JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
12-06-2011, 02:55 PM
#1
JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
At members request I have separated the threads out to make topics easier to follow.
Shipped F-4 gear today to Down and Locked. Spoke with Mitch on the phone and was very informative. I'm going to use their sequencer as well. www.DownAndLocked.com
Should have the gear back by the end of December. Hope to have the shop setup tonight so I can get cracking tommorow. What a big girl she is...
CC'd from initial thread for those that didn't see it:
I wish to preface this by saying that I'm not a company rep for anyone. I simply wish to share this project and exchange information with all of you.
These jets were ordered approximately 30 days ago. Ordered through Camlex Enterprises from Washington. Prior to pulling the trigger I probably exchanged 50 emails discussing options. I ordered the ARF in factory "Paint in the mold" schemes. The only exception was I asked for a "2" on the tail of the Phantom. Normally its a 7. This was done for me at no charge by Jet Legend.
I also opted to delete the JL pipe and all air cylinders for the gear doors. I wanted to hinge all my own doors with stronger hinges.
I ordered the cockpit with Camlex also. I got the Camlex ICON series cockpit specifically for this bird. Camlex had the Thunderbird pilots helmets customized with my dads name and mine. Both helmets also have the callsign's on the back just as the full scale guys have.
The landing gear was left uninstalled as I'm sending both sets of gear to Down and Locked Tuesday. The only air system on these airplanes will be the brakes. Wish someone made a good electric brake for these as well but for now the F-4 will get a new UP-6.
Power will be dual Li-ion packs to a Powerbox regulated switch into dual 6014 recievers then to the Powerbox RRS module and out to the servos. All servo extensions will be custom made to proper length.
The boxes arrived in great shape and the birds are both in perfect shape. Bottom box (long one) is the F-4. Not even one ding or scratch. Everything was packed extremely well and again, DHL....I'm very impressed with their service. Here's some pics of the days unpacking.
The white jugs are touch up paint that I requested as matching original paints is always a pain.
Here's the F-4 pics.
Shipped F-4 gear today to Down and Locked. Spoke with Mitch on the phone and was very informative. I'm going to use their sequencer as well. www.DownAndLocked.com
Should have the gear back by the end of December. Hope to have the shop setup tonight so I can get cracking tommorow. What a big girl she is...
CC'd from initial thread for those that didn't see it:
I wish to preface this by saying that I'm not a company rep for anyone. I simply wish to share this project and exchange information with all of you.
These jets were ordered approximately 30 days ago. Ordered through Camlex Enterprises from Washington. Prior to pulling the trigger I probably exchanged 50 emails discussing options. I ordered the ARF in factory "Paint in the mold" schemes. The only exception was I asked for a "2" on the tail of the Phantom. Normally its a 7. This was done for me at no charge by Jet Legend.
I also opted to delete the JL pipe and all air cylinders for the gear doors. I wanted to hinge all my own doors with stronger hinges.
I ordered the cockpit with Camlex also. I got the Camlex ICON series cockpit specifically for this bird. Camlex had the Thunderbird pilots helmets customized with my dads name and mine. Both helmets also have the callsign's on the back just as the full scale guys have.
The landing gear was left uninstalled as I'm sending both sets of gear to Down and Locked Tuesday. The only air system on these airplanes will be the brakes. Wish someone made a good electric brake for these as well but for now the F-4 will get a new UP-6.
Power will be dual Li-ion packs to a Powerbox regulated switch into dual 6014 recievers then to the Powerbox RRS module and out to the servos. All servo extensions will be custom made to proper length.
The boxes arrived in great shape and the birds are both in perfect shape. Bottom box (long one) is the F-4. Not even one ding or scratch. Everything was packed extremely well and again, DHL....I'm very impressed with their service. Here's some pics of the days unpacking.
The white jugs are touch up paint that I requested as matching original paints is always a pain.
Here's the F-4 pics.
12-07-2011, 09:31 PM
#6
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
The shop is now good enough to start working. Wings will be first. Get the flaps and ailerons hinged, servos installed and gear doors installed.
