BJ Craft Strato, Texas Winter Project - progress update

Mounting of the motor has been completed along with the initial fitment of wings, wing adjusters, stabs, and canilizer wing.  Air inlet and outlet cutouts are done.  This was done using a Dremel tool as a handheld router with BJ's provided templates.  The main landing gear has been installed.  Like the Anthem, I selected gear by PT. They are longer, and lighter than the stock gear and fit the original cutouts without modifying. I've also fabricated and installed my DIY tailwheel assembly pictured below. This assembly is low-cost and robust.  It is made from common RC accessories and is fully serviceable and easily duplicated. Most recently the battery tray was made from carbon/lite ply sandwich panel and mounted in the fuse using Gator RC's removal supports.  As a safeguard, the tray is also anchored with a screw to the landing gear mount.  Rudder servo plus the D3 controller mounts have been created and installed.

Custom Cutting and Laser Engraving Solutions

Just received my customized transmitter case from Custom Cutting and Laser Engraving Solutions by Mike Bargman. The finished quality is fantastic. Mike is a good communicator, he shares proofs before engraving to ensure accuracy.  Mike can customize the inside of the case to meet your needs. I opted for a standard configuration that accommodates my 32MZ or 18SZ plus tools and batteries.  If you desire a quality TX case please contact Mike at Custom Cutting and Laser Engraving Solutions.

BJ Craft Strato, Texas Winter Project

In mid-December 2024, I took delivery of an early release version of BJ Craft's Strato. Like the previous BJ's ARC kits I built, the fit and finish, balsa quality, and prep work are very well done.  Given the recent low temps here in SE Texas instead of flying, I am making steady progress on the Strato. The plan is to outfit it using the same/similar products and methods that proved successful with other BJ designs I completed.

Here is a list of items I currently plan to use...

• Futaba
• 32MZ
• 7108rx (2) using PBR-12x
• HPS-704 aileron
• BLS173SV elevator
• S-A501 rudder (pull-pull) vs tail-mounted servo
• S.BUS
• SBD-3 decoder
• Power setup
• PCK 4-bld
• D3 controller
• Falcon carbon spinner
• Landing gear
• PT carbon mains
• Self designed tail wheel
• Central Hobbies Titanium axles
• F3AU removable battery tray
• Batteries
• TP 10s 5000mah/6000mah ProLiteX and FAI
• TP 2s 910mah ProLiteX
• Radio South hinges

Notable design differences compared to the Invitation, Epilogue and Anthem.

1. More narrow fuse
2. Taller fuse between the T-can and Fin
3. Flat bottom fuse vs rounded
4. Elimination of sub-fin molded into fuse
5. Smaller T-can wing

A few progress pics...

  

  

  

  

  

    

Kaos 60 GP ARF

Back to basics. I recently completed a GP Kaos 60 ARF. Originally, I planned to power it with a 60-glo motor, but after reading reviews of Innov8tive Designs BassAss electric motors, I decided to try one of their offerings.

Innovative Designs does a great job of providing the information needed to select a power setup that matches your airframe. I went with the following for the Kaos.

• BadAss 3530/570kv
• Jeti Spinn75 Pro (prefer powering RX with a separate battery)
• RoaringTop 6s 5000mah 25c batteries
• APC 13x8 ->13X10-E prop (13x10 better vert, horizontal speed)
• 2 3/4 Air Flow spinner

This power setup is capable of performing the current SPA sequences with ease.  It is an efficient setup,  with the timer set at 6.5 minutes I'm landing with an average of 35% battery capacity remaining. My goal was to have a low-maintenance aerobatic sport plane available in the hangar for in-prompt to flying sessions. This fits the need perfectly.

Radio Setup

• Futaba 18SZ
• Futaba R3104SB RX
• Futaba S-Bus
• 4 - Futaba S-U301 servos ail, elev, rudd
• 1 - Futaba S3172 servo nose wheel steering

BJ Craft "Invitation" For Sale...SOLD

BJ Craft Invitation for sale RTF less RX and batteries. It is in very-good condition, no damage or hard landings. Shipping is possible, prefer local delivery.  The Invitation is in a flight-ready condition.  A demo test flight is doable if you are in or around the Houston TX area.

$2850 + shipping...SOLD

If Interested please contact me @ rcprecision@gmail.com

The following list is how it is currently equipped.

Radio

• Futaba Digital servos

Motor/ESC

• Hacker C50 14XL Comp
• Adam Debowski's D3 Controller

Upgrades

• Budd Engineering Soft Motor Mount System
• Budd Engineering Rear Support Bracket
• Falcon Carbon Spinner
• Falcon Carbon Landing gear
• Falcon Carbon Wheel Pants
• Titanium Pushrods
• Two T-Can wings, 1 stock, 1 smaller (Acuity 2M)
• Custom Color Scheme - Wings West paint/Monokote

Original RTF weight with TP 10s 5000mah / 2s 910mah 4890gr

Information Links

• D3 Upgrade
• Invitation Contest Report
• T-Can experiment
• T-Can Experiment Update
• Invitation Trimming Update

Angel's Shadow V20

The AS_V20 has been ready to fly since midyear 2022.  Well, its time has come.  This weekend time was spent getting reacquainted with how to assemble it and validate the radio setup and the starting CG position. All systems are a go, so the next good weather day the AS_V20 will take to the sky. 

