cjshaker

MaxVertical got his R54 tested yesterday, at our Bend Aero Modeler field in Central Oregon.
It flew great, and sure looked nice. (Photos by Kim Waterhouse).

Chris Shaker

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

That is, without a doubt, the nicest looking R-54 yet!

Congrats on the maiden.

Dave

maxvertical

Thanks for all the positive feedback guys, while not it's first maiden flight, after doing paint it really did change the way if flies.. LOL it doesn't slow down like it did in grey primer.. With all the rounded corners, winglets it really shows off the pearl. It's not perfect, but I'm still very happy with how it came out.
Special thanks to Chris Shaker and Kim Waterhouse as just before that flight, the right flap servo failed. They made a run to town for two replacements so that flight could take place. Why the failure is still a mystery but I can tell you I'm very glad that it didn't happen in flight. Right flap went to full extension. Was a HS 5645, and I replaced both.
Glad you guys like it. Makes all that work even sweeter. Can't tell in these photo's but the bottom is done mainly in Cobalt Blue, with the White, Gold, Candy Red, Candy Orange accent's. No problem telling top from bottom.
Bird is ready for Whidbey and we leave Thursday morning, so let's hope for some great flying weather and good times.

Chris R

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

That is beautiful! Awesome job,Ill be at JOW, Ill get you some good pics of that bird

I have to get my R54 in the air some year too.

JV

PS. lucky on the servo, thats why I wont touch hitec servo's, not the first or last that has locked hard over.

maxvertical

Well John, you really have me thinking. Always felt the 5645's were pretty bullet proof. I have to admit I'm a little spooked now, so maybe a servo change is in order. Just don't like the price of 8611's.. LOL Guess you get what you pay for. Oh boy, and I'm a Futaba guy, I can already hear the ribbing I'd get with JR servo's. Too funny

CR

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

Im a JR fan, but Ill run some Futaba servo's too, I have a ton of 8611's, but just as many good futaba servo's

Look forward to seeing that bird!

Eddie P

My Feedback: (4)

I've had JR servos fail badly too! I have jets with JR and Hitec. You just have to go with what works for ya. And be vigilant when a servo starts acting up - even slightly. Change it out if you ever get to that point with no questions asked.

Again, great job on the paint. New paint is a new jet! (Assuming the insides are good )

maxvertical

Oh yeah, pictures of the inside are at post #1602 on page 65. All I can say is it was a labor of love.. LOL
Airplane is wrapped and packed in the trailer, so all ready for Thursday. Chris Shaker is bringing his Reaction so there should be at least two very nice R54's at JOW.

Chris R

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Ooooh, awkward pause... That's because I was very close to making the announcement, but first wanted to contact everybody on my notify-when-ready email list. That was done last night, so now I can answer Dan's question. Here's the announcement:

Reaction 54 kits will begin shipping September 4th (yes, this year). As you are probably aware, it's been out of stock for many months. If you really want the long-winded version of why it has been so long, feel free to call on my nickel and ask. You can order a kit at the same time!

I've cut a big batch of kits, more than the number of folks on my notification list, so there should be no problem getting one now or a
few weeks from now, or for Christmas. I know a lot of builders are thinking about their winter projects at this time, so maybe an R54 kit could fit into your plans. If you need more info about the kit, here is the link to my web page devoted to the Reaction 54 -

http://www.btemodels.com/r54.html

So you know, I will be heading to the Jets Over Whidbey event next Wednesday or Thursday, but feel free to call and place an order before then if you want one of the first kits packed. As always, your credit card will not be charged until your kit is ready to go out the door. If you're ready to go for it, or if you just have more questions, please call me toll-free at 1-800-557-4470.

If you have been following the super thread on RCU about the R54, you may know I have compiled an index (recently updated!) of the most interesting and useful posts from R54 builders. Do yourself a favor and check out some the fantastic examples of R54s that have been built all over the world. Go to the index, and click on any of the links under the category "Finished Models" -

http://www.btemodels.com/r54threadindex.html

Redline7000

My Feedback: (2)

Any chance on a Reaction 44 kit?

Pterosaur

I have one on order!

One of two winter builds planned.

While I've mod'ed nealy every plane I've ever built I will try to leave this one untouched. I love the pure clean design and plan on simple monokote trim. Want to do the original "54" with Platinum and yellow.

