Slick 540 HyperLIGHT

ARF planes have lost their challenge and of course I need another plane because I have NO room for all the giants I have now.  But I found a challenge to fill my time. The 42% HyperLIGHT  Slick Edge 540 Starter Kit.

 

Short kit includes:

 

Full scale Cad Drawn Plans, Reference Sheets, Manual in PDF

 

CNC Router Cut Engine Box  

 

CNC cut Foam Wing, Vertical & Horizontal Tail, Front & Rear Deck and Lower Belly

 

Premium Vacuum Formed Canopy

 

Premium Fiberglass Cowl (2 Piece)

 

My goal is to keep this extremely light but strong with a finished weight of 27lbs and unlike most 40%ers that weight around 40lbs use a 170cc, this will use a 120cc

I am using ultra-light balsa from National Balsa and I’d like to point out they shipped the day after ordering, great service and very nice balsa. The wood to complete the plane will run you around $400.

The carbon fiber wing and stab tubes are from JTEC. The kit calls for TNT tubes which I did order from and have not heard from since so more on that later.

In the old days 30 years ago we used cement blocks for weight when sheeting the foam wings with epoxy for pattern planes that made the plane weight 100lbs it seemed like. But now we have better options so I will be using a vacuum bagging system that I am putting together this week and resin to sheet the wings.

So onto the build:

I have framed up the motor box. I did some weight savings by cutting out some wood from the firewall. Most of the box is framed up with CA other than the landing gear area I used 30 minute epoxy with micro balloons. The jig fit box is extremely strong and very well deigned to be light. It is very important to get the box square since the rest of the fuselage will be built off of it.

I was a little disappointed when I finished it because that’s it for pre-cut parts. Lots measuring and cutting from here on out.

 

First things first, start with the signature Spats.

The starter kit comes in five boxes of foam and fiberglass.

Un-boxed it all is packaged good and arrived un-damaged.

I removed some wood for weight savings from the firewall.

This is the motor box framed up. Everything gets jigged together and then wicked with CA.

Inside the motor box is lined with 3/8" triangle balsa glued down with CA. Plenty of cutting and sanding.

Clamps are a must and lots of them. This is the landing gear supports being glued in with 30 minute epoxy and micro balloons.

1/2" oak rails installed for the landing gear.

I use 3/4" angle aluminum attached to the bench for straight edges while framing up the side of the fuselage over the plans and wax paper.

Once the sides are framed I then sand them on a sanding board to clean all the glue joints. The board is 3/4" A Ply with 80 grit glued on to it.

A flat solid surface is a must of course so a new bench was in order.

 

It is not in the picture but sound board is placed on top of the bench to accept T pins.