Equipment List:

• Futaba 32MZ
• Futaba 7108 RX (FASST Multi Mode)
• SBus
• Hacker C54
• D3 V2.2 controller
• APC 22x13 carbon
• Falcon 85mm spinner

Bridi Krafty Sixty

Another completed plane project is ready for its maiden flight.  This was built to displace the aging Avistar gifted to me by a dear friend which has provided many fun-filled flights since 2010.

The Krafty wing is the second using the Adjust-O-Jig.  There are many advantages to using the jig.  Most of the construction process can be completed both top and bottom including initial sanding before removal from the jig. The jig makes wing building easy and fun plus it ensures the finished project is straight, true, and strong.

Adjust-O-Jig

Krafty Sixty

• Futaba 18SZ
• OS 55AX
• TF 11X7.5 wood prop
• Ultracote - Cub yellow/black
• RTF 5lb 4oz

Mods = 2 aileron servos, pull-pull rudder, conventional landing gear with pants.

Avistar, time for retirement, you have served me well.

Anthem First Flights

The maiden flight of the Anthem was flawless.  After reading other build threads, I had concerns the incidence configuration would be an issue.  A lot of time was spent ensuring I achieved the designer's suggested configuration. I was skeptical of the minimal down thrust molded into the nose ring relative to the positive wing incidence which was unlike other 2m planes I have owned and flown. Like the Invitation and Epilogue, the stab is not adjustable so I start with jigging the airplane into a static position so the stab incidence is zero.  Using the provided template, along with the predrilled holes in the fuse for the wing retainer pins and adjusters worked out just right like it did for the Invitation and Epilogue. The BJ Craft designer enables anyone to properly set wing incidence with simple tools and methods.

I'm using the same radio program values and setup used for the invitation and Epilogue.  The CG is currently set in the middle of the recommended range. The initial flight was spent trimming straight and level flight at cruise speed, then checking track on vertical plus 45-degree lines, knife edge, and snaps.  Afterwards, I made small adjustments to expo and throttle-to-elevator mix for down lines. The initial Madien flight went so well that I decided the next two flights to fly the current Masters' sequence (P-25).  Besides a few more tweaks needed to expo, overall throws and some CG position testing for 45-degree lines. I see a very short path of being competitive with the Anthem as I am with the Invitation and Epilogue. Wonder what new design is on BJ's drawing board now?

Invitation G2   

Epilogue        Jetero Results_2023     Jetero Results_2024

Anthem Underconstruction_1    Anthem Underconstruction_2    Anthem Underconstruction_3

Anthem Equipment List:

• Futaba 32MZ
• 7108RX FASST Multi Mode
• S-Bus servos
• Hacker C54
• Budd Engineering Soft Mount/Rear Support
• D3 Controller
• Thunder Power 10S 5000mah Prolites
• APC 22x13 Carbon
• Falcon Spinner
• PT Landing Gear & Pants
• MPI Wheels
• Central Hobbies Titanium Axles
• DIY Custom Tail Wheel
• Wings West Paint / Monokote

Competition Update - Jetero 2024

This past weekend the Jetero RC club held its annual pattern event, on June 1 and 2, 2024. This a wonderful facility which is well suited for a pattern event. The turnout of 19 is lower than in past years, which is indicative of current times.  In my opinion, lower turnouts are due to the diversity of the RC hobby, and those interested in pattern are aging out. This event is always well-run and supported by the club members.  Jetero's longtime CD John Forestieri is relocating out of state, however, he informed us a replacement CD plans to continue holding future events.

Being the Lone-Wolf in my area competing with Hacker in-runners I always get comments from other competitors about my power system. Positive comments about performance, curious comments about the sound it generates. Nevertheless, Hacker geared in-runners have served me well over the years.  When I transitioned in 2010 from YS to Power, I tried outrunners and Plettenberg non-geared in-runner and decided the Hacker in-runner was the best fit for me.

Regardless of class, most now use contra systems that carry the perception of magic powers that will improve scores.  It is rewarding to achieve top honors in a competitive AMA class of Masters with a single prop system over contra-powered aircraft where 5 out of 10 Masters competitors used contras this past weekend.

Equipment used this past weekend:

• Hacker C54, APC 22x13 carbon prop, TP 10S pro-lites batteries
• Debowski D3 controller @7.5 degrees
• Futaba 32MZ
• BJ Craft Epilogue

Epilogue internal

Practice at Scobee

Practice at SPARKS

Morning Practice @ SPARKS

Epilogue and Invitation

Arrival and unpacking at Jetero Saturday morning

Jetero Final Results

Odyssey Toy Hauler

Bout to turn 132K on my 08 LX. It has principally served to haul RC competition aircraft plus equipment locally and cross country. The middle row and rear seats have been used a ~dozen times over the last 16 years.  Besides being a reliable, low-maintenance motor vehicle it's comfortable and a pleasure to drive. Acceleration and handling are surprising. Only a few plane haulers achieve 25+mpg highway miles at 70mph loaded with equipment.