552transco

My Feedback: (3)

Mistake was the wrong choice of word to use Lt. Dan. I ment trial and error. Like with the masking tape you used.
Keep in touch,

Wayne

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

I know what you meant! I make plenty!

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

Well, I made a little progress today. I got the nose gear mounted up and the air system to the mains installed in the engine bay.

My solution for beefing up the nose gear mounts was to use some spare nose mounts from my old Avonds F-15.They're already drilled out for the Robart retracts.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01852.jpg][/link]

Here's a shot of the test fit. After cleaning them up a bit, I stuck them in with some Hysol and the bolted the gear in to hold them in place while they cure.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01847.jpg][/link]

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

Here's a shot of the air routing for the mains from the rear.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01854.jpg][/link]

From the front:

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01858.jpg][/link]

I used [link=http://www.dreamworksrc.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=124]Tidy Strips[/link] from Dreamworks RC to route the hoses. This stuff is gold. Just cut out the number of hose clamps you need from the strip, sand the mating surfaces a bit, then glue it down and snap your hose into place. It makes for a very nice install.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01855.jpg][/link]

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

Here's where I'm going to mount the fuel valves. This will give a short run from the valves to the turbine and leave them easily accessible.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01863.jpg][/link]

Here is the underside. I used 4-40 bolts and blind nuts to mount the valves. The blinds nuts need to be trimmed slightly so they clear each other when mounted.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01864.jpg][/link]

yeahbaby

My Feedback: (21)

Lt Dan

looks good amigo. may I suggest installing some triangle gussets on the main retract formers or backing up the CF wrap with aeropoxy etc. I had a hard landing once or twice and the little tabs that lock the plate in place delaminated partially. small gussets would have helped IMO.

c'ya

buck

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

Thanks for the tip, Buck. [8D]

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

Thanks to Miguel, here is a prototype of my DS168 rudder servo mount. Its easy to make, and fits well. The slot for the top mount allows the servo to be removed after the mount is attached to the servo bay.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01866.jpg][/link]

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01867.jpg][/link]

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01868.jpg][/link]

The servo to mount fit is very snug and when the package is intalled in the rudder its a perfect fit. Now that the test fit is complete, I'll make a pair with cleaner cuts.

Thanks Miguel!

552transco

My Feedback: (3)

Lt. Dan, anything new to add? It's been four days since your last update. Are you still working on the rudder servo mounts?
Sorry to be a pest but I can't help myself.

Wayne

AirPac Models

Wayne,
I guess Dan is to busy work on my web site this weekend......

Sorry Dan for take so much your time, but you did very good job for the web site. Thank you!

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

I'm still working on it! I was pretty busy this past weekend with web work, but I did manage to get a few things done on the plane. I'll post some photos tomorrow.

552transco

My Feedback: (3)

Thanks Lt. Dan, I'll be looking forward to them.
Now, get some some sleep, it's getting late.

Eric, your new web site is looking good. I check it out almost every day.

Take care you guys and keep in touch.

Wayne

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

I decided to tackle the issue of mounting the Jet Tech fuel tanks this weekend. The forward tanks fit so tight that they really don't need anything to hold them in place, but the aft tanks are a different story.

While the aft tanks fit well, there is nothing to support them and hold them in place. I looked at a few different ways that people tackled this problem and ultimately decided that I wanted a cleaner look.

To start out, I glued a basswood block to the former just aft of the tank to prevent the tank from touching the bolts for the aft wing mount. I also used a piece of plastic anti-chafe strip (we use these on full scale planes to protect wiring when it goes through a lightening hole) to line the top of the landing gear to prevent the gear from rubbing a hole in the bottom of the tank...

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01877.jpg][/link]

Here you can see how the block prevents the tank from impacting the wing mount bolts.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01872.jpg][/link]

Again, I turned to my left over Avonds F-15 nose gear mounts (I have a ton of them!) and modified a pair to make a bracket...

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01876.jpg][/link]

Here is the complete bracket, installed with a pair of 4-40 bolts and blind nuts.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01871.jpg][/link]

The bracket prevents any forward or lateral movement of the tank, yet allows the tank to be removed in a matter of seconds.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01875.jpg][/link]

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

I also cleaned up the airbrake hinge cutouts and installed the supplied supports. I made a new center support because I didn't like the way it mated with the top of the intake and did some minor trimming of the others to get a nice fit as well. The supports were installed with hysol on top and a drop of CA where they meet the intake.

