome looking and fantastic flying FPV / UAV platform, molded out of EPO so it's nearly
indestructible!
This model offers a huge amount of under canopy space, excellent glide performance, and fast
low power cruise speeds in the region of 80-90 kph.
The airframe was designed from the outset to take FPV and other video devices, the equipment
bays have been laid out to suit FPV / UAV applications, there is a camera mount in the nose
and there's a forward oblique mount to suit a Gopro. Transporting the airframe is easy, both
the wing panels and the vertical stabs are bolt on affairs.
Nice design points are the molded in wing reflex, removable vertical stabilizers, ventral
launching grips, nose camera bay, canopy retained via strong magnets , molded battery and
FPV trays and 2 through fuselage spars - plus a molded in spar in each wing panel.
It's an impressive airframe that spans 2120mm and has a rather imposing silhouette!
Specs:
Wingspan: 2120 millimeters
Dry Weight: 880 grams
Take Off Weight: 3200 grams
Motor: 400 – 800 watts dependent on payload
Suggested Motor: 2820 KV730 with 60 amp Esc
Prop: 12 x 6 – 13 x 8 – 13 x 7
Battery: 4s 3000 mA - 6S 5000 mAh
Esc: 40-70 amp
Maximum Weight: 3500 grams
Not Included But Required:
3 or more channel radio system
2 x standard size servos
Propeller and adapter
Brushless out runner
Brushless ESC
Lipo battery
FPV or UAV system


FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS
When flying your Skywalker X8, please keep in mind these manufacturer guidelines. As everything,
there are exceptions to the rule but these are good points to start with.
Please note that you should, control the Skywalker X8 flight speed within 85 km/H.
If you need a high speed flight you should strengthen wings, otherwise the wings support structure
may fail. Try to keep the Skywalker X8 within 3200 grams. If your build exceeds the 3200 gram
limit, you should strengthen the wings.
If there are technical problems or suggestions, please email or consult your local dealer or distributor
that you purchased your model from.
If you have any questions about this document or anything I can help you with, please email
[email protected] and I will respond as soon as possible.
AFTER BUILD
Skywalker suggests you use brand name quality propeller such as CAM or APC. The design of the Skywalker X8
makes it easy to break down and carry to a field, or store in a smaller space.
CENTER OF GRAVITY
The position of the center of gravity for the Skywalker X8 is 440 millimeters away from the nose, a 5 millimeter
correction either forward or backwards from this point may be needed. The design of the Skywalker X8 puts the
Center of Gravity point and the rear edge of the hand hold slots on the bottom of the model, so measuring is not
needed.

MY CONFIGURATION

Motor: Hacker A40-12S V2
ESC: HACKER X-70 SB PRO
BATTERY: ZIPPY Flightmax 8000 mAh 6S1P 30C
Turnigy nano-tech 8000 mAh 5S 25~50C Lipo Pack
ZIPPY Flightmax 8000 mAh 5S1P 30C
PROPELLER: Graupner CAM Folding Propeller 13 X 7
SPINNER: Aeronaut 2-Blade Black Spinner for Folding Propellers
BLADE STOPPER: Aeronaut Fiberglass Blade Stopper for 2-Blade Spinners
YOKE: Aeronaut Yoke for 2-Blade Spinners






PARTS LIST
QUANTITY DESCRIPTION
1  2PartEPO(expanded polyolefin) SplitFuselage
1  EPOFuselageHatch
2  EPOMainWings
2  EPOMainWingAccessPanels
2  EPOWinglets
1  590.55millimeterFrontCarbonFiberWingTube
1  889millimeterRearCarbonFiberWingTube
1  WoodenOvalMotorMount
4  WoodenMainWingButt‐Plate
2  WoodenUpperWingletButt‐Plate(usedontheWinglets)
2   WoodenLowerWingletButt‐Plate(markedwithaT)(UsedontheMainWings)
2  Standard3WireServoExtensions
2  WireControlArms
2  PressureFitRudderControlHorns
8  NeodymiumMagnets
8  MagnetMountingSurfaces
8  Screws
2  BlackPushrodConnectorScrews
2  PushrodConnectors
2  SqueezeTubesofGlue








Skywalker X8 Assembly Procedure
1. Gluethewingletbutt‐platetothewingletPHOTOS1A,1B,1C,1D
2. Gluethemagneticholddownstructurestogether  PHOTOS2A,2B
3. GluethemagneticholddownstructuresintothewingbodyPHOTOS3A,3B,3C
4. GluingtherudderhornsPHOTOS4A,4B

