Old FB Jets-Phantom-Kurnass 306
06-12-2022, 04:26 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Old FB Jets-F4 Phantom-Kurnass 306
Hello,
This FB Jets old kit came into my doorstep few years ago as a deal I couldn’t refuse.
I purchased it as an unfinished kit and had to complete it and rework some of the work already done by others before.
After research and taking into consideration information about some flight characteristics I decided to wait and make the first few flights unpainted.
It turned out to be nice to fly if you remember to manage the decent and keep the flaps one notch and not full down on landings.
It's also requires setting the CG with full front fuel tank.
Unfortunately on the forth flight I had flame out resulted with broken nose and one wing saluting me for that...
I decided to repair it and paint it as an Israeli Air Force-IAF Phantom. The IAF Phantoms were called "Kurnass" meaning sledge-hammer. The chosen tail number was Kurnass 306 served with the 69 "Hammers" Squadron.
Kurnass 306 has an interesting and meaningful story:
In October 16, 1986, a bomb exploded immediately after release from Kurnass 306, forcing both crew to eject. The pilot, Yishai Aviram,[61] was rescued by an IAF AH-1 Cobra, but navigator Ron Arad was captured by members of the Shi'a Amal Movement. Initial negotiations for an exchange of prisoners failed and Arad has been missing since and his fate remains unknown-Wikipedia
White elephant
Rebuilt nose
This FB Jets old kit came into my doorstep few years ago as a deal I couldn’t refuse.
I purchased it as an unfinished kit and had to complete it and rework some of the work already done by others before.
After research and taking into consideration information about some flight characteristics I decided to wait and make the first few flights unpainted.
It turned out to be nice to fly if you remember to manage the decent and keep the flaps one notch and not full down on landings.
It's also requires setting the CG with full front fuel tank.
Unfortunately on the forth flight I had flame out resulted with broken nose and one wing saluting me for that...
I decided to repair it and paint it as an Israeli Air Force-IAF Phantom. The IAF Phantoms were called "Kurnass" meaning sledge-hammer. The chosen tail number was Kurnass 306 served with the 69 "Hammers" Squadron.
Kurnass 306 has an interesting and meaningful story:
In October 16, 1986, a bomb exploded immediately after release from Kurnass 306, forcing both crew to eject. The pilot, Yishai Aviram,[61] was rescued by an IAF AH-1 Cobra, but navigator Ron Arad was captured by members of the Shi'a Amal Movement. Initial negotiations for an exchange of prisoners failed and Arad has been missing since and his fate remains unknown-Wikipedia
White elephant
Rebuilt nose
Last edited by avi sirota; 06-12-2022 at 11:17 AM. Reason: Old FB Jets-F4 Phantom-Kurnass 306
06-12-2022, 04:55 AM
#2
Thread Starter
Decals used for test flight- peeling them of before preparing the surface for painting
Preparing the surface for primer.
Primer.
.
Light blue/gray at the bottom
It's the first project I painted all by myself. My dearest friend Dany Golan assisted me with his remarkable patience experience and guidance. All over the phone and whatsApp
Preparing the surface for primer.
Primer.
.Light blue/gray at the bottom
It's the first project I painted all by myself. My dearest friend Dany Golan assisted me with his remarkable patience experience and guidance. All over the phone and whatsApp
Last edited by avi sirota; 06-12-2022 at 05:30 AM.
The following 2 users liked this post by avi sirota:
drfred58809 (06-14-2022),
Viper1GJ (06-14-2022)
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Tom Cook (06-12-2022)
06-12-2022, 10:35 AM
#7
Awesome paint job!! Thanks for sharing. I purchased a secondhand FB F4 Phantom last year at a warbird event. The body and wings were in great shape, but the fuselage was stripped of all components and the landing gear and gear doors was trash. I'm not a builder but enjoyed the challenge of getting this F4 ready to fly again. I set the CG at 295 mm behind the leading edge of the wing. I got 295 mm as recommended from an earlier FB F4 thread on RCU. However, it was not mentioned if the fuel tanks should be empty. I added 12oz to the nose and 1/3 fuel in main tank to get the CG at 295mm. Where did you set your CG? How much lead if any did you need in the nose? Also did your flight require any elevator compensation with 1/2 flap and with full flap? If so, how much and which direction, up or down elevator?
06-12-2022, 11:48 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Awesome paint job!! Thanks for sharing. I purchased a secondhand FB F4 Phantom last year at a warbird event. The body and wings were in great shape, but the fuselage was stripped of all components and the landing gear and gear doors was trash. I'm not a builder but enjoyed the challenge of getting this F4 ready to fly again. I set the CG at 295 mm behind the leading edge of the wing. I got 295 mm as recommended from an earlier FB F4 thread on RCU. However, it was not mentioned if the fuel tanks should be empty. I added 12oz to the nose and 1/3 fuel in main tank to get the CG at 295mm. Where did you set your CG? How much lead if any did you need in the nose? Also did your flight require any elevator compensation with 1/2 flap and with full flap? If so, how much and which direction, up or down elevator?
CG is 290 mm from leading edge.
The main fuel tank is located just in front of the CG.
Main tanks are aft of CG. Since main is likely to stay full or almost full I preferred to keep CG from moving forward during flight. This helped reducing the final speed without using full flaps.
No need for elevator trim with flaps at about 15 mm as first stage.
Secund stsge about 35 mm and it can block air flow to the elevator.
Last edited by avi sirota; 06-12-2022 at 11:52 AM.
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RCAdam03 (06-15-2022)
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06-13-2022, 12:36 AM
#13
Thread Starter
CG is between main saddle tanks to front tank. In flight the fuel from mains saddle tanks flows to the front tank so during the flight the CG moved forward
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RCAdam03 (06-15-2022)
