Guy Pickett-Jones

Thanks for the feedback👍 JD8 - I had been looking the Corona R4SF and noted that yes likely to have to come from China, however have just purchased a second-hand one on ebay so will see if it works. I did pick up a Microzone receiver the other day, but only after getting it found out that it will only connect to a Microzone transmitter even though it is using the S-FHSS protocol. I don't know if anyone else has had any luck in connecting the Microzone RX to a different make TX? If the Corona doesn't work out then my next step was to look at the FrSky range so thanks for the advice on these as well. Guy

Afternoon, I recently acquired a XK-Innovation X6 2.4 Transmitter. This is to go with the XK- K100 Helicopter. However, for what it is, it's quite nice transmitter with a fair bit of functionally in the menus, so I was thinking of using it for all my indoor models, however I'm having trouble finding any receivers that could potentially work with it. XK themselves, if they are even still going, don't seem to sell separate receivers from what I can find. What I can make out from the instructions is that this transmitter use the Futaba S-FHSS communication protocol, so I'm after compatible receivers that could bind with this protocol. I only use Futaba on the FASST system so have very little knowledge of open-source transmitters/protocols etc. So has anyone else used or come across this transmitter? Can anyone recommend receivers that run on the Futaba S-FHSS communication protocol that could connect to 'any' S-FHSS Transmitter? It is for indoor models, 4 channel, and looking at low cost, so trying to avoid Futaba prices! Thanks in advance for any pointers! Guy

Hi Richard, Many thanks for the comments - Think Brian is being a bit optimistic!!! I think 2018 might be a bit more realistic for the first of the batch But as I'm sure we all do things will often take longer than planned.... Final balance of CoG now done - had to add 90g - 100g up front so overall weight is at about 3.2kg Guess the next thing to do is fly it!!! Thanks also to everyone else for the encouragement - hope folk have enjoyed the build threads overall! Guy

Well 99.9% done!!! A few quick photo's before the Sun went down! Engine install finished today so basically all done just some final tweaking before a test flight! Need to finalise the CofG - might need a bit of weight up front. As it stands though currently weighing in at 3.1kg More detailed 'review' will follow Guy

Let there be light! Not great photos but hopefully good enough to see that the lights are now installed and working. Going back to very early post on this thread although there were many variations of the Yak, the Yak 3 that I have gone with did only appear to have the three navigation light as I have installed. So yesterdays work was making the lighting harness & installing the lights, connecting the rudder and elevator control surfaces and fixing in place the battery packs. 4 cell NiCad pack for the receiver and one 620mAh 3S lipo for the Lights. Then installing the receiver and starting to connect everything up. Next two main stages - Install the servos in the wings, reinstall the flaps & landing gear and connect up all control surfaces. Second is to do the final installation of the Engine. Guy

Having set myself a target of having it done for our Clubs Gala on the 17th July I can confirm that this wasn’t achieved L but I had made significant progress and hopefully not too far off now J Well the below photo is of the Yak with the Brown Paper covering finished. Once done, and due to various factors including going to B&Q, Screwfix and Tool Station in one evening I finally got some sanding sealer and used this to seal the brown paper covering – again a light coat and all went fine. Due to rushing to meet said deadline I didn’t take photos progressing the painting, which became quite stressful at times including a compressor break down and different shades of paint which were supposedly the same…. The difference between Aerosol and Tin I guess…….. Anyway lessons learnt and the end result is below! All major parts are now painted and the whole plane has had a coating of fuel proofing. Overall I’m quite pleased with the results knowing that some parts were rushed so could have been better. The only bit that didn’t quite work was the group of 15 Red stars – these had been printed on clear water transfer / sticker paper. I’d hoped the fuel proofer would have blended the surrounding clear part of the sticker into the final finish but unfortunately you can still see the rectangular edges of the sticker. The other larger stars were printed on to similar water transfer paper but white hence being able to get the white outline. The number 12 and front art work were hand painted with the aid of masking. With some free hand painting of the sword. It is now a case of final assembly.

Well since around Friday / Saturday if I haven’t been at work or sleeping I have been working on the YAK. So a quick update on progress to date. Filler was applied around the servo boxes and on the flaps to level out to the wing surfaces. The fairings were also glued in place. Time wise I haven’t gone for the more scale approach at the front of the fairing like Brian had but am quite happy with how mine have turned out. The whole wing was sanded to shape and the fairing at the rear of the wing on the fuselage side built up to give a nice blended look to the fairings. As I had left the ailerons attached I predrill the holes for the hinges and to aid this made up a small jig to ensure (theoretically) the holes would be at the right angle and position, I did a couple of trial pieces and the plan seems to work! The jig itself was made from some carbon tube (ID of 3mm) sandwiched between to pieces of balsa at a 45degree angle. With ‘lining up’ marks on the outside it held the drill at the correct angle and position – this is for the Robart pin type hinge. Once the holes were drilled into the main wing and aileron, the aileron was then cut free from the wing itself. Again no photo currently but the ailerons then had balsa caps added at each end, and an angle cut on the leading edge to allow for downward movement. I made some formers for the canopy just to push it out slightly wider to get good fit onto the fuselage. Then hard points to screw the canopy to were glued in place – waiting to be sanded down. Brown Paper Covering! Well as indicated in previous posts this was new to me and have to say having given it a go I’m very pleased with the results so far following Richard’s advice. Below is the fuselage already for a postage stamp! The wing has now also been covered and the next stage is the light doping before moving on to the painting itself.