Well, I broke my promise to myself. I have been actively stating that I couldn't see going for an EDF. You know, the usual arguments: too expensive, too complicated, not enough power, etc., etc.

Well, I saw an ad for a new plane from a new company that I just had to give a try. Its the Lander F9F-2 Panther. The size looked good, the price looked good and the performance seemed reasonable. So I ordered one from Electric Jet Factory.

I haven't received it yet (EJF says they won't be in stock until the 12th of September, today is the 8th), but am looking forward to it. I hope that I can withstand the temptation to modify it, at least til after I have have flown in its stock form.

I guess time will tell how my foray into EDF territory goes.

Tony

To all of the great people that I have met and corresponded with this year:

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I've had the opportunity to meet and discuss RC with a bunch of really great people from all around the globe this year. I am really pleased that I came across RCGroups. And I've been introduced to a whole new aspect of RC for me (Electric Pusher Prop Jets).

Thanks a million everyone wherever in the world that you are.

Tony

I guess I have come up with my winter project. After looking a John Morgan' version of Le Phan's F-104, I think that I will do the 104 in 130% in balsa wood with foam, carbon fiber, fiberglas and some aluminum tubing as construction materials. However, in order to be a little different, I intend to convert the F-104 to the Lockheed CL-1200 Lancer. It solves some of the wing area problem of the 104 while maintaining much of the looks. It also solves my problem of wanting to do an unusual airplane which has not been modeled much.
(I saw another thread where a guy was doing the 1200 but I never saw a finished airplane).

There is not much info available on the CL-1200 as only one prototype (non-flying) was ever built apparently. I have found several sites on the internet and several books make reference to it but they all publish the same few pictures and one three view of the airplane. I have found length, height, wingspan, and wing area numbers but who can know for sure of their accuracy. It least that lets me off the hook as far as scale accuracy is concerned. Go with the available numbers. No one seems to know for sure.

About 3-4 years ago, I bought a GWS Formosa. I put the airframe together and then put it aside and pretty much forgot about it. Now that I have this new found interest in electric planes, I thought I had better finish it.

So, this morning she got her maiden flight. WOW. A ground roll of about ten feet and then skyward like a homesick angel.

The set up is a Grayson 2212-10, 7x5.5E Master Airscrew prop, 11.1v 15C lipo, 25A ESC, HS-81 servos on elevator and rudder, a GWS 6 ch NARO rcvr and 1 GWS mini servo on ailerons. I'm not sure about the all up weight but I know its well in excess of 16 oz. My little postage scale only goes to 16 and the plane bottoms out the scale. I think the recommended weight is slightly over 14 oz.

Most of the flight is at 1/2 throttle and there is still plenty of speed. Easy loops from level flight with half throttle and she floats like crazy on landing with power completely off. I cut power completely on downwind hoping for the extra drag to slow her down but it doesn't help much. Still some trimming to do. She flies slightly nose heavy although the CG is at the aft recommended limit.

The second flight was this evening just before sunset. It was just as good as this morning however I wasn't as nervous. I think this airplane will get a lot more flying time.

I thought I would post some old memories today. Kind of a change of pace from build threads and so on. I may post some other pictures from Clark at a later date. Clark AB was a great assignment. Unfortunately, I never got to go back until this past April when my wife and I took a vacation in the Philippines.

I decided to go with torque tubes for flaperon controls on the T-38. I just couldn't bring myself to hang servos on the outside (hanging in the breeze). The torque tubes are 4mm carbon fiber running through aluminum tube bushings (same as the stabilator torque tubes).

The hatch cover will be hinged at the forward edge with two Goldberg mini-hinges and fastened at the rear with magnets.

I glassed the flaperons for extra stiffness and strength. The flaperons, unlike the rest of the plane, are glassed with epoxy finishing resin (instead of WBPU). I felt like this would give a bit of extra holding power to the torque tube attachment.

The torque tubes are lightly sanded where they attach to the flaperons and the control horns. The inside of the holes of the control horns are also scored to provide more 'tooth' for the glue to attach to. The glue used us thick foam friendly CA.

