RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Thought i should make a new post here and try to keep this thread alive, as i have just purchased a new RocketIII. My first impression is good, and ive just read all the posts here for some usefull info. Thanks to all you guys. Im going with an OS55AX power plant (one of the new one's) as the engine mounts are the same for a .46 size. Just need to buy some extra gear from the local R/C shop and ill start the assembly as soon as. Incidently I live in Thailand and i got my kit for 72 GBP - Is that cheap or about same as back in UK?

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

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Thats a new one on me as well. Mine flys very nice, and in my opinion anyone who has mastered the trainer would not have much trouble flying the Rocket as a second plane. The only thing I can think of is maybe a twist in the wing or possibly the Plane is way tail heavy. Really though, the Rocket is a very good flyer, and it sounds like your friend just got a bad Plane, or he didn't get it setup quite right. Sorry to hear of his unfortunate experiences regardless of the reasons why.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

How has your friend set up his elevators? I might be being stupid, (not for the first time) but I once saw a 2 servo elevator setup, like the Rocket, where both servos were on a standard Y lead. Yup, skoot down the runway, pull in some up elevator and roll into the deck! No one had explained to the "modeller" that both elevators should go the same way! I suppose this comes from him being a buyer rather than a builder?
Dave :^)

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Thats something thats also been boggling me. Can someone please explain the setup process for 2 elevator servoś? Im using a Futaba FF9 super radio how do i mix in 2 servoś and what channels do the servo leads plug into? I presume its the same as dual ailerons where i use channel 1 and 6 on the RX.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Can't tell you how to set up a FF9, but, here's what I did.
1. Open up both elevator servos and fit long leads. (I used standard Futaba 3003's)
2. Reverse rotation of one servo by switching motor and potentiometer end connections.
3. Use a standard Y lead.
You can also do this by using a Y lead, an extension lead and an in-line servo reverser, but this has more plugs and sockets to worry about.
Dave :^)

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Thanks for the advise on the elevator servo's it doesnt sound like to much trouble and im not quite at that stage. Here are some pictures of my installation im now ready to install my OS55AX but still cant dicide if i should nip out and get myself a saito.
While i was installing the elevator i remembered what some of the guys here said about it breaking after a high speed pullout and i can help woundering if it was due to scoring to deeply into the covering. I added some extra CA for good measure around the score marks. I will also add some carbon rod supports as i have lots spare. Everything seems to be sweet as, and I think this is a great kit to build. So easy and really good quality. I hope she flys as good as she looks

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

You can also just put one linkage rod on the top of one elevator servo arm, and the other linkage rod on the bottom of the servo arm on the other side. Another solution is just to join the elevator halves with musicwire, and use only one servo in the rear. I did the two servo setup in the rear of my Rocket, but seems like kind of a waste of a servo on a 40 size plane.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Well the Rocket has its certificate of airworthyness and she had her first flight last week. Once trimmed for level flight at 3/4 throttle and hence this was very fast, it was really a rather pleasant bird to fly. Full throttle would make my heart rate increase and full attension would be required to keep the bird in track or even in view.
This is a fast flying machine, and i was worried about landing because my runway is shirt so i tryed a few slow passes into the wind and finally landed without dropping a wing.
All in all i like it, it looks good, it was a pleasure to fly and the speed impressed most of the other guys at the airfield - Hehe

Have fun

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

I ordered this plane today. From what I have read in this thread, it should be a nice addition to my hangar. I'll be putting an OS .46AX in. B-

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

I have one with Magnum 70FS. It flies great but fast. landings are kinda fast. I used the Expert reversing Y harness for the elevator servos. It was listed in the for sale ads here on RCU.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

hey folks, i noticed a glitch in the manual while building my Rocket. On page 8 it shows the wooden reinforcement washers being attached to the top of the wing where they should actually be attached to the bottom as shown in the wing attachment detail on page 22. damn, that was close. it didn't look right to me so I looked through the manual and sure enough, wrong. Just an FYI.....B-

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Hi all,
well the Rocket club is down one member, a corroded connection in the battery pack rang the death knell! Oh well as they say "it is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all" What can I put my little FA-80GK into now? It sure is going to be a hard act to follow, and just for the record, the tail feathers were the only bit to escape undamaged!
Dave :^)

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

http://www.nissanoffroad.net/message...ile_bigcry.gif

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Hey Adam,
I'm building the HR3 and also went with an O.S. 61. Can you tell me how you went about reinforcing the horizontal stab, engine box, and ailerons, etc.? I have read a bunch of threads here and am questioning what I should do. I saw where some guys laminated carbon on the stab, but other opted for the carbon rods. Since you have the exact same set up I will have, I was interested to see what you have done to address these things.......I'm not new to the hobby, but definitely don't know a lot about how to make needed mods............was almost thinking about going back and getting the new O.S. 55.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

