Phase 3 F-16 build thread.

[iflyrc1012]

kool paint. .

[Angler-Hi]

Hillbille, I was looking at the neon orange paint at the PX (Post Exchange) here on post. I noticed it didn't have any acetone like the rest of the spray paints. I wanted to go with the orange spray paint because I can cover larger areas evenly rather than using my airbrush. Will that neon orange paint you were talking about eat through the foam? I did a test on a paiece of extra foam lying around...I silked it and then when it dried, the paint went right through the silk and ate the foam underneath. I was using an Army green color spraypaint. Any ideas on what I can do? I normally paint the plane before silking, but the paint job looks so much better if you paint afterwards. Thanks.

Doug, I think I'm gonna stick with the tiger stripes...I won't give up friend. Thanks for the encouragement!

Iflyrc1012, I heard the same thing about a wire getting sucked into the fan. I actually mounted the smaller Rx of my AR7000 on the bottom near the front of the intake and velcroed and taped her in place. She seems pretty secured, but I'm still a little nervous...I might have to move her. Thanks for all the encouragement and tips guys!

Mike

[hillbille]

Mike -

You are so right - the Rustoleum Neon Orange ate the foam when I sprayed it onto a spare piece in a normal coat - faired better with a very light coat - but still softened it.

I will try a piece after LPU treatment later to see if that might offer some protection.

Hillbille

P.S. - Feel free to delete any posts I make here to keep the "build" on topic and short!! LOL!!

[Angler-Hi]

Nah, you're good Hillbille. That's what I thought about the paint. Man that sucks. I know if you spray the paint on the packaging foam it eats right throught it, but sometimes you can spray the same paint on the foam for the model and have much better luck. I wish they had some extra foam (same as the kit's made from) so we could test it. Oh well, I guess i'll be stuck with airbrushing it. it will take me a few hours to coat her evenly with an airbrush...damn!

[iflyrc1012]

check out the black, white and grey scheme. . . looks kool and easy to do!

[iflyrc1012]

another shot taken from the bottom

[Angler-Hi]

Does look pretty cool iflyrc1012. I've already started on the paint though friend. I've given the bottom surfaces the first coat of a dark gray color. As soon as it dries, I'll go over it again with a second coat and then get started on the top of the plane. I went to Wal-Mart and found the orange I was looking for. Here's a few pics of the gray:

[SmoothCruizer]

i would of let the bottom stay white like mine, it even blends in flight when you see it flying but good luck trying with the orentation..... Just my 2 cents.... Newjaks drools over mine with the dons wicked 4000 power stalls i create hehe

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by SmoothCruizer

i would of let the bottom stay white like mine, it even blends when you see it flying but good luck trying with the orentation..... Just my 2 cents.... Newjaks drools with the wicked 4000 power stalls i create hehe

Thanks for the advice friend...I already painted it though. I was looking at the two colors together and they just appealed to me. I did something similar on another plane and that helped a bunch with the orientation. I just put the first coat of orange on the top of the fuse.

[SmoothCruizer]

ok that i like these planes rule! if possible build as light as your can or you might need to put carbon rods in for support . im going to be maidening tommorrow another bird similar to the scale size of this plane and i will be posting a new thread on my custom setup if she survives!!

[newjak]

Originally Posted by Angler-Hi

Thanks for the advice friend...I already painted it though. I was looking at the two colors together and they just appealed to me. I did something similar on another plane and that helped a bunch with the orientation. I just put the first coat of orange on the top of the fuse.

I like that color combo. Should be easy to spot in the air. I painted mine all gray and it was a BIG mistake. I ended up painting the wingtips red to help with orientation. I also re-painted the bottom white. I was having some issues with my wicked motor. I just got it back from Don and I will re-maiden it with the new power.

[iflyrc1012]

N.A.S.A. has a red and white F-16 high visiblity paint scheme, but its been done to death. i want something that won't turn to a ghost on a cloudy day, But it has to be eye catching. maybe instead of tiger stripes, giraffe skin?or fish scales??OR DRAGON SCALES?? LOL!

[Angler-Hi]

Thanks guys. Newjak, I was thinking of going all gray in the very beginning, but with all the overcasts we've been having, I figured that wouldn't be too smart. I hope all goes well with the re-maiden friend. Let me know how it turns out.

SmoothCruizer, what kind of plane are you going to maiden? I wish you the best of luck friend, and please...let us know how it goes...good or bad. I'm sure there's plenty of us here who could help you in the event of a crash. Although I'm sure you'll do just fine bud. Good winds.

I just finished with the final coat of orange. I'm gonna get her put together tomorrow. Once I have the wings and tailerons on, I will start with the tiger stripes! Wish me luck guys, as the tiger stripes will be done by hand with a fine tip paint brush then painted in with a different tip brush. Man I hope I don't screw this up.

[newjak]

Mike,
I fly with Soothcruizer so if he doesn't give the flight report I will It should go well. It all comes down to pre-flight preparation.

[SmoothCruizer]

its a EDO F-15 kit i got. Its really bigger than i thought too. and its so scale like to the real one.... i got it so my F-16 will have company down in the basement my L-39 was shot down and its in the drink (blue rug on the floor) in pieces lol

[Angler-Hi]

Thanks Newjak. SmoothCruizer, I'm sorry to hear about your Albatros friend. Post pics of your F-15 when you can...I'd love to see her! It's pretty cool that you get to fly with Newjak, he's good people.

[Angler-Hi]

OK, I've got the wings on and the fan unit installed (epoxy drying). I sanded the fan housing so the epoxy would have a better grip on her instead of a smooth finish. As soon as I get the bottom fuse on, I'll post some pics. I've decided to install the vertical stab last. Next will be the tailerons. Pics coming...

[Angler-Hi]

Here's a pic of what she looks like so far (bottom). The epoxy kind of got away from me.

[Angler-Hi]

I traced around the back-up Rx on my AR7000 and cut out the foam to allow it to be flush with the surface. This way there is no way for it to get sucked into the fan. I also taped down all wires. I added two 1/4" pieces of craft stick to the back of the fan housing for added support. I epoxied the stick to the foam and used CA to glue it to the fan housing.

[SmoothCruizer]

looks good!!! BTW I would have your servo throws set around no more than 70% on the elevator side..... anyways i don't wanna walk on your thread much but maiden went flawless!!!! ran about 6-8 circuits around our field and she was a little nose heavy i think and i need more stick time i this one.... launch was 5 clicks down and no clicks aileron but it pull left some from my ESC mounted on the left so its a keeper...

[TDisaster]

Nice job Mike. Looks really good! Can't wait to see the maiden .

[Angler-Hi]

Thanks SmoothCruizer. I have my ESC as the manual says. I think I'll give her a few clicks of up elevator on launch just to be safe.

Thanks Mike, I hope she maidens well. Anyways, here's a few pics of the tiger stripes so far. I'll have to go back and fill them in with a little more paint but this is what I have so far:

[Angler-Hi]

Here she is with the vertical stab.

[Angler-Hi]

Here's a couple of pics USMC VTOL Mech sent me of his:

[Angler-Hi]

Well, she's all finished! Of course I'll be going over the stripes again to finishe filling them in, but other than that she's done. Here she is: