RCaiir Aurora 60 Build
10-25-2024, 05:29 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
RCaiir Aurora 60 Build
Having grown up in the 80's in South America, the local pattern scene at that time was very similar to those in the US or Europe only to a lesser scale.
I remember attending in 1980 or 1981 for the first time a local pattern contest as an spectator , and was amazed by the pattern designs of that time: Arrows, Blue Angels and mostly Curares were very popular at those contests. Shortly after the impression this left on me, I started on the rc hobby with my brother, and from thereafter it has been a great and enriching journey through the hobby, having witnessed all those fantastic technological advances along these years.
When the Naruke Aurora design came around 1985, I only came to knew the plane through MAN magazine articles, and was amazed by its sleek lines. However the possibility of building and owning such aircraft was not an option for me at the time, as I had not the building skills, nor the time and money for such a project.
Several decades later now as an adult, I kept interested on the plane but around 2015 the MK kits were already discontinued and very scarce and usually available through ebay at very high prices. So in the forums I found out about RCaiir and its wide offer of classic pattern designs, and then contacted Don Carlson for the first time.in 2016, inquiring about the Aurora.
Stepping a little apart from the original MK kit, I asked Don about the option of a fiberglass fuse and a all wood wing, this way I could have those sleek lines built right out of the box, and combine it with the lightness of a balsa wing. Don confirmed he was able to supply that configuration, so I placed an order and it was delivered after some weeks. Some months later I had a business trip to the US so I had the opportunity to bring it home safely.
Since then, several years passed with no real determination to start the build, until in 2022 I moved to a new home and managed to furnish a complete shop for the hobby on a separate home office room I rented on the same building complex.
As I have documented the build with tons of pictures, I thought it would be interesting to share with the community the build log, so more to follow !
Regards
Juan
FG fuse laid by RCaiir
I remember attending in 1980 or 1981 for the first time a local pattern contest as an spectator , and was amazed by the pattern designs of that time: Arrows, Blue Angels and mostly Curares were very popular at those contests. Shortly after the impression this left on me, I started on the rc hobby with my brother, and from thereafter it has been a great and enriching journey through the hobby, having witnessed all those fantastic technological advances along these years.
When the Naruke Aurora design came around 1985, I only came to knew the plane through MAN magazine articles, and was amazed by its sleek lines. However the possibility of building and owning such aircraft was not an option for me at the time, as I had not the building skills, nor the time and money for such a project.
Several decades later now as an adult, I kept interested on the plane but around 2015 the MK kits were already discontinued and very scarce and usually available through ebay at very high prices. So in the forums I found out about RCaiir and its wide offer of classic pattern designs, and then contacted Don Carlson for the first time.in 2016, inquiring about the Aurora.
Stepping a little apart from the original MK kit, I asked Don about the option of a fiberglass fuse and a all wood wing, this way I could have those sleek lines built right out of the box, and combine it with the lightness of a balsa wing. Don confirmed he was able to supply that configuration, so I placed an order and it was delivered after some weeks. Some months later I had a business trip to the US so I had the opportunity to bring it home safely.
Since then, several years passed with no real determination to start the build, until in 2022 I moved to a new home and managed to furnish a complete shop for the hobby on a separate home office room I rented on the same building complex.
As I have documented the build with tons of pictures, I thought it would be interesting to share with the community the build log, so more to follow !
Regards
Juan
FG fuse laid by RCaiir
Yesterday, 06:08 AM
#2
Junior Member
Thread Starter
The aim of the project is to reproduce the original design as close as possible, including the power plant configuration and the plane finish, which is to be the closest to the box art design, also using the pictures and videos from the plane at the competitions of the time.
Therefore, there will be no stepping apart on this thread related to possible electric conversions, tail dragger configuration or any other mods different to the original design.
At the same time of buying the plane, I ordered a set of Spring Air pneumatic retracts also from RCAiir, so the plan is to use this set.
Some general information of the equipment to be used:
YS 61 R Classic (rear exhaust, short stroke)
Hatori #606 Muffled Tuned Pipe
Hatori 755 header (Cosmos-Auora)
MK soft mount for YS 60 / Enya 60
Spring Air 202HD tri gear pneumatic retracts
Mini sized servos on all channels
The picture below shows the YS 61R with the MK soft mount installed. and the Hatori header and muffled pipe.
