Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
09-15-2011, 04:00 PM
#1
Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Today the FedEx guy brought me the Redwing RC MXS-R that I ordered on Friday. I ordered the blue one, because it was my second choice after the yellow which is out of stock until sometime this winter. Maybe Tim from Redwing has a possible date?
I'm working nights right now so it will be a slow process the next week or so. It looks like its really complete already with minimal to do. The instructions come on a mini CD.
So, without further ado, the big question. Whats in the box?
Picture 1 - The arrival
Picture 2 - The opening....It is well packed, and arrived in perfect condition in spite of the beat up outer box.
Picture 3 - Fiberglass cowling with ring for easy mounting and the 2 blade carbon fiber spinner.
Picture 4 - Right wing panel, the left one was just as nice
Picture 5 - The fuselage showing the removable top hatch and canopy. Nice feature. The wings are counter sunk into the fuse as well instead of just rubbing up against.
Picture 6 - The tail feathers (Rudder, horizontal stabs and elevators. I didn't unpack them yet. The rudder was attached to the wing wrapping, and the stabs are wrapped and secured with cardboard.
Picture 7 - Fiberglass wheel pants and carbon fiber landing gear
Picture 8 - Carbon fiber wing tube and stab tube. The tubes in the wings, stabs, and fuse the carbon fiber tubes slide into are all fiberglass.
Picture 9 - Probably the most complete hardware package I've seen yet minus an engine mount for other than gas engines. Of course you supply fuel lines, electronics, and engine as normal. There are even bolt on carbon fiber servo control horns that you bolt onto your round servo horns.
The hardware contains two sided ball link connections for solid control, and glue in 2 piece fiberglass control horns. The covering is in great shape without masses of wrinkles.
So far, in my humble opinion, I'm impressed. Tim and Redwing RC have really taken extra effort to provide a great quality product at a more than fair price.
I'm working nights right now so it will be a slow process the next week or so. It looks like its really complete already with minimal to do. The instructions come on a mini CD.
So, without further ado, the big question. Whats in the box?
Picture 1 - The arrival
Picture 2 - The opening....It is well packed, and arrived in perfect condition in spite of the beat up outer box.
Picture 3 - Fiberglass cowling with ring for easy mounting and the 2 blade carbon fiber spinner.
Picture 4 - Right wing panel, the left one was just as nice
Picture 5 - The fuselage showing the removable top hatch and canopy. Nice feature. The wings are counter sunk into the fuse as well instead of just rubbing up against.
Picture 6 - The tail feathers (Rudder, horizontal stabs and elevators. I didn't unpack them yet. The rudder was attached to the wing wrapping, and the stabs are wrapped and secured with cardboard.
Picture 7 - Fiberglass wheel pants and carbon fiber landing gear
Picture 8 - Carbon fiber wing tube and stab tube. The tubes in the wings, stabs, and fuse the carbon fiber tubes slide into are all fiberglass.
Picture 9 - Probably the most complete hardware package I've seen yet minus an engine mount for other than gas engines. Of course you supply fuel lines, electronics, and engine as normal. There are even bolt on carbon fiber servo control horns that you bolt onto your round servo horns.
The hardware contains two sided ball link connections for solid control, and glue in 2 piece fiberglass control horns. The covering is in great shape without masses of wrinkles.
So far, in my humble opinion, I'm impressed. Tim and Redwing RC have really taken extra effort to provide a great quality product at a more than fair price.
09-16-2011, 02:32 PM
#2
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Notched the hinges to reduce gaps that pin hinges cause. I only posted pics of the built up stabs, but I did the same thing to the 5 hinges in each wing as well.
On to epoxy to install the hinges next.
First picture is after the notching, and the other two are the two bolt on halves before notching.
On to epoxy to install the hinges next.
First picture is after the notching, and the other two are the two bolt on halves before notching.
09-16-2011, 03:43 PM
#4
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
All the pin hinges are now glued into place on the wings (5 each) and stabs (3 each). All the holes are pre-drilled and perfectly aligned from the factory.
I used epoxy to glue in all the hinges. At least 15 minute should be used here. After a good mix I use toothpicks to get epoxy down in the holes and a popsicle stick to add epoxy to the hinges.
Rubbing or denatured alcohol will clean up any goobs from the epoxy while it is still wet.
Oh I discovered something new with this build. I usually use a jar of petroleum jelly to coat joint of the hinges, but I was being cheap and didn't want to pay $4.00 for a small jar.
So As I was checking out with my .99 cent jug of rubbing alcohol I saw a stack of tubes of original chapstick. Now what is chapstick made of? Petroleum jelly is the main ingredient.
