[4stripes]

Started work on the Meteor today. Much of the kit needs updating or replacing but it is still an interesting model. Pretty large with decent wing area should make for a good flier. Normally it comes with 4S EDFs, but I ordered the kit version so we could use 6S fans. Easier for battery commonality with most of our current models.
The kit comes with 80amp ESC’s, retracts, wire landing gear, plastic geared servos and basic wiring.

I suppose the stock 4S fans could have been run on 6S by limiting the power through the 80amp ESC’s with throttle end point travel limits.

[4stripes]

The horizontal stabs came slightly warped. The stock hinges are just the foam between the control surface and the aircraft. The hinges were so stiff that the servo strained to move from neutral. The torque rod joining the one side to the other also couldn’t make both elevators move symmetrically.
New pin hinges were fitted along with dual FMS servos and CF strips.
Before and after pictures for clarity.

[4stripes]

Added a white 6v LED to the tail to complete the stock red and green wing lights. I wired the light to the power wires of the elevator servos (and will run the RX power at 6V).

[4stripes]

Rudder is split and the top is operated by a square CF rod. Good idea but the square holes weren’t made at the same angle. The misalignment of the square holes didn’t make any trouble once the rod was was glued in with epoxy.
Servo replaced along with pin hinges installed. The stock servo linkage needed shortening as the end was turned in far enough to impact the clevis pin.
HobbyKing control horn replaced stock. Slot carved into each control surface then glued in with epoxy.

[4stripes]

Wings have two short CF tubes to strengthen joint to the nacelles. Sadly the foam securing the front spars was not glued in securely. A little contact cement but not contacting both surfaces. The foam strips were removed with the help of a hacksaw blade. The contact cement came off easily with coarse sand paper.

[4stripes]

The outer wings had a foam panel poorly glued in making a useless foundation for the front CF spar. The contact cement had not made more than about 10% contact. With the help of a hacksaw blade I pried the pieces off. All glue and paint was removed so that they could be secured with epoxy. A landing light was wired into the left panel powered through the servo wires at 6V. The same idea is used on our Avios Mig17.

[4stripes]

I added a solid CF rod to stiffen the vertical stab to the fuselage. Picture shows the approximate location. I also smeared some epoxy between the place where the vertical stab meets the left fuselage as there was no glue there (which allowed some movement).

[4stripes]

Had a look at the nacelles and wing spar arrangement. Again nothing was glued properly from the factory so we had to remove the lower half of the nacelles and the foam strip covering the main wing spar. We decided to extend the central spar right through the nacelles into the outer wing panels replacing the small CF doubler and outer spar. Not worried about the minor obstruction to flow in front of the spinner. The fan units I plan to use are Changesun 7012 with cyclone power 2000kv outrunners. The same set that powered our old LX A10 very well (and survived its demise). The new spar dictated that the fan be moved back slightly (otherwise it would go right through the spinner).
The retracts are the same style as the HK medium sized servoless but the wire diameter is smaller from dynam and the trunion is plastic. They began acting up on the bench with delayed response from one or the other so they are going to be replaced with the HK type with metal trunions. Haven’t decided which legs to use yet.

[SARPLT]

It looks like a very interesting project. That is the problem with the older foam jet models, they require lots of modifications and work to reinforce them but that is the enjoyment in the hobby.

What livery are you going to do it up in?

Marty

[4stripes]

Strangely enough this is not really an older design. It is just one that doesn’t use modern improvements other than the EPO foam.
I added the livery to the original post but here is another actual photo.