KK Achilles - 24" Replica Balsa Kit
Build and fly our replica of the KK Achilles | Rubber-powered | Includes glue and covering tissue
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AT A GLANCE
Brand: KK Replicas
Wingspan: 24" (610mm)
Ease of build: Intermediate
Flying skill: Intermediate
Control type: Free-flight
Power system: Rubber
Scale: N/A
24" KK ACHILLES
The KK Achilles was a scaled down version of the KK Ajax, rubber powered model and one of KK's earliest kits, the original version designed by Louis B Heath in 1939 and latterly updated by Albert Hatfull in 1950. Traditionally simple built-up construction, featuring precision laser cut parts to aid speedy construction the Achilles makes for an excellent, first old-timer flying model with a terrific flying performance and duration.
YOUR KIT
This kit is highly recommended. The Achilles is another of the rubber free flight models that can be easily modified by experienced builders to take lightweight electric motor and 3 channel R/C equipment for indoor and relaxed summer evening flying. This kit is a laser-cut replica of the original KK Achilles. Construction of the model from this kit uses the traditional method of "stick and tissue", that consists of a built up balsa wood skeleton (framework), covered with a tissue skin. (Some modellers may prefer to use a mylar under-covering for strength and lightness). The balsa frameworks are built over a plan that is printed at the exact scale of the model, which is in essence a real engineering drawing. Power is provided by traditional FAI flight rubber . Free flight means just that - once the model is launched, it is on its own. It must follow a predetermined flight path established when the model is initially adjusted for flight or "trimmed". This type of traditional building technique and flying requires a degree of patience and skill, but is extremely rewarding.
Model shown expertly built and photographed by Nick Seymour, featuring a laminated balsa cut propeller.
INCLUDED IN YOUR KIT
- Balsa wood sheets with precise laser cut parts
- Strip wood
- Pair of 25mm plastic wheels
- 7" Plastic propeller
- Nylon nose bushing
- Wire for propshaft
- FAI rubber
- Acetate sheet for cabin
- Piano wire for the main undercarriage
- Tissue to cover the model
- Full size printed plan
- Balsa block for nose cone
- PVA Glue
NOT INCLUDED
- No instructions available although the plan is well annotated
- Laminated balsa propeller
- Coloured tissue
Only Suitable For Ages 14+
Choking Hazard - Contains small parts, keep out of reach of children.
UK SHIPPING
Most orders are shipped via Royal Mail’s Tracked 48 service.
For larger or heavier orders, we use UKMail/DHL to deliver your package on a Next Working Day service.
Shipping is free to UK Mainland addresses for orders over £30.00, otherwise we charge £6.00 for Royal Mail Tracked 48 parcels and £12.00 for UKMail/DHL Nest Working Day.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
Smaller items
Items that fit within Royal Mail International Tracked Medium Parcel parameters (59cm x 17cm x 15cm weighing less than 2kg) can be sent to most countries outside the UK.
For example up to 3 of our smaller 18” wingspan kits can fit into one of these parcels.
A parcel like this currently costs around £14 to Europe and around £18 to send to the USA and will take up to 3 weeks to arrive. This is because Royal Mail hands over the parcel to the local Post Office service for your country who have to clear it through customs and then deliver it to you.
The Royal Mail tracking code also transfers over to the tracking for your country’s postal service.
Larger items
For items that do not fit within Royal Mail International Tracked Medium Parcel parameters, we use standard international couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS.
These companies use something called volumetric weights to calculate the cost of shipping.
For example, a Balsa Basics RC bundle kit that measures 102cm x 34cm x 16cm and weighs 2.5 kg is actually calculated at 14kg!
This makes these very expensive to send outside the UK - a large kit can cost nearly £40 to send to France.
PRODUCT REVIEWS
Nice little kit, builds quite quickly into a nice model.Wood selection could be better - longerons ranged from OK to very hard, but some of the printed sheet was so soft (about 4 1/2 lb / cu ft) that the ribs required reinforcement between the top and bottom spars. Some of the parts don't fit that well, but then the left and right wing and stabiliser halves don't _quite_ match which isn't surprising, considering the age of the design. The other issue which might cause some problems is that the c.g. is not marked on the plan; it's probably in the original Keil Kraft instructions, which aren't supplied. I put the c.g. on mine just behind 50% chord, at the vertical fuselage member at the rear of the cabin windows, and that works OK. It thermals really well, so a dethermalizer might be wise. Other than that, it would have been nice to have some coloured tissue in the kit rather than the supplied white.
General A good complete kit, you need very little extra to build a flying model. There are no building instructions, which is fine if you know what to do. A novice would find it difficult though. It might be useful to have some sort of generic guide for this type of kit. Strip wood The 3/32 square strip wood was generally too soft. The whole frame depends of this size of wood so it should be reasonably hard. There are laser cut trailing edges as well as strip wood for the same purpose.