The chapstick tube was much easier and cleaner than the jar of petroleum jelly so that's what I'll be using from now on.
Posting after the epoxy cured I can say the chapstick worked perfectly. You can see my Dremeled joints to keep from getting big gaps in the joints in the wing in the second picture.
I used epoxy to glue in all the hinges. At least 15 minute should be used here. After a good mix I use toothpicks to get epoxy down in the holes and a popsicle stick to add epoxy to the hinges.
Rubbing or denatured alcohol will clean up any goobs from the epoxy while it is still wet.
Oh I discovered something new with this build. I usually use a jar of petroleum jelly to coat joint of the hinges, but I was being cheap and didn't want to pay $4.00 for a small jar.
So As I was checking out with my .99 cent jug of rubbing alcohol I saw a stack of tubes of original chapstick. Now what is chapstick made of? Petroleum jelly is the main ingredient.
The chapstick tube was much easier and cleaner than the jar of petroleum jelly so that's what I'll be using from now on.
Posting after the epoxy cured I can say the chapstick worked perfectly. You can see my Dremeled joints to keep from getting big gaps in the joints in the wing in the second picture.
09-16-2011, 04:10 PM
#5
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Now another question.....
Top arrow is a servo mount where you can mount the servo externally.
The bottom arrow is a removable hatch where you can hide the servo with just the arm sticking out.
I'm going with the external.
Top arrow is a servo mount where you can mount the servo externally.
The bottom arrow is a removable hatch where you can hide the servo with just the arm sticking out.
I'm going with the external.
09-17-2011, 07:38 AM
#6
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
*note* If you plan to use Futaba high torque servos go with the hidden mount with just the horn sticking out. They barely fit in the external mount. Too tall...not a Redwing fault.
I use a soldering iron to male my openings in covering. It's not necessarily cleaner per se, but it does keep the covering taunt and helps avoid the dreaded covering shrinkage
Shave the lowest notch of the control horns off to fit right in the wings. This has been mentioned before, but I can't remember where.
I have the wing servos, control horns and rods mounted in the wings. The two piece fiberglass control horns are epoxied in.
Pretty straight forward. Redwing does provide "3D" arms made from carbon fiber, but I chose to go with my old reliable DuBro heavy duty to conserve time and effort since I'm posting as I go.
I use a soldering iron to male my openings in covering. It's not necessarily cleaner per se, but it does keep the covering taunt and helps avoid the dreaded covering shrinkage
Shave the lowest notch of the control horns off to fit right in the wings. This has been mentioned before, but I can't remember where.
I have the wing servos, control horns and rods mounted in the wings. The two piece fiberglass control horns are epoxied in.
Pretty straight forward. Redwing does provide "3D" arms made from carbon fiber, but I chose to go with my old reliable DuBro heavy duty to conserve time and effort since I'm posting as I go.
09-18-2011, 02:42 PM
#7
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Picture 1 - Installed the rudder servo that is set up for pull-pull. I'm not going to work on that until almost last to keep from knocking the rudder around during install of everything else.
Picture 2 - Using copper flex tubing for oil pressure gauges you can buy at any auto parts store as a smoke oil pre-heater. The copper is a great conductor of heat away from the head, and it is small enough diameter that it doesn't interfere with the cooling of the head after the smoke oil is used up. The little bit of solder on each end is to help the tygon hold better with the zip ties.
Picture 3 - Although it is set up for a 30cc gas engine, I only have an OS 160FX available. The MXS-R did not come with a motor mount for other than gas engines. This mount is the one used on the Great Planes Performance Series GP/EP ARF's for 1.20 to 1.80 engines.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXATG7&P=SM
It's an adjustable width nylon mount.
Picture 2 - Using copper flex tubing for oil pressure gauges you can buy at any auto parts store as a smoke oil pre-heater. The copper is a great conductor of heat away from the head, and it is small enough diameter that it doesn't interfere with the cooling of the head after the smoke oil is used up. The little bit of solder on each end is to help the tygon hold better with the zip ties.
Picture 3 - Although it is set up for a 30cc gas engine, I only have an OS 160FX available. The MXS-R did not come with a motor mount for other than gas engines. This mount is the one used on the Great Planes Performance Series GP/EP ARF's for 1.20 to 1.80 engines.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXATG7&P=SM
It's an adjustable width nylon mount.
09-18-2011, 09:23 PM
#8
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Picture 1 - The smoke tank neatly tucked under the fuel tank in picture 2. There is a hatch that covers this area once complete.
