YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
03-30-2008, 03:27 PM
#28
RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
LoL see I'm not the only one thinking about the centering spring!!
ORIGINAL: lavi rider
O.K
Just one more thing... is to add a centering spring to keep the nose wheels straight while retraction and from hitting the gear door opening during the prosses.
O.K
Just one more thing... is to add a centering spring to keep the nose wheels straight while retraction and from hitting the gear door opening during the prosses.
04-29-2008, 08:48 PM
#31
RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Sean / Tim thanks for the machine work on the nose gear assembly. [sm=thumbup.gif]
ok it's been a while since we started working this unit. i received mine today from Sean and with minor grinding was able to get it working perfectly. the machine work from Tim is top notch and the side rails look fantastic.
I'll take pix and try and get them downloaded before mississippi afterburner otherwise expect them after i return.
cliff notes: the new steering arm is beautifully machined
you have to lower it all the way to the base of the retract frame in order to clear the retract frame cross support at the front. if you don't grind away some material or remove the cross piece and install a longer bolt, then the nose gear will not completely retract into the nose gear well.. (option 1, shim the back and not worry about it or option 2 grind some material)
additionally, if you don't lower the steering arm all the way to the bottom of the side frame, then you run into clearance problems with the bottom of the fuse
for most, just a guess, this shouldn't be a problem. however, I want to use a 4-40 swivel ball link with cables attached to a retract servo forward. the problem i ran into is the arm is too wide when the 4-40 bolts are added to the assembly.
my solution? lower the arm to the retract frame as far as i can, grind a little on the frame assembly where the arm intersects and grind a little material off the retract frame cross piece.
hopefully the pix will provide clarification to my description above.
oh yeah, the steering "centering plate" not "centering pin" works like a champ!!
pix to follow as soon as i can
if you want crappy cell phone pix i can get a couple loaded tonight
cheers
buck
ok it's been a while since we started working this unit. i received mine today from Sean and with minor grinding was able to get it working perfectly. the machine work from Tim is top notch and the side rails look fantastic.
I'll take pix and try and get them downloaded before mississippi afterburner otherwise expect them after i return.
cliff notes: the new steering arm is beautifully machined
you have to lower it all the way to the base of the retract frame in order to clear the retract frame cross support at the front. if you don't grind away some material or remove the cross piece and install a longer bolt, then the nose gear will not completely retract into the nose gear well.. (option 1, shim the back and not worry about it or option 2 grind some material)
additionally, if you don't lower the steering arm all the way to the bottom of the side frame, then you run into clearance problems with the bottom of the fuse
for most, just a guess, this shouldn't be a problem. however, I want to use a 4-40 swivel ball link with cables attached to a retract servo forward. the problem i ran into is the arm is too wide when the 4-40 bolts are added to the assembly.
my solution? lower the arm to the retract frame as far as i can, grind a little on the frame assembly where the arm intersects and grind a little material off the retract frame cross piece.
hopefully the pix will provide clarification to my description above.
oh yeah, the steering "centering plate" not "centering pin" works like a champ!!
pix to follow as soon as i can
if you want crappy cell phone pix i can get a couple loaded tonight
cheers
buck
04-29-2008, 09:40 PM
#33
RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Billy, they did leave before I got this latest feedback from Buck. Please don't hold back on what you find, if it's somethign that can be changed for everyone to make it better, I'd like to make sure that we go that direction.
From my conversation with Buck, it sounds like there is nothing there that a regular builder would not expect to do to tailer something to their own installtion, but if we've made a blunder, that's another story.
You should have your stuff this week Billy.
All the best, and thanks Buck,
Sean
From my conversation with Buck, it sounds like there is nothing there that a regular builder would not expect to do to tailer something to their own installtion, but if we've made a blunder, that's another story.
You should have your stuff this week Billy.
