CompARF GeeBee R2 - Progress Update

Progress has been slow and steady over the past few months. I've got the tanks in and plumbed, and all the electronics is now installed and wired up.

The flying wires have been tensioned and set as well.

I now have only the baffling for the cowl, and the hinges for the door to complete, then it's happy days!

CompARF GeeBee Progress

I've made some decent progress on the GeeBee since last post. The engine(DA-150) is mounted up with ignition killswitch (Powerbox SparkSwitch), battery (Fromeco A123) and throttle servo allmounted on the back of the firewall.

I'm using these new knuckle headers from MTW, which are

very very easy to position as they pivot in two places, then you silver solder them to lock in.

I've also done the flying wires on one side of the airframe. These are metal wires which are airfoiled shaped and threaded at one end. You solder a copper lug onto the fixed end which mounts into the wing itself. Important to note that on the CompARF model, the flying wires are CRITICAL as they are actually functional because there's no wing tube spar or anything.

I'm using MTW cannisters mounted on MTW comf

ort mounts for the exhaust system, which is a departure from most of the CompARF builds which use the stock mufflers. I decided on the cannisters as it's important for where I fly to keep the noise down, and also they have a really neat smoke nozzle and pre-heating tube which will make smoking nice and rich.

The downside to cannisters may be balancing the GeeBee as there's very little in front of the wing, so I'll have to make sure that I keep batteries as far forward as possible. As you can see there's lots and lots of room inside the fuse, but I'm in a quandary at the moment as to where I can put the fuel tank without it being too high to cause fuel to drain into the carb when sitting on the ground. I'm sure I'll figure that out soon, it'll come to me :)

CompARF GeeBee Begins

I started putting the CompARF GeeBee together last night. As you would expect from CompARF the kit is amazing quality and good quality hardware is included.

I ordered the optional undercarriage package as well, which is quite well engineered aside from the rough tolerances that the axle and collars are manufactured. In other words the collars fit VERY snuggly on the axle, a little too snugly as they wouldn't move when out of the box.

The only other disappointment was the lack of tailwheel included in the kit. Considering the quality and other inclusions in the kit this was quite disappointing. I've contacted CompARF about this to see what's going on.

The assembly of the kit is quite straight forward, and anyone with experience in assembling composite airframes in the past wouldn't have an issue. Few photo's here of the landing gear assembly, and you get a good idea of the size of the aircraft.

The equipment I've decided upon follows;

Engine: DA-150

Prop: 32x10 (to start with)

Exhaust: MTW cans

Servos: Hitec HS7955TG's on everything

Rx: Futaba 8ch FASST

Tx: Futaba 12FG

AMR-RC Giant Stick Maiden

It's been flown. Had a great time flying my Giant Stick. I ended up using an MT-80 for power with a 26A Vess prop.

Unfortunately as I put the MT on some longer standoffs I've got a vibration problem which, on the first flight caused the failure of the throttle servo mount and the motor died. No problems with the landing and all was good after a quick repair to the mount. I think I'll remove the standoffs and mount the motor straight on the firewall or on a rubber mount to try and remove the vibration from that one big piston.

The GiantStick flies nice, very stable, and has good roll rate considering the wing area. Unfortunately I ran out of channels on my 9CAP to put the flaps and ailerons on their own channels, I had to use Y-leads. FORTUNATELY, my lovely wife bought be a 12FG for my birthday, which means I've got another 3 channels to play with now! What a woman!

Next thing to do will be to build the lolly bomb bay, and get the smoke setup.

Other than the throttle servo problem, I'm extremely pleased with the Giant Stick, flies just like, well, a giant stick!! :)

C-ARF GeeBee R-2 + Project Update

Again, long time no post. I've finally bit the bullet and ordered a C-ARF GeeBee R-2 from DA Australia. I ordered the C-Arf accessory landing gear as well because I'm getting so lazy building things.

I'm planning to power with DA-150, Hitec HS-5645MG's all round.

I still have my Pawnee on the bench, I'm about to start on the wings, and still nutting out the cockpit framing to make sure it's strong enough.

I've also not yet maidened by AMR Giant Stick, but plan to do it this coming weekend. I've recently upgraded the Giant Stick to an MT-80 as I was concerned with the torque from the DLE-55 and also the balance. The kit turned out to be VERY tail heavy, and putting an 80 up the front gives me some more weight.

Pilot R/C - 88" Yak-54 - First Flights

Had successful first few flights yesterday with my Pilot R/C Yak. Great fun, flies like it's on rails, it really does. Such a simple build, it takes longer to put the servos in and program the radio than it does to build it!! My setup follows;

Make: Pilot RC - http://www.pilot-rc.com/

Model: 87" Yak-54 - http://www.pilot-rc.com/ProductShow.aspx?id=61

Engine: DA-50 from Desert Aircraft Australia - http://shop.desertaircraft.com.au/

Exhaust: MTW Cannister

Prop: 22x10 Mejzlik Carbon

Rx: JR RD-921

Servos: Hitech HS-7955TG's all round except throttle (Hitec HS-5645MG)

Batteries: Sanyo KR1700 5 Cells - I think I'll change them out for some Fromeco LiFe's though

AMR Giant Stick - Covering Done... Well almost

Here's some photo's of the final covered aircraft. I'm yet to add some trim stripes and attach the ailerons and flaps.

As this is really the first time I've put it together since I sheeted the wing, I've realised that the wing saddle is a little out of whack on one side and I'll need to "adjust" it. Which is why the wing panels aren't together.

Last bits to do;

* Add aerotow attachment

* Finalise RC Gear

* Engine and fuel tank

* Smoke and smoke tank

* Lolly Drop Mechanism :)