Phase 3 F-16 build thread.

[jismail]

Took it out for it's first flight today and it was great!!! flew away with full throttle and a firm toss, a bit slow a first but picked up speed quickly. Only took a few clicks to level it out and I was off!

I flew for a while WOT and then later slowed it down to about 3/4 throttle and just cruised. Ii is a bit harder to keep you orientation with this bird as compared to my prop planes, but aside from that, It wasn't to difficult.

It landed dead stick with no problems at all as long as I kept it on a good glide path.

The only issue I have had with it thus far is that it really heated up my 2200mah 25c battery! I am concerned that it may puff if I fly at WOT for any length of time..........

All in all, this plane seems like a great first EDF and with a little TLC looks pretty cool in the air too!

[crxmanpat]

Congrats on the maiden! Yep, sounds just like mine. I chop throttle before turning from base to final, then just glide it on in and slide in on the grass.

[BUCKSHOT]

Hey guys ,what is the actual motor in this ?
And what would be a big step up?( i need torque ).i have an older f 16 that is kinda fat with a 55mm fan

ALSO THE FAN IS WAY IN THE REAR COMPARED TO THIS ONE

[iflyrc1012]

hey guys. . . my phase 3 f-16 has white paper on the wings. do i remove the paper before glassing the wing? i guess you would have to because then the silk and wbpu isn't adhearing to the wing, its just stuck to the paper, correct??

[Larry3215]

Originally Posted by BUCKSHOT

Hey guys ,what is the actual motor in this ?
And what would be a big step up?( i need torque ).i have an older f 16 that is kinda fat with a 55mm fan

ALSO THE FAN IS WAY IN THE REAR COMPARED TO THIS ONE

We would need to know exactly which kit/arf that is and it would help to know which exact fan you're using in it and what packs you have available

[Larry3215]

Originally Posted by iflyrc1012

hey guys. . . my phase 3 f-16 has white paper on the wings. do i remove the paper before glassing the wing? i guess you would have to because then the silk and wbpu isn't adhearing to the wing, its just stuck to the paper, correct??

I would remove it first befor glassing but it may be a bit of a pain. Be carefull of the trailing edges - they are pretty thin.

[iflyrc1012]

i'm done peeling the wings and tail!!! whew! that only took 2 days. . .

[Larry3215]

Glad that worked out!

[iflyrc1012]

ok. larry, i'm slow but i build keepers!! lol

[M@F69]

I fired up the Stock motor and fan today. ONly went about 1/4 to 1/2 throttle. Just wanted to make sure everything was working.
After, i looked inside the fan housing to see if the blades had rubbed on the inner wall. SUre enough there were. ONly on one side. The blades did not rub anywehere else but a 1 inch spot.
IS this normal? Is there something I should do to fix this now before I go full thorottle?
Thanks

[Big A]

I like the jet and it flys awesome. I have read most of the thread and was wondering.
Has anybody tried the spray paint from Hobby Town (Crafts etc.) Krylon (Short Cuts) It comes in very small cans. I have used it to paint foam planes and gliders, just a thought.
Big A

[iflyrc1012]

my version of the phase 3 f-16. . .

[Larry3215]

Wow! Thats cool. Is that a covering you painted or did you do all that detail?

[Larry3215]

Originally Posted by Big A

I like the jet and it flys awesome. I have read most of the thread and was wondering.
Has anybody tried the spray paint from Hobby Town (Crafts etc.) Krylon (Short Cuts) It comes in very small cans. I have used it to paint foam planes and gliders, just a thought.
Big A

Short cuts works pretty well. Use several lite coats for best results.

[iflyrc1012]

larry,
i will explain all when i post the build log and maiden flight vid. i'm thinking all will be done in as soon as 2 weeks(if the northeast weather don't go artic!) i got the idea for the finish job from angler-hi who posted this build a few weeks ago. . so he gets alot of the credit for it. the plane will be totally stock except for the finishing job.

[Angler-Hi]

Looks great friend! Can't wait to see the maiden vid on her!

Mike

[iflyrc1012]

if the artic weather takes a weekend off , i'd like to patrol the skies over my flying field. . .

[Fly Time]

Originally Posted by Angler-Hi

Looks great friend! Can't wait to see the maiden vid on her!

Mike

Good to see you checking in Mike! These forums have been pretty quiet without you around

[Angler-Hi]

Thanks Doug. It's been busy over here man! Things are calming down a bit now, so hopefully I'll have more time to chat with you guys. Well, I have to run for now, but I'll check in later tomorrow. Take care Doug.

Mike

[M@F69]

Originally Posted by M@F69

I fired up the Stock motor and fan today. ONly went about 1/4 to 1/2 throttle. Just wanted to make sure everything was working.
After, i looked inside the fan housing to see if the blades had rubbed on the inner wall. SUre enough there were. ONly on one side. The blades did not rub anywehere else but a 1 inch spot.
IS this normal? Is there something I should do to fix this now before I go full thorottle?
Thanks

Anythoughts on this???

I am finished painting. Will post picks soon. Just need to sort out the fan rubbing on the inside of the fan housing.
Any thoughts on why or how to fix would be greatly appreciated.
THanks

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by M@F69

Anythoughts on this???

I am finished painting. Will post picks soon. Just need to sort out the fan rubbing on the inside of the fan housing.
Any thoughts on why or how to fix would be greatly appreciated.
THanks

It sounds as if your motor might be mounted slightly off to one side. You can see if there is any play in the screw holes that will allow you to move it over a little bit. Either that or your fan housing could be slightly out of round. Can you take it out and slowly rotate it by hand and watch to see if the blades all come closer to the inside of the housing in that area?


I just bought one of these today. Probably going to put one of my Don's 400s in it.

[Larry3215]

If the rotor is out of balance it will rub too. Also, at hi speeds the fan blades stretch and will rub.

Pretty much every one Ive ever owned had some rubbing though.

Get the motor centered as well as you can then work the motor up to speed a little at a time to wear it in slowly so you dont over amp the esc.

[iflyrc1012]

when is a motor considered "worn in?". . . 2 batteries run thru? more? less?
when breaking in a motor do you use a test stand? or just hold the fan assembly??

[Larry3215]

Its not the motor you need to wear in - its the fan blades. Here is my general proceedure with any new fan assembly.

0)Never hold the fan in your hand while you run it up. For one thing you can get seriously hurt. For another, your hand will exert uneven pressure and distort the outer housing so you wont be able to tell if its rubbing because its off center or because your squeezing it.
1)Balance the fan rotor really really well. You want it running butter smoooooth. Do what ever it takes to get rid of all vibration.
2) get the rotor as close to centered as you can. Elongate the motor mounting holes if needed. The rotor needs to be centered.
3)Mount the fan in a holding fixture or in the model then run it up part way and check for rubbing. Gradually run it up faster and faster and stop and check for rubbing.

If its rubbing - check to see if its still centered. Idf that looks ok, then you just need to slowly wear the fan blades down by running it.

Dont just go to full throttle and hold it there. The rubbing may cause the amps to go WAAAAY up and burn up the controller and or motor. So go slow and work at it. Doesnt really take all that long.

[iflyrc1012]

ok gotcha. . . thanks for the advise