AK Models - F-16 kit
04-12-2006, 04:46 PM
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AK Models - F-16 kit
A friend of mine had some laser cutting done by AK Models in Iowa City, so...since we lived close by, we
went over to pick up his laser cut parts. While we were there, Alex...the owner of AK Models was
showing us around, I noticed a F-16, 1/2 built aircraft in his work room..[X(]..come to find out that Alex was
working on creating a kit. I had been wanting to do a full build F-16 since I got into the hobby about 2
1/2 years ago that was like the Great Planes Patriot (I built the GP Patriot last year and enjoyed it) no
ducted fan, just a K.I.S. (Keep It Simple) built aircraft....the best part about our timing was that Alex was
so busy with his buisness that he offered to let me finish his or to cut a kit out for me to build....kinda a
trial run of his first prototype on a beginner...I like to build from scratch so......the only thing Alex did not
have to offer were a set of directions on "how to" build the kit (since he was still in the R&D phase). About a week ago Alex had a box of laser
cut parts, a set of plans and some pictures....well...this picture shows what I had completed in a couple
evenings of building..
...Fuse framework built (doublers installed/radio tray), wings (spar/ribs/spar webing/
TE & LE shaped) covered.....This kit is a DREAM....While building the fuse, I never needed a square or a
second hand to hold parts for me....the cuts are so "dead-on" that I belive that you could build what you
see here of the fuse without glue, and the fuse would still stay together. Even without a set of directions, the
parts fit together "one way" so as to make it almost imposible to get it wrong....the design at first
apperared to be very complex, but after a few of the parts go together it looked to simple....there is no
"high learning curve" here...the general specs are;
engine OS .91 FX - 13" prop
retracts Spring Air 700 series
wing span approx 44"
length approx 48"
finish weight approx 8-10 lbs.
Sorry about all the "approx"....I'm away from home and have a bad memory but will try to give better info
in the next few posts and I will be posting more pictures as the project goes on...some of the pictures will
be AKM's since I forgot to take pictures of my own (the plane was going together to fast to take any
)
SMILE !!!
The first two pics are what I have done and the last is Alex's plane!
went over to pick up his laser cut parts. While we were there, Alex...the owner of AK Models was
showing us around, I noticed a F-16, 1/2 built aircraft in his work room..[X(]..come to find out that Alex was
working on creating a kit. I had been wanting to do a full build F-16 since I got into the hobby about 2
1/2 years ago that was like the Great Planes Patriot (I built the GP Patriot last year and enjoyed it) no
ducted fan, just a K.I.S. (Keep It Simple) built aircraft....the best part about our timing was that Alex was
so busy with his buisness that he offered to let me finish his or to cut a kit out for me to build....kinda a
trial run of his first prototype on a beginner...I like to build from scratch so......the only thing Alex did not
have to offer were a set of directions on "how to" build the kit (since he was still in the R&D phase). About a week ago Alex had a box of laser
cut parts, a set of plans and some pictures....well...this picture shows what I had completed in a couple
evenings of building..
...Fuse framework built (doublers installed/radio tray), wings (spar/ribs/spar webing/ TE & LE shaped) covered.....This kit is a DREAM..
..While building the fuse, I never needed a square or a second hand to hold parts for me....the cuts are so "dead-on" that I belive that you could build what you
see here of the fuse without glue, and the fuse would still stay together. Even without a set of directions, the
parts fit together "one way" so as to make it almost imposible to get it wrong....the design at first
apperared to be very complex, but after a few of the parts go together it looked to simple....there is no
"high learning curve" here...the general specs are;
engine OS .91 FX - 13" prop
retracts Spring Air 700 series
wing span approx 44"
length approx 48"
finish weight approx 8-10 lbs.
Sorry about all the "approx"....I'm away from home and have a bad memory but will try to give better info
in the next few posts and I will be posting more pictures as the project goes on...some of the pictures will
be AKM's since I forgot to take pictures of my own (the plane was going together to fast to take any
) SMILE !!!
The first two pics are what I have done and the last is Alex's plane!
05-09-2006, 09:56 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
OK...sorry for taking do long to post, but I have been very busy....YEH YEH YEH....anywho....the plane is coming along perfect....AK did a great job on making a kit that can be built very fast and straight forward but left enough space in the fuse to "hide" things to give it an even more "scale" look!....Thing I have changed....First off, the tail, instead off a a conventional elevator hinged to a horizontal Stab, I made it a full-flying tail (stabilator).....the other big change was the ailerons had the servos attached to the underside of the wings that plug into the fuse, so to hide the servos, I placed them in the tail and not onle have wings that plug into the fuse but also servo arms that plug also by using the "universal joint" from a RC car...its kinda cool but occupied a HUGE amount of time...finaly got the SPRING AIR retracs from Sping Air...The thing I like about the retracs is that if you lose air, the gear is BIASED DOWN and LOCKED...the ONLY problem with Spring Air is if you order today, plan on getting the gear a few months down the road, but they are worth it...light weight, small but sturdy, and no wobbling in the joints...other then that, I have started to fiberglass some parts and plan to close up the belly so the main fuse can start to get covered...here are some pics....enjoy!
