BVM F 100
 

HI all, I am doing some research on the BVM F100 for my next project when I get one. I have seen this jet fly many times and seems like a wonderful jet. I have seen it dead stick land so slow that even I could feel comfortable flying it.
I"d like to get some feed back from those who have flown the F100.
- when flown too slow, does it snap or mush down.
-best size turbine.
-hows the landing gear.
-what you liked about the kit.
- what you would have done differently.
-battery needs
Thanks Rcpete

RE: BVM F 100
 

Pete,

As you know the 100 on the far left is mine so I can tell you a few things.
#1.The TITAN seems to be a perfect match for it even with all the armament hanging off it. I would personally go with a TITAN SE
#2. The gear is just as beefy as my BVM Phantom gear. They are almost unstoppable/unbreakable. The nose retract is the same as the F-4.
#3.I didnt build mine (Gary Jefferson did) and I do know that he may not build another one since it was a long process to build and very tough. It took him nearly 11 months to build while going to work and school.
#4.What I have done differently to mine as opposed to others would be adding all the Detail 4 Scale goodies on it. I have Drogue Chute, Auto Chute release system, Scale lighting system, Blue Box pilot, more detail work in the cockpit, antisway bars on the drop tanks, pitot tubes and antennas, MKII 500lb bombs, Bullpup missiles, nose gear box, F-102 Afterburner nozzle and extreme weathering. (some guys dont like that but I do) I dont think Gary changed too many thing during the build process and went "by the book".
#5. I use all FROMECO Lithium Ion Batteries in all my birds. Just my preference.

There are only 6 flights on my F-100 so I dont know much about it yet. As you know Spiderman was the first Event it was flown at and then the weather went South. I dont know the stall characteristics but I do know that it flys much different with the wing tanks on and off. It flys very scale with them on and hauls very fast when you peel em off with a TITAN onboard.

The leading edge slats are really nice once you get them dialed in.

RE: BVM F 100
 

Pete,

I've flown a F-100F (built by BVM) on the NASA I'm involved with and I'm building an F-100F for Joe C.

As far as flying goes, with the flaps and slats out as you said, it will slow down a lot and is pretty resistant to stall on landing. It will though get a very high rate of sink going which takes power to arrest if you get it slow on approach. I've stalled it up high and there are not real suprises, but it takes a lot of altitude to recover if you really let it break. It flys well with the tanks, and without them, its a ROCKET. It will do all of 250 without the tanks. Also, without the tanks, its VERY hard to see when it turns head-, or tail-on during flight (scary [X(] ). It may dead stick, but I sure as heck wouldn't want to do it, especially an "F" model, so make sure you do everything necessary to keep the engine running...

As far as building, its a complex aircraft, and even though everything is molded, there is A LOT to do - especially if you want to detail it out to the max. I'm too embarrassed to say how long I've been working on this model [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6408111](F-100F "build" thread)[/link]. Everything is straight foward and its a typical BVM build, just a lot of it.

Its an impressive plane, on the ramp and in the air, and it flys well. Its a project of a lifetime though, and one's enough for my lifetime! :)

Bob

RE: BVM F 100
 

1. Titan, or TitAN SE
2. Unbreakable
3. Very tough
4. Used a redundant battery and regulator system. Cant wait for a 12X!! needs more channels!!!
5. Flown mine with Nicads and duralites
6. Never saw a snap ever.

F100 been probably my favorite. Personally I believe the nicest kit BV makes.
Flys like a bandit.
Fast as hell.
Rock solid airplane.
Lands fast or slow. I dont think people would believe how slow it will really land. I remember watching BV fly his in the early days and it always seemed as he screamed it down.
Moving the cg back a little will let you hold up the nose on landing.
The sucker will tuck on turns, so be careful especially on windy days.
Does not fly any different with tanks on as suggested. I personally thought it flew a little better and way easier to see and still rediculously fast with tanks on. Tanks also will save your airplane if you have to dump it.
I had a dead stick and she floated forever and never fell out of sky and basically just ripped off tanks.
Will four point and slow roll beautiful.
Great Top Gun airplane, cause wind doesnt bother it. Crosswind, no problem.
Very complex airplane, needs all channels and then some.
Ton of work, but worth it(but then I do Flite Metal and rivits)
Wish it came with better cockpit.
Doesnt need gyro.
Will fly with only one elevator servo if one dies!!!
Will land on one wheel if one flies of on takeoff!!!
Will fly for quite a while if you break out nose stearing formers!!!
Wont fly with bad regulator that burns up with high draw servos!!!
I have owned three
Scott

RE: BVM F 100
 

Thanks guys, that"s a lot of info, I watched Bob have a dead stick landing, I think it was Florida Jets, not positive, any ways, it landed very slow, with minimal damage.
Thanks Rcpete

RE: BVM F 100
 

Pete,

It was Superman '06 that B.V. had the deadstick on his "D" model. Just ripped off the tanks and flew fine after that.

RE: BVM F 100
 

Pete, I can think of at least one upgrade for you. You can use 8611's on the stabs and they will fit as long as you setup the servo tray as you are gluing it in place. I spoke to BV and he agreed that using 8611's was the way to go if I could get them in place, and I did. I used two Hanger 9 volt/current meters in-line with each stab servo when I setup the stabs since they are essentially tied together, similar to the 40% planes. We made the decision to use a matchbox for the stabs as well to reduce the load on the servos and to prevent them from fighting each other, and they will. The current/voltmeter showed that very clearly!!

