Reaction 54 Jet Kit
02-13-2015, 05:59 PM
#3301
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It's time for another photo. Except for a few minor details I'm basically done building. The Falcon 120 canopy that I was going to use didn't work out. It was just a bit too big to fit on the hatch properly. Fortunately my buddy, Jim, gave me a spare canopy that he had laying around. It's a different look than I initially envisioned but it'll work out fine. I started sanding and shaping of the fuse. I need to permanently mount the canopy and do a lot more sanding..
Joe
Joe
03-21-2015, 11:25 AM
#3306
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Looks good! Looks like you might get yours in the air before I get mine up. Wing's in primer ready for paint and the fuse is needing primer. Pictures only upon completion.
Les
Les
04-11-2015, 12:49 PM
#3309
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Hi JoeFlyer
Iam just started all the contour sanding of the fuse but would like to do the intake mod you did - Looks great! - Did you make part templates? Would really appreciate if yourself or others who have done this could post them
Cheers
Ken
Iam just started all the contour sanding of the fuse but would like to do the intake mod you did - Looks great! - Did you make part templates? Would really appreciate if yourself or others who have done this could post them
Cheers
Ken
04-11-2015, 02:04 PM
#3310
My Feedback: (48)
Hi Ken,
Sorry I didn't make any templates. I just put wax paper over the wings, attached them to the fuse and built the inlets to fit. I used the attached sketch plus some other pictures in this thread as inspiration. I came out 2 inches from the fuse and made sure that they were a minimum of two inches tall over the wing. I did not angle up until the back of the wing in order to hide more of the engine.
Sorry I didn't make any templates. I just put wax paper over the wings, attached them to the fuse and built the inlets to fit. I used the attached sketch plus some other pictures in this thread as inspiration. I came out 2 inches from the fuse and made sure that they were a minimum of two inches tall over the wing. I did not angle up until the back of the wing in order to hide more of the engine.
04-25-2015, 10:50 AM
#3313
My Feedback: (48)
To those who've been flying a Reaction 54:
Where is the best CG? BT's plans show about 6 - 7" aft of the wing LE at the fuse. However, I noticed that PST shows 5 3/4 - 6 1/8" for their Reaction. I'm an experienced jet flier so I don't think I need to have it too far forward, plus I don't want to add any more nose weight than necessary.
Joe
Where is the best CG? BT's plans show about 6 - 7" aft of the wing LE at the fuse. However, I noticed that PST shows 5 3/4 - 6 1/8" for their Reaction. I'm an experienced jet flier so I don't think I need to have it too far forward, plus I don't want to add any more nose weight than necessary.
Joe
04-25-2015, 01:38 PM
#3314
To those who've been flying a Reaction 54:
Where is the best CG? BT's plans show about 6 - 7" aft of the wing LE at the fuse. However, I noticed that PST shows 5 3/4 - 6 1/8" for their Reaction. I'm an experienced jet flier so I don't think I need to have it too far forward, plus I don't want to add any more nose weight than necessary.
Joe
Where is the best CG? BT's plans show about 6 - 7" aft of the wing LE at the fuse. However, I noticed that PST shows 5 3/4 - 6 1/8" for their Reaction. I'm an experienced jet flier so I don't think I need to have it too far forward, plus I don't want to add any more nose weight than necessary.
Joe
04-26-2015, 06:58 AM
#3316
Joe, I strongly recommend balancing in the forward half (6" to 6.5") of the balance range for first flights. The R54 is okay back to 7", and in normal flight I don't think you would feel much of a difference. But I have sensed a bit of twitchiness/sensitivity on landing approaches with the CG at the aft end of the balance range. The approach feels much more solid with a forward CG. Add the weight and don't worry about it. Make it removable so you can experiment later by pulling some weight out if you wish.
04-26-2015, 08:03 AM
#3317
04-27-2015, 11:15 AM
#3318
My Feedback: (48)
Thanks, Bruce and Mark. I've balanced it to about 6.25" for the first flights, and will adjust from there as Bruce suggests. It took two oversized batteries plus 8 oz. of lead in the nose, so I'm hoping that I can eliminate some of the lead. I need to build a Start tube and make a few more adjustments, then wait for some decent weather for the maiden.
