The power plant is mounted! I am using a DX7 and it does not allow for throttle curves. Based on experiences from my DLE-30 I know the throttle geometry needs a little tweaking. I need to manually build in a throttle curve because if setup in a linear fashion you use up all the throttle in pretty much the first half of the throttle stick. I found a diagram on RCgroups.com and will give it a shot with this plane.

 

 

Even though the weather has been extremely nice for the last 2 weeks I have not had a chance to fly a plane. I finally flew my Superfly in the back yard. It sure felt great to get in the air again. I do not think I lost a whole lot during the off season.
 

Not sure the specs on this plane but enjoy! Bob or Jim, you should leave a comment on the power system and plane specs.

 

Installed the rudder today using the pull-pull wire system. Since plenty of wire was provided with the plane I installed the servo end first. Before I started I watched a few videos to see how they recommend installing the wire system. I started by taping the rudder straight the vertical stab. During crimping of the last wire I crimped a little hard and cut the wire. Whoops! I ran to Cobblestone Hobbies and picked up some more wire. The second time around I did not crimp quite as hard. I was told to crimp in an ‘X’ to extra crimping power. I finished it off by applying a little CA to the crimps. The wire is tight but not guitar string tight. I will have to show one of the guys at the field to see if it should be tighter. I think the next step is installing the engine and throttle servo!

After a few month hiatus from building the AJ Slick I am back at it. The Robins have arrived to sing their sweet song in the morning, that can only mean spring is almost here! Time to get of my lazy kester and finish up the largest, most expensive plane in my fleet. I am really trying to build this plane right, as a lawn dart with this plane might just make me give up on this hobby for awhile….Ok probably not,but still. It looked pretty coming out of its packaging and I hope to build it right and keep it that way. I focused on servo installation today. I am using Hitec 7955TG servos. Quite the upgrade from the HXT900’s I am used to buying. Almost had to take out a home equity loan just for the dang servos. I should be able to use them in larger birds if I ever go bigger, and yes in this hobby bigger is better! For the first time I am using SWB metal control horns. I am using 2″ horns on the elevator halves and the ailerons. The rudder is a wire pull-pull system and it will be using a 4″ SWB rudder horn. It will be my first time rigging a wire system so YouTube here I come. It was also the first time installing servos inside of elevator halves. It took a bit of time but I eventually got it. My magnetized screw drivers were a godsend. One tip for anyone using SWB arms. They are a tight fit. Get the grooves just started and use the screw to pull them down over the splines. This will make them much easier to take on and off later. I only had to do this with the elevator servos as the servos would not fit inside the elevator half with the control horn preinstalled. To some today’s work up. My wings have the servos installed and were placed in their storage bags and set in the garage. The elevator halves have been installed on the plane with their servos. I mounted the rudder control horn on the rudder servo. Tomorrow I will work on the wire rigging. Enjoy the pics! Also for those of you using a DX7 and need to use two servos for the ailerons and two servos for the elevator check out this link. It helped me setup the correct mixing on my radio. http://www.spektrumrc.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ArticleID=1798