Reaction 54 Jet Kit
12-03-2019, 11:26 AM
#4477
My Feedback: (48)
Carlos,
Good idea using o-rings on the wing hold-down screws.
FWIW, I've used large nylon or aluminum screws to hold wings on a number of planes in the past. Too often the screw driver would slip out of the screw slot and ding the wing while tightening. For that reason I went with hex head aluminum bolts on my R54. I use a small ratchet with socket to install and remove them. It's much easier on the Monokote.
Joe
Good idea using o-rings on the wing hold-down screws.
FWIW, I've used large nylon or aluminum screws to hold wings on a number of planes in the past. Too often the screw driver would slip out of the screw slot and ding the wing while tightening. For that reason I went with hex head aluminum bolts on my R54. I use a small ratchet with socket to install and remove them. It's much easier on the Monokote.
Joe
12-03-2019, 09:58 PM
#4480
Here is a pic with a Futaba servo, I tend to use Hitec servos as much as possible, in this particular use I had to install a Futaba servo because it rotates the opposite direction when compared with the Hitec servos, since I run out of channels I had to Y the steering to the rudder, after installing a Hitec servo for steering I noticed that when the rudder was moved to the right the nose wheel moved to the opposite direction, ok I said, I got me an MPI servo reverser extention, well, the servo didn't like it and it was moving erratically when at idle then I read on an RCU thread to swap it with a Futaba servo, I got this servo from my LHS for $1, I told the guy that sold it to me what it was for and he said flat out, is not going to work, I said, really? and there it is, working perfectly.
Last edited by CARS II; 12-03-2019 at 10:09 PM.
12-04-2019, 12:12 AM
#4481
Done with all the checks, fuel, controls, electrical, engine and components and the most important, CG, I removed about 3 oz of lead from the nose, it still has 6 or 9 oz of lead in the nose cone, the CG came out at the very aft limits per the plan so, since we know that the model airplane designers are very conservative on the CG point to help the builders not to screw up during the maiden flights then I'm ok where is at, it should rotate easy on TO and hopefully it will be easy to fly when inverted and also looking for axial rolls here.
I've also done some mods to the exhaust deflector, it was a bit heavy, added some gray primer and most likely I will be painting the tube with the heat resistance black paint that I got for the Turbinator's exhaust deflector plate, notice the front of the tube, I added a sliced rubber tube from the hardware store to stop the front of the exhaust deflector tube from touching the back of the turbine, the exhaust deflector tube is a must have with this airplane, specially if your turbine is Kero start ( most of them are now days )
The Reaction is ready to fly but, there is still a bunch of things that I will be adding to it, these are mainly cosmetic.
Last edited by CARS II; 12-04-2019 at 10:53 PM.
12-04-2019, 02:45 PM
#4484
Just run the engine, very clean start, crispy throttle response with the throttle curve set to linear, I don't like the factory set of half expo, too slow for go arounds, with a linear curve the max rpms are there in an instant when needed.
Last edited by CARS II; 12-04-2019 at 03:57 PM.
01-09-2020, 02:33 PM
#4487
Some Reaction action happening right now 
the Reaction is an airplane in my fleet that I haven't flown after my eyes sergury, it sure will be enjoyable to take it to the skies once again, this time it will be more relaxing for sure.
Giving her some personality before it's back in the air, I also will be adding some of the stickers I have and some that I will get from Callie graphics.
I saw Jeramy doing the same thing to his reaction and I wanted to do the same, I felt it was incomplete.
ps: the cub stickers remains me that the yellow it is covered with is Cub Yellow and the how easy this airplane is to build and fly.
the Reaction is an airplane in my fleet that I haven't flown after my eyes sergury, it sure will be enjoyable to take it to the skies once again, this time it will be more relaxing for sure.Giving her some personality before it's back in the air, I also will be adding some of the stickers I have and some that I will get from Callie graphics.
I saw Jeramy doing the same thing to his reaction and I wanted to do the same, I felt it was incomplete.
ps: the cub stickers remains me that the yellow it is covered with is Cub Yellow and the how easy this airplane is to build and fly.
Last edited by CARS II; 01-09-2020 at 03:07 PM.
01-09-2020, 02:49 PM
#4488
I flew my Boomerang a week ago, I had not flown this jet after my procedure, I also removed the 27 lbs TJT engine ( the engine is fine) and retrofitted it with a Kingtech 140, 4 extra pounds of thrust, the difference is noticeable, again, seen it very cripy on final and now with an engine that has almost instant thrust is so delightful.
