Bob Cat Copy Falcon 120 Jet
#4752
#4753
Hello Ed,
I am working on the fuselage of the new Sea Vixen schemed Falcon. I have never used a "cockpit tub" in previous models and was wondering how you used the one you modeled ours on. Do you attach the tub to the fuselage, route the battery charging, refueling etc through the tub floor and then have the canopy removable or do you make a single unit out of the canopy and tub and have the whole thing removable for access? I suppose one do do either but I was wondering what you do on your aircraft.
I steered well clear of the "up/down thrust" debate. It is a matter of correctness vs common usage. My pet grumble is the use of "trailing link" for a trailing arm undercarriage. Another that comes to mind is the electric crowd's use of KV as revs per volt when it is really thousand revs/volt. "700KV" would be one hell of a high revving electric motor where they obviously mean 700 revolutions per volt. Ahh well,,, it is a funny world.
Cheers Ed
Col
I am working on the fuselage of the new Sea Vixen schemed Falcon. I have never used a "cockpit tub" in previous models and was wondering how you used the one you modeled ours on. Do you attach the tub to the fuselage, route the battery charging, refueling etc through the tub floor and then have the canopy removable or do you make a single unit out of the canopy and tub and have the whole thing removable for access? I suppose one do do either but I was wondering what you do on your aircraft.
I steered well clear of the "up/down thrust" debate. It is a matter of correctness vs common usage. My pet grumble is the use of "trailing link" for a trailing arm undercarriage. Another that comes to mind is the electric crowd's use of KV as revs per volt when it is really thousand revs/volt. "700KV" would be one hell of a high revving electric motor where they obviously mean 700 revolutions per volt. Ahh well,,, it is a funny world.
Cheers Ed
Col
#4754
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Hey Ed,
I'm with you. plenty of pet peeves in the modelling world, but not wasting time here over them.
I attached my tub to the canopy so it comes away when I pul the canopy off. full access to everything underneath.
Are you going up to maryborough jets?
Thanks
dave
I'm with you. plenty of pet peeves in the modelling world, but not wasting time here over them.
I attached my tub to the canopy so it comes away when I pul the canopy off. full access to everything underneath.
Are you going up to maryborough jets?
Thanks
dave
#4756
My Feedback: (3)
Hello Ed,
I am working on the fuselage of the new Sea Vixen schemed Falcon. I have never used a "cockpit tub" in previous models and was wondering how you used the one you modeled ours on. Do you attach the tub to the fuselage, route the battery charging, refueling etc through the tub floor and then have the canopy removable or do you make a single unit out of the canopy and tub and have the whole thing removable for access? I suppose one do do either but I was wondering what you do on your aircraft.
I steered well clear of the "up/down thrust" debate. It is a matter of correctness vs common usage. My pet grumble is the use of "trailing link" for a trailing arm undercarriage. Another that comes to mind is the electric crowd's use of KV as revs per volt when it is really thousand revs/volt. "700KV" would be one hell of a high revving electric motor where they obviously mean 700 revolutions per volt. Ahh well,,, it is a funny world.
Cheers Ed
Col
I am working on the fuselage of the new Sea Vixen schemed Falcon. I have never used a "cockpit tub" in previous models and was wondering how you used the one you modeled ours on. Do you attach the tub to the fuselage, route the battery charging, refueling etc through the tub floor and then have the canopy removable or do you make a single unit out of the canopy and tub and have the whole thing removable for access? I suppose one do do either but I was wondering what you do on your aircraft.
I steered well clear of the "up/down thrust" debate. It is a matter of correctness vs common usage. My pet grumble is the use of "trailing link" for a trailing arm undercarriage. Another that comes to mind is the electric crowd's use of KV as revs per volt when it is really thousand revs/volt. "700KV" would be one hell of a high revving electric motor where they obviously mean 700 revolutions per volt. Ahh well,,, it is a funny world.
Cheers Ed
Col
With regards to the cockpit tub, here is a link to how I mounted my cockpit tub to the canopy. See post #164
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...095652&page=11
Also, my canopy securing method is also discussed earlier in the thread. I believe it is post # 74
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...2095652&page=5
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Ed
#4760
My Feedback: (3)
I respectfully have to disagree with you. I have used this in my jets and pattern planes for years without problems. My receivers sit on the plate and have experienced no loss of signals. I do, however, place my satellite receivers on the side of the fiberglass or balsa fuse. Additionally, many of the new composite pattern planes have CF firewalls, CF servo mounting trays, etc.
