a true, straight assembly. After installing
the prehinged elevators, it’s time for the
tail feather assembly.
The Katana has two different places to
mount the rudder servo. Because I was
going to use an Evolution . 52 2-stroke, I
chose to use the supplied pull-pull assembly and mounted a Spektrum A6010 servo
up in the front. If you are using a larger
4-stroke, the additional tail weight would
be needed so the rear-mounted option
would be a better choice.
The elevator servos are mounted in
the back of the fuselage, and my JR Sport
MN48 mini servos fit perfectly. All surfaces
on this model use a ball link and clevis
combination that makes a very smooth
connection from the servo to surface with
no slop.
Engine installation is a breeze with the
firewall templates. The kit comes with templates for an Evolution . 52 and Saito .72-
. 82 engines. Hold the template up to the
firewall as a drill guide and drill four holes.
After installing the supplied fuel tank and
fitting my Hangar 9 fuel valve, I fitted
the cowl. I installed a 2.5-inch Hangar 9
aluminum spinner and Evolution prop,
then my AR8000 DSMX receiver and JR
2500mAh NiMH 6V on-board battery per
instructions. After I added a JR charge jack
switch and plugged the wings back onto
the fuselage, I neatly arranged my wiring.
The canopy cover slides forward, tucking
under the cowl then slides back into place;
it’s held with two strong magnetics that
Evolution .52NX | Power to Please
I was very impressed with the craftsmanship and performance of the Evolution . 52 2-stroke I
used for the Katana 50. Features like a remote needle valve and a “set right” low-end needle
valve make this is a great first sport engine because there’s no guesswork to tune it right.
Because its weight and size is similar to a standard .40-.46-size engine, it offers an awesome
power-to-weight ratio! The . 52 was easy to break in, and I know it’s going to last a long, long
time. A two-year warranty, great parts support and ABC construction make it a perfect choice
for sport pilots.
basically lock the rear of the canopy to the
turtle deck.
Conclusion
From start to finish, I only spent about
three evenings to complete the Katana 50.
This plane only requires basic modeling
skills and I would highly recommend this
model to anyone looking to have an enjoy-
able build and a sweet airplane to go out
and do some wild stunts and 3D maneu-
vers. I finally have a plane to toss into the
car and take to the field on a whim that
isn’t a foamie! The instructions are top-
notch and if you follow them step by step,
you are sure to have a great flyer.
All surfAces on this model use A bAll ink And clevis combinAtion thAt mAkes A very smooth connection from the servo to surfAce with no slop.
