The Rebuild (thread) of a YA F-18 twin

[sweetpea]

Thomas--- I made an adjustable rate iron. I bought a dial from radioshack that has a plug in it. You plug the iron in and can adjust the electrical current that goes to the iron and thus keep the temp down. I used it for my RC cars so that I could always have a warm iron for switching motors and batts but could make it hot very fast. I had planned to use that.

Have you ever done flat head and phillip head rivets? The P-47 I'm doing has flat head screws and round rivets, and the F-16 is phillip head screws (no rivets), as you can see on this real F-16 below

screws.jpg

Was looking for some ideas on that.

[3D-Seth]

Looks great!!!!!!!!

[sweetpea]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 3D-Seth
	Looks great!!!!!!!!

I hope you are talking about his F-18.....that pic I posted was of a real F-16.

His F-18 is looking sweet! When's the Maiden video?

[zoomer260]

I'm sure he was !! Looking forward to the maiden video ! I could probably sit through a vid of set up all the way to landing.

[50%plane]

	Quote: Originally Posted by sweetpea
	Have you ever done flat head and phillip head rivets? The P-47 I'm doing has flat head screws and round rivets, and the F-16 is phillip head screws (no rivets), as you can see on this real F-16 below Attachment 109262 Was looking for some ideas on that.

Sweetpea,

what you are talking about are screws, not rivets.

Panels/doors are held on by screws, the skin is held on by rivets.


50%

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 50%plane
	Sweetpea, what you are talking about are screws, not rivets. Panels/doors are held on by screws, the skin is held on by rivets. 50%

Chris.. not entirely true on all airplanes. Take the Lockheed Jetstar. the wing panels are held on with phillips screws. the underlying structure is bolted together.

Sam,
if you look back in some of my pics, you'll see a few phillips head screws.. To "burn" them in, you'll need a set of the small jewelers size screw drivers.

Cut the handle off the proper size screwdrive, then take a brass tube that slides over the phillips head part and slide it over after sharpening it. Assemble them together w/ a wheel collar, stick it in the iron and have fun!

[Thomas_W]

I'll let you guys know on the maiden and all.. Its looking pretty good that it might be around the end of the year. I've got to get one turbine upgraded from air-start to auto-start which is going to cost me $1000 alone. I can get an already autostart turbine for around $1200-1500 if i'm patient and wait for one to pop onto the market.

Soo i think i'm going to get a Comp-Arf Flash and stick the air-start ram 1000 in it to fly until i get the F-18 done. this'll gimme something to fly and get used to flying turbines once again, since i haven't had a jet of my own in awhile.

[sweetpea]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Thomas_W
	Chris.. not entirely true on all airplanes. Take the Lockheed Jetstar. the wing panels are held on with phillips screws. the underlying structure is bolted together. Sam, if you look back in some of my pics, you'll see a few phillips head screws.. To "burn" them in, you'll need a set of the small jewelers size screw drivers. Cut the handle off the proper size screwdrive, then take a brass tube that slides over the phillips head part and slide it over after sharpening it. Assemble them together w/ a wheel collar, stick it in the iron and have fun!

Thanks for the idea......I was originally thinking of burning rivets then going back and burning phillips. That would've been twice as long.......its always those simple solutions that get you!


As for rivets on jets.......most modern jets are no longer put together with rivets on the outside all over the place like WWII planes were. They use flush mount screws that are one twist (the name eludes me tonight) on just about every piece you can think to take off. Makes maintenance much easier and replacing the skin of the aircraft easier.

That and most planes are not metal or alum anymore.....more and more are going composite which doesn't lead to rivets very well

[japan3d]

Dzus fastners is the name you're looking for.

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by japan3d
	Dzus fastners is the name you're looking for.

actually, it depends on which 1/4 turn fastener he is referrring to...

Dzus
Air-loc
Cam-loc

[ferocious frankie]

What's the status on this plane? Your rebuild was awesome!

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by ferocious frankie
	What's the status on this plane? Your rebuild was awesome!

Status at the moment is: ON HOLD

I've been out of the country since june 17th and will remain out of the country until july 29th.

I'm currently sitting in Horn Island, Australia working... the summer time is pretty busy for myself b/c its the peak of the survey flight season, so we work our butts off.. here's a few pics of what i've been seeing