super reaper
 

Super Reaper flew good today. Turbine Simjet 1700 ran the full
flight - takeoff to landing - without flame outs. I think I may have
fixed problem.

super reaper
 

Hi Mike,

Congratulations, that's great to hear! What did you find?

super reaper
 

Could you post some pictures of the Reaper?

Super Reaper
 

WD-40,

Would really like to hear more about the flying characteristics of the Super Reaper.

found bags for the REAPER !
 

Found a company making wingbags for the REAPER of all things !

Reaper

http://www.wingbags.com/roo3.jpg

Super Reaper
 

Where can i get the bags, and I will try to take some pic. For $200.00 this is a great flying jet you can power it with a 12 or 17 pounder.

sorry...go to wingbags.com
 

here is the link:

wingbags.com

they show a set for the Reaper on the jet page...and they are priced pretty good
Jim

reaper
 

here is a pic of mikes plane after base coats.

super reaper
 

NICE!! :D

reaper
 

We are thinking about importing the reaper kit to build and sell as an ready to fly. We are looking on the lines of evrything being done. hinged,servo holes cut, control horns and pushrods done. Everything just add turbine and radio. Glassed and painted in any simple two color sceme or monokoted. A true arf. Some where in the 750.00 to 850.00 dependent of options.
The plane flies great. It would be a great knock around plane without a lot of $ spent.

super reaper
 

I think that price is very competitive with similar jets.
Jim

super reaper
 

You would probably sell a few of those!

super reaper
 

I agree...the reaper is something a little :D out of the ordinary

super reaper
 

Ok guys.
I am taking orders on the super reapers. E-mail us if you are interested. Or go to our web. www.jet-a-models.com. Right now the turn around time from order to delivery is going to be about 4 weeks. Prices will be dependant oppions you choose.
Thanks

my Super Reaper
 

I have just finished my Reaper (a few weeks ago) and am powering it with my kit built Wren MW54 (which runs very well by the way!). I built the Reaper "stock" with the exception of my own sprung nose gear, reinforced the bottom where the main gear attaches with some 1/8 ply, used a taller main gear, I used Trim wheels and brakes (AWESOME!) that I got from Great Norther Models here in Ontario CANADA, and I slightly enlarged the canards (10% area) and used a stiffer 3/8 balsa than I got with the kit. Also, I made my own torque rods from 1/8" music wire. Stock ones are pretty flexy. I had the first successfull test flight today. I must say the reaper is VERY smooth, and gracefull. I have a bit more throw (both aileron and elev.) than suggested but found it smooth with no expo. The plane is not exceptionally fast due to my fixed gear but fast enough. Turns are tight and without any loss of altitude. Upon throttling back to idle and pulling back full stick it just mushed ahead and dropped the nose with plenty of warning. I had two previous test flights that failed to achieve lift off and I will offer my fixes. I fly from a short (400') grass strip. I need to get off quick! My Reaper is 17 pounds. I have the balance point set at the suggested 530mm point, would NOT rotate when set any further ahead. I also moved the main gear to just slightly behind the CG so it will very easily rotate. Even the 12 lbs thrust will hold the nose down with a great deal of force. Most importantly, I set my model with the LE of the wing 1.5" higher than the TE so there is plenty of pos. incidence. Any less would not allow rotation for lift off. All in all, I am quite pleased with the model. It is definitely Cheap, fast building and rugged (dont ask!) Seems to have excellent ground handling and flying characteristics.

super reaper
 

The one Mike Grant and I built flew verry well as well. We however had no problems on take off we used a simjet 1700 with a dry weight of 14 pounds. I really think this needs a smaller turbine. This one too is very durable (dont ask, flame out at about 4 feet just after rotation.)
All in all it great flying and inexpensive I am going to build them in a true arf stage just ad turbine and radio. For about 850.00 monocoted or glassed in primer.

weight
 

I built my Reaper as per the kit, and monokoted it. I was surprised to be overweight (kit says 15.5 to 16.5 lbs). The Trim wheels/brakes add a bit, as does the aluminum sprung nose gear, I am using a 2400 and 1500 mah pack for my radio and pump. The MW 54 is light, and I am still at 17 pounds (unless my scale is wrong). How did you get down to 14 pounds?? Even if I went with lighter battery packs and "standard" airplane wheels (I wont give up my brakes!) I bet thats a pound max so I would still be at 16. Oh well, at 17 it flies nice. This is my first turbine powered plane- it was much easier to handle than I expected.
Andrew

reaper
 

I do have Bvm breaks and wheels on my Reaper, and i have changed the landing gear to a heaver set and beefed it up some,so I know it has pick up some wight. I think we will fly this sunday.

super reaper
 

Hi ajcoholic,

I saw you SR on the Mick Reeves website. Very nice job !! I'm in the home stretch on mine. I've had a few setbacks due to the fact that I'm going for a glassed and painted finish. Long story short, the primer infiltrated through cracks in the wing obechi and caused mayhem ! I'm dealing with it the best I can but will now call the airplane the "Bondo Bomber " !! I'm sure it's getting porky but it does have a big wing.

