RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Hi everyone and greetings from downunder.
Would be very grateful if anyone can provide any info on installing air retracts and struts.
Just picked myself up a RB and thinking of installing springairs.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Ken

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Hello Steve,

I called you SEVERAL MONTHS AGO an inquired as to what touch up paint is to be used and I'm SURE that the other BARE owners would be pleased to know this as well. A response is still requested.

Based on my experience, I would concur that your response to rear bare in which you recommend adding 30 min. epoxy to the gear mounts is needed and would be of benefit

I suggest, why not take a nano-second and place a small piece of paper inside the currently shipping kits to advise of this ( if not already done in the current kits ) to help INSURE success with the model instead of waitng for your Asian mfr. to do it as ACE's reputation is on the line here as well. A very SIMPLE FIX to a simple problem.

I provide these suggestion as constructive feedback and to the benefit of the other RB owners as to improve what has demonstrated itself to be a good design and product.

Your response to the TOUCH UP PAINT question is requested at this time.

Best Regards:

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Hello Ken and welcome -

Probably the best thing to do is read the entire thread from the beginning because there are a lot of build tips and retract information. Pages 11-15 especially have some good info....I used the same retract set up as HighSierra. It looks like it is going to work out well. There are pics of his and my plane with the retracts installed on this thread. Post some pics of your build when you get started. Its always good to see others work, maybe pick up some more general building tips along the way.:D

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Vampire;
I tried checking with all who would know here at Ace, but no one knows for sure what the colors are. I then went to the Rare Bear web site, and found the real Bear uses a Sherman williams automotive paint. You can check with them for the paint code. Some of the paints that are used in China are slightly different than what is available here, due to some of the envronmental concerns. You will just have to experiment with various paint to make sure they are compatable.

Sorry I can't be of more help in this area.

Steve

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Thanks Frag,
Are there any problems with installing the gear doors with the robart 551 and 661 struts.

G'day Kerry,
The 1/5 Vampire is under way, so far everythings worked out very well.

Cheers
Ken

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Here are a couple of pics of the Robart 551RS with 662 offset struts. The struts do hang out of the wheel wells a bit which may be a problem getting the well covers on flush. I haven't gotten to that point yet and if I have to do my own design well covers then so be it. I'm just going ahead so I can get the Bear in the air before it gets real cold. Also is a pic of the air valve assembly and servo. I used the old servo tray that a replacement part was included for and used scrap ply from another part sandwiched between tristock as a mount for the valve. This tray is then secured by screws to tristock epoxied to the ply frame. It worked out real well. I plan to make another tray for the fuel tank similar to Vampires and put the air tank up above that to move as much weight forward as possible...

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Thanks for the pics Frag, helps me out a lot.
Kind regards
Ken

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Steve,

Can an UNPAINTED, UNCOVERED airframe be purchased so as to perform a Military finish by the customer.

Please advise of the feasability of such an offering.

TY

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Hi Ken:

I'm please that it is underway and all is well.

My 1/4 Scale Vampire is awaiting an engine change from the SIMJET-3000 (29.5# thrust) to a new NEXUS which is 35#+.

Don't hesitate to advise if you have ANY questions.

BR

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Frag,

Rather than designing a new set of wheel wells, I'd suggest removing the 1/8" lite-ply shims under the retracts. I'm currently building the RB myself and I've removed these shims to get my Spring Air retracts to nest deeper into the wing. All that's holding these shims in place is a very light amount of CA glue. I used a 1/4" screwdriver as a chisel, a sharp blow with a small hammer and the shims came right out.

I've already modified the front section of the inner frame work by adding a removable lite-ply floor for the fuel tank. With the fuel tank floor in place there's plenty of room for the short Spring Air airtank. I'll be mounting the retract servo in the unused opening in the stock servo mount and installing a small mount for the air valve directly in front of it. Once my trim flights are completed, I'll be installing full gear doors.

