jimibar

Hello guys,

Any recommandations on a good foamie jet for an X45 or a K45 ?
Not a hard build where you have to strap down the whole plane but something more ... easy to adapt ?
Thanks a lot !

Jim

patrnflyr

My Feedback: (7)

K45G3? Or older version. Do a YouTube search as there are dozens of models that have been converted and appear to fly well. Most guys are going with FreeWing airframes, JP brakes, exchanging the elevator servos and making their own thrust tube. Seems the F-22 has been doing well with the huge flying surfaces but an all gray camo would be hard on the eyes. The Avanti S has been converted many times also. Even saw an F-4 which is one of the more recent conversions. Good luck with the build.

jimibar

I was thinking of the X45 more than the Kingtech, but it would be the newer model. Less heavy than G2.

Steve Collins

My Feedback: (8)

Freewing Avanti S

ajp

My Feedback: (4)

I have converted 3 foamier jets. Freewing F16, Avois Mig 17 and the Freewing F4.
The F4 in my favorite. 7.5 minutes of flight time on 46 ounces using Kingtech K45g3

Bob_B

My Feedback: (11)

Paul is that a split pipe from Grumania? You sure are having a lot of fun with these micro turbines!

ajp

My Feedback: (4)

Straight small grumania in between EDF outlets

ajp

My Feedback: (4)

DUCMOZ

I converted a stinger 90 4 years ago to P 20 and it has been great. I think it would be good with Xicoy 45 but the space for fuel tank is a little tight. I still fly it at every chance off the grass. The guys in Europe (i think his on line name is Hank) would sell you the complete modification package including pipe, engine mount etc. I did not change any servos nor had to do anything to the wings. But with 45, you might need to make some changes.

Behzad

erh7771

My Feedback: (30)

There's also Phoenix Models and Black Horse model jets.

jimibar

Thanks guys for your answers. I know that foamies can be converted and there are more and more manufacturers available.
But TBH I don't want a long and complicated conversion. I'm not looking for something plug and play but definitely an easy build.
I was thinking about the Mig Avios but is the conversion easily doable ?

ajp

My Feedback: (4)

Avois mig is an easy conversion. I used a 24 ounce tank above spar and a 16 ounce below

drfred58809

For a ready to use conversion kit just email HAB in Sweden (hab.se) - [email protected]

they offer some conversion Kits for Kolibri, Kingtech and Xicoy x45

search for:

MIG 17 AVIOS TURBIN KONVERTERINGSKITT KOMPLETT X45

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

I did a Freewing F-22 with a K-45G3. It was fairly simple. I flew it on 8s for a year before I converted it. Several have asked for photos so I will put some here. So far 20 flights and it is great. It is no longer your standard foamy EDF. Its lots of fun but you must respect the airframe limits. I had a Jeti Mspeed pitot tube installed on the 8s EDF and was able to see 100mph easy enough in a dive but rarely got 110mph. Now it will hit 100mph on downwind turn from takeoff if thrust is not reduced. I have my alarm set for 100mph you must reduce thrust on dives or straight lines to avoid exceeding 100mph. I am still using stock servos but added carbon sleeves to the elevator pushrods.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

First step was to check weight and balance for the 8s EDF. I had almost 4 oz on tail to get good flying CG. XIcoy CG machine said 9.6 lbs with CG 89mm forward of MLG which was about 10mm behind book CG. It flew well so that was the target for turbine conversion.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

I was guided heavily by Tony Hung's conversion photos on FB. First I made a plywood guide to cut the foam at a 15 degree angle. After the hatch outline was cut a hacksaw blade was used to cut it loose.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Two 500ml tanks from Amazon were installed and strapped in with plywood holddowns and velcro straps. The rear of the tanks were strapped to the carbon wing spar. Hatch hold down was popcicle sticks and G-10 tab. Carbon cloth was epoxied under the foam bridge to give stiffness.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

I saw a inline fuel filter converted to an air trap on RCG so I picked up some filters at the local lawn mower shop and made one with a dual tank feed.




