ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

For years I have admired the Yellow Aircraft F-18 twin ... and every year, I chat with Charles in Toledo, who never fails to say "tell me what paint scheme you like, and I'll have one hand-built for you at the factory".

I've read many of the threads on the big F-18 here on RCU, and I have learned so much, as always, from the community here. Thanks to all of you for that.

So, to make a long story short, I found out he had one in the Canadian Tiger Meet scheme inbound without a home .. and who could stand the idea of such a pretty airplane without a good home :-)

For those of you who have not seen his "ARFs" up close, they are really amazing. Really they need another name than ARF, especially considering that they are essentially the same kits we can buy, built and painted by expert "modelers" at the factory.

Here is how I am fitting it out:

Behotec JB-180 Gold Turbine
Futaba 14MZ radio
Futaba and JR servos
Gary Muller tanks
Tom Cook fuel fittings and accumulator
Glennis Wheels and brakes
Details 4 Scale lighting, and lighted cockpit, bluebox pilot
Operating taihook (air-driven)
Jet Central smoke system

I'll post more pics of the install, etc .. but my son is handier than I am with a camera and he just took these shots of the lighting system, that are pretty cool :-)

She weighs in at 42.1 pounds dry, balance is right on the money, at front wing spar, as recommended by several experienced pilots.


Dave

ianober

My Feedback: (12)

Very nice!! Now, if we could just get them to powder coat the gear white from the factory!!

yeahbaby

My Feedback: (21)

congratulations amigo!!! beautiful bird. you're going to love the way she flies.

good luck

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Got me on that one! .. it's on the list to paint the gear .. but yes, it sure would be nice to have it come powdercoated...

Dave

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Looks great! Now ya just need some real rubber tires for it

Countryboy

My Feedback: (25)

Plane looks great Dave. By the way, thanks for the reply on the CJ Bearcat gear.

jorge*jet

My Feedback: (6)

Hi Dave,
Superb, my congrats. Look forward to seeing it at the jet meets next summer.
Jorge

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Thanks, Jorge.

My flying buddies pointed you out at Liberty Bell this year (you rock!) .. I meant to come chat with you but never made it they all see you as the east coast Yellow F-18 guru (I guess Smokin' Joe is the WC version, and Buck for the South .. uh oh .. I hope I don't leave anyone out!!).

I wanted to chat w/you about setup, and advice for the maiden. I'll have my favorite magic thumbs (Andy Kane) standing with me, but I do my own maiden flights .. heaven help me :-) Send me a PM if you'd be willing to chat sometime.

Dave McQueeney

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Thomas, they are the Glennis tires .. they seem pretty nice to me. and I LOVE their brakes (have their wheels and brakes on my Yellow F-15 and they work really well) .. but I hear you may have some other ideas of your own about tires :-)

PM me if we should talk...

Dave

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Dave,
if ya have the glennis, then you've got the best.. Mine are for the guys who dont wanna throw the coin down on the glennis

NickC5FE

My Feedback: (31)

Awesome!!!! I am building the kit and I can appreciate the work that is done for you-it is alot!!! Enjoy!

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Thanks, Nick! I have followed your thread, and the work on the F-18 kit looks really good.

Are you (at work) part of USAF AMC? If so, your commanding-general-to-be is quite an accomplished modeler (turbine and prop), in addition to his many other talents, as you may already know ...

Dave

SDCrashmaster

That thing needs the searchlight on the port side of the nose. All the CF18's have 'em...very distinct.
Then start working on your LEX Fences :-)
The Glennis wheels are sure nice. Weighty, but very very nice.
Enjoy your new Jet.

NickC5FE

My Feedback: (31)

Yep AMC on C-5's.....what's his name??

SDCrashmaster

Jorge's Cold Lake CF18 was one of the baddest twin models out there.
Here's a shot of it, and the real deal. You can see the searchlight and look at the paintjob on those LEX Fences.

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Hey Paul,

Thanks for the pics of Jorge's jet.

I do have the LEX fences and the fin reinforcement brackets, they come with the "ARF" and are pre-painted, I just have not installed them yet. Was waiting till all shop work was done to put on the rest of the antennas, probes, LEX fences, etc .. I don't want to be busting anything while handling it during final prep work.

I assume that's your handiwork on the canopy and gear in the pics?

Yes, the searchlight would be a great add, and I don't think very hard to do .. I do have a few more spare ports on Dan Gill's lighting controller :-)

Dave

grbaker

My Feedback: (29)

Dave, don't sweat the maiden!!!

This is one of those planes that even if you're a bucket of nerves when you taxi out and take off, you will settle down very quickly because it flies soooooo gooooood. It's almost as easy to fly as my Facet 2300 and I find it easier to land than my EuroSport. I hope I'm never without one in my hanger.

Good luck and enjoy!!!

SDCrashmaster

That's gonna be very sharp Dave,
I have never seen LEX fences from YA. This must be something new. Would love to see some close-up pics of them when you get a chance.
The cool thing about the searchlight is all the little vent holes, etc. in the panel/access door around the light itself. Would be a cool mod. Doesn't have to be functional at all, as I've never even seen an image with the light on. As long as it's aesthetically correct, that's all that matters.

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Thanks Paul and Gary for the comments.

Paul, I will attach pics of the LEX fences and two of the vertical fin reinforcements. I sat one of the fences on the plane, it would not stay put in the correct location, but you get the idea..

I read a site about the CF-18, and the story there is that the Soviets used to try to encroach on Canadian airspace at night, and the Canadians would fly up alongside, illuminate and photograph them to drive them away. Also says that they are no longer in use, and some are being covered over.

See: [link=http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/tnt1/001-100/TNT100_CF-188_Bamford/tnt100.htm]http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/tnt1/001-100/TNT100_CF-188_Bamford/tnt100.htm[/link]

I presume Dan Gill would be happy to sell me another high-intensity LED to make it operational :-)

Dave

Edit: D'oh .. sat it on the airplane backwards .. who would have thought the wider flange goes in the front :-(

skyhawknut

My Feedback: (3)

Just a note from your link:

"Steve Sauvé- the searchlight is still a standard feature of the CF-18, specifically for the NORAD intercept role. It is a requirement for each CF-18 TFS' 'Q' jets to have the light installed and functional, as well as any back-up 'Q' jets the squadron has ready. It is quite possible, indeed even likely, that a given jet will have and then later will not have the light installed throughout the flying year."

smchale

My Feedback: (67)

Dave,

Great news on the F18 project, plus it's Canadian! You know i'd love that, eh!!

I just finished off my Yellow single F18 in a candian scheme. A ton of masking, proably 60 mins of masking to every 1 minute of painting so I can appretiate the work they must have put in at the factory. Nice to see they added LEX fences, I scratchbuilt a couple for mine. I used RCCrafters struts on mine and painted them white.

Can't wait to see this one progress!

Cheers, Sean

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Very nice, Sean! The Canadians really have a "thing" for the wild paint jobs!

Dave

smchale

My Feedback: (67)

We have a lot of time on our hands with 11 months of winter.

Btw, if you're looking for a good book on the hornet to add extra details, there's one called 'uncovering the hornet'. Lots of CF-18's in there too, including pics of yours.

NickC5FE

My Feedback: (31)

Dave, i have decided on this scheme!! I like the grey jets, because you can weather the hell out of them, and the red white and b;ue just adds a little flair!!

ww2birds

My Feedback: (14)

Nick, I had not seen that one .. outstanding!

Sean .. I looked on amazon .. $525 for a new copy, $125 for a used one .. yikes!

:-)

Dave