Stobe777

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Mike, for the compensation info. Had yours any play in the flaps? The construction seems a bit flexible at the flaps since they´re not composite.

TP.

HarryC

My Feedback: (1)

They are essential for seeing the model. Most of the time when flying mine I rely on seeing the two tip tanks flying around the sky, because you rarely see the wing. Overbanking is a very high danger with the F-104. Because the span is so short and the wings have anhedral, when you bank the far wing does not come into view until you have a high angle of bank and then it is the tip tank rather than the wing that you see. It is very easy to be banked beyond the vertical but think you are only banked 60 degrees because so little wing is showing, then when you pull in the up elevator the model dives, the only way out is not to pull more up but to roll out a bit. When coming towards you the wing is so little seen that again you rely on the tip tanks to tell you if it is level or banked. Doing things like vertical rolls or cuban 8s make you rely totally on the tip tanks to see what the heck is happening. I would never attempt to fly even just 1 circuit without the tip tanks.
Harry

Stobe777

My Feedback: (1)

Now this red bird is already growing out of my building room...In principal she´s ready except the turbine installation, but I´ll still tune the pneumatics a bit...well there´s many months of time now!

Tuomas

tahustvedt

That is a gorgeous jet, Stobe 777. I normally prefer jets in military colors but that one is just dead sexy.

Stobe777

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks, its not been built by me. But after seeing Italian Starfighters flying for years, this painting scheme really grabbed my interest! And how many have a reason to put a Ferrari logo in a jet model...? If someone has pictures of the full-size one in Maranello, I´d gadly look at them.

Tuomas

Stobe777

My Feedback: (1)

The maiden is getting closer and closer! Last night some taxi trials were conducted and range tests made. All was well, but after some faster taxis and brake tests right main wheel was badly stuck. Of course, at the far end of the field...so in the picture I´m carrying the running model for som distance. It took some heat gun and hammer to remove the axel from the jammed brass bushing, but now it seems fine. Good idea to test everything at the local model field and when everything works, travel some for a longer paved runway. So, soon...

Tuomas

Stobe777

My Feedback: (1)

She has done it!

Ok, I can stop wondering how she flies because now I know. I flew 2 flights with the F-104 yesterday in strong wind blowing down the runway. She flew ok, but seemed quite nose heavy, which I predicted but just didn´t want to stack the aft with so much lead that was needed. Anyway, in really strong wind flying was still possible, although in downwind I always lost altitude and gained it back in upwind. G-80 seemed a bit underpowered, but I guess the correct CG will cure that a lot, now the elevator dragged lots as I had to trim a lot of up elevator to maintain level flight. Its really not as bad to fly as it looks...nor very difficult to see. On the second landing I scratched one tip-tank so that some repairs must be made, and the nosewheel was also bent. Actually the tiptanks protect the model well taking the hits and being easily replaceable. All in all, I´m happy! And proudly attach the Italian F-104 patch to my flying jacket.

Tuomas

747drvr

My Feedback: (5)

Congrats ! Great looking plane . I really should build one some day !

Marc

Selleri

Congrats, now the real fun begins. [8D]

iiievolution

Congrats. I really should start building my one. Beautiful plane.

Paul

smooth sailing

My Feedback: (2)

Great Job Tuomas!!! I have always been a big fan of the F-104. I've built four CJM F-104s over the years.

thunderceptor

Congratulations! Beautiful model!
Can you move batteries aft to adjust the CG?

j.duncker

My Feedback: (2)

Congratulations Tuomas

It is great to get those first landings in the bag. Even more so with an aircraft with such an extreme look as the 104.

Now start to enjoy it!

tp777fo

My Feedback: (28)

You're going to love it. It makes me want to build another one! If UPS stops in front of my house again you will hear the gun shots from my wife as she shoots me! I now have 3 jets and one in the box. The way I look at it is that you never can have too many jets!

CDB-RAE

HELLO

yes me to i really want to build one but i really dont understand why PA is not upgrading this fantastic bird to a full composite or better to a ARF.
i m sure that could be a must on the market and not to much work ,in few month he can get a plane with huge sales potential like he done with the F-15.and do it now before the Chinese factory start build one

Redline7000

My Feedback: (2)

Robart has discontinued their landing gear for this model. Other than buying PA scale landing gear ($$$$), any other choices besides a wire landing gear?

