flyfree69

I AM INTERESTED IN GETTING A PROP-JET I HAVE BEEN LOOKING HARD AT THE F-4 PHANTOM BY LANIER AND PUTTING A TT-46 IN IT I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR 6 MOS I OWN A 4*60 AND A P-51 MUSTANG I FLY BOTH VERY WELL HOW MUCH HARDER WILL IT BE TO FLY THE F-4 THAN THE MUSTANG?WHAT ABOUT THE WINGSPAN OF THE F-4? IM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOT LANDINGS OF THE F-4. ANY ADVISE WOULD BE WELCOME IM NEW TO JETS WILL IT HANDLE A GRASS FIELD? THANKS

AirGar

My Feedback: (7)

FlyFree,

While I've never flown the F-4, I have seen it fly. This particular one had a OS .46FX in the nose and it flew fine with it. Not a speed demon, but about 70-75mph. I would also guess that this would be easier to land than your P-51 due the the wing loading difference, of course, there are many variables.

I don't see a problem with a grass field either, but perhaps someone with first hand experience will chime in and can help ya a little more than I have.

Gary

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

Easier to take off and land than a P-51.... Not difficult to fly, but it has a flat bottom wing (48" span?) and does not like inverted flight or spins

I fly mine with a YS-45 and it moves pretty well, not a speed demon because it has a "fat" fuse-

Landings are pretty fast, but predictable... Just keep the airspeed up-

PM me if you have any specific questions about this prop-jet, it is a sweet flier and looks good to boot!

james

DIPSY

I'm just putting the finishing touches to mine, which include a brake chute. Managed to build the mechanism into one of the nozzles. Might as well have useful ballast at the back end. I thought about modifying the wings to take two smaller servos and making the ailerons into flaperons, but I like the idea of slamming her onto the deck in true Phantom style. One of the guy's in the forum is fitting a set of retracts to his, and if I don't stuff mine in I think I'm going to do the same at some point.

Dave

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

Did you get the F-4 yet Flyfree?

Galen put B&D Pneumatic retracts in his- Mine is fixed gear*

Brake chute huh? Dipsy, you must be a much better builder than me to do that!

Remember to stay pretty nose heavy on this prop-jet folks**

Flies nose heavy crappy, flies tail heavy only once!

james

DIPSY

I doubt that I a better builder than anyone in here James. It just happens I'm in the RAF (Airframe Engineer)and have access to people who have certain skills. In this case our survival equipment fitters made me a small brake chute and I made the mechanism from a few bits that were lying around the workshop, and a piece of plastic pipe. The shackle attaches onto where the hook should be. It's just an experiment at the moment, I'm not fussed about it being too scale like. I'll borrow a digi camera and send you a pic.
On the weight side I've put an 'Irvine 53' on the front, so I need a bit of weight down the back. Also put a 'Ripmax' mini strobe on mine. It's real bright!

Dave

P.S Has anybody made a set of drop tanks for their F-4 yet?

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

Well, you are utilizing all available resources-

I have my battery pack in the belly wayyy back toward the tail and I still had to fill the exhaust cones with weights to balance her.

The Irvine may be lighter than the YS-45 (??) so hopefully that helps!

I never thought of the drop tanks- But I have heard of folks using Estes model rockets to mount on hard points of the wings-

Keep us posted,
james

DIPSY

My biggest concern with this model is the engine orientation. I've mounted it inverted and I'm a bit worried about the spray bar height in relation to the tank. I thought about changing it, but I've changed the nose gear for a sprung twin nose wheel and had to modify the front end quite a bit. I hadn't thought about rockets, but I've been messing around with a mechanism for working snakeyes ( not exploding of course).

Dave

DIPSY

James
How goes your F4? Got mine finished, but hasn't had it's maiden flight yet.

searcher

My Feedback: (1)

I recently finished my F4. It is powered by an OS .50 SX with a tuned pipe turning a 10x8 prop.