Rich

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Hi Rich,
Yes, I'm considering doing the same as you, removing the 1/8 ply. I'll also reinforce the area as per the information in previous threads here.
Can I ask which springairs you are using and are you fitting struts. I'm thinking the 704's would suit.
Kind regards
Ken

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Ken,

I'm currently installing a set of Spring Air 116 retracts simply because I have a new in the bag, never used set. These retracts aren't well suited for struts, but I believe the 3/8" diameter Robostruts will fit. Once I get the bugs worked out I'll probably upgrade to the 700 series and install 7/16" offset Robostruts.

If I decide (highly probable) to install gear doors, I'll be using components that BVM manufactures, primarily the offset door hinges. I'll decide whether to use a micro retract servo or air cylinders with a spool valve when I get to that point.

Rich

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Has anyone had the RB at full throttle yet? I'm wondering if the retract well in the wing will hold up at ultra high speeds.

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

I don't recall readiong any reports of problems with the wheels during high speed manuevers. The primary issues are the weak retract mounts, the long tail moment which results in CG issues, and the delicate touch required while fitting the carbon fiber tubes into the horizonatl stabs. If one isn't careful installing these tubes, damage to the inner ribs will occur and subsequently the stabs can depart the aircraft.

Rich

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

My bad, the first sentance should read:

I don't recall reading any reports of problems with the wheel wells during high speed manuevers.

rb

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

my name is howard i had a rare bear 90 it had a stabelizer failure on the secont flight and crashed.i had witnesses looking the aircraft over which were builders and instructors at a club fly in.as far as as they said it was a manufacture problem. ace hobby thunder tiger won;t take care of the problem. I delt with them for over a month. they said it was my falt and it wasn;t my falt. tell me what that means.i sent pictures and then sent the rear ot the aircraft.they said they would replace the aircraft for there cost and pay the the shipping.I think they should replace the plane for nothing. O Well i won;t buy any products from ace or thunder tiger again.if i were you i would take Heed

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Thanks for the info Rich.
Kind regards
Ken

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Guys....How much do the 551's & 662's weigh each...cant get any info on weight here for some reason.

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Vampire;

At this time, there is only the white and gold paint job. We have been talking to the mfg. about doing one in the dark blue navy color, or maybe even the Blue Angels one. So far no conformation.

Howard;

When I took your tail assembly apart, you had shoved the joiner tube in so far, it broke through the rib on the one side, and therefore was to short on the other side. That is what caused the tail to fail.


Steve

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Steve,

An addendum is needed for the "Tail Feathers" section of the assembly instructions. I found that both of the Carbon Fiber tubes which support the Horizontal Stabilizer were to long. When I was finished fitting the tubes, I removed 3/16" fron the forward/short tube and 1/2" from the rear/long tube. It's probably not cost effective to have these tubes trial fit during manufacture, therefore the instruction manual should be updated or an addendum included in the kit to address this area. Ditto for the previously identified issues with the retract mounts.

Another manufacturing defect I found in my RB kit was the really poor fit/finish of the factory installed front Fuselage former. I carefully removed this former, smoothed the front flange of the Fuselage and cleaned up the former. I then cemented the former back into the Fuselage with "ZAP A-DAP-A GOO II".

Rich

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

...I had exactly the same problem ....i thought it may have been just my carbon tubes...

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

Seems they didn't inspect the quality control.

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

I'd just like to watch an Ace rep install the plywood blocks to hold the cowling on. How many joints would he need in his hands and arms to reach down to the bottom of the firewall on the inside? It would have been easier if this were step #1 in the manual.

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

I had my retracts installed and noticed that the left one was really slow moving and stiff to nudge into place by hand..same thing coming down. I figured it might be binding on the wooden mounting rails, but it does the same thing out of the wing...it barely moves and pushing on it will get it to move, but there is a lot of resistance....whats the deal? I don't know much about retracts and their inner workings but isn't there some kind of oil I'm supposed to squirt in there every now and then? Maybe something else is binding? Any help would be great-

RE: ThunderTiger Rare Bear
 

the tube was to long thats the problem seek help in your qaulity control.