Woketman

My Feedback: (6)

Tom, be VERY carefule about those sharply curved 6 mm fuel lines adjacent to a 6 mm Festo on the suction side of the fuel pump. Ask me how I know about that issue! Festos were designed for positive pressure use (higher on the inside than the outside). When used in our planes, at the low negative pressures we use, they are normally OK. But if there is a severe curve adjacent to a Festo connection, over time, the tube colapses a little bit. And then, when you least expect it (when this happened to me I was rotating in an Isobar), the tubing pulls slightly away from the O-ring and lets in a stream of air (it made the old RAM in the Isobar go down to just about idle, right when I needed full thrust!). It will work just fine for a while, but eventually will leak. i have never had the issue on a 4 mm connection, but I don't put curves near Festos anymore either.

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

G'Day,

I take your point. I was a little worried about the small radius bends in the tube. I will look for some Festo right angle bends.

I can't find anywhere else to put the tap.

Thanks

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Very elegant, Tommy. You're right, it looks more slippery than most R54s, must be those fuselage corners!

I wish you all the best with your new baby...

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

Oh yeah I didn't notice that when I first looked at the photos..that an invitation for airbubbles. I had a 4-6 reducer on the input side of my Wren pump, and it did suck air.

An easy fix would be to flip that line over to the output side of the pump and run a direct line from the UAT to the pump. That way your Festo fittings are operating under pressure.

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Nony,

My "old" R54 has a similar system, I have the Festo tap in the suction line between the UAT and the pump, but the 6mm tubes that lead into the tap are nice and straight without the sharp bends. I can't put the tap in the pressure line because it is all 3mm tube and you can't get 3mm taps. I think I will put some elbows on each side of the 6mm tap and keep it all nice and straight. Or I might get or make some barbed elbows and wire all the connections. Either way I will still have a tap in the suction line as I do now.

How good is this RCU, This advice could have saved me a model.

Thanks Guys.

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

Yeah, unfortunately, the smallest they make is 4mm...that's what I am using with a 4-3 reducer......

jetflyrf86

My Feedback: (31)

All you Reaction 54 wnnabees. I have a RTF one that was advertised on RCU a while back. It has all the bells and whistles done up in a 3 color Ultacote color scheme. Never been flown. Just too big for me to transport. Willing to trade for a smaller jet. It cannot be shipped due to prohibitive cost. Will take $1200 for the airframe only. Any takers, you can pm me

u2fast

My Feedback: (37)

bruce sent me this kit 3 or 4 weeks ago. i get to work on her a little here and there. very easy build. i saw the mods by another gentleman and had to do something like that as well. also, i am changing the tips to look like missle rails. its been a fun build, barry

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

jetflyrf86 I noticed your ad quite a while ago.... Don't know if you have ever flown a reaction, if so, you would be looking for a larger vehicle so that you could keep it!!!.........

wdratsloper

Hi Bruce,
When's our next video session?
Good to see all the different 54s out there.
CYA at the field some time.
We'll be towing at Burrill again next sunday.

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Hey Joe, I'm a fair-weather flyer See ya at the field next Spring, maybe.

For those who haven't seen it, Joe made a real nice video last month of my R54. You can see it, along with several other R54 videos, here:

http://www.btemodels.com/r54videos.html

I also want to welcome the famous Wocketman to the R54 family! He's definitely one of RCU's good guys, having helped readers here for years with sane and reasoned advice. And now he's found himself displaced by Katrina with time to kill, so he's building an R54. Can't wait to see what a rocket scientist will do with this design!

Woketman

My Feedback: (6)

Oooohh, Bruce, the guy to watch is TopGun2mo. I am building basically stock (I have no free time anymore now that the kids are 5 & 6). TogGun (Mike) is gonna go hog-wild! He is a kit basher extraordinaire!

Topgun2mo

My Feedback: (45)

Who the heck is TogGun? Oh yea lets count em....mine are 19, 18, 16, 10, 6, and 3.....you don't have an excuse

Woketman

My Feedback: (6)

Ahhh, but you forgot my 38 year old "girl"!

Topgun2mo

My Feedback: (45)

yea she could take up some time, lets see refrigerators, countertops, cabinets, a suv...shall I go on?

Woketman

My Feedback: (6)

No, don't bother. I got the point years (and a few salaries) ago.

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

I'm sorry Guys, I just had to show my two Reaction 54's together. Has anyone else built a second one?.

Regards

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

I think you're the only one so far, Tommy. They look great!

Do you have a final weight on the second R54? It will be interesting to compare the Monokote vs. glass finishes, assuming most of the equipment is about the same.

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

G'day Bruce,

The Monokote R54 weighs 18 1/2 pounds with main wheel brakes and a full UAT. The painted R54 weighs 19 1/4 pounds with the same brakes and UAT. I think used a little less lead in the nose because of the forward UAT and pump. Also the Wren Supersport is full Autostart so it has two valves mounted in the boat tail and a bigger ECU battery. I covered the model with .6 oz glass cloth and Zpoxy resin.

I used a two part epoxy primer similar to the old K&B stuff. The colour is auto paint and it has a two pack clear top coat.

I have yet to fly the new one but I am sure it will handle the extra weight with no problem. I was flying in a fairly stiff breeze last weekend and the R54 could almost come to a stop on final.

My only criticism is that I will find it difficult to go to an "Ordinary" jet model that wont have the same forgiving characteristics your model has. Time will tell.

Regards

u2fast

My Feedback: (37)

my 54 is nearing completion, need to order a bvm strut to go with the bvm nose retract unit. than a finish touch or two and let the monokoting began. i enjoy monokoting, lots of squeeging (sp), panel lines, etc. barry by the way i modified the wing tips to look a little more military along with the scoops. mach 1's looked to good with scoops not to have them.

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

The rocket rails look great. How much did you cut off the tips?.. Looks like you just left off the last rib. It is amazing the things you guys are doing to this model. Should look great when it is finished. Any idea what colour it will be?.

regards

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

You gotta respect any modeler who keeps a fridge and microwave next to his workbench. Or is it the other way around?

Your R54 is looking very cool, u2fast!

rcguy!

My Feedback: (69)

Bruce,
It's the guy with a bed next to it that scares me!

Nice work on the mods!

Dave Rigotti

u2fast

My Feedback: (37)

bruce, the fridge and microwave are in my hobby room ovewr the garage. i just built my dream home 2 years ago, and one important thing was my hobby room. it is 700 sq feet, with digital cable, full bath, bed room (giant scale store room), etc. i call it "the place to be". my wife knows were to find me. as for the tips, i did stop at the last rib. i will be monokoting her in grey top, white bottom, teal trim, with all sorts of silvers, platinum, and carbon look. i am going to do a pseudo marine corp scheme. pics when i start to cover her in a week or so. barry

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

Out of curiosity---Will an AMT Mercury fit in this jewel???? The Merc is 3.9 inches in diameter and 8.7 inches long. Since there isn't an electric start motor on the front of my turbine I can move it slightly forward.

Kevin