You will want max throws on ailerons and elevator. You can glue the rudder in place for all it gets used. It is quite fast and will perform very axial rolls with rates maxed out. Without mucho travel on control surfaces it becomes harder to maneauver making the flight less pleasurable. This is counter intuitive, but I think you will agree with me once you fly yours.

This bird will not tip stall regardless of what you do so go ahead and land her nose high at a walking pace. You can only do this with tons of elevator. Originally I didnt have max elevator travel so when she touches down (and I am at full up elevator) she was still moving fairly fast. Now she lands very softly with only a few feet of rollout.

In summary, the F4 is like a fast trainer; takeoffs are a no brainer, flight is very controllable, landings are effortless given much elevator travel.

I plan to purchase a JET .50 and build a second one. How fast will an F4 go? :stupid:

DIPSY

I've got an inverted'Irvine 53' up front, but I think it could get changed to side on if I get round to fitting retracts. If it flies well hopefully it will inspire me to make a start on my 'GP F4'.
I also need to do some kind of paint job on mine. I didn't like the otion that it comes with. Its a toos up between VF-84, 74 SQN or some kind of Royal Navy design.

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

Good observations above...

Mine is still in one piece with many flights on her. I have since glassed the rudder and elev. top because they were gettin' loose-

I ended up putting the rudder one for kicks- and that was all it was good for....

Again, stay away from spins-

I do need alot more travel on all surfaces, cuz mine lands like a Patriot-

james

DIPSY

'cuz mine lands like a Patriot- '

Is that patriot missile or aeroplane?

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

I was thinking Prop-jet, but missile work be comparable also..

Dave03B

how bad do these look with gear fixed?

or how could a dolly be built for it? I have no experience with dollies?
Anyone have plans for dollies that would work for the ripmax/lanier Phantom?
and that are easy to build

Cheers
Dave

skysurfer2010

I put an OS 61FX with a Macs muffler on my nose. I moved the rudder and elevator servos to the rear (two servos for the elevator) and also the battery pack is in the rear. This was enough to balance her. I haven't flown it yet but i'm getting anxious to see how it flies! I expect fast takeoffss with that engine on the nose.

KISTEX

Hi, can somebody please tell me the postiton of the CG on that F4? I lost the manual Thanks in advance.

jwoolridge

6.75" to 7.25" according to tower. Mine is around the forward mark but not sure where exactly. Flys nice but landings could be better. Been moving it back slowly all summer but this isn't the plane I fly most. Hope this helps

KISTEX

Yes James, that definatly helps alot as i had NO at all. I'll check it out the next days. Thanks alot !

Gordito Volador

My Feedback: (1)

Here is my Lanier F4 after four test flights. K&B .40 racing engine leftover from Q500 days, goes about 75 to 80. Breaking in my Magnum .46 that you guys recommended. The plane is fairly nose heavy now and will be more so with the Magnum.

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

Looks good! What kind of K&B 40 is that? It may be as powerful as a Magnum-46...

Mine is temporarily retired since I borrowed the engine for my Whiplash She'll fly again soon-

Congrats on the test flights!

james

Gordito Volador

My Feedback: (1)

Hey James,

The K&B is the old pre-muffler type with a good sized Perry Carb. I am using the Macs strap on muffler that is kind of a mini pipe. This thing is revving up as much as the new Magnum at this time, plus it is lighter. I have had this engine since 1979, got two of them. The F4 flys nicely, but lands fast just like you said.

Regards, Bill

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

Woo-hoo! Those 1 piece Macs mufflers do not seem to increase performance but are a shade quieter...

How is the vertical? Did you fly inverted at all? Maybe it is the way I put mine together but it tries to do a "death to smoochie" spin when I pull a cuban-8 (sometimes-)

Sounds like fun! You da-man

james

Gordito Volador

My Feedback: (1)

James,

On my last trim and test flight I flew some Cuban 8's, rolls and loops with no problems. The plane is very stable. I need more elevator to slow it down because it lands like a rocket. Inverted, not yet I'll do that the next time out. Here is a picture of the F4 that I wanted to buy, but not enough money in the bank to do it.

Bill

Dave03B

There's not enough said about this propjet, anyone got it really rockin on speed yet?