Ed
#4762
My Feedback: (48)
Ed,
We can disagree about whether or not it's a good idea, but you can't disagree with physics. Carbon fiber does in fact interfere with radio waves. That's why some radio manufacturers offer special receivers for use in CF fuselages. These have longer antennae which are routed outside the fuse.
In order to be a problem the CF needs to be directly in line with the receiver antenna and transmitter. That's not to say that some signal doesn't get through. It's OK to have bits of CF here and there in the plane, just like there are metallic objects in the plane. Some radio waves get bounced around inside the fuse and the satellite receivers prevent you from loosing signal when the plane is orientated such that the CF is directly in line with the main Rx and the Tx.
Obviously you've been getting away with it. I don't feel that it's a good idea to mount your main receiver on CF because you're diminishing the capability of your system. I prefer vinyl over plywood for my equipment trays since I also like the look of CF. I wish you the best of luck with your set up.
Regards,
Joe
We can disagree about whether or not it's a good idea, but you can't disagree with physics. Carbon fiber does in fact interfere with radio waves. That's why some radio manufacturers offer special receivers for use in CF fuselages. These have longer antennae which are routed outside the fuse.
In order to be a problem the CF needs to be directly in line with the receiver antenna and transmitter. That's not to say that some signal doesn't get through. It's OK to have bits of CF here and there in the plane, just like there are metallic objects in the plane. Some radio waves get bounced around inside the fuse and the satellite receivers prevent you from loosing signal when the plane is orientated such that the CF is directly in line with the main Rx and the Tx.
Obviously you've been getting away with it. I don't feel that it's a good idea to mount your main receiver on CF because you're diminishing the capability of your system. I prefer vinyl over plywood for my equipment trays since I also like the look of CF. I wish you the best of luck with your set up.
Regards,
Joe
Last edited by joeflyer; 04-27-2014 at 03:12 PM.
#4763
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Just My 2cts on engine angle. Mine has over 100 flights 10 minutes each. Ram 500, Yellow aircraft Ram 500 engine mount. tail cone thrust approx 1 degree downward. 40 oz dubro tank rear, 50 oz dubro tank in front. with uat on top laying down. standard recommended cg. 10 minute flights with plenty left for a couple of go arounds if needed. Hope this helps anyone who has questions
#4764
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Joe:
I respectfully have to disagree with you. I have used this in my jets and pattern planes for years without problems. My receivers sit on the plate and have experienced no loss of signals. I do, however, place my satellite receivers on the side of the fiberglass or balsa fuse. Additionally, many of the new composite pattern planes have CF firewalls, CF servo mounting trays, etc.
Ed
I respectfully have to disagree with you. I have used this in my jets and pattern planes for years without problems. My receivers sit on the plate and have experienced no loss of signals. I do, however, place my satellite receivers on the side of the fiberglass or balsa fuse. Additionally, many of the new composite pattern planes have CF firewalls, CF servo mounting trays, etc.
Ed
I have done the same thing with mine, and my falcon 120 has been flying for 3 years without a problem at all. I also have done the same and used even more carbon in my Fw-190D and have not had problems with it for many years either.
It has a lot more to do with the satellite antenna placement than than anything else.
Carbon and 2.4g does not equal to death of model. carbon and bad placement of antennas does.
Thanks
dave
Last edited by ticketec; 04-27-2014 at 10:39 PM.
#4765
Hello All,
The thread seems a little quiet of late. I have been a bit busy with work but the contract has ended and I can return to building. I asked my son Michael if he would mind painting Ed's cockpit tub for me and gave him the tub, the seat moulding and the canopy for a little paint. What I received back astounded me
He has "carpeted" the whole thing in black fabric. He upholstered the plastic seat moulding complete with white "piping". He printed out some suitable instrumentation from the net and applied to the dash. He added a "crash pad" surround to the dash. He built a pilot, helmet, goggles and mask from scratch using stuff he found around the house. It is an amazing job. I will include some pics.
thanks Michael.
I am hoping to have this model ready for test in a couple of weeks.
The old Falcon has gone to a new home after 115 flights.
Col
The thread seems a little quiet of late. I have been a bit busy with work but the contract has ended and I can return to building. I asked my son Michael if he would mind painting Ed's cockpit tub for me and gave him the tub, the seat moulding and the canopy for a little paint. What I received back astounded me
He has "carpeted" the whole thing in black fabric. He upholstered the plastic seat moulding complete with white "piping". He printed out some suitable instrumentation from the net and applied to the dash. He added a "crash pad" surround to the dash. He built a pilot, helmet, goggles and mask from scratch using stuff he found around the house. It is an amazing job. I will include some pics.
thanks Michael.
