New Y/A F/A-18 Hornet Build
#154
Thread Starter
Howdy,
Been pluggin' away but not posting much. Got some work done this week on this tedious bird.
I started on the battery tray mount for under the removable nose cone. I've got to ship this baby in a crate, so I need it to fit inside the dimensions of plywood at Lowes (96"), so I opted to make the tray itself also removable. I built some mounts and hysoled them into the cone and against the former. I put a piece of wood against it to get an idea of what the tray itself would look like.
I didn't want to glue the missile rails on, either, so I glued some 3/8" dowel that I want to drill partway through for the 'bracket', and I already epoxied some hard points into the tip under the tip cap.
I got the nose gear lift strut mount done and am grinding on the standoffs for the door/cover. Double-sided tape trial-and-error.
One of the steps is to drill through the inside-side of the door hinge in six places (for micro screws). Then you come on the outside with a bullet-shaped or conical grinding wheel and countersink the hole for the screw head. If you get it just right, the screw will sit flush with the skin. There a total of 114 screws to do this step with. Thus my 'tedious' comment.
The last two pics show the sanded-down rail brackets and the tacked-on battery tray. My customer will modify it to his liking (cut slots for straps or use velcro, etc.)
Starting to look like a jet?
Been pluggin' away but not posting much. Got some work done this week on this tedious bird.
I started on the battery tray mount for under the removable nose cone. I've got to ship this baby in a crate, so I need it to fit inside the dimensions of plywood at Lowes (96"), so I opted to make the tray itself also removable. I built some mounts and hysoled them into the cone and against the former. I put a piece of wood against it to get an idea of what the tray itself would look like.
I didn't want to glue the missile rails on, either, so I glued some 3/8" dowel that I want to drill partway through for the 'bracket', and I already epoxied some hard points into the tip under the tip cap.
I got the nose gear lift strut mount done and am grinding on the standoffs for the door/cover. Double-sided tape trial-and-error.
One of the steps is to drill through the inside-side of the door hinge in six places (for micro screws). Then you come on the outside with a bullet-shaped or conical grinding wheel and countersink the hole for the screw head. If you get it just right, the screw will sit flush with the skin. There a total of 114 screws to do this step with. Thus my 'tedious' comment.
The last two pics show the sanded-down rail brackets and the tacked-on battery tray. My customer will modify it to his liking (cut slots for straps or use velcro, etc.)
Starting to look like a jet?
Last edited by Shaun Evans; 04-15-2017 at 03:23 PM.
#157
My Feedback: (24)
Looking good, by I wish I had a new set of doors!!
One of these makes countersinking those tiny screws a little less painful
http://shopbvmjets.com/zencart/index...oducts_id=1280
One of these makes countersinking those tiny screws a little less painful
http://shopbvmjets.com/zencart/index...oducts_id=1280
#158
Thread Starter
Hi,
I've got quite a bit more done and am about ready to start prepping for paint. Thing is, I'm pretty much done with this site. After the latest change, they've pretty much taken away any incentive to bother. I went to post pics, and now that feature is gone unless you want to go upload them somewhere else....
Long story short--I'll resume this build on another site. Once I've done that, I'll post the link here.
I've got quite a bit more done and am about ready to start prepping for paint. Thing is, I'm pretty much done with this site. After the latest change, they've pretty much taken away any incentive to bother. I went to post pics, and now that feature is gone unless you want to go upload them somewhere else....
Long story short--I'll resume this build on another site. Once I've done that, I'll post the link here.
#159
Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mira Mesa, CA
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Awesome build, yeah RCU seems to have taken a down-turn. Hey side question, where are folks flying turbine in San Diego (other than Miramar)?
I am getting back into flying with getting my turbine waiver the goal- cheers!
I am getting back into flying with getting my turbine waiver the goal- cheers!
#161
My Feedback: (67)
Way back in this thread I had hinted at working on some scale details for the hornet gear. Well development is complete along with very detailed instructions. About 65-70 pcs per strut really help make them more convincing vs. stock.
Feel free to drop me a note with any questions etc. Also I've done a bunch of other details to enhance this kit, with more planned in the near and distant future.
Feel free to drop me a note with any questions etc. Also I've done a bunch of other details to enhance this kit, with more planned in the near and distant future.
#163
My Feedback: (10)
Way back in this thread I had hinted at working on some scale details for the hornet gear. Well development is complete along with very detailed instructions. About 65-70 pcs per strut really help make them more convincing vs. stock.
Feel free to drop me a note with any questions etc. Also I've done a bunch of other details to enhance this kit, with more planned in the near and distant future.
Feel free to drop me a note with any questions etc. Also I've done a bunch of other details to enhance this kit, with more planned in the near and distant future.
