PCK Update - Precision Aero Products F3A Contra Killer

Originally, the PCK drive was installed in the BJ Craft Strato, which first flew in July of 2025.  After 71 flights and numerous setup changes, I struggled to achieve flight characteristics to my liking.  During the fall of 2025, I acquired a PAP F3A single-prop 2-bld low-KV drive from a buddy and decided to try it in the Strato.  The motor swap made an instant improvement.  I can only assume the PCK was not a good match for the Strato.

Fast forward to May 2026.  I decided to try the PCK again in my contest-proven Hacker C54-powered Anthem.  After minor surgery to the nose ring and rear supports, the F3A drive was installed.  After only a few trim flights and tweaks to the throttle curve and rudder trim, I was able to fly the P-27 sequence very respectably. Because the PCK is very quiet compared to the Hacker, I was tending to overspeed, causing the Anthem to seem unsettled in horizontal and vertical uplines. The PCK 4-bld is even quieter than the 2-bld F3A drive. RC pilots rely on visual ground speed vs knowing actual airspeed.  Adjusting to the lack of sound and focusing on a lower ground speed made the plane lock and return to the flight traits I was accustomed to with the Anthem.  Overall, the PCK is a good power system match for the Anthem.

I’ve proven to myself that single-prop systems continue to be competitive in AMA Masters, to the ever-so-popular Contra power drives.  I’ll continue to learn and improve utilization of the PAP F3A and PCK drive drives in the Strato and Anthem. Will post performance reviews on the PAP F3A and PCK drives soon.

Time to move on to the next projects involving Contra Drives mounted and ready to go in an Angel's Shadow V20 and Aurora biplanes.

Anthem with PCK Drive

Smallmouth Fishing Trip

Hooked up with my brother to fish smallmouth on the Juniata River in Mifflintown PA. This is day one, travel day from Lake Ridge airpark in Raleigh, NC, to our destination, Mifflintown’s airpark.  Then on to the VRBO on the river.

Day two…Monday’s fishing adventure with our guide Jay. The day started slowly due to cool water temps, but improved as the day progressed. Here are pics of the two nice size smallies I caught…with warmer water temps tomorrow, the fishing should pick up…

Day three…2nd day of fishing for smallies on the Janiata River. Fishing started slowly but improved as the air and water temperatures warmed. Had a first, hooking two smallies on the same lure at the same time. The scenery here is breathtaking. Had an amazing time fishing with my brother. Now it’s on to the third part of our journey to South Carolina to attend the Joe Nall RC event at the Triple Tree Aerodome.

Space City's 16th Annual Pattern Event April 25-26, 2026

Had a successful weekend competing in Space City RC Club's 16th pattern event.  My BJ Craft Strato performed flawlessly.

Strato Configuration:

• Futaba 32MZ
• Ail=A704, Rud=A501 (pull-pull), Elev=S173
• (2) R7108SB RX (FASST Multi)
• PowerBox PBR-12X
• Precision Aero Products F3A Drive (low KV)
• D3 Controller
• TP ProliteX 10S 5000
• APC Carbojn 22x13
• Falcon Spinner
• PT Landing Gear and Pants

Friday Practice

Angel's Shadow V20 Bipe - Update

Man, time passes fast.  In early 2022, I took delivery of an ASB (Angel's Shadow v20 Bipe).  This was just before the Ukraine-Russia war broke out, freezing international bank transfers and shipping logistics. I'm very grateful my transaction was not impacted by the war. It was made ready-to-fly shortly after taking delivery. At the time, I was very happy with the BJ designs I was flying, so the ASB sat on the shelf waiting for its time.

Three years later, in September 2025 the ASB's maiden flight took place.  The maiden was flawless. After a couple of flights and a few tweaks to flight parameters, the ASB was feeling fairly comfortable.  The C54 swinging a 22x13 performed well, although I felt it was time to try a Contra system. Sent an email to Valdamir in Russia, the designer, enquiring about a new carbon nose to accommodate a Dualsky CRS3500.  He replied yes and shipped it to me.

To date, 10 flights have been logged with a Dualsky Contra. Transitioning from a single prop to a Contra has a learning curve, both in how to fly the plane overall and how to set a throttle curve and use the throttle in flight. Currently, the DulaSky is swinging 22x20s F&R. I sense the need for more thrust and braking. The next flying session, the DulaSky will be swinging 23x20s F&R.

It is easy to recognize the ASB's potential now outfitted with a Contra.  I look forward to logging more time and fine-tuning this setup to my liking.

Links

Maiden Flight

Equipment Installation

BJ Craft Strato Update

The Strato was originally equipped with the PAP (Precision Aero Products) PCK 4bld drive. After logging 71 flights with the PCK drive and making many configuration changes.  I continued to be unsatisfied with the Strato's flight behavior. A few months back, I did some horse trading with a buddy for a PAP 2bld drive, so I decided to install the 2bld drive.  Right away, the flight behavior was more to my liking. The Strato was more locked, especially when executing radii.  Rudder was less sensitive.  After tweaking the throttle curve, constant speed control was easier to manage.

