Phase 3 F-16 build thread.

[TDisaster]

Wow! The chrome really setts it off .

[Angler-Hi]

Thanks Mike. I think maybe next time I do tiger stripes, I'll probably make them longer and a bit thinner.

[iflyrc1012]

Angler, if you have a truck lettering or sign making store around you go in and ask if they have any end rolls of colored vinyl and explain why you need it. (i showed pics of my airplanes to the guy) most of the time they throw out the last 5 or 6 feet of a roll because its too short to complete a job with, and each roll varies slighty in color.so you can't start a job with 1 roll of blue then switch to another roll of blue mid-cut. anyway thats how i get my vinyl. and 5 feet of vinyl will do a few airplanes. the hardest colors to get are metallics and gold leaf(my favorite) i have also done a skimmer with chrome diamond plate which looks like steel plating!!! very kool! wood grain is also fun to work with!

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by iflyrc1012

Angler, if you have a truck lettering or sign making store around you go in and ask if they have any end rolls of colored vinyl and explain why you need it. (i showed pics of my airplanes to the guy) most of the time they throw out the last 5 or 6 feet of a roll because its too short to complete a job with, and each roll varies slighty in color.so you can't start a job with 1 roll of blue then switch to another roll of blue mid-cut. anyway thats how i get my vinyl. and 5 feet of vinyl will do a few airplanes. the hardest colors to get are metallics and gold leaf(my favorite) i have also done a skimmer with chrome diamond plate which looks like steel plating!!! very kool! wood grain is also fun to work with!

Thanks friend! That actually sounds like a great idea! I start going through the phonebook and see who i can find.

Mike

[iflyrc1012]

no problem dude. by the way use ONLY VERY LOW HEAT ON THIS TYPE OF VINYL!! like a hair dryer. anything hotter will melt the stuff!! i find if you rub it around the corners with your thumbs the creases work right out

[Angler-Hi]

Thanks bud. I thought this stuff was peel-n-stick? Does the heat allow it to set better?

[iflyrc1012]

it is peel and stick ,but to snug it around compound curves a little heat helps alot.

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by iflyrc1012

it is peel and stick ,but to snug it around compound curves a little heat helps alot.

Thanks.

[Grasshopper]

Great job on the plane Mike. You're really getting good at this stuff.

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Great job on the plane Mike. You're really getting good at this stuff.

Thanks Tom! I just got back from maidening her. WOW!!!! I love this plane!! I had to try and keep her out of the dirt for the first few seconds, but I go her trimmed out and she was awesome! Everything she does, she does FAST! Talk about a rush. I've got the video uploading now, and I'll post it here when it's ready.

[Angler-Hi]

Ok, try now:

Phase 3 F-16 Maiden Flight on Vimeo

[David M]

Well done Mike, good man..!!!!

Pity I can't view the video here but I know what you mean about the model being fast. I think my Tigershark is the hardest model I've flown in all my years, including helis. Seem to be in front of it all the time ok but only just at full chat. I nearly learnt what they meant by 'seat of the pants' flying...:o

Bit of advice mate, don't try and fly it in overcast conditions, coming or going, only seeing the front or back, these little rockets vanish..

[Fly Time]

Congrats on the maiden Mike! I was just looking at the Thanksgiving sale over at HobbyPeople, and they have this plane on sale for $99 with fan, motor and ESC. Very tempting!

Any idea if the stock setup would run on 4S?

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by Fly Time

Congrats on the maiden Mike! I was just looking at the Thanksgiving sale over at HobbyPeople, and they have this plane on sale for $99 with fan, motor and ESC. Very tempting!

Any idea if the stock setup would run on 4S?

I don't think the motor is rated for a 4s. I know the 30A ESC won't handle it. Believe me, she's plenty fast on 3s!!

[hillbille]

Still in the paint shop for mine - hardy congrats on your maiden though Mike!! Loved the video - looks like it really moves out well! I only hope mine flys nearly as well!!

Lota of "dimples" on my wings - but it's the stock set - won't be there when I build the NPS one and "glass" everything. I really like the LPU - not the putting on but the finished product is really nice!!

Target drone paint - neon RED!!


Hillbille

[Airhead]

Hey Hillbille,
Nice job on your color scheme. Looks great..

[hillbille]

Thanks - The tailerons are still getting their coats of LPU and that takes a little while to set - but sure looks nice after. At least I should be able to SEE it most of the time!! LOL!!

Hillbille

[Airhead]

Yup,
keep your eye on it. Its gonna be fast.......

[Angler-Hi]

Hillbille, how do you get the LPU to set evenly? Does it settle down once you spread it on and even out on it's own? I've never glassed anything with cloth and glass resin before. To me it would be like silking my plane but using resin (epoxy) to cover it rather than WBP. Just curious how that works. Thanks.

Mike

[Angler-Hi]

I flew with capt easy and groundrushesup today. I put the flycam on my F-16 today and I'm waiting for it to finish uploading. GRU let me use it when we met up this morning. I'll post it here when it's done.

[hillbille]

Mike -

I just use the spray LPU at first then wait a few minutes for it to get "tacky" then lay on the glass cloth and then open the can of lpu and start brushing!! Then allow that to dry. The second coat is mixed with baby powder in a small mixing cup prior to brushing it on - fills the cloth gaps nicely! A little sanding with very fine grit between coats - then when it has set for at least a couple of hours - paint is applied as desired and then any decals are applied and a final coat of LPU over everything (one side at a time - allowing to set completely ) and all is smooth as a baby's behind!! Lighter than the peel and stick decals too!! My scheme isn't fancy so I didn't need a lot of masking to get it done thank goodness.

Hillbille

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by hillbille

Mike -

I just use the spray LPU at first then wait a few minutes for it to get "tacky" then lay on the glass cloth and then open the can of lpu and start brushing!! Then allow that to dry. The second coat is mixed with baby powder in a small mixing cup prior to brushing it on - fills the cloth gaps nicely! A little sanding with very fine grit between coats - then when it has set for at least a couple of hours - paint is applied as desired and then any decals are applied and a final coat of LPU over everything (one side at a time - allowing to set completely ) and all is smooth as a baby's behind!! Lighter than the peel and stick decals too!! My scheme isn't fancy so I didn't need a lot of masking to get it done thank goodness.

Hillbille

Thanks Hillbille! Well, I'm definitely subscribed. i want to follow this.

[Angler-Hi]

Here's the video with the on board cam:

Phase 3 F-16 with on board cam on Vimeo

[Fly Time]

Pretty cool Mike! Looks like you guys had some pretty good weather for flying today.

How did you mount the FlyCam? And how did it affect flight with it on the wing? I'm thinking some video from the A-7 would be pretty cool

I've had some battery issues with my FlyCam, so I haven't used it much over the past few months. Recently I figured out how to power it off the flight battery, so I'm eager to use it again.

[Angler-Hi]

Hey Doug, I mounted it on the right wing close to the fuse. It was mounted on top of the wing. All I had to do was give her about 3 clicks of left trim and she was right as rain.