[sm=confused.gif]how would this perform with a GWS .61 Two stroke up front?
about 2 hp
a little heavy though

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

i have a Harmon rocket have a thunder tiger pro 61 in it flyies great snap rolls flat spin etc good flying

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

First of all I want to thank everyone that owns and has built this plane. I just finished my Harmon Rocket after many mods that have been mentioned on this thread. I used one elevator servo tossed the the stock tail feathers and made them out of solid balsa. strengthen the landing gear by installing 1/4 carbon fiber braces. added 14 oz fuel l tank Its powered by a rossi 65 with tuned pipe turning a 12x 7 prop on the ground engine is spinning at 14,600 rpm. the Cg is at 3.5 just a little nose heavy. Maiden the plane over the weekend and at first was reluctant to fly it because of alot of horror experiences that alot of people had one there first flight not to mentioned that it was a little windy. The plane took off without any trouble and the rossi got the plane going roughly 130 mph chasing a warbird with a ys110 while we were triming it. Once trimed the plane flew very well and fast im very happy with it. it was stable at high and low speeds turns on a dime and rolls very quickley After about 10 minutes of flight it was time to land and had no idea what to expect. brouight the close to the run way shut down the throttle and let it come down on its own and landed without any trouble. During the build and seeing what had to be done with all the mods and attention this plane needed I wasnt sure if all the trouble would be worth while. All I can say this i am very happy with the plane it looks great in the air flys great. Later I will put picks on the forum :D

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Well I got a HR3 "donated" to me by a club member. The plane had been damaged and the owner is not one to repair planes.
The leading edge of the wing was broken about 2" from the fuse out and the fuse had a bit of damage where the wing saddle is. The firewall was ripped out as well. The previous owner had a .90 4 stroke in it and had a heap of lead on the tail to balance it.
I repaired everything and have installed an SK .50 2 stroke in the plane. I haven't put servo's in it yet nor any other radio gear.

Because the previous owner had a 4 stroke I had to cut the cowl up a fair bit to fit the 2 stroke pitts style muffler.
Does anyone have a cowl they want to sell?
I can get them here in australia, but has to be ordered in and I cant get a price til it lands in the country apparently!!
Not keen to order one and have the price come out at some ridiculous amount.

I won't be flying it for a while as I am still on my trainer. This will be my first low wing.
I wouldnt have picked this necessarily as my first low wing but as I was given the plane for free I cant see any harm in lawn darting it.

What prop would you guys run on this plane with the SK .50 2 stroke?
I am leaning towards an 11x8 or there abouts.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Maidened mine sunday wow as a first proper low winger really suprised digital servos are quick elevator qiute touchy on the low rates needed some expo using the irvine .53 mkII with an 11x6 fast fast fast very weak undercarriage will have to spill out and get proper carbon ones[:@]

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

It's good to see others flying this plane. It was my first arf build after starting in RC back in 2005. I'm still flying mine.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

Three months late, but oh well. I run a ST 60 in my rocket. Fits beautifully with nothing hanging out of the cowl other than the front edge of the Bisson pitts muffler. If you use a Slimline one instead it'll probably fit inside completely. The glow plug's accessed through a hole and I could even have used a remote for it if I'd wanted. Oh, and it flies like.. well, like a Rocket :)

Best modification (after changing out the landing gear and bracing the horizontal stab) is adding flaps to the wings. :)

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

I ran a SK .50 2 stroke and an OS 46AX in mine and it flew fine with both engines, but more power would have been better.

I have retired mine because the cowl was too cut up and it didnt look nice at all. [&o]

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

I have just completed mine with a TT Pro .61 in the nose with a macs header and tuned pipe. I am going to swap out the landing gear for the Venus ones and i will also throw a little epoxy in around the firewall just for piece of mind. I have also put braces on the tail group to. Should rip pretty good.

geoff

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

I had problems with the Venus 90 landing gear... it's nice and strong but it moves the wheels back too far. I had to put my wallet on the horizontal stab to taxi the thing unless I was heading directly into the wind or it would nose over. (Yes, the CG was right. Once airborne it flew fine.) I'm still looking for a decent set of gear that put the wheels in the right place - at the moment I'm using a cut up generic GP medium strut with the ends of the Venus 90 gear pop-riveted on for more height - ugly but effective.

RE: HARMON ROCKET
 

I replaced the original gear with the direct Seagull replacement a couple of years ago. The newer gear legs seem much firmer, or I've learned to land the Rocket a little gentler. I also ordered a replacement cowl and may install a Saito 82 and fly it for another 3 or 4 years.

300-400 flights and still going strong.