Here we go again another propjet to keep my Cermark F-16 company. The plan on this one is to make the conversion as cheap as possible but still have respectable performance. Not looking for super-high speed on this one- It's got a real thick wing on it. I'm going for more thrust and less speed for nice verticle manuevers right after takeoff. I already have the batteries, 8S 6000 mah Pro-Lites, so will be selecting the power system based on that. initial plans are for a Himax HC5030-390 Outrunner @ 1500 watts, speed in the 70-80 MPH range. The motor is only $139 with mount. Here's some pics to get this thread started. Also will be using mechanical retracts and plan on transporting the plane in my truck fully assmebled. This is a really neat model, first one I've seen in person. The detailing is outstanding and will save me a LOT of time. as the plane needs no additional detailing to make me happy. First step is to get the airframe assembled, retracts and wheels installed and see how big a prop I can clear, hoping for a 13x10 or so, then will work backwards and figure which motor to run for sure.

hey Brad sounds great,Egyptian,Russian,what next? lol a Su-27 perhaps? looking forward to seeing these birds at ZEFF

Also looking at a Hacker A50-12L

Brad call Noell's tomorrow(352)748-0031 and talk to Joe,he's set up the a50 and 60 in a fellow flyers 50 size models with great sucess,he could really help

Brad, looks like your clone went to work for VMAR and put in the scale lines and panel/rivets marks for you. Looks great, good luck!

Got the ESC today from Esprit Model, they had a great sale on the Hyperion 90A opto, same as I have in my F-16 for only $150. Went to Grave's R/C and ended up with Spring Air retracts, wanted to go cheaper, these were $200. However compared to the Robarts, they were almost 3 ounces lighter and have a much smaller air tank. I'm trying to save as much weight on this plane as possible. I'm not going to use the flaps, with this super-thick wing and lower weight I don't think they will be neccesary. That's 3 oz. saved alone. The rocket pods will also remain unused, they weigh 3oz's !!! So far That's 9 ozs. including the lighter retracts I bought. I checked out the Hacker outrunner today, about 16-17 ozs with mount @ $220 vs, the Himax at 14-15 ozs with mount @ $159 EDIT: Misweighed the rocket pods

Pinned both flaps through the side with 3" lengths of piano wire. They are fixed very solid and have no play. One minor problem I encountered, the molded wheel well liner for the wing is not deep enough to accept the optional
oleo struts and wheels/tires I ordered with the kit. Not a big deal, just cut it out with the dremel but still left the top part for a smooth edge. Painted inside with some light grey Tamiya. Wow, my first air retracts- so easy to install, no linkage, serv, adjutments, etc. These are the spring air 102HD set. Wing as shown weighs 21 ozs. Another complaint about the kit is that the flap servo holes were already cut out- I'll have to cover them now with something.

Wow, looking great! I am putting spring-air 702hd's into my f-16... it will be my first air system too.... are you gonna put air line restrictors in?

oh, and how do vmars wheel sets look in comparison to cermark's? any signs of a tendency to prematurely shred?

Very Cool, this is one I still want try just for the looks. Can you get a weight of just the aircraft parts. Also, I can't remember, does this plane have the cowl already for a glow engine? Hopefully it's still closed up for the modeler to cut open. Glad to see your going with thruster set up, this one will be another slow poke, but it should look so good! Have you looked at the new Tower Hobbies Rimfire motors, they seem to have a new line of large in-runners, out-runners, mounts and gearboxes for really cheap. Even though rimfire sounds like a new hemroid creme.
Anyways, I was thinking about going with my usual trailing edge motor mod, but dealing with those flaps is always a hassle. I think I am going to try it on one of those Mig-27 target drones first.

I will get a weight on all the parts tonight and post them here for anyone interested. I'm not trying to make this one fast, like you said it's gonna look real good, and I want lots of thrust for verticle moves. Unfortunately the cowl is already cut from the factory, but since it is round it will be real easy to cover over the hole from the inside. Matching the paint color (light grey/off white) will not be so easy. BTW the Cermark F-16 is no slow poke. Check out the video link posted on my Cermark thread. The first pass from the left is full throttle, after the climb it was 3/4 throttle cruising. I will look into those rimfire motors.

What was your final speed on your f-16, I didn't mean that as a poke in the ribs. I have gotten kind of spoiled in regards to what I consider fast. I just don't think scale propjets are fast. I love them to pieces and love to see them, especially when electrified. For myself, it looks so silly now to hear a glow engine whining and stapped to a jet. Unfortunately, just because of all the useless drag their profiles create from blocked off or restricted intakes and whatever else is attached to the airframe usually keeps them about 130 or less. I mean let's face it, if they were a fast shape, they would mold pylon racers and hotliners in their shape.
Anyways, I will definitely be waiting to see your Mig-21 video, that airframe looks so good to me and they gave it some fun scale features. Should roll like a tornado. Where did you get it from by the way, I kind of forgot about them because they never seemed to be instock when I was looking at them. I'll shut-up now, I forgot I caused problems on your F-16 thread.

VMAR has these planes available and in stock now, They were on backorder for a while. I did buy an air-line restrictor to slow the retracts, just have to figure out how it works and where it goes, spring-air does not provide good instructions. Empty weights so far , does not include any electronics: Both wings complete with tubes= 32 oz Fuse with cowling,tailcone,hatch covers and pushrods= 40 oz Tail Feathers, pre hinged= 9 oz Total bare airframe- no wheels!!! 81 oz/ 5 lbs.

Finally on her feet. The main retracts were easy to install- the nosewheel was 2+ hours of work, had to do some cutting on the mount, etc, etc. Apparently designed for a Robart surface mount retract, the Spring-Airs sit down below, still have to hook up the pull-pull steering but will do that last once I see where the plane needs to balance. The VMAR tires seem to be squeezed between the metal hubs so they shouldn't have any problems.

Seems to be a major design flaw here. The ruddder control rod slides through this plastic tube down into the fuselage, where it is then attached to the servo with an arm similar to a steerable nose wheel. Problem- due to the angle of the rudder and the position of the control rod- it (the rod) doesn't rotate on it's axis, and once the fin is installed it basically locks the rudder in place; it cannot move. Lucky I checked before gluing the fin in place. Now, how to make this work....