1/7th F-14D Scratch build thread

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by vatechguy3
	great looking pics!! the tomcat is the greatest fighter and the more big models the better!! questions - what are your plans for: 1) engines? 2) servo power? 3) retracts? 4) working tailhook? thanks tony

1. Engines will be either Jetcat P-160's or Jet Central Rhino's... either way, they will be kerostart..
2. Servo's... 8711's on stabs, 8611's on rudder, flaps will probly be 3421/9411 (2 per flap), steering will be standard metal gear non-digital servo, Spoilers will most likely be JR DS378's, Slats speed brakes landing gear and gear doors will all most likely be hydraulic actuated.
3. Retracts from Matrix Machine, Wheels and brakes from Glennis
4. Of course!

[Thomas_W]

balsa wood is here!!!!! let the games begin.. right after i finish building this autogyro...

[Thomas_W]

So here we go....

My balsa ordered arrived today, which was a surprise b/c i hadn't even received an email saying it had been shipped... If anyone has ever wondered what 22 lbs of balsa, consisting of 90 sheets ranging from 1/16" thick to over 2" thick has looked like, just look at the pictures at the end..

I got the vertical stabilizer leading edges installed, the tips cut, shaped and installed, and after spending about 4 hours drawing up the parts and figuring out how i wanted to do it, i got the rudders built as well. All that remains on the vertical stabs and rudders, is to shape and sand the leading edges and tips, hinge then, then install the hinge gap seals. And of course, all the glass work and surface detailing..

Their are fairings at the root of the stabs that also attach to the fuselage, I'll build these later, as i need the fuselage sheeted in this area to get the shape of their outlines correct.

I haven't decided if these fairings are going to be molded into the vertical tails or the fuselage yet on the final model, hence another reason i am waiting so long to do them.. Oh plus looking thru my documentation, I found out that Grumman changed the shape of these fairings towards the end of the production run of the F-14, so i need to decide which "version" fairings i'm going to use on my model..

[jack01]

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[Thomas_W]

For those wondering what i'm talking about in regards to the vertical stab fairings, this should clarify it:

Original "humped" style:



"new?" non-humped style:




For Simplicity, i'll probly go with the newer style, as it will be easier to mold and carve.

[vatechguy3]

i had never seen the "new style" until you posted that picture.

the hump was the only one i've seen before.

tony

[vatechguy3]

see this image of a super tomcat with the hump still present.

tony

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by vatechguy3
	see this image of a super tomcat with the hump still present. tony

Thats either an "A" or "B" tomcat.. you can tell by the Pratt and Whitney Exhaust nozzles... Some "B" and all "D" model tomcats had the GE-F110 engine exhaust nozzles (as shown in the pics above).

Got to doing some more researching, and talked with a buddy of mine. Come to find out, the "humps" are present only on the right side of the vertical stabs on all A,B and D models... So i'll be doing the same amount of carving anyways

[Thomas_W]

gettin some work done on the wings:

[smokedat]

Wish i had building skills like that

[JClark]

[Thomas_W]

One more short update before bed.

Both wings are framed and ready for sheeting. I have to install the leading edges for the slats still and havent decided if i will do that before or after the wing sheeting. Most likely i'll do that before the sheeting so it will be 2 more "planks" of wood to keep the wings from twisting and bowing. As usual with scratch building, some of the wing ribs had to be adjusted for the spars to fit in place, but this was just a minor setback and didn't slow me down to much... Well, here's some more more pictures:

[Thomas_W]

Few more update shots of the wings. I had intentions of sheeting them today, but the more i looked at it, the more it became apparent that i wouldn't be able to get the 2 root ribs in place accurately, which would post a big problem, as these are the ribs that the pivot bearing holder mounts to..

The initial response was to sheet the top of the wing, then remove from the building board, sheet the bottom, then sand the leading edges and make the slats. But in doing so, i would end up with the problem above...

So what i ended up doing was modifying the 2 inner root ribs by cutting off the leading edges of them. This allows them to be installed to the wing and then the wings sheeted on the top and the bottom. Since the leading edges are removed (they are just big balsa blocks anyways b/c they are carved to fit into the fuselage in this area) I am still able to sand and shape the wing leading edge and the slats. This took me the better part of 3 hours to figure out and lots of head scratching. I've got one wing ready for sheeting now, and the other will be ready by the end of the night. I believe tomorrow is date night with the wife, so i probly wont get any wing sheeting done until saturday.

here's some pictures of the wing process and the big ole sanding block (4 foot bubble level w/ self adhesive sand paper).







I'll have another update later this evening when i get the other wing pivot block and ribs in place.

[extra330ss]

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[astrohog]

Great thread, Thomas!

It will be fun to watch your progress.

If you are truly a F-14 fanatic, check out http://3dfoamy.com/ they have an AWESOME foamy with operational swing-wings!!!

Regards,

Astrohog