I just bought a Bluejay Choas 60 kit and wanting to installing tri-retracts. However it appears from the plans there will not be sufficent depth in the fuse nose for a 12oz fuel tank and the gear. Installing the mains in the wings will not be a problem, just with the stearalbe nose and valve along with the 12oz tank, the fuse does not appear deep enough. Anyone put retracts in this kit? I don't want to make it a tail dragger. I did that on the 40 size about 3 years ago. Any one installed retracts in this kit. which retracts did you use and how did you manage to get it all in this tight a space?

The old Hayes Slimline tanks are still being made:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK835&P=7

They were designed to fit in slender fuselages using nose retracts. Check the dimensions of the tank above. It might work. If not, the 8oz one probably will:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK834&P=SM

David

rainedave: Thanks for info. I ordered one but have not had a chance to see how it will fit. For last couple of weeks temp been cold and the garage is just to cold to work in. However, it is now warming up so will be trying to finish. Right now working on completing wings with the retracts.

What brand of retracts are you using? If you have a choice between rail mount and firewall mount, the rail mount units usually take up less vertical space.

David

rainedave, not sure who makes them, I think they are some old spring airs. The nose is a rail mount though. My son, who had to give up RC for kids, had them in a 1980's bird and we think they were spring air, which I understand are no longer in business. The O-rings appear to be out of the control valve and I haven't found the right size new so I will use a Robart control. The air tank is the short type and also old. I haven't checked to determine if it will hold air. Other then that they appear to be in pretty good condition. Right now the project is on hold for a few weeks.

matadco, Spring Air is alive and well. Several folks in the Classic pattern forum are using them.

http://www.retracts.com/

Give them a call; I bet they can supply the O-rings.

David

For a couple O-rings plus postage would probably be in the neighborhood of $10 and since I have already have the Robart control valve I think I will just go ahead and use it. Thanks anyway for the info just in case I may need something else. Just not cost effective to order two tiny O-rings. It is nice to know they are still around.

If anyone is interested, I finally got the retracts installed. For the nose-steering there was room for a 10 oz. tank. The only problem is the steering cables. In the fuse I mounted the air tank just behind the #3 header. The rudder and elevator servos are side by side just ahead of #3 header and the wing bolts. The throttle servo is mounted just ahead and on the side for a straight connection to the engine throttle arm. The manufold for the retracts and miniture servo is then mounted on a plate on the opposite side. this leaves room for the 2.4 gig received and battery. The aleron servos are wing mouonted so there is no center servo in the wing, just connecting wires and air tubes. Air fill valve mounted just under the manufold and servo. I haven't checked ballance yet, but should be ok. Its all a tight fit, but works.

got pictures?????

Sorry donnyman, my computer skills are so antiquated they prevent me from posting any type of photographic images. Not only that but my age parallels my computer ability. With such a handicap, I have never purchased a computerized camera however, I do have thousands tied up in 35mm but no way to transfer such for electronic transmission. For further interest, the retracts turned out to be Rhoms which leaked air and are now being replaced with new Spring Air. I understand they are the same size so no redrilling or fitting. Once completed and with weather improvement, we'll launch her!

Believe me I know about the antiquated end of life been at it since 41, but I did purchase a very nice digital camera and I love it.

My 35mm hasn't been used in years. I had two 60 size kaos in build one with retracts one without to test flight differences, but before I could complete them and offer I could not refuse came my way. I plan to build more as I do not build the kits they are used as templates because my son and I really enjoy the kaos and want to keep one in the hanger at all times.

I have pictures but can't find them ( as usual)

let's stay in touch.........................................DONN Y

Donny, don't know where Manor is or how far it is from Okeyland. Grew up in the Panhandle, went to school at a little collage on the Brazos at College Station before they allowed girls in so have some idea about Texas. Used to call it God's country. Built and flew 40 Chaos from Bluejay until let a guy crash it for me and now built this 60 size. Anxious to get it airborn. Two sons big in pattern before wives made them give it up to raise 7 of my 11 grand kids. Now I'm thinking about senior pattern, that is if shakes slow down and eye sight improves. Other wise will just make smooth passes. The Bluejay kit is easy and not that expensive. It does not call for retracts, but a pattern with legs showing is kinda like harry legs on women. I've got a Cuare on its way for a second. These planes take me back to my youth. Stay in touch.

Matadco

Manor is about six miles east of Austin on hwy 290E used to be small but that's changing real fast.

I am with you about the retracts on pattern birds. they fly better with the gear up. (my opinion) that's why I was building two 60 kaos.

pattern flying was a interest of mine but I didn't have the thumbs or discipline for it. my club dropped pattern contest due to the number of people it took to run it. then not many made good judges.

I had a fiberglass curare kit, but sold it(dumb) but I got my hands on the plans so when I want I can scratch one up, been doing that a lot lately, I love scratch building.

enjoy your kit..DONNY

oh! don't let that ugly guy scare ya it's just me and my 40 kaos (before I smacked it)

Matadco, where did you get the Curare from?? My all time favorite airplane. I had an original MK (rip) and then a fiberglass one, but it just wasn't the same as the MK.

Sorry for the late response on this one. I've built two .60 sized Tower Hobbies kaos with retracts. The easiest way to handle the tank situation is to install the tank on the CG. You need to move the radio gear around a little bit it ends up being a very simple way to go. I've powered mine with a Magnum .60 and it has plenty of draw with muffler pressure to move the plane through any manuevers that I'm interested in doing. Simple, easy access to the tank, simple way to make all the different systems work.

Rick

FV

seems you have it figured out. if you can, Please post a picture of the nose steering set up so we can have a clear idea of how you did it.

Placing the fuel tank on the C.G. is the preferred method to prevent c.g. changing with fuel consumption.

when I complete my current build I hope to get back into the fun side of modeling and put my kaos back into the air.

DONNY

Get yourself a YS 61. It is pumped. Then put the tank aft as mentioned above. Retract the gear into the original tank compartment.

I would love to use a YS anything but they want real money for um. but the pump I can handle. Hadn't thought of that THANKS

DONNY

One just sold last night, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=180351009465 . They pop up fairly often. I have bought three NIB YS 61s in the last couple of years. Good engines.

http://cgi.ebay.com/YS-60-FS-2-strok...3A1%7C294%3A50

thanks for the info AIRBUSDRVR

was wondering do you have retracts in your kaos?

Here is a pic. of a 40 size I was modifying just for grins got it on hold until I finish another project.

No retracts in my Kaos. I did tri-gear retracts in another plane. Put the fuel tank aft of the designed location. After two engines that didn't run right with the fuel tank moved aft 8 to 10 inches, I put in a YS 61 and problem solved.

72 YOU ASK WHERE I GOT MY CURARE FROM AND IT APPEARS I NEVER ANSWERED. I GOT IT FROM EUREKA MODELS DOWN IN ARKANSAS. TODATE IT HAS BEEN A SLOW BUILD. FIRST IN GETTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER LIKE ENGINE, NEW RADIO, RETRACTS AND OF COURSE BALSA. THEH PLANS ARE IN GERMAN AND OF COURSE I DON'T READ GERMAN AND ALSO IN METERS WHICH IS DIFFICCULT FOR AN OLD GUY TO TRANSLATE INTO INCHES. NEVER THE LESS AM MOVING SLOWLY.

The original MK kit was in millimeters too and I just went with the plans to match most of the sizes. Sure miss that airplane- hit a large tree in cruise. All that was left was engine and radio.

72, sounds like it is time to order an new Curare. By the way, the dihedral is 75 mm not 7.5 mm as I first thought. 75mm is 3 inches while 7.5 is 3/8". vast difference.