Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

At least we are coming into spring soon. I'll be able to doing the finishing of this plane in the garage and keep the dust and smells out of the house. Did some starting work on the leading edge extensions, I don't think mine are going to be quite scale. My just simpfy these features like some other models and make a flat profile. I'll see as the work progresses.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Little done in the past month. Finished up 4H projects, work and now it's flying season. Have to get some flying in. After planning on forming my own canopy I decided to purchase and fit one to this model. Purchasing an F-18 canopy from Junorc. Picked up some acrylic, fibreglass cloth, and latex paint matched to the FS numbers I needed. Made paint chips from the available plastic model paints testors, humbrol, etc.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Got some inspiration from a flight video of this model plane on Youtube to contine. [link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfk31jdcJEI&feature=related]RCM F/A-18 Crash[/link]. Ya, I know it crashed [] , but it looked good to that point.

Found some pink styrofoam and using it to carve out the back decking and a couple of sig canopies to substitute for the one availabe from Junorc. Junorc's was nice, but to expensive to ship to Canada.

excaliburmaxi

Ive been build the CT114 and A10 two great model. At the CT114 I`ve apported some modifications: the fusolage sides are 4mm instead 5 millimeters the nose is hollowed to put the balancing weight in the nose (the most forward position) the zone around the engine support is reinforced with 80 grams\sq decimeter fiberglass, the silencer is hand made, if you can, made it in aluminium. the aircraft flies veerrry well great project.,
The A10 is modified to have a more scale model the engine pod they have the same incidence like the thru scale, the stabilizer is 2 degrees up to counterbalanve the aerodinamic effect of the engine pods the nose is modified to have a more scale appearance, the engine support is modified like the CT114 tutor (it is a little bit lighter than the original)
The engine for both model is Supertigre G51 and perry pump. Now i`m designing the super etendard but for this model I`ve selected the jett 51 because is more lighter Less weight in tail less weight in nose = aircraft is lighter. Ask to Dub jett for the backward rotation version, you can use normal prop reversed.
If you need some photos tell me. Ciao Max

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Actually I have a Supertigre 45 ABC and 51 at home. I do have a perry pump for the model, but I'm not sure which location to drill a hole in the back plate for the fitting. A picture would help with this if you can provide one. Thanks.

Jim

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Ok, some progress. The decking over the wing is going to be pink foam. I have balsa cross section epoxied to the front and back of the piece of foam. It will be block sanded to shape, covered in fibreglass and finishing epoxy than epoxied in place. The canopy upper section and the short section on the tail will probably be balsa.

The greys are the test of the latex paint I got mixed. I made samples from the tester and other plastic model paint bottles and took these to Rona. If CIL made FS colors I could of bought a pint (test size I was told) for only $5.00.

excaliburmaxi

Hi Jim I suggest you to use the G51 because is more powerful and a little lighter than the G45. Tomorrow I came back home (now I`m in New Dheli) and I`ll take a picture for you and a description of the procedure. Great project and compliment for your workmanship. I ask you a courtesy could you post a photo of the LEX because from the plan is not very clear how is build. Thank you Max.

excaliburmaxi

Hi javier for using the Os 91 VRDF with the prop what kind of modificatins are necessary? and what about the fuel regulator? thank you Max.

Javier-RCU

My Feedback: (6)

Hi Max,

There is no modifications at all on the engine, except for the fitting for the IronBay fuel regulator necessary to feed fuel from the CG. Actually I am using 11x7 pusher Zinger WOOD prop, carbon fiber would be better but are not easy to find. Engine reach arount 17.500 RPM on 10% and Byron pusher pipe that runs within the fuse.

Regards,

Javier.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Thanks I'll check out the weight of the motors at home and see how these compare. I was going to use the standard supertigre muffler since it can be rotated to any position, but it's also kind of large and heavy.

Jim

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Hi Max, at the moment, the LEX is just 3/16" balsa sheeting. When i do more work on it I will post some additional pictures. If I had to redesign this model I would have continued the front profile of the airfoil up to the side of the fuselage.

There are alternative cross section detailing alternatives on how to fabricate the LEX on the actual drawings from RCM which are not shown on the pdf file from the website.

Thanks for the compliment of the workmanship. It's my first large plane built from plans. I've done some kits over the years.

