Eclipson Model S FPV Canopy

Here is a demo video of how the onboard video looks in my case: 

Ever wanted to equip your Eclipson Model S with a FPV system so that the experience of flying it gets close(r) to flying a real glider?

Well, I did and therefore I made some changes to the original canopy so that one can securely place the Air Unit of the DJI Digital FPV System underneath it. So it is not made for the O3 Air Unit altough it might work with it and other FPV Systems alike the DJI Digital FPV System - so Walksnail and Caddx Vista etc. COULD work as well. I only tested and used it with said DJI system.

The models I designed / modified include the two modified halves of the canopy, a camera mount that attaches to the assembled canopy and a backplate for the Air Unit.

I paid attention to cooling, but that does not mean that my design is perfect by any means. The cooling holes / tubes in the canopy might be too small and run to flat to use the FPV canopy in hot weather. The backplate for the Air Unit is perforated as well so that it can get cooled a little from underneath. Also, the fit of the Air Unit is not really tight so there is some space back and forth and up and down. Nonetheless, it worked for me so far.

You definetly can NOT print this in PLA, because the Air Unit surely gets hotter than PLA can stand. I printed the canopy and backplate in Colorfabb's HT filament that holds it's shape up to a 100 degrees celsius or so. Had no problem with deformation yet. Any other filament that holds it shape up to the temperatures the Air Unit might reach works too, of course.

It mainly gets hot on the ground when testing and adjusting the camera angle, it did not feel hot when I landed the plane after 5-10 minutes of flight. But I flew when it was somewhat windy and at outside temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees celsius, so performance might differ depending on weather and motor usage as the airflow from the propeller could cause some additional cooling too.

The modified canopy printed fine for me without supports altough the overhangs do not look super clean. the rest of the models prints nicely too without supports. Maybe one needs to lower the layer height for the camera mount to 0.15mm. 

Assemble by printing both halves of the canopy and glue it together like the original one. Then use the backplate to align your Air Unit to where you want it to be seated (or where it needs to be seated so that the antennas and the camera fit through their holes) and mark the holes of the backplate on the canopy. Drill them with a 1.5mm drill. Secure Air Unit and backplate to the canopy by screwing it through the holes with 2x8 self tapping screws. Then push the the Camera trough the designated hole and use your goggles and some velcro to find a position of your liking for the Camera mount to be permanently glued to the canopy. The curved side of the Camera mount should face the direction you want to tilt the Camera. Because I did not model the slot for the adjustment screws spot on, you can only either use the top or bottom screws included with the camera to secure it in place.

For the LW-PLA version of the plane that I use this FPV Canopy with so far, I needed some tail(counter)weight in / on my Model S to avoid flying a very nose heavy plane. I included a tail weight mount among the model files that fits the weights I use for my planes. They are some kind of RC car wheel weights I think, but I do not remember the exact model. Maybe you can find something else that fits too. The tail weight holder glues onto the tail and the weight itself is removable / exchangeable. One can screw the cap on with 2x8 self tapping screws. You have to find a place for it so that your CG is on point again (assuming it is off).

Thanks to Eclipson for designing this great looking and flying airplane and selling the STL files at an affordable price. Check out their other models too (https://www.eclipson-airplanes.com/) - or the Model S of course if you haven't already. I wish it was a little bit more durable, but the LW-PLA version seems to be more robust than the PLA version. But if it is printed with an engineering filament that works for 3d printed airplanes, one could increase the durability I think.