I am hoping to have this model ready for test in a couple of weeks.
The old Falcon has gone to a new home after 115 flights.
Col
Last edited by SeaHawk-RCU; 06-09-2014 at 02:46 PM.
#4767
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Looks great seahawk.
Well, I had my Falcon120 out 2 weekends ago for some shakedown flights before the big event at Maryborough. First flight was great, second flight had a flameout at the top of a BIG loop. I rolled upright, and would have been fine but she didn't pull out of the dive. I relaxed the elevator and let he build speed and then gave it a good fistful of elevator. she leveled out but was heading away form the field, turned her round and got over the fence, but was inbetween both runways. was hoping to kick a bit of rudder in last minute to squirrel her around. ran out of airspeed and the gear departed company with the airframe when it hit the rough.... Doh.
I've been not happy with the mushy-ness of the eveleator for some time now and it was since I upgraded the battery for the turbine and the lights, so I think the CoG had been creeping forwards causing the mushy elevator.
Most of the damage was the gear rails coming out and tearing some covering with them. the wheel wells also got damaged. the nose gear bulkhead was damaged and the nose wheel well copped a battering as well. I molded new gear wells, feathered them into the wing this time and i've just finished the wing by completely recovering the underside in white. I thought about going grey that I needed for my new scheme, but would have run out of time as I would have needed to paint the fuse as well to match.
As It stands now I have the nose wheel bulkhead about 80% complete repairs wise and it should be another 1 or 2 more afternoons of work to get that all finished up. I have finally bought a UAT (which I don't 100% believe was the cause of the flameout, but rather some of the setting of the K80, but I'll install it to be safe) and I will also put in some strobes while I've got the main tank out and making sure everything is ok. Then I have about 1 week left to complete the scheme change been wanting to do this for a while.
Thanks
dave
Well, I had my Falcon120 out 2 weekends ago for some shakedown flights before the big event at Maryborough. First flight was great, second flight had a flameout at the top of a BIG loop. I rolled upright, and would have been fine but she didn't pull out of the dive. I relaxed the elevator and let he build speed and then gave it a good fistful of elevator. she leveled out but was heading away form the field, turned her round and got over the fence, but was inbetween both runways. was hoping to kick a bit of rudder in last minute to squirrel her around. ran out of airspeed and the gear departed company with the airframe when it hit the rough.... Doh.
I've been not happy with the mushy-ness of the eveleator for some time now and it was since I upgraded the battery for the turbine and the lights, so I think the CoG had been creeping forwards causing the mushy elevator.
Most of the damage was the gear rails coming out and tearing some covering with them. the wheel wells also got damaged. the nose gear bulkhead was damaged and the nose wheel well copped a battering as well. I molded new gear wells, feathered them into the wing this time and i've just finished the wing by completely recovering the underside in white. I thought about going grey that I needed for my new scheme, but would have run out of time as I would have needed to paint the fuse as well to match.
As It stands now I have the nose wheel bulkhead about 80% complete repairs wise and it should be another 1 or 2 more afternoons of work to get that all finished up. I have finally bought a UAT (which I don't 100% believe was the cause of the flameout, but rather some of the setting of the K80, but I'll install it to be safe) and I will also put in some strobes while I've got the main tank out and making sure everything is ok. Then I have about 1 week left to complete the scheme change been wanting to do this for a while.
Thanks
dave
Last edited by ticketec; 06-09-2014 at 03:02 AM.
#4768
My Feedback: (3)
Dave:
Sorry to hear about your mishap. I have found that in my Falcon 120/Navy Cat if it is more than about 3/8" forward of the recommended 13" C of G location it will feel mushy on the elevator. I wish you all the best with the new paint scheme and the repairs. Since you have had one before you know that the Falcon 120/Navy Cat make good weekend flyers so please get it repaired and back in the air.
I too had my first Navy Cat engine flame out after a prolonged inverted flight. I attributed it to my UAT. Replaced the UAT (don't know what was wrong with it) and the plane flew great until pilot error caused its demise. I have my new Navy cat ready to go and the repaired engine should be here this week so hope to have a maiden this weekend or next.
Col:
Cockpit looks great. I like it
Ed
Sorry to hear about your mishap. I have found that in my Falcon 120/Navy Cat if it is more than about 3/8" forward of the recommended 13" C of G location it will feel mushy on the elevator. I wish you all the best with the new paint scheme and the repairs. Since you have had one before you know that the Falcon 120/Navy Cat make good weekend flyers so please get it repaired and back in the air.
