Tracer 2 Meter is here!!

[Wayne]

I have also failed to update this thread. I have been trying to document the IDS install and that will be a seperate thread. But the IDS is in and the plane is basically ready for final touches and setting CG.

Here is a little tool I designed to hold the flaps at 30 degrees to the wing while gluing in the servo tray. I made it rather universal with a sliding finger to support the flap trailing edge. Will probably offer these as a set in the future.

As a side note, I noticed some double centering on one of the v-tails. After studying it for a while I found what the issue was, my servo was sliding forward and back a tiny bit in the servo tray. I went to tighten the screws a little more, but being so tiny, they stripped out the wood. So pulled the screws and added a touch of thin CA, and let it cure. The screws then had lots of strong threading and hold the servos nice and snug. Tiny screws into light ply is not going to work well with out some little tricks.

 

[gnichola]

So @Wayne you set the flaps to 30 so that you can have your servo horn vertical?

 

[Wayne]

30 is about mid travel with how we like our flaps working for slope. But the arm itself is setup to be "locked" at full flap deployment. The 30 is set with the servo "centered".. We will do a more detailed write up in the future as I learned some things, especially on the Ethos programming side.

 

[Wayne]

The AUW with a CG of about 95mm is coming in at 35 ounces (992 grams). Mine has a normal weight V-tail, TJI has shaved some weight on the tail for newer models, and this will reduce the amount if lead in the nose. My nose is currently filled with lead shot in a plastic bag. Once I get some flights in I'll pull the bag of lead out and replace with woods metal, this should shave a little more weight as it gets the mass further forward. Lead shot is handy when dialing things in.

 

[Wayne]

Tail cone in glueing on. CG is set, just some fine tuning in the radio and I think she is ready to go.

 

[Wayne]

I forgot to post a follow up.

I flew here during the Sunset evet and loved every second of it. I didn't want to hit any other planes, but other than that, no stress at all. She is an excellent model.

This is about it for photos that I have on my phone. Think I grabbed these while someone else was flying her.

I didn't bring any ballast, but the wind to pick up to the point that I could have added some in. I have since grabbed 10 slugs, and made up some plastic spacers:

Brass Ballast Weights / 10x20x30mm

Solid brass bars measuring 10x20x30mm and weighing in at 50 grams each. The ballast blocks are intended for TJIRC's lineup of aircraft; Tracer / Tempest / Alpha 2.8 and also fits MANY others. Measure your aircrafts ballast bays before ordering to ensure they fit. Sold individually. We also sell...

alofthobbies.com

and

Ballast Spacers

Ballast spacers for your ballast tubes. These spacers allow you to run a partial ballast load and keep your ballast from sliding around. 3D printed spacers are light but strong. We like to radius the corners and add a 3mm hole down the middle. This helps to keep the lightweight spacers from...

alofthobbies.com

I'll make up a handy storage box for the ballast next.

TJI sent me some CAD files, I'd like to try a new solution for the V-tail linkage. Not a big fan of the music wire linkage.

In summary, a great model! This featherweight version impressed folks when they handled it. She is light, but sturdy, a good balance. The plane itself has excellent handling, a joy to fly. Even without ballast I got her to sing a little on the speed passes. The roll rate is impressive and the flaps make her easy to land.

 

[Wayne]

For the wing servo install with IDS, please see this thread:

Thread 'IDS install'

May 23, 2026

Recently I did an IDS install and I tried to document the process with a ton of photos. Hopefully I remember some of the things I "learned" along the way. Please feel free to make corrections if I screw up. I am no expert and thanks to the folks that took the time to teach me the tricks. Sadly, I'm not aware of any thread or instructions that really go into the full details of these installs. There are a lot of little things to watch for, and I think I have forgotten some already. Yikes!

For this posting we will be using the Servorahmen IDS Mono for KST X08 servos. But it is the same for...

• Wayne
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Gliders

 

[Wayne]

The Tracer holds 10 slugs of ballast, I have always wanted a clean transport method for my slugs so I made up a little travel case for the slugs and spacers. Will put them up on the store soon.

If someone needs a custom sized box for their ballast I might be able to be talked into it.

 

[Wayne]

Working on some improved v-tail linkage. What do you think? The red parts are the new parts. This is shown on the Tracer. An MP Jett ball link can be screwed into the bottom of the linkage.

Looking up from below with transparent airframe.

We printed a quick sample in PETG, and I have to say, even in PETG, it is plenty strong, but we will print in the high temp stuff making this basically metal.
The "spoon" that goes into the elevator is sized to make contact with both the top and bottom skins of the Tracer's v-tail.

 

[Wayne]

OK - Think this will work pretty well. Refined:

Looking up from below:

The test print fits in the Thor.2 pretty well, just need a little longer vertical length down to the ball link for the THOR.

 

[Urimel]

Hi all. Just started building my 2 meter Tracer. Had a tough process of installing the balllinks and the pushrods on the elevator - my god, unreasonably difficult (to me) with lots of force used. Any other solutions?

 

[Wayne]

Yes, I have a set of linkages we can send you if you want to give them a try. An MP jet ball link simply screws in from the bottom. See photos in the posting right above yours. ^^^^

 

[Urimel]

Yes, I have a set of linkages we can send you if you want to give them a try. An MP jet ball link simply screws in from the bottom. See photos in the posting right above yours. ^^^^

The question is, how tp get the current glued balllinks out of the elevators

 

[Wayne]

Yikes - How bad are they? If glued in, might be best to keep them and get them into a working order..?

 

[Urimel]

Yikes indeed ) What I did, was to use some 2-56 ball links (removed the ball) instead of what was delivered and they went in more elegantly. Buy my god, what a hassle!

 

[Wayne]

I was able to use the supplied setup in mine, but didn't enjoy the process either. The end result was so-so, not perfect, I had to use some radio mixing to get it dialed in. Thus the new design.

 

[Urimel]

Thanks Wayne. With lots of pain, I managed to install the v-tail. However when back from full travel it won't center - it stays with a down/up angle, Well, that's just how it is. I will correct it while flying. I can't imagine myself taking it apart again.

 

[Wayne]

Worse comes to worse I can order up a new v-tail for you and we can start fresh.

 

[Urimel]

Ok guys - so I'm pretty done with building and setting up the Tracer. My last challenge would be to glue the MPX connectors inside the wing without glueing everything else ) Any tips and tricks here?

 

[Wayne]

I usually leave them free. But that is just me being lazy. I tell myself that in the case of a midair where the wing might be pulled away from the fuselage I have a better chance of the plug staying connected. But really just lazy.