Vincent

My Feedback: (61)

I have a set of the 104 Robart gear and struts, slightly used but in great shape if anyone is looking for them.
V..

SidewinderII

Here are some pictures of my CJM F-104 in the same color scheme j.duncker did, from the Italian Air Force 1996 NATO Tiger Meet. This was the CJM factory demo jet which I was lucky enough to purchase, the markings are totally airbrushed and quite well-done IMHO. I have not flown it yet, I'm planning on enlisting the help of Lewis "The General"Patton for the first flights. It is currently powered by an O.S. .91/Ramtecducted fan, but should not be too difficult to convert to turbine. This is an interesting thread, theCJM plans don't mention elevator/flap mixing. Does the 104 pitch down when flaps are applied?

j.duncker

My Feedback: (2)

SidewinderII Who ever did the airbrushing on yours made a great job. I used the best pics I could find cleaned them up and made transfers

tRe flap coupling. On mine There is a slight amount  of pitch down with full flaps selected. Philip Avonds gives a correction factor measured at the tailplane TE and this returned it to neutral.

I found that I preferred to land mine with take off flap as it floats in nicely and the tendancy to dutch roll is much less. Landing with full flap has a greater sink rate but you need to drive it in under power.

SidewinderII

j. duncker - Thanks for the complement, I don't remember much about what Bruce at CJM said about the person who did the airbrushing, except that he was a professional artist that CJM contracted. The airbrush details were based on the decal sheet from a 1/48 scale plastic F-104 model.

I plan mixing in some trailing edge "high" on the stab when the flaps are lowered. I'll also plan on using the takeoff flap setting for both takeoff and landing. I don't need anything strange going on when close to the ground.

Does anyone have the recommended Avonds flap compensation factor? I'm sure these would be similar for the CJM F-104.


Tom Hartstein

j.duncker

My Feedback: (2)

It would be from memory only ,maybe 4mm but I would get that confirmed from another source. The original notes from Avonds are with my model which is back in the UK. I am sure an email to PA would get it from the horses mouth. He is one of the good guys in this world. 

smchale

My Feedback: (67)

Aeroloft have them in stock. Just picked up a set for my Avonds kit.

I'm open to advice previous builders have from this kit. To summarize some of the notes I have from what I've read on RCU:

Flying: Use take off setting for flaps on landing. Anything more it drops like a rock.

Drag Chute: possible option, available at http://www.details4scale.com./

Gear Mounts: "The only modification I'd make is to the main gear mounts. They will break on a hard landing since they are ply and very long. I'd make them screw-in so you can chage them out at the field. As designed you have to cut the old ones out with a Dremel to change them. At least make a couple of spare sets for later."

Antenna: Use a whip antenna.

Flying: Don’t fly without the tip tanks. Orientation is very difficult.

Tip Tanks: Protect the bottom of them in case you have a gear up landing.

Rudder: Include rudder option.

Any other thoughts??

tp777fo

My Feedback: (28)

a c/f & ply laminate works well on the main gear mounts. Your idea for removable it good too. A bright paint job is necessary to see this beast. Nose on it looks like a baseball and two golf balls flying towards you. If you are not using a 2.4 system you can use a Revolution heli antenna pointed straight forward in the nose. I gained at least 30% range with this antenna, fully hidden and worked absolutely great. Never had a single glitch with several airplanes using this setup. A range check from behind the airplane I walked half way to Dallas before I lost the signal. The tailpipe, motor, and fuel tanks were between me and the antenna, motor was running.

smchale

My Feedback: (67)

Tom, thanks for kindly sharing your experience with this model. which looks great, by the way!! There seemed to be some debate on here about the method if fixing the wings to the fuse. Did you make them permanent, and did you overlap some f/g cloth along the seam, etc? I guess as long as the tip tanks come off the span really isn't too bad for transport?

j.duncker

My Feedback: (2)

I did mine by the book with a couple of layers of epoxy/glasscloth on the joint plus some fairing compound and lots of rubbing down to blend it in.

It would be possible to make them removeable but at some weight penalty. Mine fitted in a Citroen Xantia estate with the tanks on [nose off of course.]