Thanks Bruce!

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

R54 gang,

I just had a nice conversation with Bruce to get one of the new kits.

Curious if one of the folks here who has done the "add intakes (and maybe cockpit on top of hatch)" mod would be willing to share sketches/drawings/advice. I love my existing stock R54 so much, I'd like to do another that's more "duded up" :-)

Dave

Eddie P

My Feedback: (4)

Hi Dave, here is my build thread for the R54 inlet add on, cockpit and pilot conversion, as well as many other little things like breaks, struts, fairings, etc.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=696489

All the best to you for your build!

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Thanks, Eddie, that looks great!

I see your avatar over there has "boat bum" ... what's the boat in the pic? On my current Reaction I am running a Wren 54 Super Sport. Over the weekend, I acquired another one .. a 1965 Chris Craft Super Sport .. they are both fun but in rather different ways! The Wren one is faster but the Chris Craft (Chevy 327) sounds better :-)

Dave

Eddie P

My Feedback: (4)

Ohhh, I have a Wren Supersport as well but I wish I could say the same thing about a Cris Craft Supersport!! My wife and I love the classic wooden boats, we live by a large population of "woodies" that are based at Lake Tahoe. Since we have young kids we have limited ourselves to gelcoat and wax finishes (boo hoo!) for our boat. Maybe some day I'll have some mahogany but I'll bet they will be out of my leauge by then like P-51's and P-40's became to regular Joe's in the 70's and 80's. The boat in my (other) avatar is a classic Reva at The Thunderbird Stonehouse in Tahoe. Not mine, but a cool shot!

Pitts S1S

My Feedback: (9)

Well I'm getting closer. After well over a year, I finnally got my Reaction out of the paint booth today. She's all buffed and ready for equipment installation. Hopefully that won't take another year.

cjshaker

She's gorgeous!
Chris

cjshaker

Finally got to land my Reaction 54 at Jets Over Whidby, on Sunday. Made my day.

What a nice flying airplane. Flies like a cub. Cut power to idle on downwind, and
glide to a landing. It pretty much landed itself. Helped to have Chris Rankin talking
me through it!

Thank you for the dual instruction, Bruce and Chris!

Chris Shaker

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Pitts, it really looks great! I have always liked those reverse swoops that you have on the wing and tail - elegant.

Congrats Chris on your landing! Glad the weather cooperated on Sunday.

BTW, the first kits from my latest batch of R54s went out the door on Friday. More to follow next week... We should be seeing a whole new crop of finished R54s later this year and next spring.

maxvertical

You're very welcome Chris.. Your airplane flies really nice and I can't wait to see you get to fly it more. I think the key word on landings with any of the R54's is patience.



Chris R.

Pterosaur

I'm waiting on the porch now...where is that danged mailman!?

jetrichie

A good colour scheme but the Reaction could never be gorgeous, it definatly got slapped a few times with the ugly stick.
Flys very well though when you have plenty of power, you fly it hide it in the van then take it out and fly it again

picard1

My Feedback: (2)

I recently purchased the reaction 54 and had the privilege of meeting Bruce in person. Turns out he lives just over an hour from our club field, which is also where the prototype reaction 54 had it's maiden flight! Montague, Ca I'm hoping I can talk him into test flying mine when it's finished since I don't have a waiver yet.

Since I am a newbie to the jet world, where can I find info on all the internal gear: fuel line, festo, UAT, Shut off valve, Fuel plumbing, Propane system, External taxi tank plumbing, etc?


Construction begins

First, let me say that I am not one of those builders that can complete this project in 3-4 days. More like 4-6 months so please bare with me.

I started by truing the balsa sheets for the LE and Te sheeting and then gluing and sanding them. I also glued all the spar assemblies and TE together. Spent the weekend assembling the left wing. The only mod was to the wheel well. I am using Robart struts and wanted to provide enough clearance.

seflyer

My Feedback: (12)

picard1, PM sent

Kevin

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

I have a bloke in my club who says my Reaction is "UGLY", and then he goes and buys a Boomerang. What could be more ugly than a damn Boomerang (any size).
The Reaction is the best looking Jet trainer ever designed. I even like it better than the composite Reaction.

Reactions forever.

Regards