FenderBean

Thanks man I have enjoyed the build myself and made some great new friends a long the way. Most are like me, people who love the hobby, love to help and promote the hobby, and most important people who love to enjoy all aspects of the hobby. I was talking about the hurricane my joking comments started on my end.
Really have had some great feedback on the thread. I don't change so everyone else must lol Blue Moon anyone?

FenderBean

Before I forget here are the photos that would not upload last night, plus a couple from today
Picture 1 is the new location for the button valve and switch mount.

VF84sluggo

My Feedback: (55)

FB - you coming to Pensacola Jets? I'd love to see your F-16.

BTW, if you are coming and you plan on flying, a turbine waiver will be required for 'solo' flying. Beave mentioned Rob, and he is part of the PCola Jets organizational group. He'd be more than happy to get you qualed; plus, he's got a lot of time with an F-16.

Sluggo

PS - I don't mean to be yankin' you here, but I am curious about your maiden plan re. no turbine waiver. I don't believe I'd be openly talking in a public forum about flying a rc jet at a military field without said waiver, unless under direct supervision (buddy box) by a waiver holder. A stipulation by the Navy for our usage of Holley OLF is that all flying must be in accordance with AMA rules. This is a club rule, as well. Perhaps your club, as well as the Army, makes no such stipulation.

icepilot

I flew my SM 1:6 F-16 with a GBooster 160 for the first 100 flights, it weighed in at about 50 lb at the time and flew
quite nice. Then I put a P180 in there and added some more stuff, now it's 55 lb with the tanks full and some water
in the plane, the tanks are about 210 oz and I always land (after a 9 minute flight) with the main tank 3/4 full. I hardly
ever fly at full throttle, but fly in a very scale-like way, and with the Jetcat I have nearly unlimited verticals when I
need it. I usually land a little on the fast side because of the weight, but it's a great machine - you will love yours!

The video is my second F-16, I sold the first one, this is built up exactly the same way, and flies with the P180

Tor
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxLlcY6Qus4[/youtube]

lookilook

Tor it was a pleasure meeting you at jetpower and as always you have my congrats, well when you feel like selling this one also tell me first!!!

icepilot

Thanks, man - you guys are nice, and I think you have as much fun as we do!! I will tell you if I wanna sell my baby!! [8D]

Tor

FenderBean

I plan on coming to the event, I know turbine waivers are required and since its everyones business, I did have a jet waiver pilot on hand for the flight. Plus we keep a buddy box at the field 24/7. Not you sluggo im just mad about all the drama locally and how people just do nothing but head hunt here. Anyway I don't roll that way, its a hobby, its for fun and nothing else, people take things way to serious. Im actually excited since u guys are close and I don't have to drive for hours to the event

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Sluggo,

Does "NAFOD" and "10%er" come to mind?

Beave

VF84sluggo

My Feedback: (55)

How does that saying by Confucius go? Oh yeah, I remember: "A closed mouth gathers no foot." - Confucius, 02 Oct 461 BC

That pearl of wisdom might be applicable.

FenderBean

My favorite Confucius quote

"What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others. "

VF84sluggo

My Feedback: (55)

In other words, "Picture the shot, be the ball"...

FenderBean

Works for me, sorry to hear about your bird I have never been a fan air systems even with the small stuff. I had a cbm f-16 that I hated just as much as the big one. So electric is sounding really good, seems to be the biggest issue in the jet world.

FenderBean

Well just a little update, I decided to go electric on my retracts. Nothing wrong with the way they are I just do not like air systems, they are not reliable enough for these larger jets with 5 pound gear systems. I made sure my gear system moved freely and no binding after the first few tests just to make sure. They open and lock very easy, in fact after I lubed the pins just opening the gear would cause them to lock, the pin has a small spring that puts force on it to lock. The unlock works just as good so my reason for the switch was not function issues so no flaming. The recommended way to hook the air system with electronic valves is as follows. Use the EV5 with a large tank for nose gear, gear doors, and brakes. Then use a EV2 valve for the mains with another tank. The simple reason is the fact the gear requires lots of air per and pressure to work smooth, after all these are big beefy gear. So with the gear, brakes, and doors all on the EV5 valve you only get one open and close before the pressure "COULD" not will, cause issues. After one up and down of gear and doors the pressure would drop from 105 psi to about 80-85 Psi, which is no big deal unless you use need to hit the brakes while taxing out for line up. On average the brakes used around 5-10 psi. so if you use brakes any on taxi out you could possible run into a pressure issue on gear down and braking after touch down. Yet again I say "POSSIBLY".