I'm going to get an empty weight on the airplane and will post it next.
I'm going to get an empty weight on the airplane and will post it next.
12-08-2011, 11:12 PM
#7
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
Late night in the shop! Had to go buy some supplies at the LHS and they ofcourse didn't have what I was after (carbon tube) but managed to find some aluminum that worked nicely and is very light. I also picked up two servos that I needed to complete the airplane. Got a good deal but all that took 4 hours out of my day. Does anyone else hate to leave the shop when you're trying to get stuff done?
Good news, I weighed every part on the airplane except for the landing gear. The airframe was complete with all components such as air tanks, valves....all stock JL parts except pipe and air cylinders for the doors and the previously mentioned landing gear.
Total weight was 17.5 lbs. The wings were with in .5 oz of each other.
I am impressed by how light it is for its size. I know this kit has been around for awhile and the F-22 I'm also working on is relatively newer. It shows, in some of the smaller details such as the servo well covers. The F-4 simply uses some ply backed with Fglass and its nice. The F-22 however has molded doors complete with the servo mount made into the cover. Both airplanes are very nice in their construction and design.
I got the plans unrolled and they are bigger than the jet! I'm going to hang them tommorow.
I managed to get the ailerons and flaps hinged on both wings today. Had to deepen the slots to get the hinge centerlines back into the proper position. I used the aluminum tube to sleeve the hinges and provide reinforcment. I also cut slots in the glass at the end of the aileron pocket to allow the extended fiberglass to flex with aileron movement.
Here's the pics from today.
Good news, I weighed every part on the airplane except for the landing gear. The airframe was complete with all components such as air tanks, valves....all stock JL parts except pipe and air cylinders for the doors and the previously mentioned landing gear.
Total weight was 17.5 lbs. The wings were with in .5 oz of each other.
I am impressed by how light it is for its size. I know this kit has been around for awhile and the F-22 I'm also working on is relatively newer. It shows, in some of the smaller details such as the servo well covers. The F-4 simply uses some ply backed with Fglass and its nice. The F-22 however has molded doors complete with the servo mount made into the cover. Both airplanes are very nice in their construction and design.
I got the plans unrolled and they are bigger than the jet! I'm going to hang them tommorow.
I managed to get the ailerons and flaps hinged on both wings today. Had to deepen the slots to get the hinge centerlines back into the proper position. I used the aluminum tube to sleeve the hinges and provide reinforcment. I also cut slots in the glass at the end of the aileron pocket to allow the extended fiberglass to flex with aileron movement.
Here's the pics from today.
12-08-2011, 11:16 PM
#10
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
The tams gear safe is for sale. Listed now in the RCU market.
I took pics of the main gear attachments to show how nicely this airplane is designed. Screws in the wood spars are in shear and the retract screws into the CNC aluminum and are in tension. Also note the carbon and heavy fiberglass doublers in the gear well.
I took pics of the main gear attachments to show how nicely this airplane is designed. Screws in the wood spars are in shear and the retract screws into the CNC aluminum and are in tension. Also note the carbon and heavy fiberglass doublers in the gear well.
12-09-2011, 12:24 AM
#11
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RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
Hi,
I'm on with the Iranian camo F4 that no-one likes apart from me! It's a good build so far and has been quite easy. I'm going to drop in an ATJ 180 Kero when it turns up...
I flew a friends a while ago and it was very good; in fact a complete non-event apart from the flame-out. I just dropped the nose, flew half a circuit and extended the wheels on finals - no problem and very slow landing.
I never was a big fan of the F4 as a subject for a model; I guess my opinion had been tainted by other F4's I had seen in the DF days as they just didn't seem to fly really well.
My friend bought one from me, painted in the Jolly Roger scheme, as a last resort because, for whatever reason, he was struggling with landing jets!
His general flying was excellent but the landings were invariably screwed. The F4 allowed him to regain his confidence and skill by, aside from being easy to fly/land, soaking up the punishment of the many not so perfect landings.
He always seems to have great fun with his F4 so I just had to have one!
