RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

To clarify, thats only true if you use the "Fast White" primer catalyst.

Best thing about KK customer service is you can call Nate in the evening. As he says "When your using the product" he is there to help.

Another thing Nate taught me is to put on a fog coat first. Wait 5-10 minutes than paint for real.

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Thanks for all the positive replies. . .
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Ikeep having to go into work, very annoying since I can't make any progress on the airplane. . .
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Leaving for Destin tomorrow, won't be back for a week. . Hope to make progress when I get back and have it ready to take to Andersonville.

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Got back from vacation this weekend. . . hope to get this plane ready to fly sometime this week. . .

The painting is finished and now I'm installing all of the "guts". I've never done air retracts before, so this is another learning curve for me. I got the retracts working tonight, and man do they slam up. What psi do you guys pump up the retracts? I thought I read 100 psi in the instructions (lost them too), but the wheels really slam up hard. I think Robart makes a doo-hickey to slow the retracts down a bit.

The radio install was straightforward. The fuel tank compartment is really, really tight, so I'm hoping that I don't have any issues with the Tettra bubbless tank or its going to require major surgery to get back out. The engine compartment is pretty tight also, I won't know until I run it up if everything has enough room or not.
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The servos in the tail. . . seemed like a great idea at the time, but I certainly wouldn't do it again on a plane this size due to CG issues. We'll see in a couple days one I get everything together and check the CG where it comes out. Hopefully they won't throw it off too far or it'll have to go back under the knife and get the DEPS treatment. I left a space in the radio compartment for an elevator servo - just. .in . . case. . .

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

These should do the trick on the retracts.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXET36&P=7

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

yeah Keith you can add restrictors, I showed you on my Bonanza the regulator to slow them dowm some, dont know if yours has that, 100 psi is right go with that

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Thanks for the links. . .

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

looking good...............................

so where is that CF canopy :)

s.

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Super job looks great....:D

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

It is finally done. . . all of the upsie, downsie, righty, and lefties are working. Total weight as you see it in the pictures came out to 8lb. 9oz. I thought I was tracking everything that was going into the airplane, but an extra 9 ounces snuck in under the wire.
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Well, that's it. . . The XLT is currently disassembled and packed into the back of my truck for the nine hour drive down to Mac Hodges field where its going to get another good going-over, fire up the engine, range check, and put the maiden flight on this plane.
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Thanks to all of the people that followed along with this thread and gave positive feedback and great advice.

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Looks Awesome!! Looks like I will get to see this puppy in action first hand!!

When are you going to arrive at Hodges?? I was thinking I may try and get there tomorrow evening but it's looking a little more like Friday unless I really push it (or blow some stuff off..he he)

We'll see you there and I'm looking forward to it!!

Chuck

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

The plan is to depart the Memphis VORaround 8-8:30 am. That should put us at the field around 4-5pm. Depending on the light situation I'll probably just do a couple ground runs and range checks to make sure nothing is shaking loose and maiden this baby on Friday.
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Looking forward to meeting you there, Chuck!!

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

how did the CG come out with the servos in the stab

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Keith,

Congradulations on your XLT. The plane looks absolutely awesome.......:D:D Thanks for taking your time in doing the build thread. I can't wait to hear about the flight report.

David

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

The CG is about 3/4 to 1 inch aft of the plans. I'm going to throw a couple ounces of lead in the nose for the first few flights then take it out to see how it flies. I left room in the radio compartment for a full-size elevator servo and I can slide the DEPS right under the rudder servo if I need to bring the CG forward . . . just need to add it to my list of projects for later. . .

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

rocking...

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

How did the maiden go and do you have any video of it.
I am hoping to use a Jett in my MK Silent , was hoping to see/hear one go.
Cheers Greg

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

I didn't get to maiden it this weekend, but I did finally manage to run up the engine a few times on the ground. A couple of learning points . . .

