Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
04-02-2005, 03:45 PM
#276
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
An update on the Rom-Air nose gear steering.
The vintage Rom-Air retracts that I’m using were originally installed when the kit was built in the 70s. I decided to stay with the Rom-Air retracts but I was not satisfied with the way the Rom-Air recommended the steering cable be attached to the nose gear steering tiller. Rom-Air recommends that the cable be wrapped around the nose gear strut just above the steering tiller and then each end feed down through the tiller steering holes and back to the rudder servo. Because of the way the tiller is made and the rotation of the gear you cannot connect to the tiller with a Kwik-link or ball link. For my first flights I installed the cable using the recommended connection but I was concerned that when the gear was retracted and the cable was slack that the cable could loosen where it was wrapped around the strut and change the steering centering or cause the nose gear to hang up on the cable as the gear extended. To remedy this possibility I changed the cable attachment method. I used two cables with a small copper eyelet crimped on the ends of the cables. I ran the cables down through the tiller steering holes and then back to the rudder servo. To keep the cable ends from moving while the gear was in the retracted position I put a small dab of Amazing Goop on the copper cable ends and the top edge of the outer tiller ends.
I’ve flown the Kwik Fli III with this update and it seems to work very well.
To be continued..
The vintage Rom-Air retracts that I’m using were originally installed when the kit was built in the 70s. I decided to stay with the Rom-Air retracts but I was not satisfied with the way the Rom-Air recommended the steering cable be attached to the nose gear steering tiller. Rom-Air recommends that the cable be wrapped around the nose gear strut just above the steering tiller and then each end feed down through the tiller steering holes and back to the rudder servo. Because of the way the tiller is made and the rotation of the gear you cannot connect to the tiller with a Kwik-link or ball link. For my first flights I installed the cable using the recommended connection but I was concerned that when the gear was retracted and the cable was slack that the cable could loosen where it was wrapped around the strut and change the steering centering or cause the nose gear to hang up on the cable as the gear extended. To remedy this possibility I changed the cable attachment method. I used two cables with a small copper eyelet crimped on the ends of the cables. I ran the cables down through the tiller steering holes and then back to the rudder servo. To keep the cable ends from moving while the gear was in the retracted position I put a small dab of Amazing Goop on the copper cable ends and the top edge of the outer tiller ends.
I’ve flown the Kwik Fli III with this update and it seems to work very well.
To be continued..
04-02-2005, 03:55 PM
#277
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
I hope all the RCU forum members enjoyed this thread and sharing in my experience of getting my old Kwik Fli III in the air where it belongs. Many thanks to those of you that took a time to make a comment or give me a kind word of encouragement along the building process. It has been awesome!
I also want to thank Tony Howard for all the incredible work that he must have done to get the Kwik Fli III back in production so we can all have a Kwik Fli III of our very own.
The end, I think!
8178
I also want to thank Tony Howard for all the incredible work that he must have done to get the Kwik Fli III back in production so we can all have a Kwik Fli III of our very own.
The end, I think!
8178
04-02-2005, 10:27 PM
#279
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
ORIGINAL: impactiq
Thank you for taking the time to post all the work you have done. I even picked up a few new ideas. It is great to see these old birds still being built/flown.
Thank you for taking the time to post all the work you have done. I even picked up a few new ideas. It is great to see these old birds still being built/flown.
Thanks, it’s been fun!
I’ve just spent the last two hours looking the kit parts over, reading the new assembly manual and reviewing the new CAD plans. It is all pretty marvelous!
04-14-2005, 06:12 PM
#281
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RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
Cool trick photography! How did you create the illusion of three identical motors? Wait a minute, that looks like an authentic picture! Where did you find those great old Webra motors? They look very clean, Have they been run?
04-14-2005, 08:34 PM
#282
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
I hadn’t noticed that but it does look like a triple mirror shot! The one in the foreground is new in the box un-run or mounted from RCU, the one in the middle is my original Kwik Fli unit and the one on the far end is a low run time unit from ebay.
04-24-2005, 07:22 AM
#283
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RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
This is a really nice thread. I see the control surfaces installed but what control throws did you wind up using for the Kwik Fli?
04-24-2005, 08:47 AM
#284
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
ORIGINAL: Stripes
This is a really nice thread. I see the control surfaces installed but what control throws did you wind up using for the Kwik Fli?
This is a really nice thread. I see the control surfaces installed but what control throws did you wind up using for the Kwik Fli?
10-29-2005, 10:08 AM
#285
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
It has been a little over a year now since my friend sent my 30 year old Kwik Fli III back to me, UPS crushed it and I started on the Kwik Fli III rebuild project. It is hard to believe how fast the year went by. The Kwik Fli III continues to be one of my prized R/C possessions and I love the way it flies. The classic Kwik Fli III looks are pretty neat too! Over the last seven months it has logged a lot of flights but luckily it hasn’t collected any hanger rash or had any flight mishaps. I had to replace the bearings in the Irvine 61 because they started making noise and I recently I was lucky to find a NIB silver case Irvine 61 on ebay that matches other two I have. I think the bearing problem was caused by running the engine at high RPM using a pipe on another aircraft.