I too had my first Navy Cat engine flame out after a prolonged inverted flight. I attributed it to my UAT. Replaced the UAT (don't know what was wrong with it) and the plane flew great until pilot error caused its demise. I have my new Navy cat ready to go and the repaired engine should be here this week so hope to have a maiden this weekend or next.
Col:
Cockpit looks great. I like it
Ed
#4769
Dave,
I too am sorry to hear about the damage to your Falcon. Out of interest, which ver. of the Falcon do you have? As I have posted before my UC departed the wing for the first time on one of the very early landings. Reason for departure,, very little glue holding them in. Now my Falcon wings have Tasmanian Oak rails glued and gusseted across 4 ribs. if I pull them out again it will take the internals of the wing with it.
I am hoping to have my new "Sea Falcon" ready for Maryborough Jets as well.
Ed,
He did a great job,, I don't have the patience.
Col
I too am sorry to hear about the damage to your Falcon. Out of interest, which ver. of the Falcon do you have? As I have posted before my UC departed the wing for the first time on one of the very early landings. Reason for departure,, very little glue holding them in. Now my Falcon wings have Tasmanian Oak rails glued and gusseted across 4 ribs. if I pull them out again it will take the internals of the wing with it.
I am hoping to have my new "Sea Falcon" ready for Maryborough Jets as well.
Ed,
He did a great job,, I don't have the patience.
Col
#4770
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She's motoring along..
Version wise, I must be a version 1 because I bought it before versions even existed!
Yeah the rail popped out because there wasn't a whole heap of glue there. I have been pretty soft with my landings with this one so I guess it took this good knock to pop them out. not too much damage other than to glue them back in properly. I like to have smallish screws holding the gear in as fail safe type devices.
Got to bust out the demel and cleanup the nose bulkhead and then I think I'll be pretty close to being able to re-install the nose gear. then it's just glue the wheel well back in and I'm away again. I also put a small dent into the exhaust of the turbine (from one of the gear legs ejecting aft). So I have machined up a dolly that matches the taper of the exhaust and i will be heating it up to a warm temp and tapping it out. hopefully it will come out all good.
Thanks
dave
Version wise, I must be a version 1 because I bought it before versions even existed!
Yeah the rail popped out because there wasn't a whole heap of glue there. I have been pretty soft with my landings with this one so I guess it took this good knock to pop them out. not too much damage other than to glue them back in properly. I like to have smallish screws holding the gear in as fail safe type devices.
Got to bust out the demel and cleanup the nose bulkhead and then I think I'll be pretty close to being able to re-install the nose gear. then it's just glue the wheel well back in and I'm away again. I also put a small dent into the exhaust of the turbine (from one of the gear legs ejecting aft). So I have machined up a dolly that matches the taper of the exhaust and i will be heating it up to a warm temp and tapping it out. hopefully it will come out all good.
Thanks
dave
#4773
My Feedback: (3)
Dave:
If your wings are only sheeted from the leading edge to the spar (or there abouts) and the rest of the wings are open bay then you probably have the first generation. From my experience in having owned 2 of the Falcons and two of the Navy Cats, the first generation Falcon 120's had open bay wings that were sheeted from the LE to the spar. Generation 2 had the wings fully sheeted. I am not positive but I believe that the gen 1 planes had a single bolt holding the stab to the boom and gen 2 had two bolts on each side of the stab to secure them to the boom. My experience with both of my Falcons was that you had to be careful when tightening the stab securing bolts is that when you tighten them you are tightening against (i.e. crushing ) the balsa. The inside of the boom structure is ply and then they are sheeted with balsa so when tightening the bolts you are crushing the balsa. What I did with my booms was to take a piece of 1/16" birch ply and cut a "rib" the same size as the stab airfoil. I then cut the film away from the boom and glued the ply to it. Then when I tighten the stab bolts I am against the ply. I am still compressing the balsa but it is not sandwiched between two pieces of ply. On the inside of the boom I put some 2 oz. glass cloth to further give the structure some strength. It has worked very well. I have attached some photos.
My experience with the Falcon 120's (gen 1 and 2) was that most of the structure was hot glued together. On my landing gear blocks, I used some pliers to "remove" the blocks. Once removed, I then cleaned up the area. I then installed some 1/8 lite ply on the sides of he ribs where the gear blocks attach. I then glued the blocks in with Hysol. Once this was dry I then applied some 2 oz. cloth to all of the areas I could near the gear blocks. The other thing I did to the wing was to try to "drip" some thin CA into the wing where all of the glue joints are. With regards to the formers in the fuse, since they were all hot glued in, I knocked them out (rather easily), cleaned the area up and then re-glued them in with Hysol. Did the same with the gear block for the nose gear.