So in order for me to make the gear work via the recommended way would be easy, I have a EV5 and EV2 in the jet already with two large and one medium tank. The only problem then is I would have to by another two way valve for my canopy which is over 100.00 not to mention with a 10k+ jet why even worry about it. So I can just sale my EV5 and and get 2 two way valves for brakes and gear doors with one large tank running it all. I will be adding one 7.4 volt battery, but it will still weigh less than the the typical air system.

The recommended way is from the experience of people who have flown this same model, and my testing enforces it. I wanted to do the conversion when I received the jet but for some reason didn't and looking back cost would have been cheaper.
So there you go take it for what its worth my gear is in the hands of Down and Locked and all future jets will be electric gear as well, its more cost effective, less hassle, and you cannot put a price on a piece of mind

Oh and since I have the gear out I was able to inspect the main bulk head the main gear bolts to, which is honeycomb material with thick carbon fiber on both sides. I think it is strong enough to support the gear loads, you would probably tear the skin its glued to before the bulkhead itself.
The only thing I will do to improve the strength is add either ply on the back side since the washers are small and could crush the area under the nut. So I will either get some 1 1/2 inch washes or just add some ply squares between the bulkhead to spread the crushing force of bolting the gear on.

Finally, for those with gear like this, be sure and keep some good lube on the shock/strut area that goes into the gear/spring area. I noticed with mine It was hard push in until I added some nice tri-flow lube which will penetrates the metal. I recommend it instead of thick grease since it has teflon to prevent attracting dust. I have used it on my helis shaft areas for years. The main gear would be fine, just wearing more, but the nose gear can stick with the gear in the fully compressed which causes the gear to stick or jam when rotating closed. That's about it till I get the gear back and can show them off and the final video for flight review.

lookilook

hi fender, i have had my f16 1/8 retracts modified by down and lock boys a year ago and they work perfect. see my video link http://www.youtube.com/user/northnik#p/u/8/1N7_l3AIk3o

FenderBean

cool beans hey here is the picture I drew to help you with your canopy setup we talked about. Hope it helps!

lookilook

wow thanks fender, great drawing, do you have a link where to buy the mighty valve?

FenderBean

only place i know of is dreamworks, but i think most of the big jet sites have them. I bought mine from the person who told me about it.

KC36330

I have a pretty good idea he got it from [link=http://www.tamjets.com/original/product_info.php?cPath=23_38&products_id=113]Tam Jets[/link] but they can be had from [link=http://dreamworksrc.com/catalog/system-trigger-valve-p-738.html]Dreamworks[/link] for a few $$$ more.

lookilook

oh yes i think i remember..kc post it here ...i may even have one of those somewhere!!

VF84sluggo

My Feedback: (55)

Nice work, FB!

Is the air tank for the canopy system the one that you would have used for the gear, or are you tapping into the brake tank (figure you don't need a tank for the gear anymore since you went electric)?

FenderBean

Before the gear was removed I had two tanks for the gear and brakes and a 3rd smaller tank just for the canopy.

FenderBean

Okay final air setup for my new Down and Locked gears
I will also be doing a electrical diagram since I have time
the dual receivers is just something I wanted to try and I got a brand new power box for less than it would have cost for the a orbit jack, voltage regs and switches.
Plus being tall heavy its nice to that everything balances with just moving batteries around.

lookilook

Goodmorning, fender have a look to this link, its a modification i did on the cockpit taken the idea from my friend Tor(icepilot). looks very impressive .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkzgZCPzOxM

AndyAndrews

Maiden?

rbxbear44

My Feedback: (86)

Andy,
I think he is out for a bit with sending the gear to DNL to have the retracts fitted for Electric rather than air.

Rex