Picture 2 - The fuel tank. This is a 20oz RotoFlow from jlproducts.net. It's a new fuel tank design internally. I haven't completely decided on this or the stock tank yet.
Picture 3 - The switches. This is a Miracle Switch with a fuel dot. In this case it will be a smoke tank filling dot. You will see the fuel filler in the next post. Notice it has two switches? One will be for the radio, and the other for the smoke system. I chose this to make it easier to charge the smoke system and radio at the same time without having to remove the canopy and fiddle with wires which I want to have all tucked away neatly after everything is installed.
So far it is a very straight forward build as far as the MXS-R itself goes. I'm just adding the goodies I like in the process. Had I just went with the plane and the DLE 30 I would have been built and maidened by now. In this case I am having to plan out where things will go.
Picture 2 - The fuel tank. This is a 20oz RotoFlow from jlproducts.net. It's a new fuel tank design internally. I haven't completely decided on this or the stock tank yet.
Picture 3 - The switches. This is a Miracle Switch with a fuel dot. In this case it will be a smoke tank filling dot. You will see the fuel filler in the next post. Notice it has two switches? One will be for the radio, and the other for the smoke system. I chose this to make it easier to charge the smoke system and radio at the same time without having to remove the canopy and fiddle with wires which I want to have all tucked away neatly after everything is installed.
So far it is a very straight forward build as far as the MXS-R itself goes. I'm just adding the goodies I like in the process. Had I just went with the plane and the DLE 30 I would have been built and maidened by now. In this case I am having to plan out where things will go.
09-18-2011, 09:25 PM
#9
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Picture 1 - The engine installed. Notice the cooper tubing wrapped around the head. That's the smoke preheater I mentioned before.
Picture 2 - Just another angle showing the relation to the tank
Picture 3 - This is showing the hole for the needle valve in the foreground, and the fueler for the nitro engine on the left and the Perry pump on the right. I'm not using a regular smoke muffler, so I use the Perry pump to provide a steady fuel supply to the engine. Of course the preheater is in there and you can see the solder on the end of the tube.
It's a plumbing nightmare for sure when you do it this way. Once again it's a whole lot more simpler if you are just going with a nitro or gas engine.
Picture 2 - Just another angle showing the relation to the tank
Picture 3 - This is showing the hole for the needle valve in the foreground, and the fueler for the nitro engine on the left and the Perry pump on the right. I'm not using a regular smoke muffler, so I use the Perry pump to provide a steady fuel supply to the engine. Of course the preheater is in there and you can see the solder on the end of the tube.
It's a plumbing nightmare for sure when you do it this way. Once again it's a whole lot more simpler if you are just going with a nitro or gas engine.
09-25-2011, 11:03 AM
#11
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Ok, it's letting me post pictures again.
Picture 1 and 2 are the rudder setup and the pull pull. I'm thinking about going to the servo horn supplied by Redwing here to get better throw on the rudder.
Picture 3 and 4 are the elevator and the linkage setup there.
They are also bolt on stabs. They use small bolts into blind nuts already installed.
Finding the blind nuts was simple because the stab slides onto a carbon fiber tube and then the bolt holes line right up.
Notice the two piece control horn on the elevator and the ball links that are included in the ARF.
The wires and box in picture 2 is the servo reverser/matchbox from Futaba that is discontinued.
Picture 1 and 2 are the rudder setup and the pull pull. I'm thinking about going to the servo horn supplied by Redwing here to get better throw on the rudder.
Picture 3 and 4 are the elevator and the linkage setup there.
They are also bolt on stabs. They use small bolts into blind nuts already installed.
Finding the blind nuts was simple because the stab slides onto a carbon fiber tube and then the bolt holes line right up.
Notice the two piece control horn on the elevator and the ball links that are included in the ARF.
The wires and box in picture 2 is the servo reverser/matchbox from Futaba that is discontinued.
09-25-2011, 11:42 AM
#12
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Picture 1 - Header tank and smoke pump. Smoke oil flows from the main tank to the pump to the header tank (for Helicopters), then to the coil on the head, and into the muffler. I can say it makes some really nice smoke.
Picture 2 - The fuel tank for the OS 160FX. This is a 20oz RotoFlow by jlproducts.......http://www.jlproducts.net/ProductRotoFlow.html The 2 batteries will fit one on each side of the tank and are strapped in by 2 sided Velcro, and the top will help hold them in.
Picture 3 - The Final product. Don't mind my small shop area in the back. I haven't been able to set up anything studio like yet.
Of course cublover had to break out his airbrush on the front of it and make some light blue "fire". It's been scuff sanded, air brushed, and then cleared again.
