Jet legend F-4 "Journey Begins"
 

Well actually the journey began in California, and with the great packing job in one of most heavy duty boxes I have ever seen from the guy's at GJC...the F-4 seems to have made the trip from sunny California to the whats becoming cold & dreary state of Kentucky. Still need to unpack and inspect for damage, but all appears to be fine so far.

First pic is how it left California.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1259139351

Second pic is how it arrived in KY.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1259669931

More pics to come as I unwrap my Christmas present from the wife..."NOT" :)

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

I'm jealous!
;)

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Ya, I'm still waiting for Santa!!!:D:D

Rick

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Great country Boy.

I guess you will be hanging up the old Elan for a while.

My Xmas present arrives tomorow, SM L-39.

Looks like it's going to be a fun Xmas for us all.

Stan
Tucson, AZ

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Ah, I see that it is already painted.

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Just a couple of teaser photos of the main gear as I get this thing unpacked & inspected. I ordered this with the retracts & doors already installed. Hinges are glued & screwed and fit looks to be good on initial inspection. I see a few quirks that may need attention, but nothing major so far.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1259746001

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1259746002

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Stan,

The Elan may have to go on the back burner for awhile. I just had to get all the sub-assemblies mated up to check fit and get an idea of just how big this thing is. I have a problem in that I don't think it's going to fit in my plane hauler. :) That's a Honda Civic SI and this thing is almost as long as the car.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1260144752

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Hey Ron,

It looks really nice. I am glad that you are happy with the purchase. Let me know if I can do anything else to help.

Rick
Global Jet Club

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Looks really good, and should be a greatpreformer. This kind of workmanship really spoils you doesn't it?

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Sweet Ron I am still waiting on mine its in the paint booth

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Rick,

Thanks for the great transaction. You guys need to go into the moving business with the way this thing was packed. :) I'll certainly be in touch if the need arises. There are a few issues to take care of, but nothing major. All in all, I'm happy with the overall quality that I have witnessed so far.

The two part fuselage mating point, wing fit, hatch fit, canopy fit, vertical & flying stab fit, overall layup of all composite parts has been very good to excellent.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1260152029

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Lewis,

This type of work will definitely spoil you. You will most certainly get to know the performance @ flight characteristics first hand. ;)

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Dave,

I think you're going to love this F-4. What color scheme have you chosen?

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

which engine are you going with

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

The Behotec JB165 will have to serve double duty. It will be shared between the Eurosport & the F-4. I'll just have to buy an extra install kit. I guess I could stick with the original plan of installing the P-120 in the Euro and dedicate the JB165 to the F-4.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1260156184

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1260156185

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Ron I am changing mine to the Wild Wessal, Hudson has made all the pods and bumbs for the wing, I will be running the Merlin in mine

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

As shown in the photo, the flying stab cover plates will need a little tweaking. The cover plate as it rotates is causing excessive rotating friction in the stab. This is one area of the JL F-4 that could and should be improved upon in the design/manufacturing stage.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1260183121

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

As mentioned earlier, while overall the quality is pretty good... there are a few bits here & there that need a little TLC. The first bit here was self inflicted while unwrapping the front gun pod. Plain & simple, I dropped it onto the garage floor from about 18" height. This may have been a blessing in disguise.

If you order the kit with the doors hinged, the front pod has the small nose gear door pre-hinged. In this case, twin small Robart style hinge points were used. When I dropped the pod, it hit on the end of the hinged door and subsequently snapped the small hinge points like a pretzel. This within itself leads me to believe that all supplied hinges are brittle and I will be replacing all hinge points with Robart's

Picture #1 is the rear view of the front pod showing the remainder of the hinges left after the door snapped off.
http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536992

Picture #2 is the door with what remains of the hinges.
http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536993

Picture #3 shows the door pieced back to the front pod with the original hinges in place. I didn't get a chance to see the hinging job prior to dropping it, because it slid straight out the open end of the bubble wrap and hit the floor. After piecing back together and bar the gel-coat cracking/flaking around the hinge points, it did not appear to be a quality hinge job anyway. The hinges were not centered and the notches did not mate up.
http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536993

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

The fix was to grind out the old hinge points in both the pod & the door. I then cleaned up the hinge slot in the pod to accept a a small brass piano style hinge. I then filled the holes left by the hinge points in the door with aeropoxy and let dry. I then sanded this smooth and went ahead and glued the brass hinge into the pod. I then cut a narrow slot in the forward flange of the door where I had filled the holes and added a small piece of 3/32 ply to alter the hinge line between the pod and the door so that the outer surface skin lined up between the two. Having yet to glue the brass hinge on the door side, it looks like it's going to work pretty good. Just need to do some final filler and touch up and should be good to go.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536997

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536995

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536998

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

very nice install Bro

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

The next order of business was to take care of a binding nose gear main door...again the door is pre-hinged. The problem was occurring at the door line on the hinge side. There was not enough gap left and when you would try to open the door, the door lip would hang on the fuselage. This was also keeping the door from opening enough so that the small forward door would clear after the main door opened.

Again, a simple fix. Lay some masking tape down along the door hinge line to protect the fuselage. Using a thin flexible permagrit sanding bar, open the door as far as it will open and start working the door hinge line with the sanding bar until you have a sufficient gap so that the door will open without hanging on the fuselage. The main door air cylinder fixed end point was off, and if I had put air to it...I dare say it would have ripped the door hinges loose. I'll have to reposition that.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536996

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics...?ts=1261536995

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Thanks Dave. I can understand why more don't get into build or how to articles...it simply consumes a lot of time. It's compliments such as yours that makes it worthwhile. I think how to articles can also make you a better builder, because if you screw up...there is going to be someone to let you know about it and tell you the right way. :)

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Ron, believe me I am thankful that you are doing this. Its like a trip to the moon,,,, Thank the guy's that went before you Bro:D

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

Looks good! I'm glad you're putting this thread together as I plan to pick up a JL F-4 in the future.

RE: Jet legend F-4
 

dubd,

I went searching all the r/c sites that had a jet forum prior to purchasing the JL F-4 looking for info. To my surprise, there is just not a lot of info to be found on this particular aircraft as far as assembly & flight characteristics. Hopefully, any little bit of info/tips I can add to what is already available will help others thinking of taking the same avenue.