Laser Design Services Crusader 2 build
 

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope Santa was nice to you.

I got realflight 7.5 what a hoot, to fly it like I stole it! Last year I got a Laser Design Services Crusader 2 short kit and I am going to attempt a build thread while putting it together. I am hoping for help on this project as to me the instructions are not what I am used to(no pictures:rolleyes:)

Ok I opened it up and had a look at the wood, all looks good with the exception of the firewall which seems to have moved while being cut. Not a biggie as I think I can just flip one piece over when I glue them together, or cut a new one.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2057946http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2057947http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2057948

Next I ironed the plans, I should have done this last year when I got the kit, but it turned out well.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2057949http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2057950http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2057951

That looks like a fun build! I'll be following along as I have two LDS kits in progress right now. You do have to really think through what they want you to achieve, because the plans don't really give you the full picture. The instructions for this one do look pretty good though.

I just received my Crusader II short kit yesterday but I have a couple other projects ahead of it. I did as much research on it as I could and I think I found only one blog about the build and it doesn't seem to run well on my Chrome browser. But if you want the link I will give it. I have a Novarossi .50 I wanted to put in mine but looking at the plans it is a bit smaller than I thought. It calls for a .40 and I think a small .40 at that. I might have o get a Jett .36 or something else to make it fit. I would hate to try to shoehorn the .50 in. What engine are you planning to use?
And Merry Christmas too.

Hi Jeff, Wingnut. Which kits did you order Jeff? I am not sure what I am going to put into it for a motor yet Wingnut, maybe a OS46, not sure yet. not even sure about the retracts, I may figure out a way to make it a belly lander. Merry Christmas


Calvi

Hi Calvinman,

I'll be watching your thread with interest and wish you well. I started building a Crusader some years ago but it's currently 'resting' until it reaches the front of my build que again.

If you google 'rcm crusader' and click images you'll find the original RCM article complete with photos which are very useful for the build.

They are from pulling-gz.blogspot.co.nz There's also a thread on 'groups' (vintage section, RCM plans for free or similar) the article is in there.

This link http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-j...eview-pix.html was replied to by both Steven Elzey (the designer) and his wife? I don't know if they are still active on the forum, but they may respond to questions.

I love the design, and I understand it flies very well, I was planning a couple of small changes though;

I made the fin and subfin built up with a balsa frame and 1/16 skins, the frame includes a spar that slides into the subfin when assembled to lock them together. Lighter and stronger I hope.

I extended the subfin aft a small amount to match the fin and rudder above.

I am going to use a magic muffler which is shorter than the tuned pipe, which means the pipe tunnel can be shorter. The last two mods might help yaw stability slightly.

The shorter pipe would allow me to shift the nose gear aft and have it retract forward. I may or may not do that, it would look cool though.

I kept the fuselage full height forward to the bulkhead that supports the canard and the nose gear, then sloped it down to the existing nose from there. I think this gives the model more of a 'fighter' look (F 16 or A 10 maybe) rather than the sort of bomber look it has as drawn (it reminds me of the XB 70 a bit).

I've got an outline drawing of the model (plan view and top view) somewhere, I'll post them here when I find them. They might be useful to print out and use to plan colour schemes.

Best of luck with your build,

Dave H

Hi Dave, nice to hear from you, I can use all the help I can get with this project. The pictures that go along with the article are just what I needed. Looking forward to seeing your drawings if you find them.

Calvi

No pressure then? I'll try and find them tomorrow for you.

You should get plenty of help here, not that you'll need it, there's nothing too tricky in the model. If you spend a bit of time studying the plans and photos it will make sense to you.

Cheers,

Dave H

Hi Calvin,

The two LDS kits I'm working on now are the Heinkel HE-162, an EDF jet, and the Strato Streak, which is an antique free flight plane that I'm converting to RC.

I really like the looks of the Crusader, very unique, and probably a fun flyer too!

Jeff

Hi Calvi,

Hopefully those sketches I promised you are here.

I forgot that I had also considered adding tip sails/fins to my model. Mainly as a cosmetic mod but I was also concerned that the nose mod I was considering might affect the directional stability of the model (canards often suffer from low yaw stability due to the short fin moment, hence the large twin fins of the Crusader). The shorter pipe tunnel (not shown), the slightly bigger sub fin, and the tip fins would hopefully balance out the larger/higher canopy. They would be a bit vulnerable though.