PS...AK suggested using Windex to moisen the balsa prior to forming it to the fuse, laying it up with pins, and letting it dry over night, I included a pic to show what i ended up with the next morning prior to glue...IT WORKS GREAT!!!
PS...AK suggested using Windex to moisen the balsa prior to forming it to the fuse, laying it up with pins, and letting it dry over night, I included a pic to show what i ended up with the next morning prior to glue...IT WORKS GREAT!!!
05-10-2006, 12:06 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
AWESOME! I'm building the SU-27 from Alex now and love it. It's funny that I'm moding my SU-27 with the same full flying stab set up as you. Now I have more confidence that it will work. Couple questions though, are the torque rods coming out of the stab made out of Aluminum or Steel? Also, what kind of control horns are you using to move the stabilators?
Keep the pics coming!
Mods
Keep the pics coming!
Mods
05-10-2006, 03:01 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
Hey Mods-R-Me.....now I dont want to take away any confidence about the stabilators ....but...I have talked to Alex about it and he thought about the same...cool idea but might not be to practical...the bigggest concern I have is that when the elevator makes up about 1/4th of the whole surface, and now I have glued the other 3/4ers to it basicly results to small control deflection-BIG MOVMENT, hopefully it wont be to touch"IE"...now with that being said...I used 3/16th steel piano wire (gear wire) with a 90 degree bend to make the stab stiffer...now for the fuse to recieve the rod i used a brass tube to make a sleave around the rod as one solid piece at first to make sure everthing lined up...glued the brass tube into place and then cut out two slots for the 3/16th collars but instead of using a set screw to hold the collar in place, i tapped a 4-40 thread and placed a 4-40 X 1 1/4" screw with a horn bracket already threaded on it....simple....I did use two servos to maybe take care of the above mentioned touch"IE" control....
I would like to see some pics of what you have done so far...mabe you could spur something i might have missed or could add....
I would like to see some pics of what you have done so far...mabe you could spur something i might have missed or could add....
05-10-2006, 10:33 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
ORIGINAL: mach92goose
I used 3/16th steel piano wire (gear wire) with a 90 degree bend to make the stab stiffer...now for the fuse to recieve the rod i used a brass tube to make a sleave around the rod as one solid piece at first to make sure everthing lined up...glued the brass tube into place and then cut out two slots for the 3/16th collars but instead of using a set screw to hold the collar in place, i tapped a 4-40 thread and placed a 4-40 X 1 1/4" screw with a horn bracket already threaded on it....simple....I did use two servos to maybe take care of the above mentioned touch"IE" control....
I used 3/16th steel piano wire (gear wire) with a 90 degree bend to make the stab stiffer...now for the fuse to recieve the rod i used a brass tube to make a sleave around the rod as one solid piece at first to make sure everthing lined up...glued the brass tube into place and then cut out two slots for the 3/16th collars but instead of using a set screw to hold the collar in place, i tapped a 4-40 thread and placed a 4-40 X 1 1/4" screw with a horn bracket already threaded on it....simple....I did use two servos to maybe take care of the above mentioned touch"IE" control....
Here's a link to my thread in the extreme speed section: [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4244427/tm.htm]CLICK HERE[/link]
Mods
05-10-2006, 11:26 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
I just got off the phone with Cermark and the control throws are as follows:
Stabilators: 3/4" Up & 3/4" Down: Low Rates
1" Up & 1" Down: High Rates
Rudder 1" Left & 1" Right
Ailerons: 5/8" Up & 5/8" Down: Low Rates
7/8" Up & 7/8" Down: High Rates
Hope this helps,
Mods
Stabilators: 3/4" Up & 3/4" Down: Low Rates
1" Up & 1" Down: High Rates
Rudder 1" Left & 1" Right
Ailerons: 5/8" Up & 5/8" Down: Low Rates
7/8" Up & 7/8" Down: High Rates
Hope this helps,
Mods
05-10-2006, 01:03 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
just subscribing in to the thread.
Alex told me about the project a year or two ago, and that it got sidetracked a bit.
Worth watching the assembly now.
Bob
Alex told me about the project a year or two ago, and that it got sidetracked a bit.
Worth watching the assembly now.
Bob
05-10-2006, 01:39 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
I just got back from your link...LOOKS GREAT...where are you at now in your project?...Thank you for the control throws for the cermark plane, I think you have it right, I was only thinking of at best 3/4" throw...so...sounds about that....I will try to take a better picture of the horn assembly...i showed it to some club guys and they are split 25no/75yes...I like the 75 guys anyways.....
good luck....I would like any other ideas and try to keep posting!
good luck....I would like any other ideas and try to keep posting!
