TJIRC mini Q (Konrad's Special Order)

[Konrad]

I recently learned that Jerry at TJIRC is looking for ways to improve and expand his product line. I noticed that he was claiming to have a new lighter weight lay up of the mini Q. I was intrigued as I had a 6 year old mini Q. While I liked the over all model it had some issues that just kept me from finishing it. 

 

I contacted Jerry at TJIRC about a special order lay up of the mini Q. Most of the Special Orders he deals with have more to do with the livery and colors. I actually wanted some rather extensive changes to be made. Key was the placement of the control surface hinges on the bottom surfaces. I was keen to  set up the model with IDS (cross over linkages). This was to add durability as it eliminates all the linkages hanging down from the wing that often gets snagged in the weeds and rocks. I also felt that this might add a lot of performance as the original set up is rather draggy with all the linkages out in the wind and that the push rods aren't placed in line with the relative air flow.

 

Jerry said he could do the mods to the lay up and we came up with a price. Jerry still supported his dealer network and had me place this special order through his USA importer Aloft Hobbies. 

 

 

Edited November 28 by Konrad

[Konrad]

As I was going to go with the cross over style of push rod (servo arm pointed down and the control horn pointed up) and I was going to try to set up the system as an IDS (Internal Drive System) I knew I was going to violate the rear drag spar. As such I asked that there be some extra carbon added the inner wing skins above and under drag spar adjacent to the servo pocket.

 

I also asked for some clean up of the livery. At one time I built professional race cars. One of the axiom in American racing was that nobody rides for free. As such I don't like ads or livery that aren't paying for the privilege of riding on my vehicles. So I asked that these names be removed.

 

 

[Konrad]

Here is what I received from the custom order with TJIRC.

 

I really liked the clean look of the paint scheme. I set it up to look like a flashing sign as I roll fast going in the vertical. That is the bottom wing is inverse from the top with the black and white being switched. I had TJIRC add the bubble lace to the bottom of the left wing in white. This has worked out great!

 

I was pleasantly surprise as I learned that in the intervening years TJIRC has added some significant changes to the construction of the mini Q. Key amongst these id the addition of carbon over the top of the fuselage bulkhead to hold this arch ridged. Also the bulkhead is now twice as thick ad the 2018 production run (yellow) mini Q I had. This was done to control some wing flapping we saw when we really pushed the mini Q at speed. It also adds a lot of durability against the ground loop.

 

I was impressed to see that the hinge line is now reinforced with carbon on each side. This really stiffens up the trailing edge of the wing ahead of the hinge and stiffens the control surface. Of note it looks like the live hinge id made from durable polypropylene rather than the more delicate Kevlar. This has a slight cost in that the hinge is ever so slightly stiffer than a kevlar hinge (something to think about when sizing the servos).

 

I don't know where the communication breakdown happened but my request for some added carbon on top and bottom  of the drag spar as an alternate load path did not materialize. I'm not too concerned with this as the new carbon reinforced hinge might offer this and that there a large  carbon servo mounting stiffener adjacent to the drag spar.