jodini

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I bought the MIG -29 kit and wasn't very happy with the indecisive directions: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...ight=ak+models

My stupidity crash that plane because the battery shook loose from the reciever, so now I start again. Since I actually loved the looks of the kit, I decided to build another one of there kits and hope for better luck!

The reason I start this formum is to ask:
Who has built this SU-27 kit?
What advice do you have?
Keeping a log of my build

Here's some pics of the MIG-29.....the last pic was a few hours after the maiden flight!

Blade47

Here is a thread on the SU27 build of which I and many others put together. Lots of good tips on the build and on the test flights that we did ..... It is long read but well worth the out come .... good luck on your build and a great test flight.

I also have the MIG29 with about 30 flights and still going

cheers

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_21...tm.htm#2186098

Blade47

Here is my MIG 29

jodini

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Thanks Blade47,
Yes, I pulled myself thru that thread a few times. Seems like the mods that were made that seem very benificial was to beef up the rudder linkage because of problems with flutter...true?

Any other quick advice?

Blade47

IMO Both the rudder and elevator control rods need to be improved. In my build I improved the rudder control based on test flights by Jet-pilot Rich.... then improved the elevator controls over several tests on my own due to flutter ( dang lucky I didn't stuff it in )

bob27s

My Feedback: (19)

The Mig looked nice..... sorry to hear you lost it.

The SU-27 is worth the build. As you have seen, the control torque rods need some consideration, and there are a few other tweeks of preference here and there you may wish to consider. But in general it is an excellent flying plane.

Bob

Crazy4Flight

My Feedback: (540)

We are all given ONE stupid crash.

All of my connections, battery-switch or servo lead extentions, are held together with heat shrink tubing. You can buy it at Electrodynamics
http://www.electrodynam.com

jodini

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Thanks Crazy4Flight,
To be honest with you, I rushed the MIG-29 build and after read MANY pages of the SU-27 build, I realized how many things I did wrong on the mig. I did heat shrink all my connections but the wires were very tight where they connected the reciever and that could of easily been fixed. However, I had LOTS of play on my rudder and my CG was way off. I think the SU-27 was more thought out by Alex and with the retracts, it should look very cool! For some reason, I'm really hooked on this prop jet and hope it goes together well.

It seems like the main mod these guys are taking into consideration is the flutter in the elevator and rudder....so I'm trying to figure that out first. The kit should be here tomorrow.

jodini

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Well the kit just got here and we are already starting the build. The first thing I attacked was the torque rods since that's been a problem...this was my fix (hopefully).

When I went to the hobby store they even had some 1/8 Du-bro wire for ailerons...the 558 Du-bro fix. However a friend of mine that lives here that used to work for Byron Models gave me this fix....and it's even stronger.

I took a 4-40 rod, bent one end, slid brass tube around 4/40 (very tight), cut a aluminum tube a tad shorter (they didn't have a brass one that was tight), bent the other end and then soldered the 4-40 to the brass tube. I then scored the aluminum tube with some sand paper and done. Also this way if my solder decides to brake, I still have the 4/40 rod inside for support. But if the solder holds the tube will never twist and therefore, no slop! Below is a pic of the torque rods for the rudder.

bob27s

My Feedback: (19)

The heavier rod will help, but that will only address tortional stiffness .... you will still have to ensure it has a "bearing" support. That process was documented in the long Su27 thread.

jodini

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Long SU-27 is correct....my eyes hurt from looking at it! [8D]

I'll do a little more work on it today....I think I have a fix for the bearing support.

jodini

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Well here's my attempt and I think it will work great.

On the elevator I took fiberglass cloth and sprayed it with 3m 77. Then I folded it in half around the aluminum tube that I roughed up. After I CA'd these, they were hard as a rock and they wouldn't move at all on the tube...perfect. Then I did it a second time, cut hinge slots and epoxyed the whole works. The 4-40 rod is soldered to the copper tube that pivots inside the aluminum. Here's some pics.....very solid....what do you guys think?

jodini

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Well I'm still waiting for my Spring Air Retracts to come in, so I couldn't work on the fuse this weekend. So instead I decided to work on the wing and I'm very impressed with Alex's kit this time. EVERYTHING was laser cut....the sheer webs, the back spars, and even the wing caps! Compared to his other Mig-29 kit, this one has been much more enjoyable to build.

Building the left wing next and hopefully the retracts will be in Monday.

jodini

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Well my spring airs finally came in. Really like them. I pumped too much air into them (120 psi) and those BIG wheels came up thru the wing....I had to bust a gut!

