Avonds F-15 Construction
05-19-2003, 06:44 PM
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Scale Grilles
If anyone sees me later at a jet event, I beg you to please to OOOOH and AHHHH over these !@#$%^& Scale Grilles. I assembled the 2 smaller flanged grills and even assembled one of the large scale grilles, by the fourth one I was ready to check myself into a rubber room!
05-19-2003, 08:04 PM
#27
Avonds F-15 Construction
Mike
A suggestion: make a "horse shoe" formed support out of 3/4" ply that fit the main l/g strut dia. Glue them directly to the main bulkhead behind the gears, so when extended they rest onto the supports. I´ve made this mod upon suggestion and it saved me from having the gears ripped out on a "not so perfect" landing. Instead of the mounting plates taking the load, it was transferred to the struts , the struts were ruined, but they are easier to change than the internal ply construction.
My 2 cents.
Brgds
Thomas
A suggestion: make a "horse shoe" formed support out of 3/4" ply that fit the main l/g strut dia. Glue them directly to the main bulkhead behind the gears, so when extended they rest onto the supports. I´ve made this mod upon suggestion and it saved me from having the gears ripped out on a "not so perfect" landing. Instead of the mounting plates taking the load, it was transferred to the struts , the struts were ruined, but they are easier to change than the internal ply construction.
My 2 cents.
Brgds
Thomas
05-20-2003, 01:38 PM
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Avonds F-15 Construction
Well stepping away from those grilles was the right thing to do as I finished up the last large intake grille in short order.
Thomas, thanks for the input. I have already doubled the gear plate thickness.
Thomas, thanks for the input. I have already doubled the gear plate thickness.
06-02-2003, 11:20 AM
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Fuse Cutouts for the Scale Vents
I later repositioned the small gun vent further outboard. I would recommend that when cutting out the opening for the grille behind the canopy, that you cut it out smaller in the fore/aft dimension as I cut mine out per the template and it was a little on the large side. All of the other vents fit perfectly.
06-02-2003, 11:23 AM
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Installation
The 4 grilles on top of the intake are "flanged". I installed poly ply on the interior leaving about 1/16" for the grill to sit on. Here is a view from the interior.
06-02-2003, 11:28 AM
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Remaining Grilles
All of the other grilles other than on top of the intake, are not flanged due to the curvature. Those vents are assembled and "tacked" with CA to the inside of the fuse and then epoxy is applied around the outside of the vent. An interior shot of the round fuse grill:
06-02-2003, 11:29 AM
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Relocating Small Gun Vent
I had made the cut of the small gun vent too far inboard and it was bugging me so I glassed in a plug and recut the vent location.
06-02-2003, 11:37 AM
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Poly U
Per Phillip's recommendations, I applied a thin coat of Poly U to the bulkheads for protection from the kerosene prior to installation.
06-02-2003, 11:43 AM
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Wing attachment
I finally decided to mount the C-channel that receives the wing spar with the screws turned towards the bottom. I had been told that accessing the screws would be difficult in this attitude. I decided to epoxy some brass tubes (sized to accept the ball driver) on some 1/16 ply shims so I wouldn't have any problem finding the bolts. First I installed the socket head screws so the screw was flush with the interior of the C-channel. I angled the tube so I would have proper fuse clearance and I left enough gap between the tube and bolt so the bolt can be removed.
06-03-2003, 05:21 PM
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Mike Morgan's F-15
Enjoyed talking with you at Mississippi Jets. I was flying the flourescent painted F-15. Where did you get the DUI offset hinges you mention in the thread. Are they beefer than other brands. Thanks
06-03-2003, 06:48 PM
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Hi Rod!
I enjoyed talking to you too and getting to watch you fly your F-15! I purchased these hinges based on Kevin Greene's recommendation in another thread. I love them. Anyway you can find them on Darrel Usher's website here:
http://www.acsip.com/~dgu/mod1.html
Perhaps by next year, I'll have mine ready!
http://www.acsip.com/~dgu/mod1.html
Perhaps by next year, I'll have mine ready!
07-21-2003, 12:43 PM
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Intakes
another view:
Note it is important that you use balsa to aid clamping as just clothes pins would make a wrinkled surface when removed.
Note it is important that you use balsa to aid clamping as just clothes pins would make a wrinkled surface when removed.
07-21-2003, 12:44 PM
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Avonds F-15 Construction
Trim the wings trailing edge:
You can see the marked layout on the left wing, the wing half on right has been trimmed.
You can see the marked layout on the left wing, the wing half on right has been trimmed.
07-21-2003, 12:47 PM
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Speed Brake Structure
In this shot you can see the speed brake structure added to the back side of the hatch and to the speed brake itself. The entire speed brake is layered in carbon fiber.