wd40

My Feedback: (81)

She is ready now, and it"s time to go test fly it.

wd40

My Feedback: (81)

My reaction is a jet now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Okay, I'll bite Details, details, details!

Quick history for those who might be interested... Even though Tschuy's R54 was the first customer-built model to fly, it was wd40 at the sticks for the maiden flight. WD40 had a kit at that time, but had promised to sell to another guy. After flying Tim's model, he really wanted to keep the kit, but he kept his promise and sold the kit. WD40 had to wait quite a while for another kit because I was in the process of cutting the second batch. Finally, wd40 has a Reaction 54 of his own!

Bruce

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

I got to fly a Reaction !! I got to fly a Reaction !! .

...actually, a lot of people did...Dean W was passing his transmitter around....What a sweetheart!!
Everyone remarked on how well it flew. It handled like an Ugly Stick at half throttle, but with lots of jam left for vertical manoevers..I was able to get a hammerhead out of it - even with the smallish rudder!! (I know, I know...I read the instruction manual )

My Dad has one on the building table right now.......(not mine, unfortunately....... my flying buddy's..)

Helijet

[] I just shut her down from one of the more than a dozen flights over the weekend and Bart is heartbroken that the tranny was taken away[sm=crying.gif] ....that's why the glum look. Bart...yours will be ready soon! Hey....Whidby will be in a couple of weeks. You can have the sticks again

See ya'll at Whidby!

Dean Wichmann
www.helijet.ca

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

Hey Guys,

Look what just arrived at my place. A new Wren Supersport, just in time to go into my second almost finished Reaction 54.

Regards

BalsaBob

My Feedback: (24)

Just put the leading edge sheeting on the top of the wings. I used Bruce's suggested method/idea (in the manual) of using weighted bean bags to hold the sheeting in place while it dries. Wow ! ..... what a great idea. I wish I knew about this method about 20 years ago .... and 10 planes ago. (couldn't find lead-shot easily so I substituted aquarium gravel instead). Bob

hoppy99

My Feedback: (2)

Tommy,
How's your second Reaction coming along ? Mines built but not completely covered. Kind of rethinking the iron on stuff. Just wondering if you glassed yours yet. Any pictures ?

John

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

G'Day John,

Mine is almost finished. It is all glassed and primed. I used .6 oz glass cloth I got from CST. It is much softer than the 3/4 oz stuff. I used Zpoxy finishing resin. I use the "Dan Parsons" method. That is brush on the cloth with thinned (with rubbing alcohol) 50%.
then after trimming the edges brush on another coat of thin epoxy. Then get out the 80 grit paper and sand for a long time!!.

I then used Epoxy Primer. It is the same as the old K&B primer. I get it from the local Fibreglass store.

The idea is to get almost all the primer off. You should be able to see the wood grain through the white. I will then use two pack "Clear over Base" Auto paint.

I have used this method before and it does not add too much weight. I expect the new R54 to be no more than 1/2 pound heavier than with the monokote.

I went to a bit of trouble and made fillets where the wing joins the fuse and also the tail.

I moved the UAT to the front (in the ECU shelf). My ECU is in the boattail.
I also have a Kevlar fuel tank.

My first R54 is going beautifully. I am taking it to a Jet Fly next weekend. This will be my first jet fly as a pilot. I can't wait to show off the R54.

Let us know how your comes out.


Regards

hoppy99

My Feedback: (2)

Tommy,
Well.............. how did your first jet fly go? Thinking of stripping the covering off and glassing mine after seeing yours. Good job ! I might just get a new turbine with a little more thrust like you did. I really like my Wren, but the SS is kind of expensive here with the value of the USD. Looking at the Simjet 1200 Same thrust but $500 less. I hope it runs as good and trouble free as the Wren. Not a single problem in over a year with the MW-54 II.

John

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

G'Day John,

The Jet Fly is next weekend. I will try to send some pictures on Saturday night from the motel.

The reason I got the Supersport is because of the very quick spoolup time. it is really amazing. My Mk3 has enough power to do all the stuff I can handle. Will the Simjet 1200 fit between the wing and the fuse?.


