My project, 30% PAU Sukhoi Su-26

I love Sukhois. I just had to have one.

This really isn't much of a build, as this thing is easier to assemble than most ARFs. I guess it helps that the wings don't need to be glued together, tail isn't glued on, etc.



This post has been edited by Mike on Jun 30 2011, 12:55 PM

The plane arrived well packaged, and even includes wing bags, but despite the packaging there was still some damage to the cowl when it arrived. The company (Performance Aircraft Unlimited, www.flypau.com ) is replacing the cowl at no cost, but it won't be here for a few more days.



In the meantime I've mounted most of the servos - waiting until I'm ready to figure out balance to place the throttle servo still - and set up my linkages on the elevators and ailerons. Tonight's project will likely include setting up the pull-pull cables on the rudder. Well, first I need to install the rudder. The ailerons and elevators came pre-installed, but the rudder was left off to avoid damage in shipping.

Hmm, having trouble uploading some of these other pics, will have to do it from home later.

The parts being used (or planned, at least):

Evolution 58 engine
Power HD servos - I'm hesitant, but I've ready very confident reviews - 9150s on the elevators and ailerons, 8325 on rudder
Dual 1100 mAh A123 batteries to the receiver, with an additional 100 mAh A123 for the engine ignition. The ignition requires 6.4 volts, so this will mean no regulators needed on the airplane at all.
Fromeco switches

I think that's it. Now I just have to make it all come together.

Okay, I can add the rest of these pictures now.

Here is one half of the horizontal stabilizer with one of the elevator servos installed.




I usually use a small zip-tie to hold hidden servo connections together, but i got all fancy and used heat shrink this time.



This should be plenty of throw to do all of that stuff that I have no clue how to do anyway.



Rudder servo installed with a ginormous servo arm. Setting up the pull-pull cables now, on the servo end at least. Haven't decided if I'll go ahead and glue on the rudder now, or save that til the end so I don't risk banging it up while working on the engine install. It's not like I'll be moving the plane around a whole lot anyway.



Hopefully Hobbytown will have the engine standoffs in tomorrow, and I can get this beast mounted sometime this weekend.



In theory the plane could probably be ready to fly by next weekend, but I've been slacking and haven't got around to ordering the batteries or switches yet.

Now that is a engine!

Mike what about that Cub you have been wanting ?

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!! Tony- he has been flying mine.

But know he has gone off the deep end fliping and floping.

That idea came and went long ago Tony.

I mainly just got this so I can be more competitive in Armageddon next year.

You will be sorry. Mike don't do it.

Looks nice Mike. Honestly though, you need to build something!

Looks nice Mike!!! I haven't flown anything by PAU but I've heard there planes are great!!!

I need to crash (or sell) something before I can build something. That probably just means I need to fly more, or fly more aggressively.

Plus I can't really think of anything I want to build. I've wanted to build a Juno RC Tsunami for years ( http://www.junorc.com/kits.html ) but then when I think about it, it's just yet another low wing, .40 size airplane (a.k.a. Ultra Sport/LA Racer/4 Star) which I DON'T need.

Thanks Jon. I was real close to getting a 3dhs Extra, but I couldn't turn down the Sukhoi. I think the scale theme is what did me in, plus you just don't see enough (or any) Sukhois around.

This post has been edited by Mike on Jul 1 2011, 08:06 AM

I thought about the pilot rc and pau but when I saw the vid from the 3dhs slick... Went to the website and saw everything that comes with the plane, wow! Talk about nice! Wingbags, carbon gear, tailwheel, aluminum rims with wheels, spinner, hardware, etc....

About 10 years ago I went to a flyin in Maryland and a guy had a Frank Knoll 100cc Christen Eagle with smoke. That was the coolest plane. If I was going to build something....

BTW, here's the vid. **This guy has only been flying 2 years...**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzowQtqOM_I...player_embedded

Jon

This post has been edited by jonkoppisch on Jul 1 2011, 08:48 AM

Awesome flying!
I know those planes come with the ability to do everything that guy did.

So we expect the same from you, Jon!

Not me I wish I could fly like that!!!! I'll definitely have fun with it! Did you see the power on blender at the 5 minute mark? WOW!

For those that aren't aerobatic fans it comes with an extra set of stabs for flying circuits...

Picked up the standoffs from Hobbytown at lunch. Never used these before, but it looks pretty self explanatory. I had always assumed they were hollow and you just run a 2-3" bolt through them into a blind nut or something in the firewall. These are threaded on each end, but are not open all the way through. Plus they only come with one set of bolts.

So the engine bolts to the standoffs from the front, and then you run four more bolts through the back of the firewall into them. I just hope four 10-32 bolts are enough to support this 4 lb engine.

I'll also have to bore out a huge hole in the firewall for the carb, since it extends more than 38mm behind the mounting flanges on the engine itself.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Defau...?ProdID=EVO3307





This post has been edited by Mike on Jul 1 2011, 02:49 PM

Yep, the joy of a rear carb engine

Finally got some work done with the engine.

I started by removing the carb, then attached the engine standoffs. With the standoffs mounted, I traced the outline of them on a piece of card stock, then did some elaborate line-drawing to determine the center of each standoff as well as the center of the engine. Took this and transferred it to the firewall and presto, engine is hung.











Put the carb back on and started cutting out some material (a LOT of material) from the firewall to give clearance for the carb as well as the fuel line, throttle arm/pushrod, and choke arm.





Did a quick test fit with the cowl to ensure I have clearance for the head. The head will clear, will just need to cut a slot for the spark plug cap.




I haven't decided yet if I'm going to set up a choke servo or a manual choke. One thing that has me a little stumped is that the choke on my other gas engine (G-38) more or less "snaps" into the fully open and fully closed positions. This one had a spring on it to hold it open, which I unhooked but left on, but now it just kind of hangs out mostly open. It doesn't "snap" open or closed. So I'm not sure how I would set it up without using a servo to hold it closed or open.