5. Trialfittingtheservoandelevonconfiguration
6. AdvancedwingconfigurationusingDragRudders(seeAppendixA)

7. GluingtheservosinplacePHOTOS7A,7B
8. Mountingthepushrodandpushrodconnector  PHOTO8A
9. Gluingthemainwingwingletbutt‐platePHOTOS9A,9B 
10. Separatingthecontrolsurfacefromthewing  PHOTO10A
11. WingplatebondingwithservoextensionInstallation PHOTOS11A,11B,11C,11D
12. Addingthewingbutt‐platetothemainwings  PHOTOS12A,12B,12C,12D
13. Runningtheservoextensionintothemainfuselagebody PHOTOS13A,13B
14. Installingthemotormountintothefuselage   PHOTOS14A,14B,14C,14D
15. GluingthefuselagehalvesPHOTOS15A,15B,15C,15D
16. Installingthewingbutt‐plateontothefuselage  PHOTOS16A,16B,16C
17. WingletfinalassemblyPHOTO17A
18. AttachingthemotorPHOTOS18A,18B
19. RecessedcameramountPHOTOS19A,19B19C
20. TheSkywalkerX8finalassemblyPHOTOS20A,20B,20C,
21. SkywalkerX8centerofgravityPHOTO21A
22. AssemblyandDisassemblyforTransportation   PHOTOS22A,22B,22C,22D,22E
23. FinishedSkywalkerX8PHOTO23A
APPENDIXA–ConvertingStandardElevonToDragRudderConfiguration

Assembly Instructions
1. Gluethewingletbutt‐platetothewinglet
Spreadthesuppliedglueevenlyoverthewingletbottom.Alsospreadthesuppliedglueononesideofthe
woodenbutt‐plate,(makesurethisisNOTthebutt‐platemarkedwitha“T”).Waitapproximately5minutesfor
thegluetodryuntilitisnolongersticky.Dothisforbothpiecesbeforepressingthemtogether,thiswillallow
youtobetteralignthewingletandthebutt‐plate.SeePhotos:1A,1B,1C,and1D.


PHOTO1A


PHOTO1B


PHOTO1C


PHOTO1D

2. Gluethemagnetsandtheholddownstructuretogether
Assemblethehatchmagnetsintothemagnetholdersbyforcingthemintotheprecutholesinthewooden
magnetholders.Makesureyouhave4Northand4SouthPolesets,marktheholdersinawaythatyoudon’t
mixthemup.Doingthisincorrectlywillreversethemagneticforce,thewrongmagneticdirectioncouldcause
anunwantedfailureorhatchlossinflight.Afteryouhaveforcedthemagnetsintoplace,useCyanoacrylateor

(CA)toaffixthemagnetspermanentlyinthewoodenmagnetholders.Justadropwillbeplentytoholdthe
magnets.SeePhotos2Aand2B.


PHOTO2A


PHOTO2B

3. Gluethemagneticholddownstructureintothewingbody
Usingthesuppliedglueapplyliberallytothemagneticholddowns,allowthegluetodryforapproximately5
minutes.Applygluetothewingshatchandfuselagewaitapproximately5minutesforthegluetodry.Afterthe
gluehasdried,payingcloseattentiontotheNorthandSouthpolesofthemagnetsinsertthemintothewing

andfuselage.IfyoupreviouslymarkedtheNorthandSouthpolesofyourmagnetholddownsasmentionedin
Step2,thisassemblyprocedurewillgomucheasier.Afterthegluehassetinboththefuselageandhatchput
thetwopiecestogetherandinspectthefit,makeanyadjustmentsatthistimetoinsurethereisasolidfit
betweenthehatchandthewing.Paycarefulattentiontothespacingbetweenthetwoholddownpartsandthe
wingandhatch.SeePhotos3A,3B,and3C.


PHOTO3A


PHOTO3B



PHOTO3C

4. GluingtheRudderHorns
Spreadjustenoughglueontothewingscontrolsurfacetoaccepttheruddercontrolhorn.Makesureyou
spreadtheglueevenlyandallowittodry.Dothesameforthecontrolhornitself.Afterboththecontrol
surfaceandcontrolhornhavedried,insertthecontrolhornintothepre‐markedholesinthecontrolsurface.
SeePhotos4Aand4B.