The Strato now performs like the previous BJ Craft designs I've built. The PCK drive ran flawlessly.  Maybe it's not the best match for the Strato. I'll try it again on a future product. For now, I look forward to logging more time on the PAP 2bld drive-powered Strato.

Strato Equipment List:

Futaba 

• 32MZ
• 7108rx (2) using PBR-12x, Mode = FASST Multi
• HPS-704 aileron
• BLS173SV elevator
• S-A501 rudder (pull-pull) vs tail-mounted servo
• S.BUS

Power setup

• PCK 4-bld -> PAP 2Bld (49gr lighter)
• D3 controller
• Falcon carbon spinner
• APC Carbon 22x13

Landing gear

• PT carbon mains and pants
• Self-designed tail wheel
• Central Hobbies Titanium axles

Misc.

• F3AU removable battery tray
• Batteries
• TP 10s 5000mah/6000mah ProLiteX and FAI
• TP 2s 910mah ProLiteX
• Radio South hinges

Next up for testing, Angel's Shadow DualSky 3500 10s contra upgrade

BJ Craft Epilogue For Sale - ***updated still available***

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

$2350 $2150  $1850 + shipping

$225 $175 Revoc custom covers, wing+stab+vertical stabilizer

Contact Glen Watson @ rcprecision@gmail.com

Equipment List

• Futaba Digital servos (BLS171,BLS153,S9172)
• Motor/ESC Hacker C54 14XL Comp
• Adam Debowski's D3 Controller
• APC 22x13 Carbon

Upgrades

• Budd Engineering soft motor mount system
• Budd Engineering rear support
• Carbon spinner
• PT carbon landing gear
• PT carbon wheel pants
• Central Hobbies titanium axles
• Titanium pushrods (ail,elev)
• Carbon control horns (ail,elev,rud)
• Kevcord pull-pull rudder
• Two T-Can wings, 1 stock, 1 smaller (Acuity 2M)
• Custom removal battery tray

Custom Color Scheme - Wings West paint/Monokote

Original RTF weight with TP 10s 5000mah / 2s 910mah 4828gr

Epilogue Ready for Maiden

Initial Flight Report

Canilizer Test

Competition Report (Jetero 2024)

Competition Report (Jetero 2023)

P-27 Airborne Maneuvers

Click the links below to launch videos. Flown by Christian NiklaB of Germany.

1. Humpty Bump, 2 x1 /2 Rolls opposite direction up. 2x 1/4 Rolls down
2. Trombone, 2 x 1/2 Rolls opposite direction up. Full Roll down
3. Triangle, 1/2 roll up. 2 x 1/4 rolls on top. 1/2 roll down
4. Reverse Shark Fin, full roll up
5. Roll Combination, 2 x 1/4 roll, 1 snap roll, 2 x 1/4 roll opposite direction
6. Half Square, full roll up
7. Square Loop, 1/2 roll in lin 1 and 3
8. Half Cuban 8
9. Spin, 2x2 turns opposite
10. Top Hat, 2 x 1/4 rolls up. 1/2 roll down
11. Roll Combination 2 x 1/8, 1 x 1/4 oppsite
12. Humpty Bump, 2 x 1/4 up, 1/2 down
13. Figure M, 3/4 roll, 1/4 roll, 1/4 roll, 3/4 roll
14. Half Square on Corner, 1/2 rolls
15. Square from Top with 1/4 rolls
16. Reverse Figure ET with 1/2 roll, roll
17. Loop with 2 1/2 rolls integrated

Full P-27 Videos

• Mark Hu (VLV)
• Juan Rombaut RC

BJ Craft Strato Trimming Continues

Last flights were 11/19. Besides being under the weather the last couple of weeks, I've been busy with life tasks, providing professional building services on new F3A planes for friends, and performing some in-house fleet maintenance.  Today, the weather was too good to pass up.  Went out to Bomberfield and logged flights on the Strato. Following the last session on 11/19, I remeasured the CG with the 10s 6k and 10s 5k packs.  To my surprise, this repositioned the CG about 1/2" back from where I had been flying. Although this improved the feel on some elements, I'm still not completely satisfied. Between flights, I continued to adjust throws and expo to obtain the desired feel.  After the last flight, I added one turn of positive incidence, which I'll test tomorrow.

Flying Sites

Fortunate to have multiple FRIA sites within 10 to 45 minutes from my front door in Cypress, TX.

http://www.sparksrc.com

https://www.modelaircraft.org/club/space-city-rc

Best grass runway combined with a perfect overfly area for pattern I have ever flown from in my 30+ years as an RC pilot. Been a member since 2005.

http://www.bomberfieldusa.com

www.bayoucityflyersrc.com

http://www.nwrcc.com