Some have installed hardware to take up the slack you are talking about, I'm lazy but I'll tell you how I dealt with it. I took a couple of pieces of clear duck tape and held the wings to the fuse and installed the tape. Unless you are really looking you can't even tell it is there. I subscribe to the KISS principle.

I had to sand down the fiberglass at the wing joint to get a good fit.

Even with this there were still about 1/16th gaps, that I filled with epoxy when I permanently mounted the wings in.

Sand the fuselage if you have to.

There are a lot of comments on this post but very few about the Bobcat 52. If any of you guys actually built this model, let me know what retracts you put in it. I have the bobcat 25 and it flies very fast with an os32...great little plane and I know the 52 will be as good or better.

I thought we talked about the .52 extensively before...

I used Robart 510w1's which fit fine.

The hardest part was dealing with the stearing linkage...

What posts did you read Meekskin. This entire thread is exclusively about the Bobcat 52, also known as the Nitro Bobcat. etc.
I used Springairs 300 series, on my turbine powered Bobcat 52. Used a reverse pull-pull system on the front. Works real well.

I'm going to be putting together one of the latest retract ready versions over the winter and was thinking of splitting the ailerons to create flaps. I know a few have done this and was wondering how the landing performance is as opposed to using spoilers with the full length ailerons. It's obvious that this plane doesn't need those huge ailerons for flying and I would think the addition of flaps is probably worth the effort. Info from anyone who has done this would be appreciated. Also the amount of throw on the flaps. Thanks.

Thanks for the comments...What I was saying is that a lot of the post talks about what other companies may think about Nitro models using the bobcat design and a lot of other useless comments. Thanks for the info on the retracts,,,,I think I will use the Robart 605.....

You shouldn't have a problem.

Take the stearing linkage setup slowly.

After I made my cutouts I found a nice fuselage linkage pass thru system ( from Hobby Lobby ) that would make my Pull-Pull install soooo much easier and neater.

Basically it's a small vertical bell crank used to bring controls outside the fuse. You need two, one for each side.

Some people have put the stearing servo in such a way that the control horn is outside the fuse.

There are also a few mechanical retracts that have a "slider" for a single rod/line nose stearing, that may work as well.

Hello, I was wondering what you guys did in regards to canopy mounting? After looking at mine I see it is very thin.
Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to mount it with some sort of reliable quick disconnect?

Also, I have the silver and orange color scheme. They included a red canopy. Is this the correct color? Or was it supposed to be orange to match? I wonder if they packed the wrong color canopy? hmmmm

I would love to see pictures of what you did.

thanks,
larry

Larry,

Check out the Nitro Bobcat Conversion, at

www.southfloridajettogether.com

Hit the button on the lower left.

I recently set up spoilerons on my Bobcat, I started at approx 1/4" and tested at low speed way up high. I did not like the results as the plane "zoomed" when they were turned on. However it was encouraging because they brought the nose up very effectively.

The final setup works very well and it is maybe 1/8" of travel, I turn in on after I turn on final and it allows for a powered approach slightly nose high, much more manageable than before. I can actually set it down on the mains on purpose and drop the nose when I want to now.

Original: AGR413

Is that measured right next to the tailbooms?

Thanks hapyjac2. That is very clever with the canopy

larry

I would like to know how to adapt the bobcat 50 to remove the wings for transit as the one piece design it will not fit in my car.

Paul,

Here is the passage on making the wings removable from my review. I also think I have some pictures stashed away on my other computer if you want I will look for them.


[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/kitexpertreview.cfm?editorial_id=565&kit_id=4554]Bobcat Review[/link]

The instructions indicate that the wings should be glued onto the fuse with epoxy. Although I don't recommend disassembling this plane every day I wanted to retain the ability to disassemble the plane to work on it. I installed 1/4 inch wing bolts 1.5 cm ahead of the small metal pin in the front of the wing. I drilled a small pilot hole from the outside in the correct location, put the wing on and with the same drill bit marked the wing through the hole (from the inside of the fuse) and then drilled the hole in the fuse and the wing with a 1/4" drill bit. I installed a blind nut in each wing half and used a small amount of CA to secure it and finally put the bolt in with a nylon washer.


Jammer,

I will try and remember to measure it exactly tonight and report back. The spoileron movement is very very small.

Thanks Jammer, great help

That reply was from AGR413, not Jammer. I did something similar with the wings but used (2) 6-32 socket head screws and blind nuts per wing and did away with the metal anti-rotation rod. It's much better to have the option of taking this plane apart vs. permanent attachment of the wings, mostly for maintenance or repairs. This plane is a PITA to dismantle and assemble for every trip to the field though.

Jammer,

The throw on the spoilerons at the root of the aileron (next to the boom) is 1/8"

Hey guys,
just finishing up my build and was wondering the following.

In neutral trimmed position, how should the elevator sit? Should it be level with the underside of the stab? Or, level with the top?

Kind of would like to get it close as possible before maiden.

thanks,
larry

Level with the TOP of the horizontal stab !!

RE: neutral elevator setting- If you hold a straight edge on the top of the horizontal the elevator should come within 1/8" but not touch it.

The final setting on mine after the maiden flight with the CG at 10.25":
Trailing edge of the elevator 5mm up from a straight edge held on the bottom of the stab. Your mileage may vary.

Thanks, I'll give that a try in the spring

I just purchased a bobcat 46, how will the ax 55 do on this model, I would like some input from experienced pilots. I have never had a pusher, do I need a special prop, or do I just turn any prop around backwards to make it work? I would appreciate any advice that I can get. Thanx!!! Steve.

you must use a pusher prop for this plane. Don't know about the ax 55, but would recommend a glow engine just because of the additional weight if going electricl. put the os61 engine and you will be happy.