<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt">I had the good fortune of purchasing a Byron 51 Deluxe kit about 1 month ago in the boxes and never even taken out of its original Byron Boxes. I am going to make a lot of changes to the original design to bring it up to current technology. This kit is the two piece wing, Q42 engine with retracts.</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt">This is going to take some time to make all the changes I want and I thought I might have more enthusiasm in spending time building if I had a thread I needed to report to and update.</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt">My plan is to upgrade the aircraft while maintaining its original reduction drive and 4 blade prop system. The upgrades I have planned are:</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Replace the Q42 with a modern more powerful engine. Probably a 50 size but modifying the reduction unit to except the newer drive unit.</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Placing two aileron servos in the wings instead of the single servo unit as shown in the plans</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>3.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Installing the tail wheel retract</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>4.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Fiber glassing the entire wing surface to include all control surfaces. Plans call for half glassed wing and covered surfaces</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>5.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Replacing the 16oz fuel tank with a 20-24oz</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>6.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Beefing up the engine mounts and inside the fuselage with a little more fiberglass in the weak areas</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>7.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Full paint on the model / no covering</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>8.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Eliminating the Nyrod and replacing them with stiff push rods</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>9.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Bringing the axles on the retracts in line with the leading edge of the wing for better ground performance</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>10.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Installing the Spectrum 7 channel radio</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>11.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Replacing the original plastic 4 bladed props with custom made balanced carbon fiber blades thus eliminating any flattening of the pitch with the newer drive unit power output.</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>12.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Balancing the entire reduction drive and spinner to eliminate most of the vibration problems inherent with the kit</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><span>13.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Replacing the original clamps and rubber holding the engine drive shaft to the pulley shaft with a custom turned balanced aluminum single shaft from the engine to the drive pulley</div><div style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in"><span>14.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Installing a 7 second 180 degree servo for scale retraction of the gear and doors</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt">Yes, this is my quest. I never said I was a smart guy, just delirious with envy over this Warbird. I have built an engine mount and have begun running and testing the drive unit. I have posted a video of its progress on YouTube located at
<font color="#800080">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh8nwgm5lPk</font></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt">If nothing else I should be able to keep most people entertained with my eccentric quest. I will post videos and pictures as I progress and I could sure use some insight and ideas from you guys. This is going to be a lot of work but I expect the journey to be a lot of fun.</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt">I have decided that I would like to paint the aircraft to replicate Bald Eagle. I have included some pictures of this outstanding aircraft.</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt">Heres some pics of the new kit. I checked the shipping date of this model and it says Oct 1986. Shes going to be 23 years old in two months. Wish me luck.
Oh, and I just had to add Rocky Dog, his my faithful field buddy and won't leave the garage if I am working on a plane. Thought he might need some credit too.
INSERT<After some different post on this thread and a little investigation it was determined that the engine in this kit is the Q35></div>