Typhoon Phil

Just wanted to let you guys know about a little project that ive got going and have had for the past year and a half..... a little bit about me and you'll see why I me doing it..... I've been an avid modeller for over 25 years now and spent 23 years as an aircraft engineer in the Royal Air Force, 12 years of which I spent on the Harrier aircraft so I decided it was about time to combine the 2 and so I started a project to completely scratch build a Harrier RC Model with the intention of having it fully functioning in all flight modes, as per the real aircraft. So I started with a 3 view drawing off the internet and a 1/72nd scale plastic kit and my own knowledge of the aircraft....... obviously ive now seen that Skymaster are developing a Harrier model but there's is bigger as mine is 1/7th scale...... so going to persevere and carry on.....

If any of you are interested then I have a build blog on Facebook, so please feel free to search out RC Harrier Build on FB to follow my progress but please bare in mind I do work full time and progress can be slow. Any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.......

Regards Phil

SECRET AGENT

My Feedback: (18)

First one to actual VTOL wins! HA! Just kidding, good luck and please post a few pics for those who dont FB.

Typhoon Phil

Ok so here's a quick how we got where we are... started with a 3 view diagram off the internet for all outline shapes which was then blown up to 1/7th scale and a 1/72scale Airfix kit.... also had a 1/48 scale kit which was cross secrioned ever 5mm to give me scale frame shapes

Typhoon Phil

The scale frame shapes were then blown up to size, drawn not and then cut out of MDF board and attached to the spine also made from MDF board. This creates a skeleton of the fuselage which in turn was in filled with blue foam and then carved roughly to shape

Typhoon Phil

Fuselage plug is actually made in 3 pieces, a front cockpit plug, a main fuselage plug from the intake rearward and a separate nose cone..... the front cockpit plug slides into the intake area of the main fuselage plug forming a tight joint. I have done it like this as when this model is finished I will be able to go back and make another front cockpit.plug for the 2 seater version as that too will just slide into the intake joint.

Typhoon Phil

Front cockpit plug has now been shaped and covered in 12oz cloth, rubbed back and first layer of primer has now been sprayed...... plenty of elbow grease and more layers of primer to be applied to flatten it down before applying panel lines and rivet detail.

Typhoon Phil

Main fuselage plug is less far advanced in that it is roughly to shape and I am now working front to rear getting the shapes and curves correct before again covering it in 12oz cloth.

Typhoon Phil

This brings me roughly up to date with progress.... would just like to say that I am no expert or neither am I a professional model maker ...... all techniques I use have been self taught ( endless hrs researching on the internet and trial and error) but they seem to work for me...... any all suggestions are gratefully received. As I previously said I have a build blog on Facebook but will endeavour to keep this post updated As well.

mr_matt

My Feedback: (10)

Very cool, what are you going to power it with?

Typhoon Phil

Matt..... one of the reasons I'm concentrating on the airframe first is that at present their is not a readily available model turbo fan engine (ie 2 seperate airflow which the full size Pegasus engine provided) ..... am staying away from EDFs as I want it truly jet powered... am thinking of using a turbo prop engine powering a fan instead of a prop (with appropriate changes to the gearing ratios) failing that will look at developing a turbo fan engine myself. To prove the airframe I intend to flight test with my Jetcat120 with the exhaust split between the 2 rear nozzles only.

SECRET AGENT

My Feedback: (18)

Awesome, keep up the good work!

Ram-bro

My Feedback: (101)

you answered my questions.Others who have done this have built a rig that mimics nozzle action and location....you are ding this opposite. This will be an interesting thread. Good luck

Typhoon Phil

I would rather say I'm doing it in a different way as I know how all the systems work (especially on the full size) but saying that I will probably make up some sort of test rig for the reaction control nozzle system. Another reason I'm doing the fuselage first is that some have asked if I will be kitting it and having thought about it once the fuselage has flown first conventionally there's no reason why i couldn't knock out some kits at that point as the engine and systems for Vstol flight could simply be dropped into the fuselage at a later date as an upgrade kit..... that way I would be able to recoup some of the costs and reinvest it into the power plant.

Typhoon Phil

Apologies for lack of any updates on my Harrier project..... work and other models have kept me rather busy but certainly plan on progressing the project further this year..... it is interesting to see how Skymaster are doing with their model and I am keeping an eye on a team in Germany who it would appear have produced a proper scale Turbo Fan engine.......