LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Well, I've been enjoying reading other people's build threads on RCU for years now, so guess it's time for me to contribute. A Blue Jay Dirty Birdy 60 will be the subject of this build thread. This is my 1st Blue Jay kit, and the 1st 60 sized DB. I built 4 DB40s in the 80s, and several Kaos 40s.

I'm a slow builder, and no where near the craftsman of raindave or 8178, but will try to build a good flying SPA bird!

It will be fixed trike gear, with a side mounted(open for suggestions/discussion on this) muffled 60. I'm going to try to build it to take several different engines, but the Enya 61CX will be the primary, as it is the lightest.

Here is the kit laid out.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Here are the engines on the plans:

1st is the Enya 61CX

2nd the Enya 80XF (this is the same size as the 60XF I also have)

3rd is the OS 60FSR (the heaviest)

8178

My Feedback: (17)

Thanks for sharing your build with us. That is a really nice looking kit and I’m looking forward to fallowing your progress. Good decision on the trike gear and the 60!!

hrrcflyer

Hey LaCerne,

Being a slow builder is never a bad thing. Take it from someone who knows...... I too lack the building skills of the gentlemen you mentioned as well as many of the other excellent builders we have in this forum, but it's like the old saying goes, "Practice Makes Perfect"... Besides, if you run into a snag, you can post your question and someone will be more than willing to help you out which is what I admire most about the people in this forum.

I love your choice for a kit to build. I too, have a Bluejay 60 I'm getting ready to build. Since I'm not planning on flying in SPA, I am putting retracts in mine. I will be following your build thread too, so I can learn a few things.

As far as motors go, I was going to put a pumped K&B61 in mine, but I gave it back to my brother so he could put it in his Ultrasport 60 so I am in "wait and see" mode with regards to what engine I'm going to use.

Good luck with your build and as Raindave said in another thread, "Someone pass the popcorn"...

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Thanks for the encouragement guys!

Here's yesterday's (Monday) photos:

Pic 1 & 2: The front and rear fuse sides are joined at the wing saddle.
Pic 3: The wing saddle is then doubled on the inside with 1/16" balsa.
Pic 4: The fuse topblock is also 2 pieces though not mentioned in the instructions, the Fuel tank area has a balsa doubler.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

More from Monday:

Pic 1: The instructions mention pre-cut cross braces from 1/4X5/8", but there were none. The materials list has a stock piece for this, so it's not pre cut anymore.

Pic 2: The triangle stock with a cut off end is glued to the top block. For those that have built a Bridi plane before this should be very familiar.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Today's (Tuesday) progress.

Pics 1 & 2: I decided to drill the wing hold down holes and cut out the center of bulkhead #2 before installing it in the fuse.

Pics 3 & 4: cut a hole in the middle for pushrods, used the spinner ring as a rough guide.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Tuesday:

Pics 1 & 2: Cut and installed cross braces from stock provided.

Pics 3 & 4: Installed bulkheads 2 & 3 on top block.

Pic 5: Triangle stock added to bottom of the fuse sides behind the wing saddle.

Pics 6, 7, & 8: Fuse sides glued to the top block and the bulkheads.

hrrcflyer

Larsen,

I thought you said you build slow..[X(][sm=lol.gif]

Keep up the good work.[sm=thumbup.gif]

jetmech43

My Feedback: (9)

Im in Bartlett to you fly at Prop Busters, you are going to install retracts arent you

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Not to worry David, that may be all the updates for a few days, as work will interfere.

I do fly at Prop Busters some, and at the Millington field as well.

Fixed gear for weight and simplicity and SPA!

I will build one in the future with retracts and a tuned pipe.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Told you this would be slow going. I did make some engine measurements today, and drilled engine mount holes in the firewall, but yard work and a "tree vs chainsaw" matchup got in the way today. I'll try and do a little in the morning and post some photos later.

mgm52

Hey Larson,
Great to see the Dirty Birdy build thread. I also look forward to seeing you and the plane at a SPA contest. I built the Killer Chaos . It was not too hard but it is a builders kit not a tab A in slot B type. Keep up the good work!!!

Mike Miller SPA -308

F.Imbriaco

My Feedback: (56)

Don't worry about taking your time- you've got company. This is my second winter season, but the end is in sight as I'm almost finished with covering.
Hope it performs in an acceptable manner with the OS 55. These modern day powerplants, while light weight, are physically larger than their predecessors ; especially with the new design "carb boxes". Mine is such a tight fit that I must take the carb/needle valve body off to get the engine in and out. Some out there will poo poo that statement and claim they use much larger displacement engines , but I kept the nose just as the original plans depict- 2 1/4" FAI Spinner and 3/4 wrapped.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Well, I meant to post the little progress I made over the weekend (April 5th and 6th) last week, but didn't. So to get us up to speed. . .

I glued the rear piece on the fuse, and then started working on the firewall.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Thanks to Dave Bacque who emailed me his notes on the DB60. He's well ahead of me and has some great tips and suggestions.

I printed out his instructions, to use side by side with the Bridi instructions. Dave even numbered his notes to correspond to the Bridi instructions, making life easier for me!