05-16-2006, 10:22 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
Hey all......I have been working hard on the f-16...I removed the flex tube control rods and replaced with carbon fiber rods for riggidity and, well, its just better...also....finished making a set of spring loaded gear for shocks and a set of NON-spring gear just incase the other fail...failure is not an option-just a fact of life....last but not least...started to cover the bottom of the fuse....i moved the intake forward about 3/4ths an inch....Alex had placed it in the scale location but since the gear had to be moved forward about a 1/2 inch placed it out of te intake....any questions, i enjoy talking about things!
marc
marc
05-16-2006, 11:12 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
ORIGINAL: mach92goose
Hey all......I have been working hard on the f-16...I removed the flex tube control rods and replaced with carbon fiber rods for riggidity and, well, its just better...also....finished making a set of spring loaded gear for shocks and a set of NON-spring gear just incase the other fail...failure is not an option-just a fact of life....last but not least...started to cover the bottom of the fuse....i moved the intake forward about 3/4ths an inch....Alex had placed it in the scale location but since the gear had to be moved forward about a 1/2 inch placed it out of te intake....any questions, i enjoy talking about things!
marc
Hey all......I have been working hard on the f-16...I removed the flex tube control rods and replaced with carbon fiber rods for riggidity and, well, its just better...also....finished making a set of spring loaded gear for shocks and a set of NON-spring gear just incase the other fail...failure is not an option-just a fact of life....last but not least...started to cover the bottom of the fuse....i moved the intake forward about 3/4ths an inch....Alex had placed it in the scale location but since the gear had to be moved forward about a 1/2 inch placed it out of te intake....any questions, i enjoy talking about things!
marc
Thanks,
Mods
05-24-2006, 08:59 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
Sorry for the late reply. I've been working on my project too.
Well since you asked .... The section that your brass glide tube is glued into is 1/4" ply. All you really have to do is glue a .5-1 inch x .5-1 inch block on the glide tube ends WITH THE STRONGEST EPOXY YOU HAVE to fully surround the tube ends. This will keep it from ripping out when you pull G's. Wouldn't hurt for the external skin to be glued to the block either.
I just finished my stab mod on the Flanker. Check out the thread post #49 and you'll see what I mean. Yours does not have to be nearly that extensive because of the ply surrounding your glide tube already. My aft end was all balsa.
Looking good,
Mods
ORIGINAL: mach92goose
just glue...so far...any thoughts?
just glue...so far...any thoughts?
.... The section that your brass glide tube is glued into is 1/4" ply. All you really have to do is glue a .5-1 inch x .5-1 inch block on the glide tube ends WITH THE STRONGEST EPOXY YOU HAVE to fully surround the tube ends. This will keep it from ripping out when you pull G's. Wouldn't hurt for the external skin to be glued to the block either. I just finished my stab mod on the Flanker. Check out the thread post #49 and you'll see what I mean. Yours does not have to be nearly that extensive because of the ply surrounding your glide tube already. My aft end was all balsa.
Looking good,
Mods
06-20-2006, 12:35 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
WOW....I did not relize that it had been a month....I was gone from home for training and also a conference for work! Sorry I have not posted for awhile...but this last week I had 8 days off and worked hard on the AK's F-16...So here is what has been done-----
All parts have been covered and closed with 3/32 balsa--Covered in fiberglass--sanded---finishing coat of finishing resin---sanded--primed--sanded and fill any imperfections--primed--and finished with wet sanding with 400 grit!
SHE'S READY FOR COLOR!
I was trying to find a cool look f-16 paint job, but in the end, I think I will give it DesMoines Iowa ANG colors with some small changes (I dont like there Viper on the tail, so I will make it the HAWKEYE'S)..I can here it already..."THAT'S NOT THE TAIL OF THE DSM F-16!" ...so I say to them..."THAT'S CAUSE IT'S MY PLANE!"
Here are some more pics....enjoy
Marc
All parts have been covered and closed with 3/32 balsa--Covered in fiberglass--sanded---finishing coat of finishing resin---sanded--primed--sanded and fill any imperfections--primed--and finished with wet sanding with 400 grit!
SHE'S READY FOR COLOR!
I was trying to find a cool look f-16 paint job, but in the end, I think I will give it DesMoines Iowa ANG colors with some small changes (I dont like there Viper on the tail, so I will make it the HAWKEYE'S)..I can here it already..."THAT'S NOT THE TAIL OF THE DSM F-16!" ...so I say to them..."THAT'S CAUSE IT'S MY PLANE!"
Here are some more pics....enjoy
Marc
07-23-2006, 12:48 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
just got back from the world cup in Berlin and finaly had time to work on the plane....I think the first flight will be this coming week (last week in July)....I have some pics of the finished product and will try to get them on the web tonight...Alex came over to check it out...including a few changes in the original design, I think he was pleased...When I get time I will put the pics on the web and ask Alex to check out this post and let him add any comments or changes he would have done to this point....I'm sure that after the first flight (if it flies---knock on wood) there will be a WHOLE group of new posts of changes!....wish us luck, and I hope Alex will be there for the first flight!
07-24-2006, 08:03 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
Looks great! Good luck with the maiden and keep us informed.I hope Alex Does give his comments and the possibility of this kit hitting the streets.