Hack saw blade was used to remove the splitter between the exhaust nozzles

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Next was where to mount turbine. Mid mount with pipe or tail mount. Several were on YouTube with tail mounts so I did another weight and balance test and determined it was better( and easier and cheaper) to tail mount with out the weight of the pipe. My battery was in the nose cone and most radio and turbine stuff was under cockpit. I mounted the ECU in the middle because the wires were too short to move it forward.


Mid mount option


Tail option


CG and weight testing


Pump, air trap, valve, Jeti REX12A under CTU in cockpit area


Battery in nose cone. Extra magnets were already used to hold nose cone on so 3s 2200mah LiFe battery was no problem. System uses a single battery for ECU and Rx. The Kingtech G3 ECU needs 6v from the throttle input but Motion told me the airplane and gear were only good to 5.5v so a small BEC feeds the ECU throttle input and the main BEC feeds the Rx and servos with 5v. ECU and pump get full 9.9v straight from battery. Seems to work good. I get 4 flights and still have more than half capacity left.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Turbine mount layout and cutout were straight forward.





Turbine mounts made from balsa wtth plywood cap




After glueing in the foam was carved out to clear the turbine plug and fuel Festo input

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Touch up paint applied to wood and foam areas. BVM heat blanket laid on foam above turbine. HVAC metal tape applied to heat prone areas. A .010" G-10 FOD shield was fitted over turbine to prevent FOD kicked up from landing gear being ingested into the turbine. The FOD shield was screwed into small plywood squares imbedded flush with surface of the foam.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Plywood stinger glued on to simulate the ECM pod that was cut off. HVAC tape applied to bottom. So far it has no heat damage. Pitot tube reinstalled and final weight and balance checks.





8s EDF flying weight with 5000 6s and 5000 2s in series was 9.6 lbs. Turbine conversion empty weight is 8.4 lbs. Take off weight is 10.0 lbs. So it is slightly heavier on TO but lands about 1 lb lighter. CG to match EDF required 1.25 oz ballast in nose. I have since removed .5oz of that and may take the rest out after more test flights.


Fuel pump and tank feed tests before starting turbine.


Test runs out shop door. This is so much easier that a 10' long 60lb beast!

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

First flights were awesome. It is blast to fly. A real gas and go jet and so far very little maintenance. I love the size. I can pick it up move it around with out another person helping.

My normal take off technique now is to reduce thrust to half stick right after lift off. This makes a normal climb out and gear/flap retraction easy. However it will go straight up from the ground at takeoff with out any problem. I highly recommend this micro turbine conversion for lots of fun with little hassle. Just respect the airframe limits. No foam explosions needed!


Servicing between flights on stand


It rides to the start area on a wagon. Very cool.


You can fly 5 of these for the price of one of the beasts in the back ground. What a concept!


Cool shot from the maiden flight. The Jeti Assist gyro is working great after I got some education about it here on RCU. I plan to slowly remove the remaining nose weight .25oz at a time as I get more flights. I'm very happy with how it flies now.


A nice photoshop job by a friend. Enjoy

patrnflyr

My Feedback: (7)

Absolutely fantastic write up. I’ve been waiting for something like this for months. From start to finish with great pictures and explanations, weights, etc. Only thing not mentioned, or I missed, is what brakes are you using and the setup for those. Thanks again for documenting this conversion so well

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Merry Christmas to all on RCU!

So far I have not used any brakes on the F-22. All my flying has been from grass. I have been starting takeoff roll just out of the start area to avoid using fuel to taxi so taxi out has been no problem. There has been no issue stopping after landing roll. On taxi back I overshot my planned stopping spot a couple of times due to residual thrust at idle so brakes would have helped. I'm sure on pavememt brakes would be necessary. Plus brakes are needed to fully comply with all the rules. So I just got these JP electric brakes with 65mm wheels and 4mm axles. They come with a controller. I plan to install them before flying again.

I am currently doing a Freewing F-4 conversion by copying Paul's work as seen above. I will also install the JP brakes on that one also.