Reaction 54 Jet Kit
05-23-2006, 12:50 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Just wanted to show the progress of my Reaction 54. In the photo, it is fully glassed in 3/4 oz cloth with Zpoxy resin and ready for paint. It is now actually primed and base coated in white. I have cut out all the logos and letters in paint mask, and that will be the fun part of the job. I expect to have the paint finished in a week or 2 max.
05-23-2006, 03:07 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
G'Day Mate,
I glassed and painted my second R54. It come out about 1 1/2 pounds heavier but that did not seem to make any difference to the way it flies. Still flies as slow as can be and lands beautifully. I have a Wren 54 Supersport in mine and it has plenty of power. My old monocote covered R54 is starting to look a little worse for wear after about 70 flights. Painting takes a little longer but I think the result is worth it.
Regards
I glassed and painted my second R54. It come out about 1 1/2 pounds heavier but that did not seem to make any difference to the way it flies. Still flies as slow as can be and lands beautifully. I have a Wren 54 Supersport in mine and it has plenty of power. My old monocote covered R54 is starting to look a little worse for wear after about 70 flights. Painting takes a little longer but I think the result is worth it.
Regards
05-24-2006, 02:28 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
G'Day Marty,
I used .6 oz glass cloth from CST Composites
www.cstsales.com
I put it on with thinned Zpoxy . A second coat of epoxy after the first has dried. Then sand with 80 grit paper till all the shine is gone. A coat of two pack epoxy primer, sand till you can see the wood colour , then a thin coat of primer.
The paint is "Clear over Base" from the local Auto paint shop. You don't need much colour if you start with white. And just enough clear to give a good shine.
The painted model weighs 20 pounds and the Monokote model weighs just over 18 1/2 pounds.
The flight performance with my limited experience is still as good. Landings are not so "Floaty" and it seems to handle the wind better.
I love my Reaction!!!.
Regards
I used .6 oz glass cloth from CST Composites
www.cstsales.com
I put it on with thinned Zpoxy . A second coat of epoxy after the first has dried. Then sand with 80 grit paper till all the shine is gone. A coat of two pack epoxy primer, sand till you can see the wood colour , then a thin coat of primer.
The paint is "Clear over Base" from the local Auto paint shop. You don't need much colour if you start with white. And just enough clear to give a good shine.
The painted model weighs 20 pounds and the Monokote model weighs just over 18 1/2 pounds.
The flight performance with my limited experience is still as good. Landings are not so "Floaty" and it seems to handle the wind better.
I love my Reaction!!!.
Regards
05-24-2006, 07:20 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Very nice finish Tommy. I realy like the fillets that you did. As you mentioned, the film covering does go on faster, but gets tired over time.
05-25-2006, 01:44 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
It’s great to see more Reactions just about ready to go, you will love them! I had the chance to get out yesterday and burn a serious quantity of K1! I put numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 on my Reaction. I even gave the sticks over to a friend that was a little skeptical of the planes ability throughout the building process – he loved it! What a dream to fly, and land. Thanks again Bruce for the great design. The new front gear is perfect!
05-25-2006, 10:38 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
I'll have mine ready for it's maiden voyage pretty soon. Hopefully Bruce will get me the new front gear soon.
Has anybody installed the forward hatch with a different method than the one that came with the kit? (the sping loaded latch)
I would be interested to know what others have done.
Bob
Has anybody installed the forward hatch with a different method than the one that came with the kit? (the sping loaded latch)
I would be interested to know what others have done.
Bob
05-25-2006, 11:11 PM
#1135
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Here's an update on the nose wheel strut issue.
Robart is apparently still working on bending wires for me. They had some broken tooling that needed repair, but this has been going on for about a month so far. Discouraging, to say the least.
In the meantime, I've had two builders with R54s complete their airplanes with the only hold up being the nose strut. So I bit the bullet, bought some 3/16 wire, and used my K&S benders to make some nose struts. I have a few more of these, but I only want to send them to guys who are flyable except for this one part. You will need to swap the bearing and steering arm from your original soft strut. If your R54 is flyable, but you are grounded by a soft nose wheel strut, let me know and I'll send you a custom Bent-by-Bruce wire
I really think Robart will get something done very soon. If you are still building, I ask for your patience and will send you an "official" Robart strut as soon as they get them to me.
Robart is apparently still working on bending wires for me. They had some broken tooling that needed repair, but this has been going on for about a month so far. Discouraging, to say the least.