Joe
Joe
04-27-2015, 11:31 AM
#3319
I tried my CG back to the recommended 7" and like Bruce said, felt very little difference in the air. After much moving it back and forth I settled on 6.25".
An extra pound of weight it not even noticeable on this big wing. I keep adding stuff and am up well over 20LBS dry (my scale tops out at 20lbs).
An extra pound of weight it not even noticeable on this big wing. I keep adding stuff and am up well over 20LBS dry (my scale tops out at 20lbs).
04-28-2015, 06:39 PM
#3320
My Feedback: (48)
It's finally done. I started it up and taxied around the driveway this afternoon. Everything worked fine, including the smoke system. I need to dial it down a bit, it really puts out a lot of smoke. Just need to double check the throws & CG and wait for the right day to maiden it.
Bruce should like the markings.
Bruce should like the markings.
05-11-2015, 12:01 PM
#3324
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: New Zealand
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Ducting mod balsa thickness?
I'm about 2 months into the build and I'm making good progress here in NZ.
I'm planning on doing the ducting mod but I have one question first before I go out and buy the extra balsa.What thickness balsa have people used for the sides and top/bottom of the ducting? I like what mach1 has done back in post #566 so this is what I want to replicate (http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-j...ml#post3337097) . From the pictures it looks like he has used 1/8" sheeting (3.2mm) and maybe used something thicker to cap the inlet? Can anyone help me out here or give me some guidance on what I should use? Thanks
I'm planning on doing the ducting mod but I have one question first before I go out and buy the extra balsa.What thickness balsa have people used for the sides and top/bottom of the ducting? I like what mach1 has done back in post #566 so this is what I want to replicate (http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-j...ml#post3337097) . From the pictures it looks like he has used 1/8" sheeting (3.2mm) and maybe used something thicker to cap the inlet? Can anyone help me out here or give me some guidance on what I should use? Thanks
Last edited by Trent3786; 05-11-2015 at 12:04 PM.
05-11-2015, 12:59 PM
#3325
My Feedback: (48)
Trent,
See my post #3292. I did mine similar to mach1. I laid 1/8" balsa over the top of the wings. The sides of the inlets are 1/8" lite ply covered with 3/32" balsa, and the tops are 1/8" balsa. I reinforced the inside corners with triangle stock balsa. I felt that it was mandatory to make the sides out of lite ply since the weight of the fuse rests on the bottom rear of the inlets when the wings are off. See some of my other pictures. I sheeted the sides with 3/32" balsa mainly to have some material to sand and shape, and because Monokote doesn't look that great applied directly onto plywood. If I were doing it over I would do the top of the inlets the same as the sides. After sanding and rounding the corners the balsa is a bit thin in a few areas, consequently I have to be careful when I pick up and handle the fuse.
Watch the cross sectional area of the inlets particularly over mid-wing. My Merlin 90 instructions recommend a minimum inlet cross section of 6 sq. inches. so I made the minimum cross section 2" X 2" on each side. The engine seems to be getting plenty of air but I think the inlets would look better if they were a little taller.
The Reaction really looks a lot better with inlets. Good luck with yours.
Joe
See my post #3292. I did mine similar to mach1. I laid 1/8" balsa over the top of the wings. The sides of the inlets are 1/8" lite ply covered with 3/32" balsa, and the tops are 1/8" balsa. I reinforced the inside corners with triangle stock balsa. I felt that it was mandatory to make the sides out of lite ply since the weight of the fuse rests on the bottom rear of the inlets when the wings are off. See some of my other pictures. I sheeted the sides with 3/32" balsa mainly to have some material to sand and shape, and because Monokote doesn't look that great applied directly onto plywood. If I were doing it over I would do the top of the inlets the same as the sides. After sanding and rounding the corners the balsa is a bit thin in a few areas, consequently I have to be careful when I pick up and handle the fuse.
Watch the cross sectional area of the inlets particularly over mid-wing. My Merlin 90 instructions recommend a minimum inlet cross section of 6 sq. inches. so I made the minimum cross section 2" X 2" on each side. The engine seems to be getting plenty of air but I think the inlets would look better if they were a little taller.
The Reaction really looks a lot better with inlets. Good luck with yours.
Joe