Just my 2c,
Ed
If your wings are only sheeted from the leading edge to the spar (or there abouts) and the rest of the wings are open bay then you probably have the first generation. From my experience in having owned 2 of the Falcons and two of the Navy Cats, the first generation Falcon 120's had open bay wings that were sheeted from the LE to the spar. Generation 2 had the wings fully sheeted. I am not positive but I believe that the gen 1 planes had a single bolt holding the stab to the boom and gen 2 had two bolts on each side of the stab to secure them to the boom. My experience with both of my Falcons was that you had to be careful when tightening the stab securing bolts is that when you tighten them you are tightening against (i.e. crushing ) the balsa. The inside of the boom structure is ply and then they are sheeted with balsa so when tightening the bolts you are crushing the balsa. What I did with my booms was to take a piece of 1/16" birch ply and cut a "rib" the same size as the stab airfoil. I then cut the film away from the boom and glued the ply to it. Then when I tighten the stab bolts I am against the ply. I am still compressing the balsa but it is not sandwiched between two pieces of ply. On the inside of the boom I put some 2 oz. glass cloth to further give the structure some strength. It has worked very well. I have attached some photos.
My experience with the Falcon 120's (gen 1 and 2) was that most of the structure was hot glued together. On my landing gear blocks, I used some pliers to "remove" the blocks. Once removed, I then cleaned up the area. I then installed some 1/8 lite ply on the sides of he ribs where the gear blocks attach. I then glued the blocks in with Hysol. Once this was dry I then applied some 2 oz. cloth to all of the areas I could near the gear blocks. The other thing I did to the wing was to try to "drip" some thin CA into the wing where all of the glue joints are. With regards to the formers in the fuse, since they were all hot glued in, I knocked them out (rather easily), cleaned the area up and then re-glued them in with Hysol. Did the same with the gear block for the nose gear.
Just my 2c,
Ed
Last edited by edwarda10pilot; 06-10-2014 at 05:40 PM.
#4774
Hello Ed,
Yes, both of my ver 1 Falcons only have the one screw holding the booms to the stab.
I just added a washer to the equation and it has been fine. My experience is that there isn't a lot of load on that area so I added the washer to stop the screw head from pulling through the balsa skin.
Your idea is very neat and would be a worthwhile mod if I were doing another one.
Col
Yes, both of my ver 1 Falcons only have the one screw holding the booms to the stab.
I just added a washer to the equation and it has been fine. My experience is that there isn't a lot of load on that area so I added the washer to stop the screw head from pulling through the balsa skin.
Your idea is very neat and would be a worthwhile mod if I were doing another one.
Col
#4775
Here are some pics of the "Sea Falcon" on first assembly.
Everything went together well and all is on track for certification inspection and flight on Tuesday at Tingalpa Model Aero Club.
My old Falcon has been repainted by new owner Richard and hopefully should fly the same day.
The blue is darker than it looks in these flash affected pics.
Canopy from Ken at KMRC Jets, Cockpit tub from Ed edwarda 10pilot finished brilliantly by my son Michael.
Retracts and struts are hobbyking. Turbine is gas start Kingtech K80.
Electric power is two x 3 cell 1800mah LiFe batteries through a regulator (RCCSKJ black). A 2 cell 3000mah LiFe runs the turbine.and accessories.
Servos are Corona metal geared digital except for ailerons which are slimline Turnigy.
Blue paint is, ironically, Ford Falcon blue. Heh heh. Wings are fully sheeted and covered in film.
Two sets of nav lights are installed with a controller in each wing. All I need to run to the wings for the lights is 5v.
I will take some more pics on Tuesday.
Col
Everything went together well and all is on track for certification inspection and flight on Tuesday at Tingalpa Model Aero Club.
My old Falcon has been repainted by new owner Richard and hopefully should fly the same day.
The blue is darker than it looks in these flash affected pics.
Canopy from Ken at KMRC Jets, Cockpit tub from Ed edwarda 10pilot finished brilliantly by my son Michael.
Retracts and struts are hobbyking. Turbine is gas start Kingtech K80.
Electric power is two x 3 cell 1800mah LiFe batteries through a regulator (RCCSKJ black). A 2 cell 3000mah LiFe runs the turbine.and accessories.
Servos are Corona metal geared digital except for ailerons which are slimline Turnigy.
Blue paint is, ironically, Ford Falcon blue. Heh heh. Wings are fully sheeted and covered in film.
Two sets of nav lights are installed with a controller in each wing. All I need to run to the wings for the lights is 5v.
I will take some more pics on Tuesday.
Col