Anyway here are the sketches for what they are worth.

Dave H

Thanks Dave, the tip fins sure do look sharp. I can't wait to start gluing some wood together.

Another RCM plan I would like to try is the javelin which is another delta canard, but alas it seems plans are no longer available from RCM. I have a picture of it on my computer at home I will post it later.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2058876 not a very big picture, but all I have:( http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2058882

We can't wait to watch you gluing either:o

Do you have the required Goldberg tail dragger retracts? Or will you fit something else? The wing is quite thin and the wheel ends up well forward of the unit.

Dave H

Hi Dave, not sure what to say about doing the retracts, I may just make it a hand launcher for version one, if I really like the way it flies version 2 will have to have some retracts. Not sure if I use a three blade pusher If that will give me enough ground clearance to be able to belly land or not.

Calvi

I guess hand launching would be doable?

The model strikes me as being a bit on the too fast/heavy side of the hand launch spectrum, and I'd be a bit worried about the spinny, bity thing at the back hitting my hand. I'd also worry about knocking off the subfins on landing. Maybe you could leave them off and strengthen the pipe tunnel to take the landing loads?

I wonder if fixed wire gear would be a better option if you don't mind bending your own? I know it won't look that great in the air, but might be more practical and reasonably easy.

You could mount fixed wire gear in the same spot as the retracts would be, maybe even put the retract mounts in, then fit the fixed gear to the retract mount. This would allow you to fit the retracts at a later date.

A bent aluminium gear mounted under the fuselage above the pipe tunnel with a wire nose gear would look OK too.

If you decide to go the retract route at some stage I'm sure it would be possible to make modern retract gear work by mounting it as far forward in the wing as possible and bending a new wire leg with some forward rake in it.

I see that Goldberg gear turns up on the auction sites every now and then, and is quite cheap, you might pick up a set if you are lucky. The model is designed using the nose gear and the twin gear (tail wheel aircraft) units, but I suspect the trike gear could be used by converting the mains to twin gear configuration. The gear legs used to be available seperately if you can find them, or perhaps you could bend your own.

Either way I'm sure you'll come up with a workable solution.

All the best for the New Year,

Dave H

I like your idea of making the mounts for retracts or wire that way if the aircrafts belly is too soft for the hand launching I will still have options. I agree about the finger eater being at the back of the plane being in a bad place, I was thinking of trying to launch it like I have seen in videos by holding it by the wing and swinging it, but with my lack of coordination that may end up in spectators being hurt LOL

I like your idea of making the mounts for retracts or wire that way if the aircrafts belly is too soft for the hand launching I will still have options. I agree about the finger eater being at the back of the plane being in a bad place, I was thinking of trying to launch it like I have seen in videos by holding it by the wing and swinging it, but with my lack of coordination that may end up in spectators being hurt LOL

You could always build a bungee launcher. That'll keep the prop away from vital body parts, and get the plane up to flying speed rather quickly. There are lots of versions available to build, just do a bit of online searching and you'll find something suitable.

Calvinman you wouldn't happen to have made an inventory list for the balsa sticks and sheets needed to complete this would you have?

Hi Wingnut, I have not done much on the build yet. I wanted to finish up a build I was working on first. I usually buy from my LHS as I need it so I will not know what is needed until I am done. I will be starting the build soon I hope.

Calvi.

Thats ok Calvin I am a couple projects behind myself.

Ok, I found the construction article in English along with plans for the Javelin I would like to eventually build. I actually would have liked to build the Javelin first but I have the short kit and I can start cutting parts for the Javelin when I need a break from the Crusader.

Ok, I am getting a start on the crusader, rib #2 is puzzling and does not seem to match the plans exactly so I going more by the photo in the article.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2074665 R2 grooved out to accept control cable for rudders.

I am now thinking of making some current retracts work on the crusader. Does anyone have any ideas on this, can it be done. I may take the plans down to my LHS and see what may work.

Calvi

I have a set of newer mechanical retracts I will be using, would like to ry some electrics.

What size and brand Wingnut? The only electrics I have found so far are pricey.