Picture 2 - The fuel tank for the OS 160FX. This is a 20oz RotoFlow by jlproducts.......http://www.jlproducts.net/ProductRotoFlow.html The 2 batteries will fit one on each side of the tank and are strapped in by 2 sided Velcro, and the top will help hold them in.
Picture 3 - The Final product. Don't mind my small shop area in the back. I haven't been able to set up anything studio like yet.
Of course cublover had to break out his airbrush on the front of it and make some light blue "fire". It's been scuff sanded, air brushed, and then cleared again.
09-25-2011, 11:51 AM
#13
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Overall, building was pretty straight forward. The manual as typical was pretty much useless. The kit comes with a lot of hardware that is good quality. I chose the DuBro arms to save some time for now, but I may change them all over to the supplied arms that bolt onto servo wheels in the long run. The build quality is very nice. There aren't big goobs anywhere, or places that looked like dry joints. I'd say this is at least an intermediate build because of the pin hinges and control horns that need to be glued in with epoxy, and setting up the pull pull and ball links. I did some extras that don't need to be done like a perry pump, smoke system, and a different fuel tank. If it flies like it built.....I'll be a happy customer.
09-25-2011, 11:58 AM
#14
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Another note......
I would have went for the maiden today, but the weather decided to change for the worse.
I'll have better pictures and some video as soon as we get a good break and can get everyone on the same page.
I'm excited.
I would have went for the maiden today, but the weather decided to change for the worse.
I'll have better pictures and some video as soon as we get a good break and can get everyone on the same page.
I'm excited.
09-28-2011, 06:21 PM
#17
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
I have to agree with you there. Did you look into the one I mentioned? The 20oz fits perfectly.
I'm waiting for good weather and a day off at the same time to get a video. This time of year is hit or miss around here. I wanted a yellow one actually, but I didn't want to wait until winter time or later.
I'm waiting for good weather and a day off at the same time to get a video. This time of year is hit or miss around here. I wanted a yellow one actually, but I didn't want to wait until winter time or later.
10-11-2011, 12:20 PM
#20
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Waiting with bated breath to hear your update on theflying experience. Enjoyed reading your build of the Redwing MXSR, thinking seriously to contact Tim and pull the trigger. He's such a great guy to deal with I bought two of his MX2 and I'm loving every minute of the purchase. Just need to get some feedback from persons who have actually bought, built and flown the MXSR.
Cant wait to see your maiden videos
DaleD
Cant wait to see your maiden videos
DaleD
10-14-2011, 08:22 AM
#21
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
It did fly, and well. Didn't get any pictures or video because it was a trim flight. I needed 2 clicks of down and one click of left for trim. Landed to fuel and fill smoke tank, and the receiver took a dump on me. It was on the ground thank goodness. Probably a week before I get another chance. Oh, it flies like it's on rails, and is just sweet all around. Tell Tim you read my post please if you order.
Oh, that 3 blade on there is sweet.
Oh, that 3 blade on there is sweet.
10-30-2011, 03:48 PM
#22
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
Will have pics and video of flying today when I get them in the email.
Thanks to Roger Mayo of HDF Photography for the pics and video.
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/store.aspx?p=3305
Thanks to Roger Mayo of HDF Photography for the pics and video.
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/store.aspx?p=3305
10-31-2011, 10:48 AM
#23
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
OK........so after some time here there is one thing I don't like.
Even though I was thinking about changing it anyway, the covering is not that great. It's flown a couple times and spent some time in the sun so the covering got saggy like normal. Used the heat gun to re-shrink it, and it liked to pull away really easy, and got just as saggy in the sun on a cooler day.
Thinking about recovering it in fabric, and giving it a paint job.
Even though I was thinking about changing it anyway, the covering is not that great. It's flown a couple times and spent some time in the sun so the covering got saggy like normal. Used the heat gun to re-shrink it, and it liked to pull away really easy, and got just as saggy in the sun on a cooler day.
Thinking about recovering it in fabric, and giving it a paint job.
11-01-2011, 01:14 PM
#25
RE: Redwing RC 30cc MXS-R build and review.
@ Bladebender................I haven't received the video and pictures from the person taking them yet.....I'm waiting anxiously.
If anyone wants to know about the smoke tank.............this is for the 30cc MXS-R, I don't know about the others............I used this tank and it fits nicely as you can see in the picture.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=SEA9005
If anyone wants to know about the smoke tank.............this is for the 30cc MXS-R, I don't know about the others............I used this tank and it fits nicely as you can see in the picture.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=SEA9005