JTA Innovations Slick

The following accessories are required/recommended for building an indoor EPP model:

• Medium-viscosity superglue – activator
• UHU-Por
• Sharp knife
• Possibly a soldering iron
• Screwdriver – Lighter
• Baking paper
• Utility knife

The first step in building an EPP model is to bend the aileron hinges. For EPP models, the hinges are cut with a hot wire, which melts the EPP at these points. To ensure the control surfaces move as freely as possible and thus reduce the strain on the servos, all control surfaces should be folded down and weighted in this position for at least 2 hours (see Figure 1).

For building an EPP model, both superglue and UHU-Por are used. When, how, and where each adhesive (superglue and UHU-Por) is applied has a significant impact on the model’s properties. Many who have built a model with superglue before are surely familiar with the problem: the model sticks to the workbench. To remedy this, there’s a simple trick: parchment paper. Thanks to the parchment paper’s non-stick properties, the model can be rotated and turned without sticking to the table (see Figure 2).

The model is primarily assembled using superglue. However, since EPP is a soft and flexible material, this should be taken advantage of. This makes the model more crash-resistant. To ensure the model is stable against twisting but can also absorb impact, there’s a simple rule for gluing: use UHU-Por for foam, and superglue for foam reinforced with CFRP. Only the bottom and top views of the fuselage side view are glued to the top view using UHU-Por; the rest is glued with superglue (see red markings in Figure 3).

The landing gear is an important component of every aircraft, so it must be securely glued in place. You can either install the included landing gear parts or wrap them with Kevlar thread and secure them with superglue. This ensures that the landing gear is securely fixed in the fuselage (see Figure 4).

The Slick is known for its excellent flight characteristics. If you’re looking for a model to fly in your backyard, as a training model for new maneuvers, or simply as an all-around model for indoor and outdoor use, JTA’s models are the perfect choice. What makes this model special is that it flies just like a large 3D model. The control response is excellent; the limits are set by the radio control system, not the model itself. Whether it’s roll combinations, snaps rolls, time rolls, harrier maneuvers, torque maneuvers, all kinds of spins, or new maneuvers from the XA (Xtreme Acrobatics) repertoire—they’re all possible with the Slick. However, XA maneuvers that require mass are almost impossible to fly with slowflyers, since the airflow cannot stall quickly enough—or in some cases, not at all. With the Slick, it is possible to fly some of these XA maneuvers, as a stall can be induced in a manner similar to that of full-scale models. Compared to other products of this size, the Slick has better stability in the air and, due to its higher-

Due to its lighter weight, it is also significantly more susceptible to wind. Thanks to the 8-mm EPP, the model still flies very slowly and is therefore well-suited for indoor flying.

It is not designed for a 3S power source, so we recommend operating this model with a 2S battery.

The power set used is actually designed for 2S, but since suitable 3S batteries were already available, a slightly smaller propeller was used. Even with 2S, the motor has enough power to move the Slick through all maneuvers with plenty of power and no problems. With a 3S setup, the motor generates an enormous amount of power, resulting in far too much thrust for the model; at full power, the model turns into a rocket.

If high-voltage (HV) servos are used, the 2S power setup offers an additional advantage, as the servos can be powered directly from the flight battery. If the model is powered by a 3S setup, the battery voltage must be reduced from 11.1 V to 7.4 V. For this purpose, a homemade 7.4 V BEC was used in this model. Furthermore, the model’s weight with a 2S setup is approximately 5–20 g. The 2S power setup therefore offers many advantages over

the 3S power setup; therefore, it is recommended to operate this model with a 2S battery.

As an alternative to HV servos, standard micro servos (low voltage) can also be used. With these servos, the 5V BEC built into the ESC is used, and the servos can be connected to the receiver as usual without any additional components. Are expensive HV servos necessary for a model like this? No, a model like this can be flown just fine with standard micro servos. When comparing HV and LV servos, HV servos have more torque and are faster. Additionally, HV servos of this size are usually more expensive. However, the torque of LV servos is more than sufficient for flying such models. Therefore, both LV and HV servos can be used in this model.