My SM F-14 Tomcat
 

Hey guys........

Well, finally after a long wait, last week my Skymaster F-14 Tomcat was delivered to me! It came in two large boxes, well packaged and protected, and it made the journey undamaged, phew!!!

here are some first impressions:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013939http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013940http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013941http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013942http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013943http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013944http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013945http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013946http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013947http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013948http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2013949


I already started some work on it, but it will take me some time to get all the stuff I still need to get....

Some info: she will be powered by two overhauled and updated Graupner Booster 130+'s, now putting out 15kg thrust each.Servo's will be mostly JR 8911, I just need to look into the slat servo's. electrical power will come from a Powerbox Royal SRS. control by my Graupner MC32 and 2 pcs Graupner GR32 receivers. Electronic valves on all air systems (except canopy, the Original valve included does a nice job at sequencing the canopy locks)

Wim

Looks great Wim.

awesome! Thats the scheme I chose, minus the nose art…. the magical "12 weeks" hasn't arrived yet, but not holding my breath, no time to work on it anyway.

Maybe our aircraft are in here somewhere

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2014107

don't hold your breath, mine took over 20 weeks.......... but it has been worth the wait !!

Wim

Looks nice Wim. Im starting to get the armament stuff for my F14 printed out, so if you guys would like some Phoenix, sparrow or Sidewinder missle's let me know. Here is a small version of my Phoenix that was done last night as a test. Ill have the full size printed out today hopefully.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pskbckfxwy.jpg

John informed me tonight that mine is about to leave the factory. Even sent me some photos. Right on schedule, good job Skymaster.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.png

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2014515http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2014516http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2014517http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2014518

Ultimate RC jet ever....congrats :-)

Muzz, she sure looks great as well, congrats!!!

Wim

Yup, friggin awesome.

Thomas,

I would be interested in a set of antenna's, probes and other dirty stuff to hang off it in 1:7.5 scale.......I got the ordnance from SM, and it is pretty decent........

Wim

Wim

Wim,
Antenna's and probes i have drawn up already, i just need to get the nylon to print the molds... Ill order some and get that going and be in touch :)

thomas

Thomas,

that would be great!

Wim

Looks beautiful Wim!

Is that Dubs 104??

Very nice, indeed!! Hope the build goes smoothly, looking forward to following it.

Sluggo

Thanks all. Looking forward to shooting a few camera shots of the build, as it comes along.

well guys, already made some progress in the build, here are some pictures....

first thins I've done is take out the tanks, to modify them to the new fittings ("A10 style"). in order to remove the main tanks, the whole wing swing mechanism needs to come out. I also took out the gear while I was at it.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015143http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015144http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015145http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015148http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015149http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015150http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015151


The pictures tell the story: I replaced the Original "rubber" stoppers, and glued on the alu rings with screw-in type cap. added advantage is that I can connect the 6mm festo hose directly to these.

don't know how those pics of the rudders got in, but i got those horns installed as well. was a bit of a messy job, didn't find much wood under the skins, so I had to open up the base to properly attach the horns.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015159http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015160http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015161http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015162

I installed the elevator servos as well. I had to shim the servo's a bit, since the depth is so critical. I did countersink the screw some more to get me some more 'play' between the fuse and the elevator. This setup does give a nice, slop free response on the elevons. the ball-barings on the arm ride in a hard anodised alu bushing.

on to the gear: I'm replacing all the airlines and T-fittinge with Festo hardware. I just don't want airleaks on this bird......on the main gear, I rerouted the lines for the locking cylinder and the brakes, to be less apparent..

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015164http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015165http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015166

Since I'm working on the back, i got along with the installation of the turbines as well....there's not much room to work there, and it's impossible to check the distance between the turbine and the pipe, sa a sort of 'jig' has to be made to keep proper alignment. I've put the turbines at 2.5cm from the entry of the pipe.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015167http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015168http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015169http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015170http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015171http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015172

and I also made the plates which will hold the valves and the Ecu's...these are installed behind the main tanks, next to the turbines.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015177http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015178http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015179http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2015180

Well done on the photos Wim. Loved the layout of the ECU boards. Cool

Looking good Wim !

I wonder if it can be ordered with the tank aluminum fittings already installed at the factory.

Man, after looking at the gear there is no way possible to convert the gear to electric. Oh well SM is know a for their gear so maybe it will hold up to, but will deff be one of those things you have to keep a close eye. Nice look gear for sure, it looks like a fun project.
Has anyone tried there standard tanks or do they only offer kevlar tanks?