Dave feel free to join in this thread with your tips along the way, the more the merrier!

LaCerne

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Time to install the blind-nuts in the firewall.

Who can guess how many 6-32 blind-nuts are in these pics????

LaCerne

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Not looking to keep anyone in suspense, those who guessed approximately ZERO, are correct! That was good for a 3 day delay, and a trip to the hobby shop.

Now with the engine mount attached to the firewall with blind-nuts and all...

Time for a distraction!

Which engine shall I use??

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

So, last Sunday I started waffling on engine selection... the Enya 61CX is the smallest and lightest of the engines, and I originally thought I would make the engine cut-out large enough for the Enya 60XF, and the OS 61FSR, or even the Enya 80XF, but with the weight difference of 5 1/2 oz between the 61CX and the OS, I wasn't sure the power difference would be worth it.

So, like I said, time for a good distraction...

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

So, outside with a handful of engines, and props I go.

I ran the 3 engines: Enya 61CX, Old Enya 60XF-III (AAC), and the OS 61 FSR (ring).

The 61CX is the one I bought from Enya Japan when they 1st came out. It has been bench run only. It is a 40cx, 45cx, 50cx, bored out to about .603 by my calculations, and has a 7.7mm carb by Enya's specs. When I opened it up some time back the fuel ports seemed pretty small to me.

The 60XF is one I bought new in the 80's and used in pattern competition for many gallons of fuel, so the P&L are not new.

The 61FSR I picked up in January 2009 at a swap meet in Columbia TN. The gentleman that traded me had sand-blasted the case for a dull appearance and put new bearings in it. It looked clean, and I almost didn't take it apart before running, but I did, and found sand in the fuel ports and the crank-case. So copious amounts of cleaning and rinsing later it's ready to run.

Pics 1 and 2: Enya 61CX fuel ports.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Fuel is Ritch's Brew 15% castor synthetic blend(18%) with 3oz castor added to each gallon. An Enya #3 glow plug (swapped from engine to engine during the test) and the props I had on hand to test. The baffle was removed from the 61CX muffler, and the old stock Enya 60 muffler was used for the OS and The 60XF.

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

The OS FSR really surprised me. I knew they were good engines but did not expect it to out power the Enya XF. I ran the Enya with a pipe most of the time in competition, but always thought it was stronger than the SF or FSR. This FSR I've gotten is very impressive. I wish I had an Ugly stick to go test fly the 3 motors to see how much they unload in the air, but I don't see the 61CX being able to make up that much difference in the static numbers, the XF... maybe.

By the way, I swapped the 7D and GM10 carbs from the OS to the Enya 60XF and saw no change. Now if I could find a larger carb for the little 61CX, I think we could pull some better numbers. Enya used to have a GM9SB that fit the 49XTV...

After several hours of testing, I came back to the shop only to remember another engine I should have run, Maybe next time.

rainedave

My Feedback: (1)

You have some nice engines to chose from. I was also surprised by my .61FSR. It turns just a tad under 13,000 with an APC 11x7 using 5% nitro. With 15% it will no doubt top 13,000. And, that's with the stock #744 muffler. OS needs to bring this design back into production (which they actually did once with the Goldhead Special).

I honestly thought the CX would be a bit stronger. I wonder how it compares to the AX.55?

David

LaCerne

My Feedback: (16)

Yes, my engine cup runneth over, I just can't help myself. I keep buying all the old engines I wanted as a kid, but couldn't afford. I've picked up the OS 61FSR, a battle tested Super Tigre X61 RE Blue Head, Enya 41 4-C NIB, OS 40FSR ring used, Norvel.074, and 061 all just this year so far...

I think the 61CX is the strongest 40 to 50 engine I own, but not really a 60 competitor, except possibly with the cross-flow 60s. I wish I had run the STG60 BH with the 61CX. It's still a light weight engine, even lighter than the STG60, but don't know if it will be as torquey. We need to fly this engine though and see how it does in the air! Maybe I need an ARF!!! (ugh)

doxilia

My Feedback: (3)

Nice tests and results Larsen!

How much does your ST X61 RE weigh? I bet a lot less than the FSR. What if you were to install it at 170 degress CW to the vertical and run your pipe under the fuse beside the nose gear? Would that render the nose bottom ugly? (mmm... maybe yes).

Your X61 is probably in a similar league to the XF weight and power wise. The CX I would use on a nice 45-50 size ship or on a light 60 design.

I picked up an old NIB X60 RE a month ago or so. Can't decide what project it should go in but one thing is sure, it will be mounted either at 0 or 180*! (Engine beside it is an X25 bought late last year).

BTW, David, do you have any idea how the headers were held on to these ST and Rossi RE engines? Perhaps simply with a spring around the front? Do you think the header fit onto the exhaust with some type of rubber rand for friction?

Larsen, sorry, don't mean to change topic just thought it might be fun to post this while discussing engines.

Beautiful build by the way. Although mostly silent, I'm following with much interest. I may end up building a BHE glass DB next year.

David.