Aerobatic Performance Team
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ARF Reviews
Extreme Composite Edge 540T 50CC
Dietrich Performance75CC Extra 260
product Reviews Smart-Fly Competition 12 Turbo
Instruction Manuals
The Ladies Justina and Dietrich 42% Extra 260
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Lite Pilots "Patsy" Installation by Rockin' Rick
HI everybody! Today I'm going to install a new Lite Pilots "Patsy" pilot in my New 40% TOC Extreme Extra 260 from Troy Built Models. She sure is a beauty and this is one of the Pro Series pilots from the great folks at litepilots.com. This is the lightest pilot in its size and class weighing in at only 8oz. Once again, they have outdone their selves with the construction of this great pilot and she is really going to be making a big commotion wherever we fly.
Patsy arrived in fine form from the great folks at litepilots.com and she is just as much of a knock out as Babette. I test fitted her in the canopy and found her to be just a little tall. I scribed a line 1/4"all the way around the base and took off the excess with my Dremel tool fitted with a 120 grit sanding drum. Easy chore to do. I then cut the canopy clear plastic cover to fit on the hatch nicely. This is going to be a very easy installation as the canopy is open until we seal the clear canopy to the hatch.
I've taken a piece of 3/16" balsa to use for anchoring base and fitted it to the pilot bottom. Two 4-40 blind nuts were epoxied to the inner side of the base and will provide firm grip to hold Patsy in place. Then I mixed up some 5 minute epoxy with microballoons and glued the base in place on the bottom of the pilot. Man, we're rolling now!
Let's get back to the canopy and hatch work. I taped down the clear cover to the hatch assembly and made sure that the trimming I did a little while ago to the clear cover was adequate. After seeing that all surfaces mated nicely, I laid out where I wanted to install my #2 x 1/2 screws to hold the sides of the cover to the hatch. Using a 1/32" drill bit I drilled out the 5 holes for the screws on each side. Then I installed my screws to check the assembly. It worked out really good so I removed the screws and proceed with the cockpit installation. Don't forget to strengthen your screw holes using some thin CA after removing the #2 x 1/2" screws. I gathered up the cockpit pieces and began that installation.
I've test fitted and then glued the cockpit flooring in place and then glued and attached the dash and pilot rear panel to the hatch assembly. I use 3M Super 77 spray adhesive to hold the cockpit pieces in place. Using a couple of small pieces of 1/16 lite ply I've reinforced the areas where the 4-40 attachment bolts pass through and then attached the pilot to the cockpit floor. Nice fit so lets close this one up.
I glue my canopies with Super Z RC-56 adhesive. I like this stuff because it dries clear, is water soluble, and has a long working time of a little under 3 hours. Plenty of time to clean up any excess that may ooze out and get on your work. I reinstalled my #2 x 1/2" side screws, taped down the front cover on top of the hatch and set it aside to dry after cleaning up any excess. Nice job here.
Here she is, ready for installation on the plane. And here she is at the field. What a great looking pilot for this plane!!!!
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