kb8ife

Thx for the email you will like the shockjet I used stainless steel bolts I got at mine at the ace hardware store I think my bolts are 3" long with a flat washer.


thx jim

VF84sluggo

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Thanks for the quick reply!!

Yep, been reading here about the wing problems. That does have me concerned, wish I done some research. Now I've got some buyer's remorse. This jet does have a HUGE stock wingspan, your clipped-wing version looks good.

It might be a bigger project than I'm willing to tackle, though. I'll have to look closer and see how hard it would be to split the wings. Then, even if I did that, not sure what I'd find as far as the spar tube, etc and if all of it is hysoled in place. But if the alternative is the wing failing in flight....

Yep, wishing I'd done a better job of pre-purchase research.

rcguy59

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Mine are stainless, too. I forgot mine on a trip to the field once, so I bought a couple of spare sets at Home Depot and keep them in my TX case.

VF84sluggo

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Roger that. I'm going to try and find the bolts today.

VF84sluggo

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Roger that, Jim!

I flew a buddy's ShokJet a few years ago, what a fun jet!! So, I've always had an interest in getting one. Had no idea there were wing issues, though. Bummer

kb8ife

I fly mine hare and NO wing problems

rcguy59

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Just glass the hell out of the wing joint and you'll be fine. I flog mine fairly hard and it's still solid as a rock. When I glassed mine, I had already stripped the wing for the clipping. It was brand new. The first layer was 6" wide. The second layer was 12" wide, the third was 18". The ARF's were covered with Ultracote, so they're easy to match.

rcguy59

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Here's the stock and clipped wings side by side.

VF84sluggo

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^^^^ WOW!!! No doubt much 'sportier' in roll. How much did you lose as far as slow flight and increased approach speed?

rcguy59

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Slow flight and crawling around the pattern are fine. The approach speed is noticeably higher, but that's a relative thing with a SJ. Landing speed is still lower than a lot of sport-type prop jobs. Our runway is 300 by 40 feet of asphalt and is still plenty. On grass, rollout is 25 feet and you never touch the brake. The primitive scrub brake included with the ARF is more than adequate on asphalt. As you are about to touch down, keep pulling up elevator and hold it even after touchdown. Centering the elevator at touchdown can result in a nasty hopping that's hard to stop once it starts, especially if you touch down a little fast. I have a 101oz. tank in mine and can get 15 min. flights with ease.

gjhinshaw

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Don't let the wing thing bother you to much! Make sure the wing bolts are tight. When you think they are tight..... Turn them again!
What does the inserts look-like? Did they do the dowel replacement? I used epoxy in mine than re-drilled the holes, never a issue.
The BIGGEST thing you need to worry about is the flat spin of death! Just DON'T put it into one!! OH the carnage!! But really..... You should be just fine!

StevL

Mine also is powered with a Rabbit, thrust toned down to 19lbs, I fly it hard as my throttle stick is basically an off on switch. I have GPS speeds right on 140mph. I now have over 180 flights on this jet with not one problem, I do fly smoothly without yanking the elevator.

Wing bolts, I use hex button head with washers, found this bolt at McMaster-Carr.

Hysol the wing joiner well and you will have no issues. gjhinshaw advice is what I used building and flying, I still have a blast flying this jet/trainer.

Steve

rcguy59

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Flying it SMOOTHLY is the key, all right. The elevator is very effective at all speeds and at high speed, it's more than enough to fold the wing instantly.

VF84sluggo

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Steve, what length bolt are you using?

Thanks

StevL

I bought 2.5" which was correct for my front bolts, I cut some off the rear bolts but don't remember how much.

I had to buy a box of 25 so I have a few left over, pm me your address and I'll drop you four in the mail.

steve

VF84sluggo

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^^^^ Steve, PM sent...thanks much!!

Randy

rcguy59

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Something else to watch for: On grass, it's really easy to tear up the bulkhead that the nose gear bolts to. A bit of reinforcement of the bulkhead prevents this. I've seen it happen on 3 different SJ's. Also, the stock MPI wheels won't tolerate much side-loading. I went to regular Hangar 9 tires/wheels on the mains and never had another problem.

StevL

Yep, I hysoled the entire bulkhead area and placed some small tri-stock, great advice!

Steve

VF84sluggo

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I'll take a close look at the nose gear area. If no tri-stock, I think I'll add some. Thanks for the heads-up!

rcguy59

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You need more than tri-stock. The bulkhead itself is too weak. It should have been 1/4" ply, but is only 1/8" liteply with enough cutouts and holes to render it a serious weak spot. I used 1/4" sq. spruce to stiffen and reinforce the bulkhead. Doubling it would probably be the best solution, were it not so difficult to access it without major surgery.

VF84sluggo

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I'll see what I can do. Otherwise, I suppose I need to make sure I don't land nose-wheel-first, and avoid crow-hopping down the runway.

rcguy59

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The only way I can imagine landing nose wheel first would be an outright crash. The hopping can certainly be a problem, though. If you only fly to and from a hard-surface runway, the nose wheel bulkhead is hardly ever a problem as long as you avoid the hopping.

Mark C

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gjhinshaw

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Found Manual!

motorhead540

Went to a Jet event over the weekend . very impressed would like to find a shok jet to build up and learn jets with where to look or get started ..??