Paul0088

Jetflyer3000

As I said before I would not advise putting the retracts and brakes on the same air tanks/system. Separate the brake air system from the retracts so that a potential leak in the break system does not effect the retracts

Dave Wilshere

Paul

Getting there...Lets hope the forecast is out as usual!!

Did another three cycles...3 weeks now

Dw

Paul0088

last few pics only the rudder servos to do and set CG, and travel on radio.

Art ARRO

My Feedback: (5)

Jetflyer3000,
Research a post by RCJets63 on consolidating the gear and brake systems to reduce the number of fittings and connections which are prone to leakage. Basically. Jim joins both airtanks together with a single fill valve and routes the brake system (valve and lines) off the DOWN line/pipe of the gear system. This doubles your available air volume, reduces the number of fittings (leaks) and the brake system is only pressurized when the gear is down. Try it and see.

Art ARRO

76Mustang76

Paul,

Thanks for your sketch and photos.

Jeremy

Dave Wilshere

Or just have a brake system that is as good as the retracts. CARF Flash/UF uses a single tank and Dual retract/brake valve and in 7 years ownership and hundreds and hundreds of flights...no issues. If you have poor quality air systems, expect problems and add complication. 3 weeks since I last flew the Xcalibur, around 10 cycles now over that 3 weeks since it was last filled showing people just how good they are...still holding air. Many people have problems with their air systems..they are now going electric-probably going to have problems there too.
Paul has two models with this type of set up and doesn't need to worry, since they work perfectly.

Jetflyer3000

Ok no problem I was just saying it as I see it based on my experience.

Air systems with no leaks are indeed the best way to go but not always easy to achieve

jetster81

To be honest, over the years I have used nearly all air retracts (mostly Spring air) and have had good success with all of them. I think the secret is to be meticulous with the install and I tend to take the rams apart and check for swarf and bad O ring positioning also blow through all connections to check for blockages and put a spot of cyano on the joints to help with airtightness. As Dave says the ones in the demo plane are holding air after a couple of weeks or more is proof they are a well engineered set. Maybe some companies in China are at last upping their quality control which is no bad thing. I recall when everyone said that Honda motorcycles were Japanese carp and would never be as good as British bikes!,and we know what happened there.

Art ARRO

My Feedback: (5)

Dave,
I agree wholeheartedly that a well engineered, and maintained air system with quality components can be very reliable for a long time. The consolidation of the air tanks and driving the brakes off the retract down line furthers adds to the reliability of the system- ie, fewer parts/potentional failure points, etc.
Question-how you you feel about this jet powered by a Wren 44K in lieu of a P-60? Also, does Ripmax have or plan to have a dealer/distributor in N. America.

Art ARRO

Dave Wilshere

Ripmax went through a few manufacturers to find someone who understood the really basic requirements. Talking with Colin, this guy is really switched on.
Only time and numbers operating will actually prove them good. Behotec did that with the C-36-2 in my Flash models, early indications are telling me these are going to be OK too.

I think the MW 44 is going to be just too small for any meaningful flight performance, yes it will fly, but 13lb is enough to give the Xcalibur good speed, but vertical performance only comes from energy.
Global jet Club and Mike are going to handle them. Look a couple of pages back, he's taking orders now.

Dave

Art ARRO

My Feedback: (5)

Dave,
Thanks for your timely response.

Art ARRO

Jetflyer3000

Does this plane come with a decal set of stickers ?. There looks to be quite a lot of white on it and I am thinking about visibility at distance in grey old UK skys

jetster81

Yes it comes with the stickers you see on the Red,White and Blue Scheme photos. This scheme is I reckon more visible than the military,grey on grey?

76Mustang76

Paul,

I seem to now understand the retracts setup. Brakes... Do you connect the brake valve to the down pipe of the retracts, so when the retracts are down there is also air for brakes or do you set them up another way.

Jeremy

Paul0088

No mine has a combined retract brake valve, it has an output for the brakes, gets air from main feed if you connect this to the down line the brakes will be on all the time the gear is down.
if you use the valve that comes with the kit you could connect it to the down line, this would need two servos, which is why I went for the combined valve, I have the same one on my Ultra Flash.

Paul0088

All done ready for test flight, when the rain stops....

jetster81

Nice one Paul and good luck with the maiden. That is a fast build for a turbine model, did you find any problems with the build or carry out any mods?

Paul0088

I think it was about 20 hours, a few each night after work, no real problems, a few fiddly bits like routing the air lines and extension leads, most models are like that, then having to work out where to put things as this is the first production model.
I am pleased with the end result, hope to fly this week, though rain looking like it's here for the whole week.

Danneman

Nice Paul.

How much is the dry weight , Whit full UAT?

regards Daniel

GrayUK

My question as well

Dave Wilshere

Paul is coming over tomorrow so we can use the postal scales...his bathroom scales are a bit vague :-)
We will do a balance check and weigh-in

back soon!

FightingIrons

Top job Paul, appreciate all the pics great help, good luck with maiden.

Dave Wilshere

8.1kg with header and tiny amount in tank.

Turbine run. Just waiting for weather...

jetster81

All looking nice and neat, and not heavy. Is your balance point as stated in the book ,160 I think, without resorting to dead weight?