Mike Deans

I do have a tapered cutting tool to hand in case it is needed, however by studying the side elevation of the plan the two wing tubes show the phenolic tube and the aluminium tube. The two aluminium tube sizes are 13 mm and 19 mm both of which are listed on SLEC’s website, should have looked more carefully before yelling “Help”, still no harm in asking, thanks to all. Mike

Your thoughts match mine, the holes on the plan and actual ribs are 22mm and 16 mm, so on Monday I’ll give SLEC. a phone to confirm. Mike

Sorry that should read 16 mm not 26 mm

The reason I am asking about the wing tubes is the ones at SLEC do not match what is on the plan. There are two sizes 22 m and 26 mm shown, and none of the SLEC tubes match these sizes unless (a long shot I know) the sizes refer to the aluminium tube. Unfortunately SLEC are closed so I will have to wait until Monday. Oh and by the way I have taken delivery of the SARIK full kit. Mike

May I ask where you got the phenolic wing tubes from and what sizes they are, as this model will be built slowly over the coming months and I am gathering bits and bobs. Mike

I believe that the PZL 11 wings were designed to allow the pilot to have a better view as the position of the cockpit allowed the pilot to see above and below the wing.   Mike

Make sure you use Loctite (generously) on all nuts, bolts, screws etc. I lost a CMP Hellcat on its second take off because I had not noticed that the vibrations on the first flight had loosened off the carb, bolts and the engine lost power on climb out, result model totalled, sob, sob. I also hope you remember that these engines use a big diameter prop. but also needs TWICE the normal pitch because of the engine gearing spinning the prop at half "normal" revs..   Mike

Well this may not be of any help, although I do have one of these engines I have never come across this problem with it, BUT.  I had a similar problem with a usually reliable OS 52 Surpass in that it needed increased revs at "idle" for the engine to keep going, eventually resulting in the model showing extreme reluctance to land. I traced the problem to the low speed needle having vibrated out from its ideal position to give a very rich mixture which, if not compensated by increasing the revs, "put the fire out in the boiler room" . Resetting the low speed needle to its original setting ( near enough anyway) resulted in allowing the engine to reduce the revs to a more respectable "idle" level. Worth a try to see if this is your problem. Mike

Here we go again. Mike

This may be of some interest, enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGepvIdbad8 Mike

"Once more into the breach"  etc. etc.  Mike

Ooooohhhh yes please!

Not sure but this model may have something to do with a Russian high altitude spy/research aircraft?  Mike

Money ( and plenty of it ), somewhere to build it, somewhere to store it, oh dear the list goes on Mike

That's the beggar !  Thanks David , I'll be spared hunting for that tonight.  http://www.myhobbystore.com/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/1174/groupID/3/categoryID/53/v/02860fc0-ec99-4f6c-972d-70fd3e5e599f Mike

Phil there is a plan, I cannot remember off hand the plan no. but it was on the old Nexus plans list, although it may have been removed since then. When I get home I will look at my copy to give you the plan number/designer/size etc.. Mike

There are a few online sites, this is only one http://www.blackburnmodels.com/upgrade/ Mike

Hi, Just found this thread and I also have one of these engines and as Jetsome knows from another thread I would advise the liberal use of thread lock on any screw / bolt. The carb. on mine in a Hellcat vibrated loose and lost power on its second take off and the model went in nose first ( total bin bag job ). Have a look at this site, I have a few of his silencers inc. the 120 SP one ( not yet fitted or tried out but no way is it going to come adrift) , might be worth considering. http://www.keleo-creations.com/Single%20Engines/RCV-120/RCV-man.htm Mike

I am surprised that nothing more on these lines has appeared in print or on forums, ahhh well then I suppose it is a case of Caveat Emptor. Mike

Well for what it is worth I'll chuck in my tuppence worth and say, use them. In this thread Jetsome mentioned an "exploding" crankcase, well this is the first time I've heard or come across this. Crashes are mentioned ,if the exploding engine was involved in a crash might some damage have occured ? Could it have been due to a casting flaw in the crankcase ? Jetsome may have been extremely unfortunate in this instance. As for the mufflers blowing apart all I can say is this, my Saito 91 uses the original silencer in an inverted set up in my Swallow EX90 and shows no sign of dropping off or blowing apart. Mike

Actually I was using a large diameter three blade prop. made by Bolly, and the engine had a little over 1 hour bench running with no problems. Mike

Found it,have a good look at what he does , it might inspire you, as he says he's busy so do not expect a fast turn round but his work is good. http://www.keleo-creations.com/ Andy, Kelvin is also doing a silencer for the 220 that you are interested in. Mike

Ahh you've got an RCV 120 SP too have you. Small word of caution take every nut and bolt and give them a good dollop of thread locking fluid and do them up tight. I had one in a Hellcat from Flair, after sorting out the engine the maiden flight took place and it was good even if afterwards I had to take the cowl off to tighten up the silencer which had worked loose. Then after the maiden flight knee knocking had ceased I went for the second flight, just as the wheels left the ground the engine started to cough / sneeze. Our field on that take off direction drops down so there was no chance of setting down safely, the wings started to waffle about and then stalled. Exit one model, the post mortem revealed that despite tight bolts the carb. had vibrated loose. Hope you have better luck, by the way have you seen the silencer from Keleo Creations in Oregon, no way is that baby going to vibrate loose. If I can find the web address I'll post it here as they do silencers for various engines inc. Saito. I have three for my radials and the one for the 120 SP. Mike

There is no difference in performance between a "Golden Knight" version and a "normal" coloured one, just a bit of added flash. Mike

If I remember correctly the five cylinder which is 52 c.c. has a quoted power output of 3.8 b.h.p.. The 90 R3 three cylinder (15 c.c.)is 0.95 b.h.p.. The 170 three cylinder (27.8 c.c.) is 2 b.h.p. and finally the 450 R3 three cylinder (75 c.c.)has 5.5 b.h.p.. Yes they are less powerful than an equivalent sized single "pot" but they also swing a large diameter prop. very smoothly. Mike ps Jetsome your comment about a "design weakness" is hardly fair as most four stroke manufacturers have their engines pushrods at the front. Enya is the only one I know of that puts them at the rear, and there are one or two smaller capacity engines which have them at the side.