Dblex

My Feedback: (81)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2tOws8gESg Well, she has arrived....

Just a Christmas Thank you to Dana and the team at ChiefAircraft. My F-18C arrived today safe and sound. Placed my order on September 11th and she arrived at my doorstep on 12-16-15. DHL of course and not on the container. I missed that opportunity by a week. And by that time, the container was full.

So far I am impressed with the quality of workmanship. No Flags as of yet. Unfortunately I wont be starting this project until after Christmas. Really want to focus on kiddo's and family. But I can tell you as soon as the lights come off my house on December 26th, GAME ON! LOL

I have atleast 4 threads bookmarked and I have read them all. From replacing the stock air lines to the CG set ups. Of course I will be reaching out to all of you as the build goes! So look for the questions!

I am attaching a quick pick to show some of the airline install, but man I hate to mess with it all. But apparently they don't hold up too well....


Anyhow, Thank you Dana and ChiefAircraft for an amazing purchase experience. Communication was excellent and you have a lifetime customer.

RP

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

Congratulations! I love the Blue Angels and the paint job! I've stopped work on mine for a little, busy time of year and have another project I have to move.

Not sure about where you fly down there, but you are always welcome to come up to Seguin and fly at the Randolph AUX. It's especially suited for maidens, 1,000 acres and 125 ft by 1,500 ft paved runway!
I will be following along on your "build" of course!

Luke

dbsonic

My Feedback: (3)

Dblex look at the video of mine that I just bumped. yeah, I had to cut them out both places.

Dblex

My Feedback: (81)

Yeah, I just PM'd bri6672 because I couldn't see his either...

Did you guys keep the skymaster air lines? Luke, I think your build thread did have the original airlines?

As for the maiden, I may take you up on that Luke... As for flying, Only a handful of us south of San Antonio. I got my waiver with Joseph in Harlingen and I fly in Bishop Texas. My goal this year is to get out and about and meet others.

Luke, where did you get your fuel tank fittings?

dbsonic, attach a link...I'm looking but don't see it...

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

Don't cut into the wing for the flap, a servo can be mounted in the cut out with just a slot cut for the horn.

I went with JR 3421's on the rudders, so I went ahead and cut a hatch. The verticals are very thin, but I got it to work.

This is how I did the ailerons, I have not installed the flap servo's, but when I do I will post pictures. Then I show my vertical with the hatch I made.

BoomerSooner

My Feedback: (80)

Looks great! Been thinking about one of these for a long time. Would you mind posting some more pics of the interior? Maybe some pics of the elevator servo mounts and pivot mechanism.

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

http://www.jettechusa.com/collections/fuel-fittings

I used his high flow fittings, any turbine 140 and above benefits from them. I have plumbed my fuel tanks already, will show pictures when I can take them, was not doing a good job taking pictures this time!

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

oh, no can't use the air lines, I've already replaced those! I will say that the BVM line is way to stiff for the main gear at least, I did use BVM line on the nose gear and doors but I could not get it to bend on all the gear door cylinders in the back. Put to much stress on the cylinders anyway. Maybe someone here knows a way to use it, did not work for me, went with a softer line.

Dblex

My Feedback: (81)

Luke, email me your contact info.. [email protected]

I would like to give you a buzz tomorrow.

dbsonic

My Feedback: (3)

correct, the flap just needs a slot since you can mount the servo with the servo head/horn in towards the wing. I needed a fairly long slot for the arms I used.

mackeyjones

Flap Servo

raron455

My Feedback: (38)

Looks good buddy, will loook real nice cutting thru the air inverted!!

FenderBean

Dblex, their airline is okay but I would not use the brittle fittings they use. I replaced all of mine on both SM but I have seen people use the stock stuff. I figured it would be much harder to go back and redo stuff than to do it during the build.

dbsonic

My Feedback: (3)

The airline is not the problem. It is the way the factory heats it.

Dblex

My Feedback: (81)

So replace????

lol

David Jackson

My Feedback: (15)

Is this the 1/6 scale F-18?

Dblex

My Feedback: (81)

no sir. 1/8th scale

tuan lam

My Feedback: (1)

Do not cut the wing skin , just cut a slot and get the servo in side the wing see the picture here

mackeyjones

I agree with fender about the airline fittings being the major problem, I replaced mine with metal fittings after the plane was together, which is a pain. The plastic sm ones are brittle and ive had some spit the hoses of the fittings.

Dblex

My Feedback: (81)

Tuan, Thanks! That is the plan for the flaps as well as the rudders now. I measured the rudder slot (in the video it had a 1/8th x 1/8th runner across it)and it sure seems to be made for a thin wing servo. My JRDS390HV thin servos dropped right in there. Skymaster didn't supply long enough control rod's for it but they are only 4-40 threaded rods w/Sullivan gold connectors. The Sullivan gold connectors came in the kit. Longest one supplied was 3 to 4 inches. I will just need to make one an additional 2" to get there..

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

So would everyone agree that the CG for this version F-18c is at 140mm or 5.5 from the leading edge at the fuselage for first flight?

dbsonic

My Feedback: (3)

Luke, yes that will work fine for starters and you can move it back from there.

PowerBoxDanny

My Feedback: (47)

Hey Ron! Happy to work with you and get that purdy plane ordered and there safely! You can download the manual for the F-18 on Skymasters site. At the bottom you'll see the link! Early Christmas for you!!! Please continue to post pics of your build! Looking forward to seeing this bird fly! Thanks again from Chief!

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

Thanks! One other thing I forgot that kind of bothers me about this plane is the elevator horns, they have no set screw. My question is do I need to drill and tap for a set screw or should I put something on the elevator rod before I tighten it, like Loctite or something?

I got my fuel tanks done, just need to do a pressure check and rinse them real good with diesel before I add the clunks.


Also have my airline done with no leaks finally, I had to replace some air cylinders. Some just need the caps on the end tightened, some need hysol on the nipples, but it all works now. I used BVM air line on the nose gear and half BVM air line on the mains, other half I used softer Dreamworks stuff. Also figuring out the electronics, UAT and other stuff install in a pretty tight place.

dbsonic

My Feedback: (3)

Looking good. Yes on the elev rod there is no "D" or flat spot so what I did is tap the horn for a set screw and just barely counter sunk a hole in the elev rod. I didn't want to drill the rod too much and create a weakness in the rod itself. Just enough for anti-rotation. Loctite for the bolts as well. And once I was satisfied all was permanent I even hit it with hysol. In addition I also doubled up the horn with other aluminum to provide a bit more material to fasten the ball link.