Modded SH gear track beautifully, then I killed it.

Sounds like you had a little fun first. Sorry to hear Dave. I broke my profile Katana in half yesterday.I was about 20' high vertical when the engine quit. Can't blame anyone.

If it's any consolation, at least you don't have to decide whether to rebuild it or not.

Thanks for the sympathy guys! Welp, that's the way this hobby goes--if you can't take the crashes--it's not for you.

So...since I now have no planes at all. I must build again. I don't know that I can bring myself to "build" an ARF, so it will probably be a kit.

Maybe it's time for that CG Ultimate, maybe a Bridi product, Not sure.

Always a bit skiddish after destroying a plane. But we must fly again.

There is a semi-interesting postscript to all of this: I don't think I'm crazy about SK Engines. The SK 80 ran fine (now mud packed), but the Tower 75--in retrospect--was much more powerful. The SK with big props had fine power and is well behaved, but the TH 75 with an APC

Of course, engine selection is utterly dependent on application, but the TH 75--if that slobbering midrange could only be tamed---is a fire-cracker. I know some guys have tamed that midrange, interestingly in some cases with an SK90 carb, others with skill, or whatever.

Well, finally, one thing is true: this hobby stimulates the mind--always a good thing. Dave

MK:

Sorry to hear about your Katana. I've been looking at that plane on Ebay for a few months, but the comments regarding the weakness of the wing scares me off every time I become serious about it. Can you please comment on the strength of the wing and what, if anything, you did to improve its strength?

I'd also like your comments regarding the way the plane flew, in general. Was it what you hoped for?

Harlan

Can you still get Bridi kits? I haven't seen a lot of good kits out there lately.

---------------

Yes, Bluejay Models is kitting many of the not too old Bridi kits and others have been at it as well. A Google search for Bridi kits should show up a few here and there.

Go to the Senior Pattern Association website and you'll find references to companies that are making them presently.

I have many of the collected. I wish someone would rekit the original Kaos, my favorite of all of the Bridi kits. I did manage to win one off eBay, but it cost me a good price. I also have the original and the GP Super Kaos (.60 size) and a couple of Dirty Birdy kits, plus some of Joe's giant scale kits that he made in his later years. Nothing flies like a Bridi kit.

Ed Cregger

I built a Super Kaos 60 from the RCM plans. What a plane! I sold it to a friend a few years ago, and I need to build another one.

I really like this plane and have another waiting to be built. The wing isn't where I had problems, it's the wing saddle that is weak. I wicked in lots of CA to strengthen it. It's built really light and I love the airfoil. The Accel Katana can do anything. When it went in I was doing very slow approaches with vertical recovery. Had been practicing knife edge loops. It's very wild with full throws but can be mild also. Slows down to a walk to land. My wing is now in good shape but the fuse is in half. Mine cost under $100 but I bid on one yesterday to $100 (with shipping) and missed by a couple of $. The spins and snaps are really wild! It'll do things my thumbs can't. Fun to practice hovering with too. mk

The engine is a dirt packed mess I'm afraid MK. Nothing appears to be cracked or broken. Possibly salvagable; but it was the first thing to strike the ground.

That Katana does look perfect. Nice looking plane. Dave

MK

Thanks for your comments regarding the wing on the Katana. I'll lay off bidding on the Katana until you get your next one. I usually snipe my bids on Ebay. If you like, drop me an e-mail hinting at your eBay account name, and I'll back off when I see you are bidding.

Mine is easy to identify, since its much like my sign in here.

Harlan

"DaveH" wrote

Is the one that comes on it a one or two needle carb?

If it is a two needle, I'll bet the old Fox needle modification would work on it!

Care to elaborate? :) mk

"MJKolodziej"> wrote

Is it a two needle carb?

Many people hated Fox engines a while back, because they could not get reliable runs, usually with the midrange too rich. Fox has a procedure in the owners manual to adjust that.

You check the high speed needle in a drill, and take some sandpaper, and round out the shoulder of the taper; that is where the angle meets the straight part of the shaft on the needle, or round out the tip. I can't remember which is which, since it has been 15 years since I have done it.

Theory is that when the throttle is partly advanced, it lets fuel through in the right amount better. Google for it, and you will find it, I'll bet, or perhaps someone will post it that remembers it correctly.

At any rate, if you do it carefully, you can get a perfect midrange and transition. You do have to be careful to not remove too much, or you will be buying a new needle. Don't ask me how I know that!