I will be trying to fly it off of my 350' grass strip. I did a few mods as well. I moved the nose gear forward 6" and have full flying canards. I also enlarged the ailerons and inset them 6".


How did you shift the LE 1.5" ? Seems kind of drastic ! By using a full flying canard I can adjust the relative incidences without trim drag. I'll also mix elevon action into the ailerons to help things out.

Is your MW54 from a Mark II kit ? I have one of the first kits that I got a year ago April and I still haven't assembled it ! What ECU are you using.

super reaper
 

Duh !!! I just realized that you probably lengthened your nose gear for the positive AOA on the ground. Give me another coffee.....

super reaper
 

My Super Reaper just came in the mail. The kit looks great! I am going to power it with a Ram 750F and it will be my first turbine plane ( been flying 26 years though). Keep the good information about changes etc. coming........ Also, how about posting some pictures of building steps and finished planes...... The info with the plane says that you can use elevon mix with this plane if you want. Is any one doing this? How much throw are you using?

super reaper
 

Marc,
Yes, thats right! I did not change the angle of incidence of the wing, I meant the angle relative to the ground at rest. When I had the nose set equal to the mains, at full throttle up the nose would drop allmost an inch and would not allow rotation no matter how fast it went. First try sent me off the end of the runway at full throttle and ripped off the main and nose gear. I made a new nose bearing block from aluminum to replace the plastic ones in the kit, and epoxied a 1/8 plywood plate on the exterior of the fuse about 12 inches long to distribute the gear's force over the bottom of the fuse not concentrate it in one area where the bolts are. I did toy with the idea of full flying canards but wasnt sure of the results so I just slightly enlarged then (10%more area). I was speaking to Mick and he suggested moving the main gear to a point where the model will just sit on the front wheel. Now I can rotate easily, and as long as the engine is running (even at idle) the nose stays on the ground. I bought my kit in February of this year and it was the original version. I am not using elevon mix right now but would like to try it. I am currently using my 6 channel airtronics radio, when I install my 10 channel I will have enough mixers to try it out. Mick Reeves suggested 4mm of elevon throw, used at take off and landing only. I think now I will have enough pitch control with just the elevators. Have to fly it more now to get familiar and I will tell you how it goes... As for the ECU, I am using a FADEC unit that is being sold with the MW54 kit engine. It is easy to use and I have not yet had any problem with interference. I am using a Hausel pump that is the same as the one sold with the RAM500 I believe. I had some trouble with that pump (gears were rubbing on the housing) but its fixed and the engine runs great. The SR with the 12 pound turbine is not super fast, I imaging the 18 pound class turbines would make it go a lot faster. This is also my 1st turbine and jet, but I have been modelling for many years (RC since 83') and allways have liked to try new things. I must say it is a very FUN experience!

super reaper
 

WD40 - if you did get to fly your Super Reaper today (sunday) let me know how it went and what you thought! To the other fellow that said his SR was 14 pounds, how in the world did you manage to get it so light?? Please let me know. AJC

super reaper
 

Hi Guys,

I got some more flights on my Reaper yesterday. I have mixed in about 4mm elevon travel with UP elevator only as well as a bit more up throw on the canards. I leave this mix on the whole time and I couldn't be happier. This has made the plane a lot more positive, especially during the flare on landing.

Before I made this change, it ran out of elevator authority at low speed. During the flare, the nose had a tendancy to drop through. I have my cg set about at about 540mm. I might move it back to 530mm, but I like the way it flies where it is.

I have also made a spreader bar for the undercarriage. I will post a photo or two as soon as I get around to taking some, but essentially, I have a 4-40 wire coming from each axle. However, instead of a solid wire going from axle to axle that would take away all give out of the undercarriage, I have the two wires linked by a heavy rubber o-ring that is pre-tensioned (and tension adjustable via a turnbuckle type setup). This means there is still a bit of give, but it doesn't stretch out and then "snap" back when the weight goes off the o-ring.

This change has made a world of difference to mine. It prevents the wire legs from winding up like a big spring and starting it bouncing.

btw, I have a 28 pound engine on mine, dialed back to around 17 pounds. Rotates off grass no worries in a fairly short distance and has a nice top speed. I think I'll dial the engine up to around 19 or 20 pounds just to have more vertical power.

I guess mine is probably around 17 pounds dry, although I haven't weighed it. Mine is monokoted with a 6 cell, 2400mah nicad ecu battery and a 4 cell 1700mah nicad battery pack on rx. I have 3" Trim wheels and brakes.

I love the way this things flies. Nice, big graceful manoeuvres and smooth as silk. Sure, it's no 200mph rocket ship but it's a whole lot of fun.

Garrett

super reaper
 

Good to hear the comments on the Reaper. I am starting to build mine in a couple of weeks. Where can I get Trim wheels and brakes? Do they have a web page?