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COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

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COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Old 01-12-2011, 08:57 AM
  #51  
JustJets
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Yes, The gear will drop in from the Top and all holes will ling up perfectly. You will need to remove some wood from the fwd bulkhead temporally to make it an easy drop in. You may be able to find a way to clear all obstacles with out this cut, I just see the need for this gear to removed many times during construction... Save the removed pice and make it a removable bridge later . If mounted on the top rail you will find the nose gear clearance on retraction is perfect, and you will also have clearance for the air cylinder on the aft lower fuselage when your gear is down. Bolt holes from the old style gear and new gear are identical, no need to drill or cut into your fiber glass fuse.
Old 01-12-2011, 11:09 AM
  #52  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Hello !

On mine I just used my small Lipo Dremel with a 90 deg gearbox from the top and "adjusted" the predrilled holes in the frames.

Front gear fitted underside as per CARF instruction (also the right and only way to spread the load on the intire woodrail) - first through the canopy -> all forward in the nose section withhout the electronic tray fitted (slightly angled nose wheel) -> backwards clearing the wood former and under the rail - bingo :-)

Hoses fitted before the assy is shoehorned in .-)

Peace of cake when you have worked with old italian cars for ages :-)

It one needs to be fitted 2 times from my point of view - one trial and next painted and hoses fitted !

David S : Before I fitted the tanks , I glued the intakes in place, trimmed the complete ducting and fitted the rear carbon duct and then adjusted the tanks with respect to spacing and equal distance to the ducting - just a small comment .-)

Regards from Denmark

Peter Bang
Old 01-12-2011, 11:37 AM
  #53  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

C-Arf A4 instructions, Where? Please post some photos of your nose wheel instal when you have time... As I understand your post you have no clearance issues when mounting gear on lower rail. Mine will hit nose wheel on fuse when retracting and when extended the air cylinder binds on aft lower section of fuse. Can their be this much variance between models?

Phil
Old 01-12-2011, 03:42 PM
  #54  
David Searles
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

ORIGINAL: invertmast

Looking good dave. couple of questions.

1. Was it not possible to install the gear on top of the nose gear rails and drill from the top side, instead of the bottom?
Thomas, It was possible, but would have been very awkward for me. And, given the choice between cutting and then replacing a portion of a structural bulkhead or drilling a couple of holes, which could later be easily filled as to never know they were there, I decided to go with the holes.

2. What did you use to fill the fuselage to vertical fin joint?
I use two products. Split Second Glazing Putty & Evercoat MetalWorks Glazing Putty. The Evercoat is a thinner consistency for finer fills. I used it on the vertical fin joint.

David S
Old 01-12-2011, 03:56 PM
  #55  
David Searles
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD


ORIGINAL: Dave Wilshere

This is a link to the first A4 we sold, posted on the Danish Jet Forum, its being built by my friend Peter Bang...very slowly

http://www.jetdanmark.dk/e107_plugin...pic.php?506.10

Dave Wilshere

Dave,

Thanks for the post of this site. Considering that there aren't yet any instructions, those pics were actually very useful in helping me to figure out a couple of items I had questions about!

David S
Old 01-12-2011, 04:09 PM
  #56  
David Searles
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

ORIGINAL: bang68

Hello !

On mine I just used my small Lipo Dremel with a 90 deg gearbox from the top and ''adjusted'' the predrilled holes in the frames.

Front gear fitted underside as per CARF instruction (also the right and only way to spread the load on the intire woodrail) - first through the canopy -> all forward in the nose section withhout the electronic tray fitted (slightly angled nose wheel) -> backwards clearing the wood former and under the rail - bingo :-)

Hoses fitted before the assy is shoehorned in .-)

Peace of cake when you have worked with old italian cars for ages :-)

It one needs to be fitted 2 times from my point of view - one trial and next painted and hoses fitted !

David S : Before I fitted the tanks , I glued the intakes in place, trimmed the complete ducting and fitted the rear carbon duct and then adjusted the tanks with respect to spacing and equal distance to the ducting - just a small comment .-)

Regards from Denmark

Peter Bang
Peter,

Beautiful work! Thanks for the observation. I can use all of the help I can get! My intake ductings were not evenly installed on the intakes from the factory, so no way to get the tanks exactly even, other than to push them both further to the rear, which I didn't want to do. I don't have ducting that extends to the turbine duct enclosure.

I'm going to try and have my intakes remain removable. The access to the equipment area is much better through those openings for the future. I have rather large hands and trying to access everything down through the cockpit opening would be impossible.

How many & how did you distribute your air tanks? Looks like you've got one tank servicing 2-3 different valves. I currently have my system separated, such that each LG strut has it's own separate air tank & valve =3 tanks. The wheel brakes & wing speed brakes share a tank & the fuse speed brakes & tail hook share a tank. 5 total

David S


Old 01-12-2011, 04:18 PM
  #57  
David Searles
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD


ORIGINAL: JustJets

C-Arf A4 instructions, Where? Please post some photos of your nose wheel instal when you have time... As I understand your post you have no clearance issues when mounting gear on lower rail. Mine will hit nose wheel on fuse when retracting and when extended the air cylinder binds on aft lower section of fuse. Can their be this much variance between models?

Phil
Phil,

My gear is mounted from the bottom. This way the entire block/framework distributes the load. If you mount from the top, the bolts are carrying the load. Technical but better from the bottom. You have to slide the gear all the way back to the rear bulkhead to get the nose gear wheel to clear the front of the fuse & yes this did cause binding of the bottom cylinder against the fuse. My plan is simply to cut the area approx 1/2 inch back from the current door opening & then extend the bottom reardoor, which attaches to the cylinder an equal distance. Might not be museum scale, but it'll work.