PHOTO4A



PHOTO4B

5. Trialfittingtheservoandelevonconfiguration
Thisisthestandardradioset‐upfortheSkywalkerX8.Atthispointyoushouldhaveyourradiosetupforadelta
wing,elevonconfiguration.Ifyouhavenotset‐upyourradioyet,dothisnowbeforecontinuing.Withallof
yourelectronicsturnedonlettheservosself‐centerthemselves.Turnoffyourelectronicsandattachtheservo
hornstoyourservosatarightangletothelongestsurfaceoftheservo.

6. AdvancedWingConfigurationusingDragRudders
Thereisamoreadvancedflyingconfigurationthatrequirescontrolsurfaceandwingmodificationwith
advancedradioset‐updiscussedlaterinthisdocument.SeeAppendixA.

7. Gluingtheservosinplace
Useastandardsizeservooraservothathasmorethan2.5KGofforcefortheSkywalkerX8.Plugintheservo
extensioncablesuppliedwiththekit.Applygluetoonesideoftheservoandalsoapplygluetotheservocut‐
outinthewings.Waitforthegluetodry(approximately5minutes)thenplacetheservointothewing.Place
theservoextensionwireintothepreformedchannelinthewing.SeePhotos7Aand7B.



PHOTO7A


PHOTO7B


8. MountingthePushrodandPushrodConnector
Insertthepushrodintotheuppermostholeintheservoarm.Slidethepushrodconnectorontothepushrodand
attachthepushrodconnectorwithoneofthesuppliedblackscrews.Cutoffanyexcesslengthoffthepushrod.
Thepushrodshouldnotextendmorethan1/8”ofaninchpastthepushrodconnector.SeePhoto8A.


PHOTO8A

9. GluingtheMainWingWingletButt‐Plate
Liberallyapplyasmoothlayerofgluetothewingletbutt‐platethesebutt‐platesaremarkedwitha“T”.Applya
smoothlayerofgluetothemainwingaswell.Allowthegluetodryonboththewingandbutt‐plate(about5
minutes),thenpressthemtogetheraligningthemaccurately.SeePhotos9Aand9B.


PHOTO9A


PHOTO9B

10. SeparatingtheControlsurfacefromtheWing
Useaneworextremelysharpbladetocutthecontrolsurfacesidesfromthewing.YouwillNOTberemoving
thecontrolsurfacecompletely,justallowingittomoveupanddownwiththelongestsideuncut.Itis
recommendedtoleavea1.5millimetergapbetweenthewingandthecontrolsurface.SeePhoto10A.


PHOTO10A


11. WingPlateBondingwithServoExtensionInstallation
Ifyouareusingdragrudders,doNOTdothisstepuntilyouhavereadandcompletedAppendixA.Spreadglue
ontotherecessinthewingwherethewingplatewillsit.MakesureyoudoNOTcovertheWingTubeareawith
glue.Carefullyinserttheservoextensionintothewingpanelcut‐outchannel,makesurethattheservowireis
firmlyinplaceandtheextensionistightfromtheservo.Spreadglueevenlyontothewingplateallowingthe
wingglueandwingplatetodry(about5minutes).Carefullycompressthewingpaneltothewingadjustingfor
fit.Trytomakesurethatthebuttendofthewingplateisevenwiththeendofthewing.SeePhotos11A,11B,
11Cand11D.


PHOTO11A


PHOTO11B



PHOTO11C


PHOTO11D

12. AddingtheWingButt‐PlatetotheMainWing
Applythesuppliedgluetotheinnerwingedge,makesurenottogetanyglueintothewingtubehole.Also
applygluetothebutt‐plate,allowthegluetodryonbothpiecesforabout5minutes.Afterthegluehasdried
insertthewingtubeintoitthewingtubecavitytohelpalignthebutt‐plateforthemostaccuratefit.Nextinsert
thewingtubeintothewingtubeholeinthebutt‐plate,andattachthebutt‐platetothewing.

SeePhotos12A,12B,12C,and12D.


PHOTO12A


PHOTO12B



PHOTO12C


PHOTO12D


13. RunningtheServoExtensionintotheMainFuselageBody
Youwillneedtowidentheslotinthefuselagesothattheplugendoftheservoleadwillfitthroughthehole
afterthefuselagehasbeengluedtogether.SeePhotos13Aand13B.


PHOTO13A


PHOTO13B

14. InstallingtheMotorMountintotheFuselage
Optionallyyoucanattachyourmotortothemotormountbeforegluingitintothefuselage.Ifyoudonotattach
yourmotoratthistimeyoushouldhavenoproblemsmountingthemotorafterfurtherconstruction.See
Photos14A,14B,14C,and14D
