Turbiner

Another successful Xcaliber maiden, setup as per manual but 170mm CG, powered by Wren 80D. Very quick take off in about 40 metres, rock solid in flight with only two clicks of down trim required, very fast with near non stop vertical, first landing was bouncy which I think was due to high speed and flairing too late, second landing was good and easily stopped on in 40 metres. Only thing I have found is the nose leg is very springy which showed up on our less than perfect grass strip - could do with some damping. Very pleased with it, flies better than my previous Boomerangs. Anyone else had bouncy landings?

Dave Wilshere

They are flying on some rough strips like the Aberdeen club field and no issues.
jets land on the main wheels, it will land incredibly slowly, but it's a proper jet so does not naturally slow like a 'box' Boomerang, it needs to have the speed scrubbed off before the approach

Dave

Turbiner

Thanks for that Dave - confirms what I thought, approach too fast and flairing in the last seconds.

Dave Wilshere

It's a clean design, if you put the nose down it will pick up speed, do some practice approaches fully dirty, also how much fuel were you landing with, fuel is heavy, it should do 8 minutes with your Wren

Turbiner

I am using a 1.8 litre tank, flying for 6 minutes and landing with about an half an inch in the main tank, I don't want to use the larger tank because I am using the space above it for a smoke tank (air tanks each side of the front wheel). I find that 6 minutes is enough excitement at my age! It's the same old problem, if you don't like landing you don't practice it but you are quite right you need plenty of approaches to learn.

adarsh_007

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Hello All,

Building the XCalibur. Its got a PST 800R engine. I've got a 2oz MAP bubble trap, will this 2oz MAP do for the pst800 engine (8kg/18lbs thrust) or should i use a 4oz uat only? I was wanting to install the uat on top of the nose gear wheel well, but its not possible unless i turn the uat by 90deg, is it okay to install the uat with the tubes on the sides? (Please see photos)
Whats the best place to install the the UAT? I have both my air tanks in the front and a 24oz smoke tank on top of the main tank.
TIA.
BTW mine is the standard Xcalibur, not the mini or the plus.
Regards,
Adarsh

pc1972

Hi Turbiner,

I've got exactly the same setup as you with a Wren 80. This is my first turbine and I to have had problems with bouncy landings on our grass strip - had to replace the 6mm nose leg pin on more than one occasion!! I think it's all about the landing speed and the flair. I'm gradually improving my landings and I have found that by throttling right back to idle after the final turn to approach, that the landing speed is spot on and with no problems with bounce. This is in calm conditions, with the wind 10mph or less. If the wind is stronger you'll need to keep about a third throttle until you're over the strip and then throttle back to touch down smoothly. I extend the airbrake during the down wind leg to approximately 80 degrees and this is very effective in slowing the model down. I'm having a great time flying the model and find that it flies like it's on rails!

Pete

JP-1

Adarsh

Please see the attached photographs of a classic installation by 'Motors & Rotors'

Alistair.

P.S. Before anyone asks, No, the I/O board is not held by screws into the fuel tank, ask D.W.

Turbiner

I am using the 2oz UAT with the Wren 80 which is similar size to yours, the main reason for fitting the 4oz would be to provide extra weight at the front, I have about 80grams of lead in the nose to achieve 170mm C of G.

Turbiner

Following your advice, three flights today and all with perfect landings, our strip is only 60 Metres and there was no wind but it lands so slowly that you don't need a long runway. Very impressed with the Xcaliber. Thanks for the advice Pete.

adarsh_007

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JP-1 Thank you for the pics, thats a very nice installation!!

Regards,
Adarsh

adarsh_007

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Thank you Turbiner. Will go with the 2oz map!!

adarsh_007

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My setup is similar to yours and planning to install the smoke system like how you've done on the top of the main tank with a dubro 24oz tank.
You had added some tail weight; i may have missed your post on the test flight, how did the test flight go with that cg? you still fly with that weight in tail?

Regards,
Adarsh

R/CBOONE72

Can anyone comment on this. The xcalibur combo from global jet club USA which says it includes fuel tank & LG, does it include the same retract kit that is sold seperatly at $695? I sent an email and the response was vague and the description is vague and no pictures. Any experience please advise. Thanks. I am really on the fence for a second attempt at a first airframe and I don't want to be burned again.

mikedenilin

My Feedback: (67)

Yes. They come with the retract units (3), struts, wheels, brakes, air tanks when you order either combo or just the LG set. Hope that answers your questions. Mike

adarsh_007

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Finally got the Xcalibur ready. only thing left is to set throws on the surfaces. Just observed, the bolts which go from top of the wing, all this time i thought it will be a press fit against the wing tube like the boomerangs, but the bolt hole is after (beyond) the wing tube. How exactly will the wings be held on? I'm missing something here..

Regards,
Adarsh

Turbiner

The carbon tube fits into a clamp in the wing which grips around the tube when you tighten the bolt. I think you can see it when the aileron servo cover is off.

nigefay

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Has anyone tried using split rudders as airbrakes? Just set them up on my Excaliber which I'm about to maiden and just wondering if they will be effective?

Dave Wilshere

Yes, its in the thread. But I have it on one of my Tx set ups. They split around 1" each side, no pitch change. Works well as an addition, I only use them when flying from a 60m (180') strip

nigefay

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Dave, I figured someone will have tried it. I don't have a short landing strip but thought it might be fun to try anyway. Managed to shoe horn my P120 in and will be using the throttle carefully! Didn't have to butcher it too much, will post some pics when I get back from vacation.

Flaps2012

That P120 should give "unlimited vertical" a whole new meaning.....

nigefay

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Yep, I know it's more than needed but it's the only option I had as I lost my Kingtech 100 in a major crash recently. First time I've ever experienced such a total loss and hopefully the last! I think it will be fine as long as I am sensible with the throttle. I'm not a fan of tearing around the sky, prefer to fly smoothly and jet like, nothing worse than someone ripping around pulling high g turns all the time, just doesn't look right in my opinion.

CR Tech

A friend of mine is busy with the final bit of work to his model and fitting a Kingtech80 into it. I had a close look at the fuz lastnight and I must say the gelcoat finish is neat and I love the colors. The laminate work is ok for the process used but seriously the bonding or tabbing of the bulkheads is very very untidy. Looking forward to his flight report soon.

Flaps2012

Sorry to hear about your loss nigefay. It must have been a pretty impressive crash to lose it all! I lost my first Xcalibur in a bean field back in August. Thankfully it was a relatively low speed affair and I only lost the fuselage. My K100G sucked in some of the surrounding vegetation and had to be sent in for a good cleaning and re balancing. I guess that Kingtech provides a FOD screen for a reason. In the process of building a second Xcalibur, and the FOD screen will get used this time around! I have nothing bad to say about the Xcalibur or Kingtech. Some minor issues with the out of the box build quality like CR Tech stated, but all minor issues that are easily fixed. Please keep us posted on your maiden!

nigefay

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Yes it was, it was a maiden flight for me on a fiber classic F86, just unflyable. Combination of to much throw on the controls and slightly rearward Cg. It just kept flicking on me and by the time it went in it was a long way away and resulting fire left nothing salvageable. Been flying for many years and it was a shocker, taken me a while to recover my confidence but getting there again.
Nigel.