I think that as soon as I have all of the control surfaces attached, I will go ahead and 'maiden' the plane. I'm getting tired and I need the incentive. Plus, if it doesn't go well, then I can give it up before I get too far along with the finishing.

By the way, the red color is primer.

Just thought I would post this photo so that you all can associate a face with the words I post.

I can't put it off any longer. I have to carve the canopy. I HATE carving the canopy. Oh well!!

I flew the F4D again Saturday evening just before dark and again this morning. Flights number 8 & 9, I think. Made one mod this morning. I replaced the 6x5.5E APC prop with a Master Airscrew 7x5.5E. The launch has a little more authority and climbout was slightly better. I flew most of the flight at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. Very relaxing. Lots of low passes at medium speed. Did some extended inverted flight. The Skyray handles inverted flight OK, but you have to stay with it. It wants to roll out upright on its own. Low throttle/high alpha is a piece of cake but beware of high sink rates that can occur in that configuration. Increasing airspeed either by lowing the nose or increasing throttle will cure but a combination of both makes the nicest transition from high alpha to straight and level flight.

I went out this morning about 7:30 before it got too hot and windy and got another flight on my F4D Skyray. I really do like the way this little plane flies. I think I've got the CG where it needs to be now. It makes hand launches much easier because it climbs straight away instead of rolling off and heading for the ground. I wish I understood this electrical stuff better though.

I have a 11.1 v, 1500 milliamp battery on a 25 amp ESC driving a KBM 31/21 motor spinning a APC 6x5.5e prop. I fly until I'm tired of flying (it must be at least 10 minutes, however I haven't timed it) at a mix of 1/2 to full throttle. When I land, I read 11.57 volts on the battery with no load. My ampmeter isn't working correctly so I haven't been able to get an amp reading. Does this seem about right? It seems awfully good to me which tends to make me worry.

Anyway, its still a nice flying plane. With the power setup which I am running, it doesn't have a terrific high speed nor does it have unlimited vertical, but it looks right in the air. And it feels pretty comfortable.

This morning I spent some time carving and sanding on the T-38. I remove as much foam from the square corners as I can using an X-Acto carving knife. You have to be pretty careful, first, not to cut yourself, and second, not to take too much material away.

After carving, I begin to sand away material using course (80 grit) sand paper on a sanding block. Once I am satisfied with the final shaping, I will proceed to use finer and finer papers until I am satisfied with the surface for finishing.

There is still a lot of shaping to do yet, but at least its started.

This is where I fly. Its just behind my home. The T-38 is coming along well. It is mostly assembled now and about ready to start a lot of carving, sanding and shaping.

Hey!

I'd like to introduce myself to the RCGroups community. I'm 63 years old (old geezer) and I started modelling when I was a kid with plastic model cars and airplanes. I've been in love with airplanes since at least the third grade because I can remember sitting in class and daydreaming about them and doodling B-36's in my notebook.

I got away from modeling in high school and college (girls interfered). I became interested in RC in 1969 while in the Air Force in Tennesse. A friend had a Daddy Rabbit and a EK Logictrol radio. He took me to Hobby Lobby (yeah, they been around a long time) and a I bought a Sterling P-51. Big mistake!! I couldn't even build it, let alone fly it! I got transferred to Nellis AFB in 1970 and met several guys in RC. I built a Goldberg Falcon 56 which I powered with an Enya .19 and an MRC (early Futaba) radio. I literally flew it until it came apart in the air one day. I left Nellis in '72 and went to Viet Nam and Thailand (had a good club at Ubon and I flew Little Stiks mostly). And after that, I went to Big Spring TX (Webb AFB). Had a small but active group there. Also obtained my private license there. After TX, we went to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. I didn't do much modeling there. It was hard to find a good place to fly and I didn't find much military interest in the hobby. Instead I continued my private A/C flying.

The next 25 years or so found RC'ing to be spotty with interest waxing and waning as career and family took...Continue Reading