RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

I was able to measure the length of the bolt needed before I put any of the fuse skin on ..it worked out to 1 1/2" ...after I put the bolt in place it comes out of the top of the wing plate about 1/8" ( or a tad more ) .... Now after talking with Don I went back into the hole for the main gear and was able to put a 1/8" ply block on top of the plate ...I used some thin wax paper to make sure that I didn't glue the wing plate to the block ... tap that as well ....now I have best of both top and bottom :D

Now if this comes out of place I would think that I will have more then just the wing blocks to rebuild ..... going to try my darnedest NOT to go there.

Test flight may be by the end of this month if not sooner just waiting for the snow to get off the strip ...the best part of test flight will be that I will have TWO to test the MIG 29 which I will do first then the SU.

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Its kinda scarry not having anything behind that plate! Sounds better!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Send some more pics... we want to check it out!

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

More pics of what? the bolt and plate setup?

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Your Flanker!

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

I will post more pics after I have the retracts installed ...hope to have them this week and installed and finished by next weekend.

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Be sure when you get them.. That you did get the 3/16 Wires!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

How did you install blind nuts without the retract units?

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Has anyone tried the SpringAir OLEO (struts) yet?

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Put 2 more flights on the Flanker today! Seems to fly better each flight! ZERO RUDDER FLUTTER today with full throttle fly bys... The Epoxy bearings I put on the lower rudder torque rods seem to do the trick... I would not fly without them.... Let me know if anyone wants to know how i installed them... i took lots of pics as i did it!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Rudder epoxy bearings

1. Remove covering on inside of lower vertical fin frond and back, then score the wood so the epoxy has more to grab on to.
2. Tape wood to protect it, then add lip balm, oil, or other releasing agent to the torque rod.
3. line both sides of fin with wax paper and wood to support it and clamp!
4. Fill space with epoxy and allow to dry.
5. Remove wood and wax paper.
6. use alcohol to smooth it out if needed.

YOURE DONE!

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Finished Product!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

thinking about these torque rods, I dont know how this will go, but I was thinking of installing the rod thru a brass tube and expoying the the brass tube in as you would the torque rod , less having to use the waxingpaper and let the epoxy hold the tube.

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Apparently all the Pylon guys use nothing but Epoxy bearings due to the tight fit you get! That is what Bob27s told me!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

well if its strong enough ok, I just thought perhaps over time and with the movement that might start to crack the epoxy...suppose that really depends on a good equal mix?.. well if thats the case I might not bother with the tubes

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Check with bob27s, I think the brass tubes will have to much play, unless you LATHE them to match the rod!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Rich,

I don't understand where all the play is coming from in the first place... The rudder torque rods already have an epoxy bearing in the extension that is glued at the bottom of the vertical fins. So no slop there, and I can't imagine good quality steel torque rods flexing on such a short distance...

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

And yes, epoxy bearing are used throughout the construction of pylon planes, because they are absolutely slop free and very strong.

In the pics below you can see the finished aileron linkage on a Club 20 racing plane. The torque rods are greased up (I use baking butter, seems to work well) and then cast in using an epoxy/microballoons mix.

The second pic shows the slots for the aileron torque rods on a Q500 plane, ready for gluing in the rods.

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

I have been wondering! Why does everyone use microballoons or some kind of filler with the epoxy. I assume it makes it lighter and easier to sand because it adds air to the mixture... but i would think that for an epoxy bearing straight epoxy would provide the strongest/least wearing bearing. not sure?

Good pics!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

Yeah, most of us do not use bearing tubes any longer. The epoxy provies zero slop.

Exactly as rudeboy's pictures. A little bit of microballoons helps with surface sanding when finished.

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

well then if it works for all you guys, then it should work for me aswell.

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

I did not think so either! once you put the whole thing together and ready to fly.... just grab the rudder and move it side to side and observe the large movement in the LOWER part of the rudder torque rods!You will see that a lower bearing is necessary. The 2 flights i did yesterday were to check for rudder flutter (which I had experienced in previous flights). The rudders so far proved to be rock solid... NO FLUTTER. I was opening up the Jett and pushing it to try and make it flutter... but it would not!

Rich

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

If you e-mail me I will send you link for a small movie that shows the rudder play!

Rich

[email protected]

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

SOME IN FLIGHT PICS FROM THE WEEKEND!

RE: AKM SU-27 Flanker-Does Look Good
 

A FEW MORE! I KEEP FORGETTING TO USE THE PROGRESSIVE MODE TO GET SOME BETTER STILLS.. WILL TRY TO REMEMBER MEXT TIME!