In the meantime, I've had two builders with R54s complete their airplanes with the only hold up being the nose strut. So I bit the bullet, bought some 3/16 wire, and used my K&S benders to make some nose struts. I have a few more of these, but I only want to send them to guys who are flyable except for this one part. You will need to swap the bearing and steering arm from your original soft strut. If your R54 is flyable, but you are grounded by a soft nose wheel strut, let me know and I'll send you a custom Bent-by-Bruce wire
I really think Robart will get something done very soon. If you are still building, I ask for your patience and will send you an "official" Robart strut as soon as they get them to me.
05-25-2006, 11:33 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Great - If the weather co-operates I plan on flying Monday or Tuesday or both. You can get some more stick time in if you can make it.
Galen
Galen
05-26-2006, 05:01 AM
#1140
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: bob1393
I'll have mine ready for it's maiden voyage pretty soon. Hopefully Bruce will get me the new front gear soon.
Has anybody installed the forward hatch with a different method than the one that came with the kit? (the sping loaded latch)
I would be interested to know what others have done.
Bob
I'll have mine ready for it's maiden voyage pretty soon. Hopefully Bruce will get me the new front gear soon.
Has anybody installed the forward hatch with a different method than the one that came with the kit? (the sping loaded latch)
I would be interested to know what others have done.
Bob
Dave Rigotti
05-27-2006, 11:48 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hi Galen - and everyone else. Here is my first picture of my R54 under construction. Finish the monokote on the fuse, mount the engine, put receiver and batteries in, and hook up the steerable nose gear and she'll be ready to go. Hopefully be ready to test fly next month. I copied the colors from BNOVA on post 729 on page 30.
05-28-2006, 12:29 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Excellent !! Good work and fast too!!
It's a go for Monday. Chuck has his R-54 ready and Roy Holt will Be there with his Boomerang. Roy is a turbine wavered CD and can help steer you towards your Waiver. If you have something fast to fly bring it. It might suffice to get you signed off. You can also buddy box off of mine.
See you there.
Galen
It's a go for Monday. Chuck has his R-54 ready and Roy Holt will Be there with his Boomerang. Roy is a turbine wavered CD and can help steer you towards your Waiver. If you have something fast to fly bring it. It might suffice to get you signed off. You can also buddy box off of mine.
See you there.
Galen
06-18-2006, 11:16 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Well the painting is finally finished, and almost ready for the maiden flight. I took it to the Belleville jet rally yesterday, but had a couple of small things that kept me from doing the maiden after the show. The finish is ¾ oz cloth with 2 coats of Z-Poxy resin sanded. All the logos and lettering are done with paint mask that I produce. There are no decals or rub on stencils here. Panel lines are done in a very soft pencil. It is all painted in base coat with a clear coat finish.
06-19-2006, 03:06 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hi Bruce
Received the nosegearwire. Finished it up so it fit into the Robart gear.
Went to fly today and put 3 flights on. goes just fine and the crow seems to ease the landingfloat problems.
Thanks again
Ed Reints
Received the nosegearwire. Finished it up so it fit into the Robart gear.
Went to fly today and put 3 flights on. goes just fine and the crow seems to ease the landingfloat problems.
Thanks again
Ed Reints
06-19-2006, 04:23 PM
#1145
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
RE: ... Has anybody installed the forward hatch with a different method than the one that came with the kit? (the sping loaded latch)
I would be interested to know what others have done. Bob
Bob, I am using a 4-40 bolt and blind nut on each side. The front corners of the canopy (where the bolt will go through) also has a lite-ply insert on each side. The bolt method will be a bit of a pain, but, after you slide the canopy on, if you have the bolts ready, or even have a helper, its no too bad.
I know that the standard latch method is fine ...... I did it this way because (for some reason) my canopy frone edges were starting to bulge outward a bit. Bob
06-26-2006, 09:11 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
I finally did It!!! With the help of Galen and Chuck we put the first two flights on my R54. Galen did the maiden flight and I did the 2nd, along with my first R54 landing. Everything went great and the the plane flew great. Two great landings too!! Thanks again Galen and Chuck for the help.
Bob
Bob
06-26-2006, 10:00 PM
#1148
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Congratulations!!!
With all your past pattern experience, we will have to get together and get you checked out for your waiver sign off. I was not available today, had to take the wife to the doctor. I am going to the Maple Flag jet meet this next week so I won't be available that week either. I will PM you my schedule.
Roy
With all your past pattern experience, we will have to get together and get you checked out for your waiver sign off. I was not available today, had to take the wife to the doctor. I am going to the Maple Flag jet meet this next week so I won't be available that week either. I will PM you my schedule.
Roy
