New Y/A F/A-18 Hornet Build
02-05-2017, 10:07 PM
#78
Thread Starter
Hi,
So, I tackled one of the more tricky parts of the build today--the gear doors. They're supplied as split halves (liner and skin) for the builder to join. In earlier versions, the doors were already joined, but they never really fit right because these big, cavernous fuselages would sit for months or years on a shelf and deform. Now, you've got to join them yourself, and there are a couple of ways of doing it. The instructions have you deal with the door hinges before you skin the liners, but I've had better luck doing the joining first. I fit the liners as carefully as possible, and had to heat/bend/sand a couple to get them to fit properly. When I was done, I applied hysol and taped the doors in place to set. They were carefully test-fit first, of course
So, I tackled one of the more tricky parts of the build today--the gear doors. They're supplied as split halves (liner and skin) for the builder to join. In earlier versions, the doors were already joined, but they never really fit right because these big, cavernous fuselages would sit for months or years on a shelf and deform. Now, you've got to join them yourself, and there are a couple of ways of doing it. The instructions have you deal with the door hinges before you skin the liners, but I've had better luck doing the joining first. I fit the liners as carefully as possible, and had to heat/bend/sand a couple to get them to fit properly. When I was done, I applied hysol and taped the doors in place to set. They were carefully test-fit first, of course
02-06-2017, 10:32 AM
#82
Thread Starter
Years ago, Kenny Falconer and I did a full build log on here. I also have one on RCU that I built with twin P-120 SE. I'll see if I can find them.
02-06-2017, 10:34 AM
#83
Thread Starter
Hello,
Not too shabby on the doors, even after my screwup with the lip. It's amazing how stiff these doors are when you glue the two very flimsy halves together!
Not too shabby on the doors, even after my screwup with the lip. It's amazing how stiff these doors are when you glue the two very flimsy halves together!
02-06-2017, 05:50 PM
#86
Nice progress, moving right along!
i just created these cool details, the formation lights. These actually will glow in the dark. Next up to finalize my scale landing gear parts....here's a sample of some of the main gear parts. Lots of details, but its such a prominent detail on the hornet. Fun stuff!
i just created these cool details, the formation lights. These actually will glow in the dark. Next up to finalize my scale landing gear parts....here's a sample of some of the main gear parts. Lots of details, but its such a prominent detail on the hornet. Fun stuff!
02-07-2017, 01:19 AM
#88
My Feedback: (2)
Nice progress, moving right along!
i just created these cool details, the formation lights. These actually will glow in the dark. Next up to finalize my scale landing gear parts....here's a sample of some of the main gear parts. Lots of details, but its such a prominent detail on the hornet. Fun stuff!
i just created these cool details, the formation lights. These actually will glow in the dark. Next up to finalize my scale landing gear parts....here's a sample of some of the main gear parts. Lots of details, but its such a prominent detail on the hornet. Fun stuff!
02-07-2017, 04:03 AM
#89
Thread Starter
Hello,
I cut the nose off, and added the bulkheads with dowel pins. Pretty happy with how that turned out. I'll probably secure it with a screw through the machine-gun port.
I cut the nose off, and added the bulkheads with dowel pins. Pretty happy with how that turned out. I'll probably secure it with a screw through the machine-gun port.
02-09-2017, 12:53 PM
#92
Thread Starter
Hello,
More of the tedious 'busy work' on this build:
The plans call for you to cut through the skin to inset a plywood plate for the aileron control horn. It's way easier to just hot wire (or use a dill it) the foam out before you cap the root of the aileron and epoxy in a plate. I used 3/32" ply and made a nice-sized plate.
I also got all the leading edges of the ailerons and flaps radiused and fitted. I glued in the 1/32" ply liners for the aileron servo pockets. Wings are almost ready to final sand and glass.
More of the tedious 'busy work' on this build:
The plans call for you to cut through the skin to inset a plywood plate for the aileron control horn. It's way easier to just hot wire (or use a dill it) the foam out before you cap the root of the aileron and epoxy in a plate. I used 3/32" ply and made a nice-sized plate.
I also got all the leading edges of the ailerons and flaps radiused and fitted. I glued in the 1/32" ply liners for the aileron servo pockets. Wings are almost ready to final sand and glass.
02-09-2017, 05:22 PM
#93
Thread Starter
Hi,
I put the fiberglass fin tips on. They never, ever seem to fit perfectly, so there's always some filling/sanding to do to get them blended well. That being said, the plane sure seems a lot bigger with these fins full-size.
The rudders fit very nicely and even up close, they disappear into the gap covers. That's the goal--to get the hinge-lines to look like panel lines
I put the fiberglass fin tips on. They never, ever seem to fit perfectly, so there's always some filling/sanding to do to get them blended well. That being said, the plane sure seems a lot bigger with these fins full-size.
The rudders fit very nicely and even up close, they disappear into the gap covers. That's the goal--to get the hinge-lines to look like panel lines
02-10-2017, 03:29 AM
#94
Just catching up on this thread, nice progress Shaun. I used three small bullet connectors to hold the nose on. Looks like it should work well without the need for any bolts.
Not sure on the price of the gear set yet, starting work on putting a set together for the purposes of making instructions. Should have it done over the next 4-6 weeks as time permits.
Not sure on the price of the gear set yet, starting work on putting a set together for the purposes of making instructions. Should have it done over the next 4-6 weeks as time permits.
02-10-2017, 03:37 AM
#95
I rec'd an email asking about my fuel tank modification. Here's a couple photos of where my fuel tanks sit now. First photo is the stock location, second photo is where there are now after modifying the inlet ducting. Mods to the inlet duct are behind the inlet splitter plates so they are not visible. They openings have been boxed in now so the fuel area is isolated from the ducting, but you can see where cuts in the ducting were made. I'm hoping this helps reduce CG shift during flight.
02-10-2017, 08:53 AM
#97
My Feedback: (569)
Shaun,
Was this one of the builds you were referring too:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-j...d-project.html
02-10-2017, 09:40 AM
#100
Thread Starter
I rec'd an email asking about my fuel tank modification. Here's a couple photos of where my fuel tanks sit now. First photo is the stock location, second photo is where there are now after modifying the inlet ducting. Mods to the inlet duct are behind the inlet splitter plates so they are not visible. They openings have been boxed in now so the fuel area is isolated from the ducting, but you can see where cuts in the ducting were made. I'm hoping this helps reduce CG shift during flight.
Fortunately, I never found the CG shift noticeable with this bird. I never used any pitch-trim throughout the entire flight once I got them trimmed.
