Firebird!!!
02-28-2011, 07:16 PM
#51
RE: Firebird!!!
Continued with the bypass install. The two halves are trimmed to fit in a cradle created by the wing spars. the two halves are fit and tapped for 4-40 machines screws. The motor mounts are incorporated into the bottom half of the bypass with aluminum rails that are molded into the flanges of the bypass. At this point the turbine mounts are drilled and tapped for 6-32 screws. The end of bypass is mounted against the main wingspar as well as theaft turbine mountstrap. Thishelpskeeps the turbine square in the bypass using themount strap, making for a no brainer motor install. Once the bypass is drilled for the bypasstop half andturbine mounts the bottom half can be glued in place. Squaring up a couple of paint stir sticks I cut them to length for the exact depth and width of the fuse. This setup is used to find the middle of the fuse to keep the bottom of the bypass centered. Also finding the exact side measurements of the side of the bypass also keeps it square and plumb.....I hope.
02-28-2011, 07:26 PM
#52
RE: Firebird!!!
Pics of bypass setup. the exhaust tube is held in place on the bottom of the bypass by a nylon pin. The bottom half is prepped now for the install of the pin. Not being the sharpest pencil in the box, finding the exact center of a radius is a mental challenge. I think I came up with a solution using the distance a crossed the bypass divided in half. Thentaped a ruler long enough to another ruler to find the exact center. Marked the spot then measuredto drill the mount hole,glued it place, looks good.
02-28-2011, 07:33 PM
#53
RE: Firebird!!!
More bypass install pics. To get a nice fit of the two halves requires some good basic building. Taking time here will save me headaches later ensuring they line upperfectly. Hopefully I got them right as the install of the intakes requires thebypass is mounted correctly square and plumb.
02-28-2011, 07:54 PM
#56
RE: Firebird!!!
Final bottom halfbypass pics. Hopefully I got it square and plumb using my stir stick tool thingy. Sides are measured for exact distance between the bypass flanges and hatch flanges. weighted down the bypass with an old ankle weight so the glue makes good contact with the bypass and the wing spars.The sides are also held snug in place by balsa sticks...I wonder if I could sell these stir stick doohickies? I could chargea hundred Dollars like HD does....Harley Davidson... HD... .. .
03-07-2011, 04:12 PM
#58
RE: Firebird!!!
Fit the intakes the last few evenings. They match up to the upper and lower bypass with anice keyed edge and are fit to the leading edge of the wing that was cut out earlier. Intakes can be a real time consumer, my Eagle and Falcon (RIP)were achallenge,no different with the FB. The most difficult part is mating the leading edge of the intake with the wing. I used 30 minute epoxy and micro balloons thinned with alcohol so it would flow into the seams and create and nice hard joint. Using finishing resin and glass tape the intakes are bonded together, the top half of the bypass will sit on top here so a goodsquared andflatfit of the intakes to the bottom of the bypassis necessary.
03-07-2011, 04:31 PM
#59
RE: Firebird!!!
Completed the intakeinstall with finishing up the seams. I used Metal Glaze to blend the intakes to the fuse andwings. The Leading edge of the wing has a flat area so I built up the leading edge for a more aerodynamic shape. Next up is some mechanical work with the nose landing gear steering servo and beginning some airline routing. will also install the air system manifold.
03-20-2011, 06:15 PM
#60
RE: Firebird!!!
Jumping around a little bit. JMP uses an air manifold for the gear and doors. This will eliminate the use of T's in the air lines between the doors and the gear. I have used these on my F-15 and F-16 and they work great, no more leaky T's. Glued in the manifold and started routing airlines. Simple stuff but takes time and makes my fingers hurt pushing the lines on the fittings. I started using air restrictors but they are not really needed. Re-did the airlines after spending a couple hours doing the setup
Oh well back to work!!! Temporarily routed the airlines to the manifold from the doors, gear and brakes to get the lengths correct. Will pull them later for the painting process.
Oh well back to work!!! Temporarily routed the airlines to the manifold from the doors, gear and brakes to get the lengths correct. Will pull them later for the painting process.
03-20-2011, 06:30 PM
#61
RE: Firebird!!!
Finished up the nose steering install using an8411 mounted to the bulk head, cut to length the steering cables and per the instructions glued them to the steering arms on the strut. Thinking about installing a directmount steering setup that is popular these days. Therelooks like there isplenty of room for a servo mount on the strut, might try it down the road.
03-20-2011, 06:44 PM
#62
RE: Firebird!!!
To mount the turbine in the bypass, getting thebolt intoholeswould be a pain snaking them into position from the hatch opening. So per the instruction slots are ground out on the side of the fuse. Measure, measure and measure 1 more time to get them in the correct area. got Lucky!!!!
