Ricko1

Thanks for the info guys. Glad I opened my mouth before I started carving up the tank. Would have been a big mistake. The VT 80 sounds interesting - will look in to it.

Cheers,

Rick

Ricko1

Took your advice Grodus - the VT 80 looks really interesting. It has the right dimensions and weight to drop straight in the Xcalibur and has the benefit of the extra power. Will do some more research.
cheers,
Rick

Beachy1968

Ive fallen a little behind with the build postings, so here are a few quick shots. I've given the trays a coat of primer, though I've since changed my mind regarding how I'm going to mount the retract/brake valve so I've got a small change to make. The air lines are in and gear/brakes are now working. Finally, the installation of the air tanks up front has a knock on effect with the gear valve servo in that there is no room below the tray to mount it in the usual way in the tray. In addition, the fact that I have raised the trays (for reasons explained in my first post) reduces the available height between the fuselage and the tray at the front end so lying the servo down on its side on the tray is also not workable. I've therefore installed the servo on the bulkhead in front of the tray. The valve will be on the tray in such a position as to make it easy to disconnect the pushrod between the two if I ever need to take the tray or servo out.

lawndartz

Thats looking really good Beachy, nice work. I like the tanks up front. I would assume those are the stock landing gear that can be purchased with the kit right ?

Beachy1968

Yes, standard Ripmax gear. Lovely quality.

Beachy1968

Managed a few more hours on the Xcalibur today. The tank retainer is now fitted. This consists of a couple of ply wood blocks secured each side with Hysol. The retainer slots into one block and is then fastened to the other with a couple of screws. Next I made up the servo extensions and fitted them into the fuselage. The trays have had a coat of white paint and laquer so I can start installing the components on them next.

lawndartz

Beachy, that is looking kick *****, great work! Hope to start mine VERY soon, like tomorrow night

Beachy1968

The equipment trays are now finished and ready to install. I have to start off by saying I'm personally not a fan of fully painted interiors and swathes of unnecessary bling in jet installations; my aeronautical engineering background means I just can't get my head around all that extra weight. Having said that I do like to paint the equipment trays. I have also just bought a vinyl plotter/cutter which can be used to cut paint masks and so I currently just can't resist the temptation of whipping the airbrush out on every build! It's just too much fun, so the dog had better not stand still for too long or she may end up with a tattoo!

Anyway, I used Adobe Illustrator to make up a quick Xcalibur logo and cut one with just the X and another with the outline for the whole word. The red X was used first followed by the rest in blue. It fills a gap anyway. A coat of gloss lacquer and job done. As I explained before, the idea is that the small tray containing the pump and ECU can be installed/removed quickly to enable me to swap the turbine between this and another model in just a few minutes.

Tomorrow, back to proper jet building....

Beachy1968

Lawndartz, have you started putting yours together yet?

Nev01

Hi All,

I have also got a Xcalibur to put together . This is my first venture with a turbine powered model so I have been watching with great interest all the build blogs, I find a photo to be worth a thousand words so please keep them coming. It has taken me a while to get all the gear together and I still have a little more to get but hopefully I shall be able to make a start putting it all together very shortly.

I shall be powering mine with a Wren 80 Jubilee which has a small built in fuel filter, but can someone tell me if it would be ok/advisable to put an additional large filter after the fuel pump.

Nev.

Dave Wilshere

Nev

You only really want a filter after the pump. I know some manufacturers talk about filters before, but they suffer lots of flame outs!
I don't like the Festo clear/blue filters, seen a lot leak. I fit the JetCat type to all makes

Trust everything arrived safely

Dave

bluescoobydoo

I have a boomerang with a wren 54 with over 50 hours on it and I have no filters apart from the built in one and a felt clunk with no problems as yet, filters can trap air bubbles if you are not careful and develop leaks over time which can give you a flame out just when you are not expecting it
keep it as simple as you can and make sure your fuel is clean before putting it in your jet then you don't need them

lawndartz

Nope it's not here yet Been watching you build yours, thinking about putting my air tanks there as well. Where are you putting your UAT if your tanks are whee they are ?

Dave Wilshere

Never run without a filter. Lots do, but it can go expensively wrong! Manufacturers would leave them out if they were not needed! I've ordered another 50 JetCat filters today, so most people fit them! BTW Felt clunks and UAT's are not filters, they all shed fibre in one way...

Nev01

Hi Dave,

Yes, everything arrived safely thanks.

With regards to the fuel filter, as I already have a built in filter would it do any harm to put an additional large filter after the pump or would this offer to much restriction to the pump?

Nev.

Dave Wilshere

Nev

If Wren say not needed, then I wouldn't. They know their product. I'm surprised they don't want a filter between the pump and valves as the crud from the pump can jam the valves. JetCat have a last chance filter under the cover, but still have a fuel filter inline-even the Rxi has a full size filter buried under the purple cover!

Speak with Wren and see what their view is

Dave

Beachy1968

Lawndartz,

this is where my UAT will go.

Jamie C

Now that is a tidy installation.

Beachy1968

LOL. Still got a few tubes and cables to fit yet so we'll see whether it looks so tidy when it's finished! Nonetheless, coming from someone of your standing in the UK jet scene (assuming I've got the right Jamie C!) I will take that as a compliment. Thank you.

lawndartz

That looks so nice! Just confirmed mine will be here tonight YAY !! id really like to make mine like that, care if i copy ? Of course mine will be blue instead of white tho

Beachy1968

Of course, be my guest and copy away! I would just say bear in mind that my particular needs (to be able to swap the turbine and to fit a smoke system) makes my installation quite a bit more complicated than many builds on here. If I did not have these requirements I would have kept it simple and done it similar to Dave Wilshere's build which is shown earlier in the thread. IMHO, simple is good if you want a reliable jet!

Jamie C

Credit where it is due, its clear you have put a lot of effort into the installation. I saw the Flickr link on Facebook, the painted 'Xcalibur' decal has come out very well. My Dad has one of these sat in the box with all the gear ready to be assembled, it was a retirement present for himself. When I saw this scheme it gave me the urge to buy one myself, the scheme is far better than the other two. You are only a bit further down the M5 than me so will probably catch up with you sometime at Westonzoyland, Blackdown or Merryfield.

lawndartz

It arrived !! Yay !

[attach=config]2014569[/attach]

Beachy1968

Glad it has finally arrived, Lawndartz. Us modellers are all the same; first thing you have to do is get it out of the box and lay all the big bits together to see what it will look like!!

Beachy1968

Hi Jamie
Interesting you saw the Facebook link to Flickr; was that somehow via the JMA Facebook page or did you just find me? I did the Flickr thing mainly for a couple of club mates who like to see how things are progressing. I agree that this scheme makes all the difference to the way the model looks. I have always really liked the wing shape but the cockpit/nose area always looked a bit odd to me. I can't work out why I find this scheme better, but it may be as simple as the cockpit frame that they have painted across the front which breaks up the 'glass' area a bit. It would be nice to bump into you again, I fly at Smeatharpe and WZ. We did meet once at Merryfield where I came as a guest a couple of times, but as you well know that's a sore point there these days and despite my best efforts I've been unsuccessful in becoming a member of the relevant club to fly there. I must get my finger out and post that JMA membership form then I can attend some of the meets at various places.
Interesting to hear you Dad bought one as a retirement present to himself; I believe a few people have done the same. Mine was more like an 'unemployment present' to myself for finally having the courage to leave the teaching profession and was meant to keep me busy whilst I search for a new job! The trouble is, they go together so well and are so quick to build that I'm nearly finished and I've still got a week at work left!! Oh, well I suppose I'll have plenty of time to fly it.....