Hello Jet Jocks,

Does anyone know of a conversion kit for the Byron F16? I have recently found a unassembled kit. So, I figured a PST-600 (WREN-54) would work well rather than the ducted fan (Been there, tried that). So, a conversion requires a tailpipe, inlet ducting and custom fuel tanks. Any idea where one could obtain this hardware?

Has anyone done a conversion of the Byron F16? Suggestions, advise and warnings would be appreciated.

Thanks,
DW_Crash

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_19...tm.htm#1961789

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_13...tm.htm#2317783

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_13...tm.htm#1342281

So, are you going to have a few jets flying by next year????

I think you are pretty much on your own for the conversion. I know it has been done...I did a google search the other day and got several hits for ones that had been turbine converted - (didn't read them cuz i was looking for different information....)

I have a Byron F-16 kit and will be building it for turbine use, also. I managed to get one of the inlets that Nicolas @ SpiderJets used to offer in the turbine conversion kit that he offered. I have also seen somewhere that a YA F-16 inlet can be modified to work. Some have been built with no inlet.

It depends on who you talk to as to what modifications are required. Some are heavily modified (and thus are heavy) and others have been built with little modification. I even heard of one that was flown with no tailpipe. I hope the turbine was close to the aft end.

Good luck.

Gary,

Thanks for the thoughts. SpiderJet....Hmm. Do you have any contact information? Maybe, he might want to sell one more conversion.

Thanks,
DW_Crash

DW_Crash

When I bought the F-16 inlets, I believe Nicolas told me that they were the last he had. At that time He no longer had the conversion. kits.

I have a Byron F16 kit also and have been considering doing a turbine conversion for some time and the MW54 would be an ideal match for it I reckon.... I would use the Yellow F16 inlet duct along with a Tam tailpipe made to spec. Various strengthening mods that I would be doing are covering wings stabs and fin with 3/4 oz glass cloth and epoxy resin along with carbon rod support for vertical fin.... that said I have been seriously looking into the EDF option viability for the Byron F16 and it certainly looks like it maybe another option if the model can be built light enough ie taileron control instead of ailerons and spring air gear, somthing different anyway eh!

you may ask if you can get some spare parts from the new Tam F-16 ARF thats coming out, its almost the same size as the byron one. Heck, the entire outfit may not be too much more expensive than doing a byron F-16 conversion.

I have a Friend who has the conversion kit for Byron. (the intake and ducting, no tailpipe)
But I would not recommend doing it on the old Byron green fuselage (polyster fiberglass??)
but it's ok on the newer epoxy fiberglass.
I did convert my F-16 Byron to Turbine with the help of Nicolas of Spiderjets.

thx n brg,
NICK

why?

[sm=confused.gif]

The green fiberglass is fairly week, and with age it tends to get somewhat brittle. I know from first hand experience

Dear Nick,

You mentioned that your friend had a kit to convert. Where did he obtain it from? Did he use it? Is he interested in selling it?

Thanks,
DW_Crash

I have no idea, but it looks very much like spiderjet's.
I will check with him and let you know asap.

Brg,
NICK

Don't tell that to my 15+ year old Byron P-51.

YUUUPPP,... I hard landed my byron F-16 (a "polite way" to say I crashed my F-16),.. and it has internal damage,.. from outside looks OK, but looking at inside,.. huh,.. badly damaged, become like RITZ crackers... very crunchy !!

brg,
NT

The 12 year old Byron F-16 that I used to have and the 15+ year old Byron P-51 that I still own, have not shown any tendancy to be brittle. Mine both are exactly opposite of brittle in that they have become more flexible. It must depend on which batch of polyester resinwas being used at the time.

[/quote]

YUUUPPP,... I hard landed my byron F-16 (a !QUOT!polite way!QUOT! to say I crashed my F-16),.. and it has internal damage,.. from outside looks OK, but looking at inside,.. huh,.. badly damaged, become like RITZ crackers... very crunchy !!

brg,
NT
[/quote]

Damn polyester.... I remember 'back in the day' having an inopportune flame out and descending in a flat level attitude from altitude with full up elevator applied and the F16 not stalling and pancaking in and bouncing like a spring! made a mess of landing gear but I actually was able to repair and fly it again!!!! moral is I guess polyester at least has plenty give in it [:@]

Check out those super scale struts circa 1978

Ozcan, GRBaker and NicholasT,

Thanks for the comments. You all have good points. I have had older fibreglass stuff go brittle and other stuff not. Before we start this project, we had inspected the glass. It seems to be fairly flexible. Should be fine.

Actually, what I found also was that the joints between formers and the fuse went brittle. It was epoxy. Lately, I have been using poly-urethane glue to put in formers and bulkheads. It seems to work better over epoxy. And the joints maintain a bit of give. Not brittle.

Like the scale wire gear.

Thanks,
DW_Crash