03-20-2011, 07:00 PM
#63
RE: Firebird!!!
Random shots of the airlines, connections and routing. The doorcylinders, gear and brakes all use the same size airlines so no tiny brake lines
Airlines are secured on the fittings with a hard plastic clamps. Never had a major problem with air leaks on cylinder fittings but a little extra insurances never hurts. The MLG airlines have specific routing setup to route them through the main bulkhead forward to the manifold. I will use tidy strips down the road after paint to secure the lines and keep them out of the way of the moving parts.
Airlines are secured on the fittings with a hard plastic clamps. Never had a major problem with air leaks on cylinder fittings but a little extra insurances never hurts. The MLG airlines have specific routing setup to route them through the main bulkhead forward to the manifold. I will use tidy strips down the road after paint to secure the lines and keep them out of the way of the moving parts.
03-20-2011, 07:12 PM
#64
RE: Firebird!!!
Installed the air tanks, 3 in all for brakes, doors and gear. Wrapped the big tank with foam and using my funky shape copier thingy I made a little cradle for the tank that willgo in the nose. will secure with velcro and foam. Will finish the airline install down the road after paint.
03-20-2011, 07:22 PM
#65
RE: Firebird!!!
Looking good Mark,
This is the first airplane I've ever had where the past couple months I've been thinking "Man, I'd like to buy another one just because I enjoyed building it so much!" I got away with one hole in the fuse on each side for the bypass bolts but I did have to put a small hole in the fuse also for the forward most bypass bolt, I just couldn't get it to thread properly without being able to have the driver coming straight down. However, with the dark colored paint I put on mine, you never even see the holes.
It is an awesome airplane, I can't wait for the better weather so I can fly mine again!
Jeremy
This is the first airplane I've ever had where the past couple months I've been thinking "Man, I'd like to buy another one just because I enjoyed building it so much!" I got away with one hole in the fuse on each side for the bypass bolts but I did have to put a small hole in the fuse also for the forward most bypass bolt, I just couldn't get it to thread properly without being able to have the driver coming straight down. However, with the dark colored paint I put on mine, you never even see the holes.
It is an awesome airplane, I can't wait for the better weather so I can fly mine again!
Jeremy
03-20-2011, 07:24 PM
#66
RE: Firebird!!!
Oh yeah, I put all 3 of my air tanks in the nose, those "shelves" alongside the nose gear were just way to good of a spot to securely mount all my batteries and still have them securely mounted. I put all 3 tanks in the nose and just put some foam in there to hold them securely. My ECU battery is on the left side and my 2 receiver batteries are on the right side, I can have any battery out of there in less than a minute if I need to.
03-20-2011, 07:28 PM
#67
RE: Firebird!!!
Thanks Jeremy! Wish you lived closer, I could use your help on paint! Thinking about a Miss America Theme if its not to hard to figure out. Otherwise it will be a solid color and maybe checker board on the bottom of the wings.
03-21-2011, 07:13 PM
#69
RE: Firebird!!!
Started the aileron install cutting out the servo pocketsandmounting the servos to the plates and tapping the mount holes. Centering the servo on the plate is a one shot deal and always makes me a little nervous about screwing up the hole patterns. Turned out pretty good using JMP no flex mounts. Centered the servo 5/16" on each side, spot glued the mounts to the mount plate to drill and counter sink theflat head screws.Next up is installing the ailerons on the wing.
03-21-2011, 07:35 PM
#70
RE: Firebird!!!
ORIGINAL: Mark Basel
Thanks Jeremy! Wish you lived closer, I could use your help on paint! Thinking about a Miss America Theme if its not to hard to figure out. Otherwise it will be a solid color and maybe checker board on the bottom of the wings.
Thanks Jeremy! Wish you lived closer, I could use your help on paint! Thinking about a Miss America Theme if its not to hard to figure out. Otherwise it will be a solid color and maybe checker board on the bottom of the wings.
Mark,
As far as the paint goes, the best advice I can give you is this. Whatever your craziest idea's are, do them on this jet. Otherwise, you'll regret it. I went simple on mine, and honestly, outside of the crazy color changing paint I used, once I get a number of flights on the jet, I'll be adding to it. I just wish I'd taken the time that I should have for the paint on it.
So don't skimp out on the "easier" scheme, this jet deserves only the best, so rock it!
Jeremy
03-22-2011, 03:36 PM
#75
RE: Firebird!!!
Anything you need.My good friend Dan Davidson is going to do the paint work.He goes by SplitS on here.He painted the mustang you see in my avatar.He also made that drawing.He does paint for hire if you're interested.Mine will be in HOK Kandy paint with the white being a pearl.I'll attach some pics of his paintwork.He did the mustang,but not the old firebird.Good luck.