Ther is a lot more work involved with the glass and paint finish. In the air you can't tell the difference. It was just that I wanted it to look better on the ground. Also the paint finish is a little more durable. Mine first one has some Hangar Rash now. The big advantage of jets is that they don't get covered in oil like a glow model. Easy to keep clean.

Have you already glued the tail on?. I glassed all of my parts before assembly so I could do all the sanding before I glued the tail on.

I also sanded the edges of the fuse to give a more rounded shape. I rounded the edges till I could see some of the triangle corner pieces. I feel I needed the glass cloth to give it more strength on the edges. Looka a lot better to me.

hoppy99

My Feedback: (2)

Tommy,

The Simjet 1200 uses the Wren 54 turbine wheels so it is close to the same size. The wheels are on back order from Wren so it will be a while before Sj has any built I've been told. I mostly build scale warbirds so for the last 10 + years I have not used iron on stuff, just glass & paint. I also like Z-poxy resin. I only apply one coat and then use primer mixed with mirco- baloons, brushed on, to fill the weave, helps keep it light and still plenty tough and sands easy. The tail section is not glued on or hinged yet so I still can glass. I thought the Monokote would be a lot lighter. Even a pound wouldn't be so bad.

Thanks
John

BalsaBob

My Feedback: (24)

I am considering utilizing a landing gear setup with struts and brakes (air) on the mains. Wondering (from those that have already done this), which setup (retract units, struts, brakes) have worked well. I have some miscellaneous Robart stuff lying around ...... maybe some of it will fit the Reaction. Thanks. Bob

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

G'day Bob,

I use the wire struts and "Unibrakes". I made my own wheels to fit the Unibrake. Tim Schuy has some on his and he got the 1/2 Alluminium wheel to fit robart wheels and tyres. The brakes we use are the Phase 4. They are thin and have two grub screws that go through the brake under the "O" ring and lock the brake to the wire. Keeps the whole thing the same width as a normal wheel without brakes. They seem to work Ok for me and Tim. I couldnt see the need for struts (or brakes for that matter!!!). This thing lands so slowly you hardly ever get a bounce. I nearly always fly from grass and I never use the brakes. I am going to a jet fly next weekend and it will be on a hard runway. We will see then how good the brakes work!!!.



Regards

rcguy!

My Feedback: (69)

Check out post #530. Trim wheels and brakes on my R54. Work perfect. Kit stock struts and retracts.

Dave "got 75 flights on mine" Rigotti

Mach1

My Feedback: (5)

F-54

Here's a few pics of my ready to cover R54. (newly designated F54)
Will use P60 for power.

Warren G. Hunter

Helijet

WoW...........sweet!!!!!!!!

Dean W.
www.helijet.ca

causeitflies

Ahh, you and I think alike. Do I detect a little sweep in those wings?

Topgun2mo

My Feedback: (45)

Personalized!!!! That's what I like to see.

bobparks2

My Feedback: (1)

I would be a bit concerned about overheating in the engine compartment. The scoops do not have a lot of area, the duct shape is not great and the extended sides and the wing block flow from coming in from the bottom and sides. I would expect it to get a lot warmer than a stock R54. It might be OK, but some caution is in order.

Bob Parks

afterburner

My Feedback: (18)

[sm=confused.gif]

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

Look at the tiny scoops on a Firebird !! .
I've seen a jet fly with no scoops at all, the turbine found air to burn, and it flew just fine....

Personally, I think you did a masterful job of modifying the kit, and you workmanship looks fabulous..

bobparks2

My Feedback: (1)

Yes, the engine will get the air it needs to run, but if you bothered to read what I wrote, I said "overheating in the engine compartment". The area above the enigne is going to get warmer than in the stock R54. Maybe not much, and no big deal, but maybe quite a bit warmer.

Bob

maxvertical

I had planned on enclosing my turbine a little more than factory too. What you did is absolutely awesome and makes a HUGE difference in the looks of the airplane. I bet you get another 3-5 mph from that one! I may have missed it in your post, but do you plan to glass?
Sure looks good! Hope mine will turn out that good.

CR

bobparks2

My Feedback: (1)

Actually, I doubt it. More base area with no flow to fill it, and that adds drag. Thrust at higher flight speeds will go down a bit too.

Anyway, it LOOKS faster, so that counts!

bob