AJ Laser 230z 73" Build Thread

[AKNick]

So other than adding a a bunch of pictures and doing a little cowling baffling, I am pretty much done with this bird. Empty it's 10.3lbs and the CG is roughly 3/4" in front of the wing tube. I can see the finish line!! unfortunately I have to leave for a work trip for almost two weeks, so no maiden for a while :facepalm:

 

[AKNick]

Fuel Tank Installation & Plumbing.

Fortitude 16oz V1, TDRC Blue Fuel tubing to engine, and Tygon to the Fuel Dot.


Made new slots for my fuel tank straps to keep it from wandering around into my throttle servo.


I lightly heat up the fuel tubing to help it slip over the fuel tank, and carb barbs. Then gently roll it while sqeezing to give it a better seal.


This was the best way I found to make an opening for the fuel line, an angled hole while beveled sides pointing inward.


With this routing it just clears the engine mount and gives adequate spacing from the JTec Muffler (Not on in this pic)




There you can see the fuel tubing being routed.


Heated up the Tygon and inserted a pen to open up the ID so the fuel dot can get inserted and removed with a bit more ease.



I trimmed it a little bit after this pic.

 

[AKNick]

Air Exhaust



Here I added a balsa chunk and a rubber fuel line holder for the fuel tank vent line.

 

[AKNick]

Batter Installation.

ED Nano A123 2500 w/deans output and a servo plug for charging.

Fabricated a tray to sit just aft and below the rudder servo for optimum CG.



Added looming to the battery cable.

 

[AKNick]

Having a spare channel in the Receiver, I decided to Y harness the battery input to help share the load and add a little bit of security. Obviously I decided to opt out the idea of putting a switch in like SupaTim.



I added looming to that wicked creation afterwards. I used 6" TDRC 20AWG servo extensions for this, just removed the white wire (by pushing forward on the wire, getting a xacto blade and bending the plastic tab up, then pulling the wire out).

 

[AKNick]

Wing Servo Wire Extensions.

TDRC 6" 20AWG



And once again added looming. Now you can see the whole setup to the receiver. I used hot glue to keep the antennas in place. I also put a bead across all the servo wire connectors for extra strength.

 

[AKNick]

Muffler Installation.



Jtec wrap around pitts muffler, Nordlock washers #19282, Ultra Copper RTV.


Here is a close up of the Nordlock Washers.


Clean everything with alcohol to the RTV gets a good bond.


The consensus was to put copper RTV on the threads of the muffler bolts and a thin film around the flange.


Here you can see the nordlocks splitting from their pair and interlock. Be careful not to over tighten the muffler bolts, you can pinch and crack the JTec Muffler if you put too much gusto into it.



Installed.

 

[AKNick]

Ended up capping off the mfgr's throttle servo opening.



Here you can see the top of the engine and how everything is routed.

 

[AKNick]

Cowling Installation:

Used supplied hardware to install blind nuts w/epoxy.

 

[AKNick]

Propeller Istallation:

Used the DA drilling Guide. Prop at roughly the 2 o'clock position coming up on TDC. Falcon 20X9



Don't forget to balance!!!! But in this case it was perfect.