Hi Sean, nice work and a great site you have. Any plans to support the 1/5.75 F-18A/B/C/D from Skymaster? Yellow F-18 is kaput unless I missed the memo?
#165
My Feedback: (67)
Thanks guys! At the moment I'm only planning on doing these gear details for the stock yellow gear. It can be done to finished models or ones still under construction. Despite the extra bulk they appear to have they still cleanly retract and rotate into the kit's wells.
I've seen photos of the larger SkyMaster gear and while totally not scale it is really well done and convincing enough for most so i don't have plans to mess with them. I have done some other details that have been used on the SkyMaster hornet, including the glow-in-the-dark anti-collision light strips. These are exactly sized to replace the SkyMaster ones.
On my site i have the following already for the yellow hornet:
- LEX fences and fin brackets/plates
- glow in the dark anti collision lights and frames (6 locations)
- integrated detail set
- external detail set
- sidewinders, AIS pods, etc
- ejection seat
- arrestor hook
- BRU-32 bomb racks with anti-sway braces
- scale wheel chocks
- missile rail glow in the dark anti collision lights, top and bottom
- nose gear super detail set
- main gear super detail set
Items I'm aiming for down the road:
- retracting boarding ladder (already done just need to write instructions)
- scale cockpit
- speed brake detail set
- scale tires (not a fan of the foam ones yellow offered)
- canopy frame detail set.
- wing pylons and tanks (molds already done).
i know the kit is pretty much discontinued, but seeing as I'm building one for myself i figured i may as well make these extra details available for other enthusiasts.
I've seen photos of the larger SkyMaster gear and while totally not scale it is really well done and convincing enough for most so i don't have plans to mess with them. I have done some other details that have been used on the SkyMaster hornet, including the glow-in-the-dark anti-collision light strips. These are exactly sized to replace the SkyMaster ones.
On my site i have the following already for the yellow hornet:
- LEX fences and fin brackets/plates
- glow in the dark anti collision lights and frames (6 locations)
- integrated detail set
- external detail set
- sidewinders, AIS pods, etc
- ejection seat
- arrestor hook
- BRU-32 bomb racks with anti-sway braces
- scale wheel chocks
- missile rail glow in the dark anti collision lights, top and bottom
- nose gear super detail set
- main gear super detail set
Items I'm aiming for down the road:
- retracting boarding ladder (already done just need to write instructions)
- scale cockpit
- speed brake detail set
- scale tires (not a fan of the foam ones yellow offered)
- canopy frame detail set.
- wing pylons and tanks (molds already done).
i know the kit is pretty much discontinued, but seeing as I'm building one for myself i figured i may as well make these extra details available for other enthusiasts.
#170
My Feedback: (67)
Oli, i can send you some measurements of the hubs in the next day or so. Thanks!
In the meantime, a few more items completed! A scale retractable and collapsing boarding ladder which i think is pretty cool. Also did some frames and glow-in-the-dark lights for the wing tip missile rails. These go above and below the rail per the full size. Called night formation 'slime' lights.
In the meantime, a few more items completed! A scale retractable and collapsing boarding ladder which i think is pretty cool. Also did some frames and glow-in-the-dark lights for the wing tip missile rails. These go above and below the rail per the full size. Called night formation 'slime' lights.
#171
My Feedback: (67)
Here are some photos.
The inside of the yellow foam tire is dia 51mm x 36mm deep. For reference (may not be scale) the OD is 97mm and the width of the tire is 37.5mm.
The rim is split in two and together the dims are as shown in the photos. the depth with the depth gauge is 5.45mm.
Let me know if you need any other dims.
This is what I have on the full size tires:
- Main Wheel tires (qty 1 per side) size 30 x 11.5-14.5
- Nose wheel tires (qty 2) size 22 x 6.6-10
Also, see the following link, it shows the exact labeling for the tires:
Last edited by smchale; 05-31-2017 at 11:10 AM.
#172
My Feedback: (67)
Quick mock up with the wings up and down. Also have now attached the missile rails. had to tweak them to give the washout illusion that the full size has. Nothing looks worse than the model sitting on the ground with the missiles pointing up into space! we've all seen it...especially on F-16's....grrrr....
Made some good progress but feeling a bit burned out so may work on something else for a bit.
Made some good progress but feeling a bit burned out so may work on something else for a bit.
#173
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bournemouth, UNITED KINGDOM
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Slightly off thread,but any chance you have a set of spare ya starfird wings or have contact details of Charles so I could give him a try? Would appreciate any help. You can pm me or email my personal address [email protected] ps great build thread and the ket looks superb!
#174
Chula Vista Model Radio Control Club near the border.