1/7th F-14D Scratch build thread

[Thomas_W]

Another small update.

the right inlet lip is just about complete. just waiting on a little bit more filler to dry so i can finish the last of the sanding, then finish the side walls of the inlet and it'll be done. Also started cutting the canopy loose from the rest of the fuselage. After spending 6 hours making cut line after cut line to get it right, i finally cut a 1/4" wide slot and glued 2 pieces of 1/8" balsa in the slot (one to the canopy plug, one to the fuselage). Gotta do the forward split line then the canopy will be free to come loose. Also started finishing up the right wing glove. One more piece of sheeting to install and the glove sealing plate will be ready for final shaping..

[Thomas_W]

Alright another small update.. may have more tonight, we will see.. Anyways, the canopy plug is now free from the rest of the fuselage and ready to be glassed. I'm proud to say that the gaps are EXTREMELY tight.. IE, you put the canopy plug in and you can just barely see the split lines. So i may sand the end plates a wee bit to get a small gap in to make the canopy removal/install easier.. The right inlet lip is basically done. only have a little bit of filling and sanding to round the edges and to get the ecm antenna bumps in place on the edges of the gloves.





I'm also getting to the point where I am having a hard time deciding on what kind of hatch to go with. the FB, FEJ, DCU/Jetmart usa all use a single 1 piece hatch that spans the entire width of the fuselage from the over wing fairing all the forward to the wing pivot attachment bulkheads. While this makes maintenance extremely simple and allows alot of room to get in to install, i think it requires substantially more structure to restore the strength to the fuselage in this area. FEJ/jetmart usa uses a combination of lengthwise spanning plywood "bulkheads" between multiple formers to address this issue. Yellow Aircrafts F-14 actually has 2 seperate hatches, with a center spine that is untouched, while still not as good as not having a hatch at all, i think this system would be better in the long run. A layer of carbon in this area along w/ 2 lengthwise spanning bulkheads for items to mount to (IE landing gear) on the outside edges of the fuselage (where the hatch would be) that are oriented vertically, i believe would be as strong. The drawback, maintenance would be much more difficult (mostly for the fuel system)..

So what would everyone else prefer to see... 1 piece hatch (blue lines) or 2 seperate hatches (red lines, I only drew one, but their would be 2 hatches symetrically on either side). The green "circles" are the wing pivot points..

[Vic3D]

I'm not a big jet guy, but wouldn't you have a bit stronger airframe if you built 2 hatches instead of one big one?

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Vic3D
	I'm not a big jet guy, but wouldn't you have a bit stronger airframe if you built 2 hatches instead of one big one?

theoretically.. yes

[3Dguy]

How much work is it to reinforce the fuse if you go with the giant hatch?

[DEVZAK9]

Man your putting alot of work into this

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 3Dguy
	How much work is it to reinforce the fuse if you go with the giant hatch?

Day or 5 to figure out all of the interlocking parts.. the trade off, is it will end up being heavier due to more fabric and more structure.

One of the criteria when i started this project, was for the finished product to be Top-Gun / Jet World Master quality... With that being said, the dry weight must remain under 44lbs /20 kg's.. Granted the first one probably wont fall under that weight (i'm shooting for a max dry of 50ish lbs) but i would like for the subsequent models to meet that criteria with a full armament, cockpit and all the bells and whistles scale wise...

[50%plane]

Thomas...


wow

KILLER job! Let me know when the maiden is! I'd like to make the trip up.(if possible)

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 50%plane
	Thomas... wow KILLER job! Let me know when the maiden is! I'd like to make the trip up.(if possible)

Will probably be atleast another 16-18 months before i get to that point, but i will let ya know... once im done with all this dust making, i've got a good 5 to 9 months of detailing.

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by DEVZAK9
	Man your putting alot of work into this

you haven't seen anything yet.. this is the Easy part..

[Thomas_W]

Ok,
here's the "red lines" corrected for a more accurate placement for the panel lines where the full scale over-wing fairing removes for maintenance. The Green lines would be smaller access hatches to access the wing pivot bolts. These could just be a simple flush hatch that could just be held on by a flange on one side and 2 screws on the other, or even some clear silicon.. but thats somethign to think about a bit later.... The spline is about 5-6" wide between the hatches at the upper portion of the picture, and tapers to about 4-5" at the center of the hatches, and then goes to about 8-9" wide at the bottom of the hatch. So really, their isn't a whole lot of working room that will be lost from this spline being there. And since this F-14 wont have the swing wing system down the center of the fuselage like the FEJ/FB models, their is more room to put fuel tanks, and electronics here.. So really you will be gaining space and not need the huge 1 piece hatch..

So whats everyone think of this? The way im planning on making the wing carry through box, is it will basically be a carbon "box" but one side will be open (so the plug can be removed). This box will then be bonded to 2 bulkheads with the open end facing up. This entire assembly will then be bonded to the fuselage and then a layer of carbon cloth put between the bulkheads and the fuselage. So basically the fuselage structure it self will become the lid for the open portion of the box. Overall this assembly is rated to take about 800lbs of force before it will fail (according to the cad information). Then 2 machined aluminum brackets will be bolted to this box (there are 4 blind nuts mounted to a ply plate inside the box) and the wings will bolt to the brackets.

So heres the picture:

[Thomas_W]

looky what i got in the mail today

50 yards of 8.5" wide 12oz tooling cloth
20 yards of 50" wide 18oz tooling cloth
50 yards of 38" wide 6oz glass cloth


Now im waiting on my carbon fiber cloth, resin and some carbon tape.. Ohh and for me to get off my butt and get the plugs done so i can make use of this stuff. haha

[Thomas_W]

Alright, finally got around to actually doing something to the Tomcat today since i got a burst of motivation. Got the inlets finished and ready for final sanding, got a few little pieces to add on the left side, but 90% of them are done.. The Overwing fairing area's are sheeted and ready to be cut to shape, the majority of the top of the fuselage is completely sanded and ready for fiberglassing as soon as the resin and Carbon fiber tape shows up... basically its getting closer to done, with the only items left to do, is the tail section "blocks" extend the fuselage 1 1/2" for the fuselage mod, build the beaver tail, gun "bumps" and cutout the area's for the speed brakes to sit into and the fuselage will be done (minus fiberglassing everything)...

here's a few pictures:

[wesryman]

Lookin' good Thomas.

Wes

[Thomas_W]

Thanks wes! hows the pitts coming along?

My Us Composites order showed up today.. only 3 days via UPS ground to go from south florida, to VA.. not to bad. Anyways, i got a gallon of their #635 epoxy resin and the 3-1 hardener. Along w/ a pair of mixing pumps, 11 yard of 3" wide 3k carbon tape, 5 quarts of Cabosil and 12oz of West systems graphite powder. I now have everything needed minus some brush's and mixing tubs to glass all of the plugs, and enough cabosil and graphite powder to make a few small molds. I'll probly start with the TCS chin pod (since its small and easy to remake if i screw up) and once that comes out good, i'll do a mold of the canopy, so i can make a plug of that for the vacuum formed "glass" part... I'm still waiting on a package w/ 2 yards of 3k carbon cloth to show up today.. And i sold one of my helicopters i dont fly, so that should be enough $$$ to purchase the majority of the stuff needed to mold the rest of the airframe..