Jim

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Took a break today to check out the Canadian Forces Day at Southport, Manitoba. Canadian Snowbird Aerobatic Team, US F-16 demonstration and the Canadian Forces 2008 Western Demo F-18. Usually the Demo F-18 has been custom painted (2002 - the anniversary hornet, 2003 tiger meet, and Anniversary of Flight). This year is the 50th Anniversary of NORAD, and the 400th Anniversary of Quebec City in the belle province.

Curious enough after the F-18 show, the plane was brought by the fence for static display. One of my fellow r/c club members Mike was helping to pass out leaflets. We discussed the F-18 behind him, and Mike said it was his younger brother who was the design director behind all the creative paint schemes for the demo jets the past few years. See post#43. What a job to have

excaliburmaxi

Hi Jim the photo showing the pressure fitting for G51. You have to remove the backplate screw the pressure fitting (you can use the pressure screw used on the silencer), fill the engine with cotton and drill throught the pressure fitting. clean very well the engine from dust then reinstall the backplate. Regard Max[img][/img]

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Thanks Excaliburmaxi, this wasn't where I was expecting to place a fitting for the pressure tap.

Managed to glue the portions of the decking to the top of the fuselage. The balsa strip at the back easier to glue in place than the foam. I think if I ever have to do this again, I'll make the formers for the decking a strip plank it.

excaliburmaxi

For pusher prop model lightness in tail is a must. Do not use the stock muffler is very havy. I hand made my silencer and is quite effective. All solder are silver .I've used a brass plate (0.07873992 inch of thikness)for the silencer flange and a copper curve for the body (diameter 0.7086593- 0.7873992 inch)the internal tube is brass, one end (internal)is closed and has a lot of hole drilled (diameter 0.07873992inch) It's long to explain than made it. It's a matter of one hour to made it. The best is to made in aluminium or better in carbon fibre! Ciao Max

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Wouldn't noise be an issue with this setup?

Thanks again

Jim

excaliburmaxi

No it isn't, certainly is not quite like the stock muffler but is not bad. Max

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Since we've been discussing weight. I managed to get the airplane down to the plant and use the scales. Total weight so far is 2.52 lbs at this stage of the build. 1.46 lbs for the fuselage and 1.06 lbs for the wing, and I haven't done much of the sanding yet. Still thinking of latex painting the plane espicially with the foam decking with 3/4 oz. epoxy.

The supertigre 51 is less weight than the 40 or 45, probably the same case as the 40 but bored out a little more.

The recommended weight for this model is 5~5.5 lbs. ready to fly. I've also figured out how to complete the lex at the front of the fuselage, so that will get some attention this weekend. Need some flying time though, but it's been raining.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Hi Max, I've decided how to construct the lex for the fuselage. The plans called for a 1/4" wide stripe of balsa along the bottom edge of the lex conforming to the side profile of the lex. I'm using a 3/8 thick section of balsa and tapered cut to the side profile. This will be sanded smooth then a bottom panel glued in place. Most of this balsa will be sanded away to form the curved edge on the top side of lex.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

"Gee It's nice when a plan works". Why didn't think of this before.

My wife just doesn't understand the idea of posting all this stuff on the internet.

chicks5

Tell her it's like show and tell when you were kids at school

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

That I think I'll let my little girl explain to her mom. She understand's Show and Tell.

Jim

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Happy Father's Day. Well time to work on the canopy section of the plane. The lex are 70% complete. Just becomes a big sanding and carving job. I'd rather be flying. The season is so short here. Skinned the bottom of the lex with 1/16" balsa. Top will be curved.

To be continued .....

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Happy Labour Day. Looks like I'm going to miss the fun fly again this year too.

Anyway, this thread is not dead. Just delayed with a lot of yard work this summer. Needed some inspiration to finish the front canopy section. Decided not to use foam like I did the decking on the wing section and just build it up and sand. Needed a flat section to attach the canopy too and it was easier to build a section to glue the canopy on too.

Didn't miss the fun fly. It's been rescheduled twice due to soggy weather.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Additional pictures. The plans called for a modified sig kougar canopy, but it didn't have proper bubble shape. The 9" sig WWII canopy is close, the length is good. The front shield should be angled more and rounded out instead of flat. I've been told I could reshape this with heat.

Still have time to try to carve out a better shape from a block and/or vacuum form.