Reaction 54 Jet Kit
03-03-2014, 02:02 PM
#3126
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Georgetown, KY
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03-03-2014, 08:08 PM
#3130
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Pendle HillNSW, AUSTRALIA
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When I flew my first Reaction that was the comment from one of my Clubmates. When he saw how well it flew he built one. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
regards
regards
03-05-2014, 11:04 PM
#3133
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bend,
OR
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Thanks Paul, and it still flies as good as it looks.
Well Bruce... Do I need to come down there and help out? lol Glad you're going to run a new batch soon. Had a fella here local raving about the Venture, was his first build. Took a great deal of convincing that this R54 was one of your birds. Said he didn't see it on the website.. I told him to go look again. I still stand beside the R54 community as simply the best around. Just look at this thread if anyone needs proof. Lot's of great ideas, changes and I don't regret any of it.
As for those up-swept wingtip's for those thinking of doing a set. It's harder than it looks. The hard part is getting both identical and in my case I figured starting with blue foam was the easiest. Actually the stuff I ended up using was pink. I sanded carefully until I got the desired shape, yes used a template, then used about 4 layers of glass and yes the tips are heavier glass, I don't remember the exact stuff but higher than 1oz. I still have knocked the tips off but with the glass they are easy enough to fix. Just don't slam a door on it like I did. The whole airplane was glassed in .6 oz so the transition was smooth and easy to do. Best advise, go slow and don't give up till you are 100% happy. As with anything in the R54 world, don't be afraid to raise the bar, go for it!
And is it worth it? Oh Yeah..
Well Bruce... Do I need to come down there and help out? lol Glad you're going to run a new batch soon. Had a fella here local raving about the Venture, was his first build. Took a great deal of convincing that this R54 was one of your birds. Said he didn't see it on the website.. I told him to go look again. I still stand beside the R54 community as simply the best around. Just look at this thread if anyone needs proof. Lot's of great ideas, changes and I don't regret any of it.
As for those up-swept wingtip's for those thinking of doing a set. It's harder than it looks. The hard part is getting both identical and in my case I figured starting with blue foam was the easiest. Actually the stuff I ended up using was pink. I sanded carefully until I got the desired shape, yes used a template, then used about 4 layers of glass and yes the tips are heavier glass, I don't remember the exact stuff but higher than 1oz. I still have knocked the tips off but with the glass they are easy enough to fix. Just don't slam a door on it like I did. The whole airplane was glassed in .6 oz so the transition was smooth and easy to do. Best advise, go slow and don't give up till you are 100% happy. As with anything in the R54 world, don't be afraid to raise the bar, go for it!
And is it worth it? Oh Yeah..
Last edited by maxvertical; 03-05-2014 at 11:10 PM.
03-06-2014, 08:36 AM
#3134
Cool, I should be finishing up the winter maintenance on my gasser tonight and these wing tips will be next on the list.
I'll try to take pics along the way.
Since my wing is Monokoted, I will probably do the tips similar to how we did them back in the 70s while I was flying sailplanes.
The tip is carved from a block of very soft balsa. The trailing edge is a piece of music wire bent to the desired final shape that is embedded into the balsa to hold the shape and give it strength from rough handling. They are then covered in Monokote.
We will see how it goes.
I'll try to take pics along the way.
Since my wing is Monokoted, I will probably do the tips similar to how we did them back in the 70s while I was flying sailplanes.
The tip is carved from a block of very soft balsa. The trailing edge is a piece of music wire bent to the desired final shape that is embedded into the balsa to hold the shape and give it strength from rough handling. They are then covered in Monokote.
We will see how it goes.
03-09-2014, 05:51 PM
#3137
Hey guys, if you'd like to be on the notify-when-ready list, please send me a quick email [email protected] - that way I will have your email address. The list does not obligate you to anything, it's just to let you know when the kit's available again.
The compliments above are getting me pumped up!
The compliments above are getting me pumped up!
05-01-2014, 12:53 PM
#3138
Join Date: Nov 2013
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Hi!
I had 5 nice flights with my Reaction today on our local annually show, and it`s a show stopper! People really likes the big speed envelope, and landings at a crawl..
I also maidened my Vortex Delta from Bte, but engine died after 10 sec.. here is a nice pic from the field.
Best regards from Svenn
I had 5 nice flights with my Reaction today on our local annually show, and it`s a show stopper! People really likes the big speed envelope, and landings at a crawl..
I also maidened my Vortex Delta from Bte, but engine died after 10 sec.. here is a nice pic from the field.
Best regards from Svenn
05-10-2014, 07:20 AM
#3144
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Appleton,
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I took a little different slant to the classic reaction scheme. I have a lot to go to get it in the air. One question. Do you put covering under the metal heat shield. I made some modification. Using Robert hinges I felt the spars that supported the rudder seemed weak so I added 3/4 tri stock. I also added mounting pads to the control horns for more strength. Maybe it wasn't necessary. But I come from the 50cc 3d crowd and that is always an issue
07-05-2014, 10:51 AM
#3146
A couple more great flights with the R54/JetcatP70 yesterday, this time on a short grass field, this bird works perfect up here where there are no GOOD jet fields.
Gopro on my head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxlLS33xmTo&feature=youtu.be
Gopro on my head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxlLS33xmTo&feature=youtu.be
07-06-2014, 09:44 AM
#3147
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Laurel, MD
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I am watching the last several video and am now convinced that I am still landing my 54 way too fast. I am going to have to screw up the courage to slow that thing down!
DRS
DRS
07-06-2014, 10:25 AM
#3149
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Laurel, MD
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Three years ago I tip-stalled a couple of giant scale warbirds on landing going too slow. I know that its apples and oranges but I just have not been able to force myself to bring my planes in slower for landing. I have even dorked up the landing gears on the 54 going too fast. The next time for sure though, I am slowing this thing down. And you are right, it is a well designed airplane and has survived a great deal of my stupidity on the sticks.