Seagull Yak 54 (91 Deluxe Series)

[Ross Clarkson]

Got some more done today. As i said, i am planning on really taking my time on this plane, so here is the latest work completed:

 

Elevator/Rudder control horn fittings.

 

Elevator and bag of hardware provided, control horn hole cover removed with knife.

 

Bottom of horizontal tailplane and elevator. Epoxy apllied in hole and thread lock applied to small nut.

Top surface, very neat.

Rudder control horn was a little trickier but no great issues, just had to make sure there was equal amounts of horn each side. Same technique above applied.

Horizontal tailplane turnbuckle attachment fitted. Cover removed and tightened up. I haven't epoxied or thread locked this as of yet as i will wait until the tailplane is securely in place before doing this.

 

Finished horizontal tailplane control horns.

 

 

More soon hopefully.

[Stephen Grigg]

Youll be running around the Garden pretending to fly it in no time at all Ross

[Ross Clarkson]

Well i just can't put this little beauty down so i have done more today.

Its going together so nicely with no surprises whatsoever yet, fingers crossed!!!

 

Aileron control horns fitted using same technique as above, i havent included a picture as i am sure you dont want to see that!

 

On to the Wing Servo's. So simple compared to others and not having to worry about a hatch.

 

Servo placed in wing and drill holes marked.

 

Servo test fitted.

 

Servo (DS821) fitted. So simply yet so elegant at the same time. You can also see the control horn fitting in this pic.

Now, on to the massive fuselage.

 

All cover removed as necessary. Switch hole, wing tube hole, wing bolt holes, servo lead holes and canopy bolt hole.

 

On Lee Smalley's advice, i have coated the canopy connections with Cyano too strengthen them up a little.

 

Test fit of the canopy, which fits beautifully and looks gorgeous.

 

And then.....................................i just couldnt resist a practice fit of the wings!!! Why is it so hard to resist putting it all together to see what it looks like!

Cavenous innards!!!!

I am sure there will be more soon as i just can't resist this plane. I said it was going to be slow, but im not so sure now. Ha Ha.

 

Cheers,

 

Ross.

[r6dan]

That is looking fantastic,you are making me want one!Keep the updates coming mate!

[Stephen Grigg]

Especially with the picture of Lee"s as well coming together well Ross.an excellant choive.i took a look on Seagulls site and theyve 3 models coming out during Nov,Dec.and they look Excellante.

[r6dan]

I am saving as hard as the dole will let me for one of those!!

[Ross Clarkson]

Hi all,

 

Some more progress today for you.

 

Concentrating on the rear end, i have installed the horizontal tailplane and completed a few other bits and bobs.

On my previous airplanes i have had to be careful to get it completely horizontal due to less than perfect manufacturing but no such problems with this one. The product is top class and perfect first time.

 

Test fit the tailplane and mark the covering around the fuselage, as this is to be removed.

 

Remove the covering with a modellers knife.

 

Note the extra bit of covered balsa which is needed to fill the gap once tailplane is installed.

 

Covering removed from elevator servo positions and rear end tidied up a little.

 

I then noticed an extra hole this side of the fuselage at the bottom which does actually have a control snake inside for, but i have scratched my head and can't for the life of me work out what it is for!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can always cover it if its not needed i suppose.

 

Epoxy applied and tailplane fitted and alligned perfectly, straight and level without any need to wedge or adjust!

 

I have left the wedge for now but whilst the tailplane was drying, i then Cyano' the throttle servo tray into the fuselage.

This is only needed for four stroke engines which i am having.

 

And whilst i had the bottle open, i apllied Cyano to various other places inside like the Wing bolt holes and wing tube holes etc.. to harden them a little more.

 

More soon hopefully.

 

Cheers,

[Kelly]

The extra hole may be for the 35Megawotsits Rx aerial to dangle out of

[Ross Clarkson]

.....and some more.

 

I must admit, i made a bit of a mistake as after i had glued the tailplane and let it cure, i discovered that some epoxy had squeezed out into the gap where the vertical fin would go!!!!!

I did panic for a bit as i knew the fin wouldn't seat properly but turned out not to be too much of an issue. I just carefully took my time gently picking it away and then sanded it smooth until it was all nicely level and flush again.

I also discovered that the remaining rudder hinge slot on the tail end of the fuselage needed adjusting ever so slightly as the hinge was not locating properly. A scalpel sorted this out.

 

Same procedure as horizontal tailplane used.