Therefore, there will be no stepping apart on this thread related to possible electric conversions, tail dragger configuration or any other mods different to the original design.
At the same time of buying the plane, I ordered a set of Spring Air pneumatic retracts also from RCAiir, so the plan is to use this set.
Some general information of the equipment to be used:
YS 61 R Classic (rear exhaust, short stroke)
Hatori #606 Muffled Tuned Pipe
Hatori 755 header (Cosmos-Auora)
MK soft mount for YS 60 / Enya 60
Spring Air 202HD tri gear pneumatic retracts
Mini sized servos on all channels
The picture below shows the YS 61R with the MK soft mount installed. and the Hatori header and muffled pipe.
Last edited by Southern Flyer; Yesterday at 06:11 AM.
Today, 09:24 AM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
About the kit
As mentioned earlier, the wing is all balsa and the fuselage is fiber glass. I ordered the full wing kit with the contest balsa option for building a light wing. I understand the wing ribs and other wood parts are laser cut by LASER CUT USA. The fuselage seems nicey hand laid with epoxy resin, completely straight on its longitudinal axis, and comes with the separate belly pan as per the original MK kit. This lower hatch has a good fit to the lower fuselage. and is kept in position thanks to the fuselage floor having a recessed step on the sides that secures the belly pan in position.
Laser cut balsa parts for the stabilizar as well as some other wood parts and plywood fuselage formers, together with a clear canopy and full rolled plans, complete the kit.
Wing construction
I started the wing construction by collecting the laser cut balsa and plywood ribs and drawwing center lines in all of them. I also planned for the required space for the pneumatic retracts on the 3 ribs close to the fuselage in order o provide enough room for the wheel retraction bays. Finally using the wing plan I carefully planned the proper location for the aileron servo extensions routings. I decided these routings would be done by using a couple of carbon tubes which had the right diameter to let the servo connectors pass through. I had saved these from an old wreckage so they came in handy for the project.
The balsa and plywood ribs already came with some lasercut holes which in my case were not in the place I decidied these servo extension routings would go, so I glued them back with wood glue. Instead , I marked and drilled the needed holes on each rib. to accomodate the carbon tubes, as planned.
Original servo extension routing holes were glued back and eliminated and re routed in a different location
All ribs come wih building tabs at the ends for proper rib aligment
Center lines drawn on all ribs
Pneumatic retract positioning om the plywood ribs
As mentioned earlier, the wing is all balsa and the fuselage is fiber glass. I ordered the full wing kit with the contest balsa option for building a light wing. I understand the wing ribs and other wood parts are laser cut by LASER CUT USA. The fuselage seems nicey hand laid with epoxy resin, completely straight on its longitudinal axis, and comes with the separate belly pan as per the original MK kit. This lower hatch has a good fit to the lower fuselage. and is kept in position thanks to the fuselage floor having a recessed step on the sides that secures the belly pan in position.
Laser cut balsa parts for the stabilizar as well as some other wood parts and plywood fuselage formers, together with a clear canopy and full rolled plans, complete the kit.
Wing construction
I started the wing construction by collecting the laser cut balsa and plywood ribs and drawwing center lines in all of them. I also planned for the required space for the pneumatic retracts on the 3 ribs close to the fuselage in order o provide enough room for the wheel retraction bays. Finally using the wing plan I carefully planned the proper location for the aileron servo extensions routings. I decided these routings would be done by using a couple of carbon tubes which had the right diameter to let the servo connectors pass through. I had saved these from an old wreckage so they came in handy for the project.
The balsa and plywood ribs already came with some lasercut holes which in my case were not in the place I decidied these servo extension routings would go, so I glued them back with wood glue. Instead , I marked and drilled the needed holes on each rib. to accomodate the carbon tubes, as planned.
Original servo extension routing holes were glued back and eliminated and re routed in a different location
All ribs come wih building tabs at the ends for proper rib aligment
Center lines drawn on all ribs
Pneumatic retract positioning om the plywood ribs