Last edited by CARS II; 01-09-2020 at 02:52 PM.
01-23-2020, 01:41 PM
#4492
Flying my R-54 as we speak ( type ) flight #1 done then some minor adjustments to the steering and ailerons, ailerons low rate was reduced about 10% and 25% expo, high rate is fine with 35% expo, CG is at max aft position, checked on the second flight, the jet holds inverted with almost no down elevator input, rotation on landings is effortless, so far both landings were on the mains, the full flap settings was reduce from about 80° to 60° down, much more manageable approach, on the second landing because it landed so slow breaking was not needed, TOs are more realistic with the first notch of flaps down, with this flaps setting TO rotation is smooth not a jump off the runway, with first flaps down TO rotation can be done at a shorter distance and with a smooth rotation.
The two members that were here left so, no one but me, myself and I, light winds, very high overcast, the temps are ok, warmer tomorrow, more flying to be done here.
The Kingtech 80v1 is performing flawlessly, lots of power at max rpms and throttle response is awesomely fast, the jet now has 3 fuel tanks, 90 oz of fuel total, the timer set to 7 min, fuel remaining in the main tank after 7 min, 30 oz, 1/2 tank, average throttle position during flight is from 1/2 to 2/3.
I hope all this info can help the future R-54 builder/flyers.
Later.
The two members that were here left so, no one but me, myself and I, light winds, very high overcast, the temps are ok, warmer tomorrow, more flying to be done here.
The Kingtech 80v1 is performing flawlessly, lots of power at max rpms and throttle response is awesomely fast, the jet now has 3 fuel tanks, 90 oz of fuel total, the timer set to 7 min, fuel remaining in the main tank after 7 min, 30 oz, 1/2 tank, average throttle position during flight is from 1/2 to 2/3.
I hope all this info can help the future R-54 builder/flyers.
Later.
Last edited by CARS II; 01-23-2020 at 05:49 PM.
01-23-2020, 04:15 PM
#4493
This jet it's amazing how slow it can be flown and the landings, I got 4 flights in all today, I had to thame it a bit on the ailerons, the control throws are the recomended ones but as it should be one has to adjust them to each ones flying style, recomended max throws are there for the wild maneuvers.
After checking the fuel reserves again, it can be flown 7 min with 30 oz of fuel reserves or the flight time can be increased to 8 min.
Again, the CG was rechecked by flying inverted, it is perfect at the max recomended position, I wouldn't recommend moving it passed that point, stalls are forward and none event, so none event that I got it to stall then recovered then without adding power made it stall again.
TOs are more natural with the first notch of flaps down, Im still debating if I should keep the full flaps where they are or back where they were, it now has more residual thrust with the bigger engine and the previous full flap position maybe required, one thing is for sure, it is nice to have all that extra thrust generated by the K80v1.
Tomorrow I go back but with a different bird
After checking the fuel reserves again, it can be flown 7 min with 30 oz of fuel reserves or the flight time can be increased to 8 min.
Again, the CG was rechecked by flying inverted, it is perfect at the max recomended position, I wouldn't recommend moving it passed that point, stalls are forward and none event, so none event that I got it to stall then recovered then without adding power made it stall again.
TOs are more natural with the first notch of flaps down, Im still debating if I should keep the full flaps where they are or back where they were, it now has more residual thrust with the bigger engine and the previous full flap position maybe required, one thing is for sure, it is nice to have all that extra thrust generated by the K80v1.
Tomorrow I go back but with a different bird
Last edited by CARS II; 01-23-2020 at 04:20 PM.
02-05-2020, 12:05 PM
#4496
I'm a bit surprised at the moment, I was reading and having a look at some of the pictures that I've posted here, when I got to the end of the page, to my big surprise I noticed there were 24 non-members viewing this thread, to me, that shows that the interest for R-54 still there.
02-06-2020, 07:56 AM
#4499
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Zebulon,
NC
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I'm a bit surprised at the moment, I was reading and having a look at some of the pictures that I've posted here, when I got to the end of the page, to my big surprise I noticed there were 24 non-members viewing this thread, to me, that shows that the interest for R-54 still there.
Its a shame the kits have been out of stock so long. I've about given up on getting one.
