"tomcat"
 

Quarter century ago as a RC helicopter enthusiast I was invited to attend and demonstrate some of my models at the Leeton Jet meet. Those good old days, everything in RC hobby was a novelty, and those noisy, castor oil smelly and inefficient internal combustion imitation models, resembling some famous jets impressed me immediately. The bug was set and it took few more years it germinated into an infection after seeing my favored model at the meet, the twin powered "F-14" Tomcat that lost the engine on final and destroyed itself into pulp after hitting the only tree in the vicinity of the airfield at the car park and the debris broke the windscreen of the models car owner parked under the huge gum. That's what I call a real bad luck!
Well, my infection developed into fully blown jet fever and my latest bug is getting hands on this foamy "Tomcat" I just pulled out of the box to see what I can do to it. Few pictures of my upgrades starting with larger ESCs, better oleos springs and so on.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193585http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193586http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193587http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193588http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193589http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193590http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193591http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2193592

Getting along with improving the breed.

"TOMCAT" coming along nicely.

Beefing up the main landing gear, 6+ kilo foamy with oleos like this need some attention, especially off the grass.

Looking good!

Cheers and Marry X, TEs fitted to my rudder fins, some trimming was needed for seating of swing wings all the way back and battery bay enlarged to accommodate lipos. AUW will vary between 5650 to 6350 grams with 4-6Ah sets. With the larger packs I might have CG issue so might have to compromise somewhere in between and shorter flight time unless I ad on my aft CG correction probes.

Few more improvements and final finishing touches, perfect x/mas present, just about ready for action, after 1st. of Jan.

Better to be safe than sorry, security washers added to all controls to ensure the clevice won't slip off the ball under the load. Protection skids fitted to the wing tips and bit of micro surgery to my radio by fitting better control knob on the left lever I use for the sweep wing, which I will upgrade to proportional control.

All ready after some 15 major modifications to make it last. I have at the last minute decided to reset my swing wing mech. by some reduction just to get used to of the model I want to fly as a standard Ail/EL/Rudd. set up. Can't wait for the maiden.
https://youtu.be/0ss3d8pPmQ4

Took my 'puss' for a little play to the beach, did a first little hop just to see what it does, but mainly to check those crappy ESCs I'm not so happy about. Getting pretty hot, hoping during the flight some air flow will cool them down.

How did you reduce the amount the wings swing back? I want to try that. The jet is very sensitive in roll when wings are fully retracted. Even after many flights I am still not comfortable flying in swept wing mode.

Simple, shorten your swing wing mech. push rods and reset to required angle. I only wish there was a proportional adjustment, it would be great to use TX control levers to adjust the sweep. Happy NY!