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01874.jpg][/link]

After some final adjustments and trimming, this is the final fit and fair of the speedbrake to the fuselage...

[link=http://www.kc-10.net/gallery/albums/album16/DSC01879.jpg][/link]

AsiaSRC

HI,

Lt Dan, Nice cut!
[img][/img]

regards

Albert
AsiaScale RC

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

I had to trim out the hinge openings wider because the speedbrake was binding as it came up. Not too thrilled about the final look, but it is functional!

552transco

My Feedback: (3)

Lt. Dan, haven't had any updates lately. Everything going O.K?


Wayne

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

Hey Wayne,

Nothing significant to report yet. I've got to get my photos back up. (I just switched webhosts this week).

DocYates

My Feedback: (102)

A sad day in Dixie for me.....
I lost my F-15 today. It is a total write off, except for the wings and vertical stabs. The engine and electronics appear to have weathered it OK as well, but the fuse is history. After 7 successful flights, a few changes were made at the suggestion of some other pilots. I don't know what caused it, but needless to say from now own, if it is flying fine, nothing is gonna be changed. Right now I am sick, but $%^^ happens.
Mike was gonna fly it off and trim back up, I was gonna get some pics. The takeoff run seemed much longer than it should have been, but it rotated fine. After rotation it acted like it could never get enough thrust. The 750 was humping, but something was dragging it down. On the turn to downwind (5 mph max) it dipped and started down, as Mike tried to correct it, she snapped and pancaked right in. No fire thank goodness, and the SM fuel cells did not burst, although one got a retract body through the corner.
Maybe Santa will help me out and bring me somthing new to drwon my sorrows...
Tommy

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

That is terrible news! My condolences.

I'm extremely nervous to maiden this one!

sideshow

My Feedback: (11)

Don't be. They fly great. Just hold a little elevator and let it fly off of the ground. You'll love it.

Terry Holston

My Feedback: (1)

Sorry to hear of your loss Doc, I know how you feel. Keep your chin up Buddy.
Since there was no fire could you determine the cause of the lack of power. Did the thrust tube collapse? It always makes me feel better if I can determine the cause of a crash.

What changes did you make?

DocYates

My Feedback: (102)

IT does not look like the thrust tube collapsed, although there is a bend in the bell mounth. The only changes which were made were moving the engine about 1.5 inches forward to get it slightly out of the thrust tube. Was told it was not good for the engine to have it just inside the tube, and would improve thrust. Not sure that the thrust needed improving since it would get off the ground in a few hundred feet, during the summer heat. In order to compensate for the engine moving forward, the ECU pack was moved toward the rear of the plane to restablish the CG. The engine looked and sounded fine on the ground, the run up was uneventful, it never hiccuped or sputtered in any way. After takeoff It just did not want to keep climbing and only got to about 100 feet before the turn. The turn was slight, nothing abrupt. It started down, and I asked Mike if he had it, but he was too busy trying to concentrate to answer. It finally made a snap and went in slightly nose down, left wing down. The fuselage crumpled. At first I thought there was a fire, there was a large plume of smoke and what I now know was fog. The front air tank, which was quite large, ruptured and the air was spewing out. The engine looks fine, and spins fine, but there is a little ding in the exhaust nozzle, where it hit the bell mouth of the tube. The good point of the day was flying the Reaper, which flies great, but is just way overpowered. Back to the bench. Thanks for the sympathy fellas.... I plan on sending the engine in and letting them check i t out, since it is almost new and has never casued any problems, I want to make sure everything is AOK with it.
Tommy

Lt. Dan

My Feedback: (21)

Extending the engine tailcone out in front of the bellmouth helps increase the venturi effect which improves cooling of the engine tailcone.

Jim Cattanach

If you moved the engine 1.5 inches forward you would probably have made the plane very nose heavy.
Moving the ecu would not have helped much.
I think this may explain the reluctance to rotate & poor flight performance.

My condolences