All the best, and thanks Buck,
Sean
04-29-2008, 09:41 PM
#34
RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Billy
you're gonna love it. you'll have to grind a pair of slots in the front support former, then insert the retract assembly through the nose tire doors in the upright position. i have the pix, i'm just waiting on my buddy to get home so i can get them downloaded.
hopefully the probe pix provided some good detail, at the very least looks like Dave Matthews has already done something similar and you might be able to leverage off some of his work
good luck
buck
"great heavy thread BTW" m still laffin at some of 'em but not as much as i did when i watched the dude take a face plant, scary funny.
you're gonna love it. you'll have to grind a pair of slots in the front support former, then insert the retract assembly through the nose tire doors in the upright position. i have the pix, i'm just waiting on my buddy to get home so i can get them downloaded.
hopefully the probe pix provided some good detail, at the very least looks like Dave Matthews has already done something similar and you might be able to leverage off some of his work
good luck
buck
"great heavy thread BTW" m still laffin at some of 'em but not as much as i did when i watched the dude take a face plant, scary funny.
04-29-2008, 10:02 PM
#36
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RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Sean, the things Buck was describing don't worry me a bit. It's a whole lot better than what I had to start with.
Thanks again
Buckofive, I hear ya on the face plant video. That guy couldn't have timed it any better if he tried. He does pretty much do a lip skid in the grass[
Thanks again
Buckofive, I hear ya on the face plant video. That guy couldn't have timed it any better if he tried. He does pretty much do a lip skid in the grass[
04-30-2008, 09:57 PM
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RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Sean, just got home from work and there on the doorstep was a cute little box from Texas.(I thought stuff that came from Texas was big) anyway, all I have to say is WOW! The quality and finish are top notch. I can't wait to assemble them.
Joey C. I will bring your two sets tomorrow to the field.
Anyways, thanks again Sean. Your abilities are a real asset to the hobby........... Now I'm glad I didn't kick you ***** at Speedworld... Just play'n bud....you the man.
Joey C. I will bring your two sets tomorrow to the field.
Anyways, thanks again Sean. Your abilities are a real asset to the hobby........... Now I'm glad I didn't kick you ***** at Speedworld...
Just play'n bud....you the man.
04-30-2008, 10:34 PM
#41
RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
I'm glad you didn't kick my ass too! hahaha.
Glad you guys like it! Sorry it took so long, but hope it's worth the wait.
It is awesome to be able to do this.
I'm off to Dyess AFB in the morning for some turbine demo stuff. Catch you guys next week!
Glad you guys like it! Sorry it took so long, but hope it's worth the wait.
It is awesome to be able to do this.
I'm off to Dyess AFB in the morning for some turbine demo stuff. Catch you guys next week!
05-11-2008, 11:38 PM
#43
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RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Sean, where ya at homeskillet!
Hey bud, Got any way of making a bolt on bracket to hold the servo. Here a couple pics that show location of servo, and a pic of what the add on might look like( just a little wider).
Let me know what you think of.
I think it would be OK to drill and tape the sides of the rail to accept this add on.
Billy
Hey bud, Got any way of making a bolt on bracket to hold the servo. Here a couple pics that show location of servo, and a pic of what the add on might look like( just a little wider).
Let me know what you think of.
I think it would be OK to drill and tape the sides of the rail to accept this add on.
Billy
05-12-2008, 12:18 AM
#46
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RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Well if the servo was mounted to high( or low depending on which way you're looking) Yes it would hit the catapult arm. But if the servo arm was level with the pivot point of the strut it will clear by a quarter inch or so.
05-12-2008, 07:58 AM
#48
RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
Billy, I'll need the retract back with the strut in place, mark the level of the top of the servo horn on the strut so I can be sure I've got the placement such that it does not get in the way of anything. What I will do is extend that side rail on that side, and have a bolt on assembly for it. The bolt on assembly will be out of lighter aluminum than the side rails to save weight.
When I'm done do you want me to hook up the coated steel fishing line too
Cool Idea bud, can't wait to get crackin on it.
When I'm done do you want me to hook up the coated steel fishing line too
Cool Idea bud, can't wait to get crackin on it.
05-12-2008, 12:10 PM
#50
RE: YA F-18 Owners, side rail and steering solution
If someone sends me those dimensions, I can CNC them in wood in minutes for those that would want that. Lightning holes, screw holes, etc. My wood router CNC burns through 1/4" ply at 30 inches per minute in one pass.