So after I fixed that and looking at the wheels I decided the 2.75 wheels asked for looked more like I was getting ready for a float fly when the wheels were up. So I came down to 2.5 and the front one will probably be a 2.25. Still plenty of clearance with my 13x8 prop on my Evolution Engine.

So lets talk RADIO INSTALLATION.

I've read over the "AKM SU-27 Flanker Does look good" forum a hundred times and it seems like most guys are putting into the exhaust. Don't have a problem with putting a battery back there but I want my reciever to be easily accessible and I don't want a ton of wires bunched around it since it's a Spectrum receiver (short antenna), so I'm thinking about making a hatch somewhere and installing the radio. Other than that, this has been a very quick build and tons easier than the Mig-29. Everything seems more thought out. The precut holes for the throttle and the rudder cables was very nice...just put them in tonight. Next week I hope to get things finished up and ready for covering. It's been a VERY fun build! Highly recommend.

jodini

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Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's still not in it's final sanding stage but everything is glued and installed for the most part. Now a color scheme???

jodini

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I have a whole new respect for Sparhawk, jetrich and anyone else that has covered this model.....MAN!

Well it's not perfect but it should fly!

Blade47

Very nice work on the plane over all ... good luck on the test flight.

jodini

My Feedback: (2)

Well it's finished and now I don't want to fly it! HA! I still have to triple check over everything, do my rates on my radio and of course....CG (can't forget that one)! I think it's just going to take a little extra weight in the tail, but not as much as I thought...I'll let you guys know. I have that Evo 1.00NXT in front so it has some weight. []

jodini

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Well, I'm just waiting for some good weather now and was looking at pictures of everyone elses.....then I started to see something strange!

When I first glued on the end missles on the wing tip (or whatever they supposed to be), I glued them on lineing up the top. After the glued dried I notice they were practically pointing about negative 5 degrees towards the ground. My friend notice that I had lots of washout on the wing which I thought was normal on this build.

So then I glued them back on so they were parallel to the ground. Looking at everyone elses pictures.....they still don't look quiet right.

My question is, do you guys have a lot of washout on your wings and whats your wing tips look like???????????????????

I don't know what I'm worried about anyway, because it's too late now, but I'm just curious.

jodini

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SUCCESS! Another SU-27 in the air. No trim needed, CG was right on, and it flew well...or at least that's what my pilot, Dean Copeland said. I couldn't fly it...I was shaking like I drank 2 pots of coffee! [X(]

But now that we saw it fly, it's all good. He said it needed full elevator during the take off and the nose wheel was way too sensitive....other than that it looked great and flew well. The landing was perfect! Nice nose up landing.....sweet!!!!!!!!!!![8D]

Pics later!
Thanks for the people that PMed me back....especially Blade47, Sparhawk and jetpilotrich!

Sparhawk

Congrats on the maiden flight jodini. I am sure the scheme was very easy to see and keep orientated in the air... and I really like how it is a modified version of the Mig-29 OVT scheme like I did on mine. The two would have looked good together in the air!

You will be very happy with it and how it flies rock solid in the air. Don't get excited because of the full elevator on landing, I was quite surprised at how slow I could actually bring it in... just allow for any extra throw that your radio and servos will allow for the "high" rate on the elevator. Some said that even a few degrees of flaperons was effective, but I have not programmed and tried that yet.

Post pics when you can!

Spar

Sparhawk

Hey, here is a cool shot to compare them, jodini's on the left, mine on the right (before the star)

Spar

jodini

My Feedback: (2)

I like the one on the right better!!!!!!!!!!!![:@]

I went to fly the SU-27 myself just an hour ago....SWEET! That was fun!

I think I have one problem and I hope you guys chime in PLEASE! I have 100% expo on the nose wheel and still haveing a problem getting that thing to track down the runway. Here's what I think the problem is. My CG is just a tad in front of the gear screws, but when I go to lift the nose it barely gets to 3/4 inches and falls back (without fuel). I thought I supposed to get to 1 inch. So my thoughts are I need to lower the nose which will help it to track and hold the nose down to the ground....TRUE?????[]

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

For the pics, go to the original SU-27 forum: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/PGDr...page_41/tm.htm

Sparhawk, I LOVE the color scheme...easy to see, but I still like yours better! Thanks for letting me steal the design!

Blade47

Jodini: I have the same problem ( had ) mine will track to the left if I give it WOT after 20' or so ...I found if I use only 3/4 throttle and rotate then go to WOT it is fine ...the Evo has a lot of torque at bottom end.