Xpress builds a 115 AJ Laser - PICTURE HEAVY!

[Xpress]

Last night I worked on getting the throttle and choke servos installed. I just so happened to have a pair of 6" SWB titanium turnbuckles that did the job perfectly, and using one of the supplied servo boxes, plus a servo box from the 105 Laser, I was able to glue them to the sides of the fuselage. Wicked plenty of thin CA into the ply in those areas too in order to prevent it from delaminating.

I also managed to get the ignition module mounted to the removable plate on top of the motorbox. A strip of velcro plus a couple of zip ties and this bad boy isn't going anywhere.

Will secure the ignition wires with aluminum line clamps. Just need to plumb the tank, put the IBEC in, slap the prop on, and we can fire er up!!

 

[Xpress]

Got the 180 fired up last night, it purrs like a kitten but roars like a lion.

 

[Xpress]

Fresh new hotness right off the truck!!!!!!!!

 

[dhal22]

Fresh new hotness right off the truck!!!!!!!!

View attachment 103309

Until I tried the 9380 I just never knew what a servo could be. Do a tug of war contest with my MKS 777's and it would be a riot. The 777 would tuck his tail and run under my work table whimpering. The 9380/81 is a seriously awesome servo.

 

[stangflyer]

The ZDZ180 is the most powerful engine in all of those ranges

REALLY???????

 

[Xpress]

More work over the weekend. All servos are installed and matched, McFueler in, tank fully plumbed, vents installed, just a few more things to button up and it'll be ready for a maiden THIS WEEKEND

A video showing how I match servos too.

Until I tried the 9380 I just never knew what a servo could be. Do a tug of war contest with my MKS 777's and it would be a riot. The 777 would tuck his tail and run under my work table whimpering. The 9380/81 is a seriously awesome servo.

I actually have to warn people about just how powerful the 9380/81 is as it'll break everything in its path.

REALLY???????

Yes.

 

[stangflyer]

More work over the weekend. All servos are installed and matched, McFueler in, tank fully plumbed, vents installed, just a few more things to button up and it'll be ready for a maiden THIS WEEKEND

View attachment 103347 View attachment 103348 View attachment 103349 View attachment 103350

A video showing how I match servos too.

I actually have to warn people about just how powerful the 9380/81 is as it'll break everything in its path.



Yes.

Have friend with a DLE 222 twisting a Falcon 33x11w @ 6100. My 212cs is turning the same prop at the same RPM.Throttle response lightening quick. My son's 222 turns a Falcon 32x12 at just under 5900. My dub 170 is annihilating a Falcon 32x11 at around 6150ish. Probably going to have to go to a 32x12 or a 33x11w like the 212. Throttle response so quick it makes a Ferrari look slow. Granted, the ZDZ 180 is no slouch. My buddie here has one. We flew it not long ago. 33x11w Falcon @ 5850. But still not the most powerful in the 150-222cc range.

 

[Xpress]

We will see at Tri Cities!!!

For reference, it turns a 3 blade Mej 29x12x3EVO at 6000rpm, the Falcon 32x12x2 I have on it will spin at 6500rpm- Mine is not fully broken in yet and it's turning the 32x12 at nearly 6300rpm. It rips in a hover if I punch it wide open, and it smokes the DLE222!!!

 

[stangflyer]

We will see at Tri Cities!!!

For reference, it turns a 3 blade Mej 29x12x3EVO at 6000rpm, the Falcon 32x12x2 I have on it will spin at 6500rpm- Mine is not fully broken in yet and it's turning the 32x12 at nearly 6300rpm. It rips in a hover if I punch it wide open, and it smokes the DLE222!!!

Guess you're just stronger than my buddy up here.

 

[Xpress]

Inching closer to completion!! Last nights work consisted of swapping the plastic throttle arm with an aluminum one- I did this for 2 reasons, the top of the arm is flat which means the linkage could sit right over the arm and not bind, and 2 I could get the linkage closer to the servo hub and therefore shorten the arm. I think my throttle is going to work out alright this time, if not more tweaks will need to be made to get it perfect

Made an antenna array for the receive.r With 14" of antenna leads to work with it made a little bit of a challenge but overall I'm very happy with how this turned out. Antennas are angled 45* to horizontal and are 90* apart from each other for the best signal diversity.

Bracing and supports are made from creative foam. It's rock solid. Antenna tube is from the LHS, usually used for RC cars.

Lastly I mounted the Tech Aero IBEC using velcro, wrapped the wires with snakeskin to clean the appearance up, and mounted the LED.

More snakeskin is on order from TDRC, hopefully I get those before the end of the week so I can finish tidying up the wiring