CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Here is a link to my Tigercat gear operation. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96JEJuwBKkI

stoat

Nicely done. Like the nose leg door system! Are you going to put the rear door on the nose at some stage? You will probably find you cant tell its missing when you are flying it.

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Thank you! I test flew it yesterday in the new configuration and everything worked great! I may add the aft nose door to just enhance the cool factor at a later time. You are right however, you do not even know it isn't there when the ship is in the air.

stoat

Nicely done! I bet it was a knee trembler Yep, I flew for a couple of months with no doors at all. Still looked awesome. Made some funny noises at full speed tho! Thought it was flutter - tried everything - no joy - put the gear doors on and it went away! Go figure

Now all you need to do is post some vid of it down and dirty going fast....

butlern

My Feedback: (15)

I saw CRJDriver's F7F fly at the NAMFI event in Owatonna, MN, this past August... and it flew like a bat-out-of-hell!

Actually, as I recall there were two F7F's at the NAMFI event, so I'm assuming one of those F7F's up there blonged to CRJDriver. Either way, both were VERY fast and both flew VERY well!

Looking good! (looking a little cold, too, in that last picture... too bad the season is just about over for us in the upper midwest).

Regards,

Noah

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Thanks Noah! We'll have to get our Tigercats together sometime! Glad to see you got that beast of a Cat flying so smooth! Nice job my friend!

Chris

butlern

My Feedback: (15)

You better believe it, Chris! We'll tear up the skies over Owatonna next year, for sure.

Regards,

Noah

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Here are a couple of videos my son Collin shot of my Cat checking out the new functional gear door installation. Very windy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15djdpU2ErM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91zE-VPdjdQ

CHARLES WINTER

Hi CRJDriver. Could you take a few more pictures of your nose gear linkage. I have been flying my Tiger for about a year now and have ALL doors functioning, but your nose gear set-up looks better than the one where the nose gear door moves with the nose gear. Thanks, Col. Chuck Winter

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Will do Col. To explain, I simply made a bracket from 1/32 aluminum sheet and wrapped it around the lower strut. The strut moves freely in the bracket. The nose door has two large Robart hinges fixed to the door with basswood and methacrylate. The door is removeable as set screws hold the hinges in place in a basswood block in the fuselage. Simple as that. I'll post pictures when the sun comes up.

CHARLES WINTER

CRJ Another question on nose gear door. When your nose gear is in the Up and closed position, do you have a large GAP in the Front part of the door so you get rotational clearance with the Robart Hinges? If you do take pictures, take one with the nose gear door UP in the fully closed position. I can modify my set-up with the construction of the rotational aluminum bearing like you are using. You have Stimulated my MIND. Thanks, Col. Chuck Winter

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Glad to stimulate your mind Chuck! Yes, there is a gap, however it is fairly small. I decided to forego the asthetics to realize a better gain in steering reliability. Plus, the nose gear will not act like a nose mounted rudder while flying with the gear down. Unless of course you do not use the rudder - whick I am sure is not the case with you. You can'tsee it when it is in the air anyway. I will eventually add the remaining aft nose gear door to enhance the cool factor. I hope this helps.

Chris

P.S. Ilove your pictures! Did you take the photo of the Bear from your 106?

CHARLES WINTER

CRJ, Thanks for the pictures. I think I can use your Bearing system and then develop a hinge system that will leave a very small gap. The system I'm using now has a very tiny gap, just enough to clear when the gear door opens. I have had no difficulty with my system but always THINKING of something better. This Web Site is great for passing on information. The picture of the TU-95 Bear was taken when I was flying F-102s out of Iceland. I have Great 16mm movies of many of my Intercepts of different Russian Bomber's. I carried my own personal Bolex 16mm movie camera every time I flew a mission. Two years in Iceland and GREAT flying. Picture of escorting B-52s in Vietnam with F-102s. Col. Chuck Winter

stoat

Nice pics Col. Especially the one of you in front of the 102! I bet that last shot of the B52 left a bit of a mark on the landscape...!!!!

CHARLES WINTER

stoat We killed a lot of Monkeys in Vietnam. Col. Chuck Winter A Few of the Real Ones I BENT......

stoat

Nice effort on the 102! Apart from a few wrinkles on the top skin it looks fairly intact. Did it fly again? Sorry to wander off topic, but did you prefer the 102 or 104? Cheers. Brett.

CHARLES WINTER

stoat, The F-102 was flown the next day. I have an article coming out in a Military Magazine about this incident and what I had to do (Aerodynamically) to limit the damage to the airplane. My favorite jet to fly was a Mach 2 F-106. Its is INDESCRIBABLE to put into words the Kick in the ASS you get when you light the afterburner during your takeoff roll. I have taken a number of VIPs and Dignitaries up for an Introductory ride and I know that to this day each and everyone of them talks about their ride in an F-106. Breath-taking. To get back to the Tigercat. I just want people to know that there are 2 clamshell doors that close after the nose gear is up and locked. I hope all the new Tigercat builders look through this entire F-7F Forum. I posted many suggestions and methods I used to make things work smoothly. Thanks for your interest. I have lived Aviation all of my life. Col. Chuck Winter PS, The jet engine in one of the pictures is all that is left of a F-102 I ejected from in the Traffic Pattern at about 800 feet.

ysolomon

What servos are you all using?

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Iam using JR 821 digitalson all flight controls and nose wheel steering. Futaba 3151 on throttles. HS 645 on the giant rudder. HS 85 for gear and door air valve actuation. This setup has been proven positive on an estimated 75 flights.

ysolomon

Thanks!
And what flight battery are you using?
Did you "squeeze" those 821's in the elevator too?

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

I am using a single 3600 Mah 4.8 volt NiMH pack. I typiucally use around 500 mah on each 12 minute flight I make. Each ignition uses a 2000 Mah pack as well.

The elevator servos are installed in the fuselage outside of the rudder servo with solid 4/40 rod for actuation.

ysolomon

That's what I was thinking too! (elevator servos in the fuse). This plane is tail heavy as is, before I put servos so far aft...
However, those 4-40 rods probably need to be inside carbon fiber tubes. What did you do?

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Yes, the rods do run in the sleeves that were pre-installed in my kit. Despite the length there is no play in either elevator. Which version are you working on? Ihave one of theearly all composite kits. I hope to get a few sorties in today!

Chris

ysolomon

I think I have the latest kit, as I only bought it this month. It has a place for the servos in the stabilizator just Li ke the main wing, but I'm thinking about placing the servos. In the fuse. I'm only worried about slop due to the long rods.

CRJDriver

My Feedback: (57)

Depending on what power setup you use, you will most likely be adding lead to the nose to get it to balance. Go with what you are most comfortable with. I have zero slop in my elevator linkages. Ihave never had any issues with flutter and I fly this thing fast - as it should be. That said, I am not familiar with the new kit other than knowing the wings are not fiberglassed. Post some pictures of your progress. I am curious as to the differences between old and new.

Chris