10-29-2005, 08:32 PM
#286
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
8178, that is a magnificent model. I especially like the simplicity of that flawless finish: solid on top and the checkerboard on the underside. Is there something significant about the number three? Three Webras, Irvines and in another thread three RJLs. Oh, and don't you mention that your new Kwik Fli kit makes three? 81 - 78 =... Hmmm.
10-30-2005, 04:03 PM
#287
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
ORIGINAL: rainedav
8178, that is a magnificent model. I especially like the simplicity of that flawless finish: solid on top and the checkerboard on the underside. Is there something significant about the number three? Three Webras, Irvines and in another thread three RJLs. Oh, and don't you mention that your new Kwik Fli kit makes three? 81 - 78 =... Hmmm.
8178, that is a magnificent model. I especially like the simplicity of that flawless finish: solid on top and the checkerboard on the underside. Is there something significant about the number three? Three Webras, Irvines and in another thread three RJLs. Oh, and don't you mention that your new Kwik Fli kit makes three? 81 - 78 =... Hmmm.
Thanks for the complements on the Kwik Fli III. Tony Howard is a master kit designer and manufacturer. The quality is way above any kit I have ever seen.
Wasn’t there a movie about space aliens that did everything in threes. I have two Kaos 40s flying and one NIB kit. I’m looking for another Irvine 53 so I’ll have three of them too.
12-15-2005, 05:39 PM
#288
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RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
A superb thread! It brings back so many memories. You have given me the inspiration to build one. I have always been fond of these pattern ships as my Father taught me to fly in the 60's on reed equipment! Orbit 10 channel if I remember correctly? I seem to be unable to find Howard Engineering on the 'net,' can you help?
12-15-2005, 08:26 PM
#290
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RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
Thought I'd better jump in here. I made the Howard Engineering kits back in the 70's and early 80's - including the one 8178 'rescued' in this thread.
I thought there might be some interest in the kits what with the current resurgence of interest in the older pattern planes. However after redrawing the original plans in CAD, putting together a new manual, getting set up for CNC cut foam cores and laser cut parts, etc I discovered the market just wasn't there for this venerable old West Coast version of Phil Kraft's Kwik Fli III. So I've closed up shop on all my old kits once and for all.
FWIW I still fly a modified Kwik Fli III with a Kaos wing that I built in 1973 for what is now known as the Puyallup Expo here in Washington state. Powered by my first Enya 60 II it remains a very pleasant sport flyer. It's kinda like putting on a pair of well worn comfortable old shoes when I go flying with it!
My congratulations to 8178 for his great rebuilding job. But that's nothing new - he always has built georgeous planes.
Tony Howard
Howard Engineering
Monroe WA
I thought there might be some interest in the kits what with the current resurgence of interest in the older pattern planes. However after redrawing the original plans in CAD, putting together a new manual, getting set up for CNC cut foam cores and laser cut parts, etc I discovered the market just wasn't there for this venerable old West Coast version of Phil Kraft's Kwik Fli III. So I've closed up shop on all my old kits once and for all.
FWIW I still fly a modified Kwik Fli III with a Kaos wing that I built in 1973 for what is now known as the Puyallup Expo here in Washington state. Powered by my first Enya 60 II it remains a very pleasant sport flyer. It's kinda like putting on a pair of well worn comfortable old shoes when I go flying with it!
My congratulations to 8178 for his great rebuilding job. But that's nothing new - he always has built georgeous planes.
Tony Howard
Howard Engineering
Monroe WA
12-16-2005, 01:15 PM
#291
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
Thanks for the kind words Tony! It is easy to have great results when you start out with super excellent kit! Looks like I may be the proud owner of one of the few NIB Howard Engineering Kwik Fli III kits left plus one in full flight status in the hanger. Lucky me!!!
As far as I know the only other sources for Kwik Fli IIIs would be ebay Top Flite kits (usually go for $200 to $400+) or Graupner kit, Home Hobby Solutions soon to be released reproduction http://www.homeandhobbysolutions.com/ and building from the February 1968 MAN plan.
As far as I know no kits or plans exist for the Kwik Fli III taper wing like Tony’s kit. The taper wing version flies much better than the barn door wing. I prefer kits with fiberglass fuselages and foam wings because they are so light and last so much longer than all wood kits.
As far as I know the only other sources for Kwik Fli IIIs would be ebay Top Flite kits (usually go for $200 to $400+) or Graupner kit, Home Hobby Solutions soon to be released reproduction http://www.homeandhobbysolutions.com/ and building from the February 1968 MAN plan.
As far as I know no kits or plans exist for the Kwik Fli III taper wing like Tony’s kit. The taper wing version flies much better than the barn door wing. I prefer kits with fiberglass fuselages and foam wings because they are so light and last so much longer than all wood kits.
05-30-2009, 09:52 PM
#296
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
Looks like the Putfile site with my video bit the dust! Here is a link to the Kwik Fly first flight on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_sDl6P4xF4
05-31-2009, 04:40 AM
#297
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RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
Graupner now market the mk111 as a kit.
I have the mk 2, with a YS110 four stroke, such a fabulous combination, so smooth and precise, a real pleasure to fly
Darryl
05-31-2009, 07:15 AM
#298
RE: Howard Engineering - Kwik Fli III – Build
Interesting!I won a Sato four stroke in a contest and never could figure out what to do with the big old clunky thing.Kept it for decades NIB and then finally got rid of it to make room for more OS 61SF ABC-Ps.