Cheers
Jeff
I'm on with the Iranian camo F4 that no-one likes apart from me! It's a good build so far and has been quite easy. I'm going to drop in an ATJ 180 Kero when it turns up...
I flew a friends a while ago and it was very good; in fact a complete non-event apart from the flame-out. I just dropped the nose, flew half a circuit and extended the wheels on finals - no problem and very slow landing.
I never was a big fan of the F4 as a subject for a model; I guess my opinion had been tainted by other F4's I had seen in the DF days as they just didn't seem to fly really well.
My friend bought one from me, painted in the Jolly Roger scheme, as a last resort because, for whatever reason, he was struggling with landing jets!
His general flying was excellent but the landings were invariably screwed. The F4 allowed him to regain his confidence and skill by, aside from being easy to fly/land, soaking up the punishment of the many not so perfect landings.
He always seems to have great fun with his F4 so I just had to have one!
Cheers
Jeff
12-09-2011, 02:34 PM
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RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
Hey Jason,,, looks like a toy land at the house,,,, get her done I am about to test fly mine, make sure you test the mains for leaks, I think on mine they may have been sitting to long
Dave
Dave
12-09-2011, 06:59 PM
#16
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RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
Hi Jeff,
You'er not the only one with the Iranian camo, I have mine for two years now and because of the size of our flying field I kept it untouched in the workshop.
Today was a historic day for our club as our runway got extended by some 300mt and a full size Tiger Moth landed for the first time on our site to make it to the Aviation Museum close by. Needless to say we got the oportunity to use this runway for the first time and so I will be finishing my F-4 in the near future, untill then I watch with interest you guys doing yours.
Below couple of pictures from last year's Wings Over Ta Qali 2010.
Mario
You'er not the only one with the Iranian camo, I have mine for two years now and because of the size of our flying field I kept it untouched in the workshop.
Today was a historic day for our club as our runway got extended by some 300mt and a full size Tiger Moth landed for the first time on our site to make it to the Aviation Museum close by. Needless to say we got the oportunity to use this runway for the first time and so I will be finishing my F-4 in the near future, untill then I watch with interest you guys doing yours.
Below couple of pictures from last year's Wings Over Ta Qali 2010.
Mario
12-09-2011, 07:22 PM
#17
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
ORIGINAL: rcjets_63
Jason,
What is the purpose of the aluminum tubes for the Robart hinges? Is it to reinforce the body of the hinge because the aft spar is set forward and the hinges won't be pushed all the way into the spar?
Jim
Jason,
What is the purpose of the aluminum tubes for the Robart hinges? Is it to reinforce the body of the hinge because the aft spar is set forward and the hinges won't be pushed all the way into the spar?
Jim
12-09-2011, 07:23 PM
#18
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
ORIGINAL: WhoDaMan
Hey Jason,,, looks like a toy land at the house,,,, get her done I am about to test fly mine, make sure you test the mains for leaks, I think on mine they may have been sitting to long
Dave
Hey Jason,,, looks like a toy land at the house,,,, get her done I am about to test fly mine, make sure you test the mains for leaks, I think on mine they may have been sitting to long
Dave
12-09-2011, 07:29 PM
#20
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
ORIGINAL: DocYates
Jason,
Which turbine will you use? Will 30# of thrust fly this beast?
Jason,
Which turbine will you use? Will 30# of thrust fly this beast?
The 30lb engine would fly the jet just fine but you should expect to have a longer takeoff run and be at higher power for the buld of the flight. However the Cheetah is 2lbs lighter than the Rhino and that is significant. I'm looking for high top speed and short field takeoff performance as we have a 400' runway. Good brakes too!
12-09-2011, 07:58 PM
#21
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
ORIGINAL: WhoDaMan
Sweet I remember Who do I talk to
Sweet I remember Who do I talk to
12-09-2011, 09:43 PM
#22
RE: JL F-4 Assembly, Winter 2011
I untaped the flaps and ailerons this morning. Great results! They fell with gravity. Everything is nice and free with no binding and lots of travel. Got the plans hung as well. Raptor had my attention today so no real progress today.
Pics....
Pics....