In depth build - Krill Katana 39%

[xtra330]

This past week I had (finally) began to build my friends new Krill Katana for the 2008 IMAC season. A little late in the build season to do this - but this should not take no more than 4 weeks time to complete - I have roughly 15 hours in this build as of right now. Mainly been working only 2 hours in the evening - and thats not everynight. With this build I intend to show my techniques in finshing the Krill Aircraft, this will be my 3rd build from start to finish and 4th in set up 'turn key' condition. Along the way, please feel free to comment or ask questions...or even point out another way of doing the job that may end up being faster or more easier to accomplish.

There is really no method to my madness. On this go round - I decided to hit the wings and the stabs first, as they seem to be the most time consuming in the build of the Katana.

Items that need to be done on the wings

1) Aileron servo hatches need to be located and drilled for 4ea screws to secure to the wing.
2) Servo Hatches need to be covered in Monokote (or paint if you like) to match the painted wing.
3) Servo mounting blocks need to be located installed on the aileron servo hatches.
4) Control horns need to be located and installed in the ailerons.
5) Ailerons need to be slotted to accept the control horns.
6) A medium sized Robart Pin Hinge needs to be installed at the I/B side of the aileron. (not necasarry, but recomended due to the size of the ailerons)
7) Wings incedence set on fuse (0*)

ITEMS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE WINGS

1) 2ea - 29" servo extensions (O/B servos)
2) 4ea - 4" Titanium push rods
3) 4ea - R/H threaded ball links
4) 4ea - L/H threaded ball links
5) 4ea - 1.5" servo arms

Items that need to be done on the Stabs/Elevators

1) Install servo's inside the stabs.
2) Cut slots in stabs to accomodate the servo arms to come through.
3) Slots cut in the elevators to accept the control horns. (same as ailerons)
4) Stabs slid on stab tubes and then drilled to except 4-40 (or 6-32) retaining bolt.

ITEMS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE STABS/ELEVATORS

1) 70" servo extensions (final length to be determined on personal installation)
2) R/H and L/H threaded ball links (number depends on number of servos used)
3) 1.5" servo arms (number varies on servos used)
4) 2ea Titanim pushrods for I/B servos -
5) 2ea Titanium pushrods for O/B servos (if used) - 2"

[xtra330]

The first thing I did was to locate where the aileron control horns are going to be installed. Once I did this, I used an xacto knife to cut away the skin of the aileron, then used a dremel tool with a very small 'ball' tip to cut away the rest of the material.

Locate and install the servo hatches, take a scale(ruler) and extend the 'slots' for the servo arms onto the aileron. Assemble control horns with L/H ball links. Mark spacing from control horns onto the aileron. Measure back from 'lip' of the aileron .070", this will be the front of the control horn slots. Take an xacto knife and dremel tool to slot the aileron....go to a depth of roughly .060" into the surface. I used BVM Aeropoxy to glue in the horns.

On this install I used Monokote for the hatches - Missle Red, Sky Blue, and White. Another thing to note is that three servos can be used on the wing - however I have found the 2ea 8711 servos are more than up to the task.

With the servo hatches installed - mark the color which the hatches will be covered with.

I used spruce to mount the servos, along with 1/4" balsa triangle stock to make everything secure. I used 30 minute epoxy and clamped all spruce to the sevo hatch and allowed to cure over night, then came back in with the triangle stock and used medium CA glue.

All that is left now, is to plug the servos up and match accordingly, then set wing incedence.

[wgdenge]

Wow, so Nick has changed from CARDEN to a Katana. Interesting.

Nice build so far.


wayne

[xtra330]

I had just started on the stabs late this afternoon, so I will continue the details to the build as they come. First to test fit the sevos in the stabs - on this plane, we are running 2ea 5955TG per stab. Go ahead and sand if needed for the servos to fit properly...I have found that if you take a round file and sand a notch to accomodate the servo wire, it helps alot, also; it may be necasarry to sand around all sides (slightly) for the servo not to touch the frame of the rib...easily done with a flat tip scewdriver with 80 grit sandpaper at the end. Holes for the servos come predrilled in the rib.

Once the servos are installed, then measure from the servo case to the root (and tip) rib to get the location for the slot to be cut for the servo arm. pictures can explain this method better than me typing it.

Once the slots are cut, then the servo arms can be mounted and then you can locate where the control horns are to be mounted in the elevators. The method of the control installation is the same as the ailerons.

[xtra330]

Some more of the stabs... You can see in the two shots above (inside the stab) where I used a round file to accomodate the servo wire. I used an xacto knife to cut the slot in the stab...then dressed up with 120 grit sand paper.

More to follow this week...

Joe

[xtra330]

Hi Wayne - yep, Nick took flight of my Katana and liked the feel of it very much - so much he had called and ordered one on the spot...I hope to have this one up and flying really soon for him.

Hope to see to see ya soon at the field...maybe Griffin, Ga. contest?

Joe

[Benji]

Hey really a nice plane, how much is that kit?

[xtra330]

Hello there,

the price of the kit is roughly $2800.

Thanks,

Joe

[Benji]

oo I though it was was a bit more expensive, I just bought a 3w extra that size and it cost me almost the same, where can you get those kits?

[nickb]

Joe,
I'm still toying with the idea of running 2 8711s in the tail for the rudder with 1 8711 per stab. I've got carbon tail tubes to lighten it up, but I'm still paranoid about being tail heavy. It also have the 1 oz of lead in the elevator counter balance mod. Any thoughts?

[Dan_nO]

Hey Joe, looks GREAT, and I will be following this ! Just got Brendans Extra 260 done, the Katana will be on the bench before sunrise

This is just in time !

Counter balance mod ? Im fixin to get taken to school here boys LOL.

Joe, you going do a U.S. version of written instructions for the Katana ? Looks great to me !

[Comp Arf Kid]

Great Job on the build cant wait to get mine going!