Test fitted, location marked, covering removed, epoxied in place.

 

For some reason it suddenly dawned on me how big that rudder is!!!!!!

.....and believe it or not, the fin is not see through!!!!

Perfectly straight, measured from fin top to horizontal tailplane edge.

 

After some advice, i will be purchasing a Metal Geared servo for the rudder.

Cheers all.

[Ross Clarkson]

Cheers Kelvin, yeah i realised that soon after posting and after RTM again!!!!!

[Stephen Grigg]

Yes I always admire Seagulls quality for the price.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

I do like Seagull's simple metal bolt type horn, you find them on many of their larger models.

[Lee Smalley]

i must change my rudder servo for MG one now !!!

[Ross Clarkson]

Agreed David, simple but very effective, neat and tidy.

 

Lee, i was shocked to see how much they were really, so i didn't break the bank and went for a Spektrum A6020 Standard Digital Aircraft Servo, metal geared.

10.5kg/cm at 6.0v for £25. Hope it will be ok but i didnt really fancy paying £50 upwards for one servo!!  

[Ross Clarkson]

A little more done today, bit by bit it is changing taking shape.

I also didn't realise how poor the iPhone pics are so i have reverted back to my trusty hand-held point and shoot.

 

Only a little completed today as i said i would take it easy on the build.

 

Elevator servo's (DS821) installed.

 

Servo lined up and guide holes marked. 1.5mm holes drilled.

 

Servo's in place, extension leads guided through. Very snug fit horizontally.

 

Tail in all its glory.

 

So i don't have to take the canopy off too charge, i purchased a switch which has an external charging point.

I decided i wanted something a bit chunkier than the normal switch so went for a heavy duty version. It even has a nice little cover on the external charge point which has a tab that can open and close it.

 

Original switch hole opened up.

 

Switch installed and screwed up.

 

Taking shape nicely.

 

Cheers,

[Stephen Grigg]

You rushing this or what itll be finished in a blink of an eye,seems to be coming on very well Ross,and its LOOKING Good

[Ross Clarkson]

Cheers Mr Grigg, its just too hard not to do anything when i walk past it!!!

It can only proceed so far anyway, until Santa comes with my new Thunder Tigre FS130.

[Stephen Grigg]

Ross Ive got the very engine for you.Its a Super Tigre 4500 2 stroke.A mate deopped it off for me to sell for him.Its 45cc,huge,the FS 130 is a girl compared to this big boy

[Ross Clarkson]

Ha Ha, i think that might be a tad too big but thanks anyway!!!!! ha ha.

[Stephen Grigg]

Ive just put a thread on the extension thread that was meant to go on here,Im going to have a lay down

[Ross Clarkson]

Just read your post that you put on the extension thread by accident Stephen.

 

I will not be flying this model until i am 99% confident enough that i can fly it properly and hopefully keep it in one piece for a while!

It is a long term project so that it will be ready for when i am ready!!!

 

Nothings out of your reach Stephen. We just need to keep practicing. 

[Stephen Grigg]

Very true Ross,in fact the most difficult model I have to fly at the moment is a scale Desoutter with an OS 30 4 stroke,very twitchy.

Edited By Stephen Grigg on 14/11/2010 09:27:20

[Ross Clarkson]

......and once again, a small amount done again today.

 

Rudder and throttle servo's installed.

Spektrum A6020 metal geared rudder servo.

Spektrum A6000 standard digital throttle servo.

 

Both servo trays needed a tiny amount of wood removing as they are slightly bigger than the snug DS821's.

 

 

Next, installation of the horizontal fin struts/turnbuckles.

 

70mm mark marked out for securing plate of struts/turnbuckles.

 

Holes marked.

 

Securing plate screwed to fuselage.

 

Turnbuckle bolts epoxied in and nut thread locked at this point when happy with location.

Struts/turnbuckles exactly 180mm and connected to horizontal fin and securing plate.

 

Should get tail wheel fitted tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

 

Ross.   

[Stephen Grigg]

When will the engine arrive Ross,it could be ready to fly New Years Day,first model up for 2011.

[BB]

You've done a nice job of putting it together Ross.  I keep looking at the rather large box I have sitting in the corner of the living room thinking, hmmm hes right - you is a good looker.  But alas, muggings here is at work 7 nights a week till at least Jan 2011.

 

I'tll be my spring/summer build/assembly I fear.  Though with 'Petrol' up front.  Any ideas cc wise.  26cc - 30cc (ish) perhaps.

 

BB