David S
Old 01-12-2011, 06:09 PM
  #58  
JustJets
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Hi Dave,
Yes , agreed a top mounted gear will need some carbon fiber to help distribute the load. The rails do protrude through the fwd and aft firewall but still not a safe bet. I guess I will slide some 1/16" fiber rails and then add some 90 deg brackets to add some additional strength. My opinion is when the CAD program meet Reality Comp ARF had already setup the Jigs. In short, they saw this and let go... I did notice that on their prototype they also made the same cut that your speaking of. Good luck on the rest of your build lets stay in-touch on these....
Phil
Old 01-16-2011, 12:14 AM
  #59  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Hi there,

I have been wondering for long time if a thread with this subject would ever be made or not!
I am actually a little bit surprised that a big company like Composite-Arf, that have great success and reputation, put out this expensive masterpiece without a real manual.
Is this the treatment they reserve for their most rich customers???
There must be something underneath because I cannot explain why after 2 years they haven't been able to send out a manual!

I will be following this very interesting thread, please keep posting as many pictures as possible, they can clear things much better and faster then any word!
My best wishes to the proud owner of this model.


Gianluca
Old 02-01-2011, 05:34 PM
  #60  
uncljoe
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Yo David
hope all is well . any up dates ?Semper Fi
joe
Old 02-01-2011, 07:52 PM
  #61  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

David, didn't know you got a Scooter!!! Can't wait to see this one in the air!
Old 02-01-2011, 11:26 PM
  #62  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

So,

how is this going?
I am tooooooo curious.

Gianluca
Old 02-02-2011, 06:14 AM
  #63  
David Searles
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

All is well! A new year, getting back to work etc kinda slowed me down on this. I also decided to insert a Boomerang Torus build in front of the A-4, which is just about finished, so I'll be back full time on the A-4. I plan to maiden the Torus this weekend, if weather permits.

I did experience a problem with one of the main LG cylinders, which leaked horribly during the retract cycle(shades of FEJ)[:@] Completely un-use-able as is. So that has to get worked out. The rest of the build should go fairly quickly. I'll post new pics of progress later in the week or early next.

David S
Old 04-02-2011, 02:28 PM
  #64  
David Searles
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WOW! It's been 2 months since the last post. I caught hall trying to find this thread again. It apparently is not listed in the database. I tried every search topic available and it wouldn't come up. Finally had to go to my user page and do a search of every message I've posted.

Oh well, here's the latest status: Things are moving along slowly. Life has been getting in the way of my fun![:@] I did get great help and service from Andreas at CompArf and IntairCo regarding getting a new replacement LG retract cylinder shipped to me quickly.

I won't have it ready to fly in time for CA Jets though! Just not enough time to get everything checked out and finished.













David S
Old 04-02-2011, 03:00 PM
  #65  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Awesome, can't wait to hear flight report
Old 04-02-2011, 03:08 PM
  #66  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

now that is a great paint scheme!!!

can't wait to hear about maiden also
Old 04-02-2011, 09:54 PM
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

This evening's work added:





David S
Old 04-02-2011, 10:50 PM
  #68  
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Looks fantastic Dave, Are the graphics paint mask or rub on?? Who did you get them from? Scotty
Old 04-03-2011, 07:27 AM
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ORIGINAL: GSR

Looks fantastic Dave, Are the graphics paint mask or rub on?? Who did you get them from? Scotty
Thanks Scotty. I got the decals & paint masks from Ralle at Tailormade in Germany. Working with him on this has been an absolute pleasure! He really knows his stuff and cares about your end result! It really helps when the person you're dealing with is a modeler himself, and understands all the considerations that go in to finishing one of these. I know the guys in Europe already know how great it is working with him, I was a little surprised how easy it was. You have to make allowance for the added shipping time, but his input on this was extremely helpful!

David S
Old 04-03-2011, 10:44 AM
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Congrats Dave, it looks fantastic, Joe C!!!!
Old 04-03-2011, 12:06 PM
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Great looking model [8D]

Paul
Old 04-06-2011, 12:27 PM
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Hey David, you didn't wait for me to finish it ! Well done !!!

So I guess that we can maiden on Saturday
Old 04-06-2011, 12:36 PM
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ORIGINAL: olnico

Hey David, you didn't wait for me to finish it ! Well done !!!

So I guess that we can maiden on Saturday

OHH, there's plenty left for you to help with, trust me!

I'm waiting for UPS to drop off the AirWorld F-100 now. Dan has had it the past couple months working on a long list of goodies.

I've got two rolls of FliteMetal, a handful of Sharpies, a box of new Exacto blades and a gal of mineral spirits! We're gonna be busy

See ya,

David S
Old 04-06-2011, 12:59 PM
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Default RE: COMP-ARF A-4 BUILD

Ok, but I am not sure that I'd be able to do any kind of work with that thing sitting next to me. I guess that we'd have to maiden it first before going to the FM stuff
Old 04-06-2011, 03:56 PM
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ORIGINAL: olnico

Ok, but I am not sure that I'd be able to do any kind of work with that thing sitting next to me. I guess that we'd have to maiden it first before going to the FM stuff
OK, you stay for the week & attend CA Jets (4/12 -4/16) with me & you'll get in all the flying you can handle!

David S

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