1) This engine is tight, tight tight. At one point I thought I had hydro-locked the engine and broke something inside so I took the head off to check. Nope, nothing broke, its just that the cylinder is very tapered and the piston sticks when its cold about 3/4 of the way up. You need to make sure you back off the prop and give your starter a good running start before you hit the compression and also make sure that all of the bolts are very tight on the prop & spinner. . . Also make sure your starter is firmly held against the spinner.

2) DONT MESSWITHTHEREMOTENEEDLEVALVE!!! The engine was running great on the stand, but when I went to install it into the airplane I was having a hard time figuring out where to mount the remote needle valve. At one point I thought I could swap the needle and one of the fuel nipples but I couldn't get the part that holds the needle to come put. Well, that's because it is a brass tube that runs the length of the needle valve assembly and in the process of pushing, pulling, and twisting on it I had managed to rotate the brass tube so the hole that allows the fuel to travel through it was closed. . . That cost me a good hour or two of troubleshooting at the field. By the time I figured it out and fixed it, it was too late for a maiden flight so we just ran it a few times to annoy the other guys warming up for the pattern contest (hehehehe)

Yes, I am sure both of the above points are coved in Dub's instructions somewhere as I am not the first rube to blunder off the reservation in this manner. . . I'll re-read his instructions and the web site again about giving this engine a proper break-in.

But the bottom line is that once I got the needle valve and spinner issue fixed, it ran like a scalded dog. . . I'll try to get you some video of this engine running and hopefully of the maiden flight. . .

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Keith,

When I raced rc boats you want to talk tight and compression that is the place to go... anyhow what we did is had plug wrench with a built in nistarter and backed off the glow plug to release come of the compression until started and then re tighten the plug and throw the boat in the water... maybe that might help just loosen the plug a bit and start it until motor breaks in..... You going to Huntsville with it ??????????????/

Scott

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

My started didn't have any problem with the compression, it was getting the piston up past the taper that first turn of the prop. Once I got the prop turning, it was not problem. I also was being kind of a wuss and not holding the starter cone firmly onto the spinner so the engine wasn't getting enough ooomph (< That's a technical term, by the way) and the piston would stop and the spinner would pop loose. Once I learned to show it who's in charge, she spun right up. . .
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I'm planning on going to Huntsville. . . hope my plane is legal since it's just a bit over the displacement limit. . .
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RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">
Keith, another little trick to get the motor to turn that first turn is to heat the top of the motor, a little hard to do at the field with no power source and in the plane. </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Verdana"></font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">When the motor gets to operating temp the the piston and liner frees up but not until then. Heating up the motor to operating temp will let you turn the motor over freely. </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Verdana"></font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">I heat my tight (RACE) motors up to operating temp before start up, saves a lot of wear and tear. I do this whole process on the stand until I can get a consistent cold start.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Verdana"></font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">The Jett&rsquo;s are very tight, they squeak by TDC when new, but with more time on them you will be able to just bump them to start.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Verdana"></font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">The only thing, getting them to turn over with pushing with a starter is that you put a lot of stress on the rod and bearings.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Verdana"></font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">I have a heated coil that I slide over the top of the head that I use at the field (12v power source) to heat tight motors and to get to operating temp quickly.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Verdana"></font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">I have found out that motors last much longer with this technique.

</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Verdana"></font></o:p></p>

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

would a small hand torch help warm up the head?

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Verdana">I just use a heat gun, I&rsquo;d stay away from anything with an open flame. Any heat source would work.<span style="font-size: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

good point.

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.  I think that heating the head will be a little much at this time.  Now that I know its just tight, I think I'll be OK just backing it off and giving it a good cranking..
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Got the stickers today. . . however I'm leaving on a trip tomorrow night and won't be back for a couple weeks so the stickers and maiden will have to go on the back burner again.. . ugh!!

RE: Bluejay XLT question
 

you could have let me have it Keith I would have flown it for you lol