Personally I would use a Powerbox or similar unit to help distribute the power and allow individual servo adjustment for all of the surfaces, otherwise you end up with a bunch of matchboxes. It is probably very close to the same cost either way and the Powerbox gives the added benefit of isolated power of course, especially for 2.4 Ghz. The powerbox also allows two batteries to be used since you will have no channels left over in the receiver for plugging a redundant battery into...

The manual is pretty straight forward, it is just a lot of work. As has already been said, it is the project of a lifetime but I have no desire to build another one. You should probably allow 12-18 months to build, paint, and detail the F-100 especially if it is your first one, unless you are retired and can work on it full time...Gary

RE: BVM F 100
 

Pete,
It is a scale sport jet if there ever was one. I have 110 flights on mine and its been flying since Aug 2000. It has superb landing gear and mechanics. You can add all the scale feature and not effect the performance. It is not a difficult build, finishing will take longer than glueing. It has great flight characteristics and wins 5 stars in the landing pattern. If your fast or slow it will make you look good.
Don't leave home with out one.

RE: BVM F 100
 

Dave (I forgot his last name, sorry man!) super nice guy outta sacramento, seems to perpetually have his F100 with him. Absolutely georgous looking, and flying jet! It has a great presence and if the flight characteristics said here are true, it would win my vote for favorite scale jet to fly!

Currently I love hornets, but I've seen them snap and they don't float with deadsticks(a little birdie told me that one;) )

Raf

RE: BVM F 100
 

Raf,

If you ever get out this way Ill let you get a piece of this F-100! ;) You just might like it. [:o]

RE: BVM F 100
 

OH, nobody mentioned the sound of an F-100 - its quite unique, especially if it has a big motor like an Oly in it. If you get close to the intake on the ground, it sounds like its going to suck you in. Unfortunately, it sometimes does. The one that NASA has went head-over-heals once after hitting a runway light (ouch!) and even though the nose never touched the ground, the AT-450 sucked in all kinds of trash and killed itself...

Bob

RE: BVM F 100
 

HI all, it would be great to see all the different paint schemes out their, if you would like to show off your F100, feel free to post a pic and a little history of your F100.
Rcpete

RE: BVM F 100
 

That settles it Pete, we all get a shot at Patricks F-100 at Winamac This year!!!!! Thanks Pat!!!! The line starts behind Pete!! John Redman is exempt though he put in the check ride for Patrick! Well done Johnnie!!! Alias Puff Daddy!!!

Tim

RE: BVM F 100
 

Patrick

That is one gorgeous F100 U have there.

The amount of dirt with the Flite Metal is amazing.

Ian

RE: BVM F 100
 

It's actually painted with BV's Metal Kote paint. Ben Burdin painted it for Patrick and did a fantastic job!! You should see the new detail work Patrick is doing on the F-100 now, all I can say is WOW!! Gary

RE: BVM F 100
 

Gary

I didn't know that you could make BV's Metal Kote paint look that good.

Ian

RE: BVM F 100
 

Ian,

Gary is correct................Ben Burden did all of the finish work and did one of the nicest jobs in my opinion! I had to keep telling him "More weathering, more weathering" and now she is as dirty as ever! Gary and Ben talked me into the Metal Kote II and I thought I was going to regret it but I am VERY happy with it! Here are some pics of the Detail 4 scale lighting system.

RE: BVM F 100
 

I am adding more anti static wires, scoops and bumps/vents etc. and its easy to work with the Metal Kote II. You can go back and spray those particular panels that you worked on and weather them and they are as good as new.

RE: BVM F 100
 

I also spent another 4 days on the nose gear box trying to perfect it. I am going to leave it alone now!

RE: BVM F 100
 

Here are pictures of the Full scale F-100. Mine isnt scale but I did the best I could.

RE: BVM F 100
 

Frost, The big 100 is looking even sweeter than ever with all the extras you are doing to it. It takes alot of patience to do all that. But as you, gary and me know its worth it when your done...........Is it? :D

Ben

RE: BVM F 100
 

Looking good Patrick, looking forward to my F-100F being built by Bob Klenke.

Joe Castelao!!

RE: BVM F 100
 

I own two (2) BVM F-100D models. My experience with the "Huns" have been amazing. I will always keep one in my hangar. They are ridiculously fast and predictable.

The Red Tail was built by Joey (Titan) Tamez - It is Flite Metaled and powered by a Titan SE.

The Lifesaver flavored Hun was Built by Kelly Rohrbach (Montana) Covered in Presto Coverrite (powered by a Jetcat Titan) and immaculately finished out -previously owned by David Soufer and won Top Gun 05' (4th Place Team Scale) flown by John Redman -
Highly reccomend one, or two, or three.........!!!


Michael Stern

RE: BVM F 100
 

sweet bring it to Benbrook!!

:D

RE: BVM F 100
 

Or better yet, MY HOUSE! :)

Mike, I think you need a third. That will balance things out. [8D]