Red Shift II RG from Arkansas [J&H Aerospace]

[Crawf56]

Here we go again: the Red Shift II rocket glider from J&H Aerospace

 

[Ez2cDave]

If you're doing a build thread, please post lots of pics !

Dave F.

 

[Crawf56]

EDIT: There are 3 YouTube videos associated with the build:

Red Shift II Build Video, Part 1

Red Shift II Build Video, Part 2

My Fastest RC Airplane Ever: Redshift II Rocket Glider


My apologies. Got side-tracked by a Spitfire. Onward and upward!

There isn't a set of paper instructions with this model, but there is a J&H build video:

 

[Crawf56]

Started with the fuselage sides. Make sure you make a Left side and a Right side.

 

[Crawf56]

You are gluing light ply to 1/8" balsa, then adding 1/4" balsa to 'build up' the fuselage. I have not seen models built this way, but that doesn't make it wrong. Actually, reduces a LOT of sanding.

There is an outline sheet to show the part locations. (So, I guess there are instructions).

 

[Crawf56]

One of the reasons that I chose this model is because it uses D and C11-0 motors…..which I have a lot of. The Red Shift II is designed with no cover/nosecone over the front of the motor. So, you can use a D12-0 or a D12-5. No special motor setup.

The Red Shift II is designed to be flown as a Rocket Glider, or an electric RC airplane. I plan to use the model as a R/G only, but I am going to build it so that I could put an electric motor on if I wanted. (Never say never.)

 

[Crawf56]

Moving along....and I have already screwed up.

You are supposed to glue the parts on the PLYWOOD side, not the balsa side. The light plywood is supposed to be on the INSIDE of the fuselage.

Ok, adding first layer of lower fuselage wood. Do not glue lower hatch.

 

[Crawf56]

There is a little rear overhang. Supposed to be there.

 

[Crawf56]

Showing the Outer Fuselage and Center Fuselage wood parts.

 

[Crawf56]

Adding parts



Trying to get the edges lined up.

 

[Crawf56]

Going upward...adding the Center Fuselage parts.



Where the tail rod will attach.

 

[Crawf56]

About 95% of the lazer cutting was great. But some parts needed work.

 

[Crawf56]

Adding the other side of the fuselage.......and I have the light ply on the wrong side; should be on the inside of the fuselage.

 

[Crawf56]

Well, I did not do a good job of aligning the fuselage parts. But I think the model can be salvaged.

 

[Crawf56]

So, what is done is done. I started to use wood glue, so that I could have plenty of time to position pieces correctly. But I have lots of Medium CA, and I thought I would get things moving.

Rather than build from one edge, I might have put together the center pieces, to insure they were aligned better. Then attached to one outer edge, then to the other outer edge.

Oh well. Seems we will just have to keep moving.

 

[Rktman]

Moving along....and I have already screwed up.

You are supposed to glue the parts on the PLYWOOD side, not the balsa side. The light plywood is supposed to be on INSIDE of the fuselage.

Probably doesn't affect strength. The upside is that having the ply on the outside makes the fuselage exterior more rugged and dent resistant. I'm thinking Josh put it on the inside because balsa, being softer, makes it easier to sand the fuse exterior into rounded curves to streamline it.

 

[Crawf56]

Probably doesn't affect strength. The upside is that having the ply on the outside makes the fuselage exterior more rugged and dent resistant. I'm thinking Josh put it on the inside because balsa, being softer, makes it easier to sand the fuse exterior into rounded curves to streamline it.

I think you are right, Rktman.

 

[Crawf56]

OK, having another issue. Next step (at 25 minutes into video Part 1), you start building the nose pieces. There is one for the 'nosecone' [rocket glider flight] and one for the airplane electric motor. They are interchangeable, and held with screws. Pretty nifty idea.

[I am an engineer, and one of the joys of building J&H kits is seeing how they engineer solutions.]

But when I assembled the first nose piece (with firewall for electric motor), it was too big. Did I not follow the instruction right (again)?

 

[Crawf56]

It appears that the problem is Light Plywood sheet #7. It is suppose to be 1/32" thick; it is 1/16" thick. (I measured with calipers.)

 

[Crawf56]

So, I started sanding. Look at the pic, I have the right side (opposite the pencil) down to about 1/32".

 

[Crawf56]

After sanding the outer plywood down, I could get the plywood tabs to fit into the firewall; but it was still too thick.

So, I cut through the middle balsa, and did a little more sanding.

 

[Crawf56]

Ok, got everything sanded and fit. The indentions for the plywood tabs in the firewall are correct for 1/32" plywood.

Also note the orientation of the nose piece in relation to the firewall (where the electric motor attaches).

.

 

[Crawf56]

And a better fit into/onto the front of the fuselage. Crookness due to my own building inadequacies.

 

[Rktman]

It appears that the problem is Light Plywood sheet #7. It is suppose to be 1/32" thick; it is 1/16" thick. (I measured with calipers.)

View attachment 414474

Ugh, hope you aren't faced with the same problem with the 2nd nose piece.

 

[Crawf56]

Ugh, hope you aren't faced with the same problem with the 2nd nose piece.

Yay, and I shall smite the balsa, and again.

 

[Crawf56]

Ever forward. Let's make the rocket nose. Rather than make a rounded nose, I just decided to make a contour, because I am lazy.

Actually, because I figured I would not get the edges just right. And because I am lazy.

 

[Crawf56]

The thickness of the plywood pieces does not matter here. I just sanded on the balsa until I got a good fit in the fuselage.

 

[Crawf56]

J&H uses good quality balsa, so it sands well.

But first, using servo screws to hold the nose during sanding.

 

[Crawf56]

Sand again. Actually went really fast. Have to watch for sanding too much.

 

[Crawf56]

Here we go.