[Max]

Wow. Nice build so far. I love the tail nozzle made from the plastic cups!

[airbourne]

Originally Posted by pogo

I'll include pictures this time.

Fantastic body work, looks just like fibreglass!

[pogo]

Thanks guys- I hope to get the horiz. and vert. stabs on this week end. I'm getting tired of the tail-less look.
Tom

[pogo]

Well of course it took 2 weeks instead of 1 but the tail "group" is done. I reworked the original plan of a rod through the exhaust ducting and one servo for the all-flying stabs. Two servos now, with 3/16" wire through brass tubing and shop-made aluminum control arms. The latter primarily because I like larger set screws than are commonly used and good commercial units (for turbine jets) are a lot of dough- and I didn't have any. The resulting mounts are pretty rigid and will hopefully be ok in flight.
Finally got the rudders and ailerons hinged as well (read someone say they "despised hinging" and I'm with him on that) so that's the control surfaces done. It occured to me the model could now be checked fairly accurately for balance, which has been an unknown until now. It looks good- the flight batterries can sit at the back of the cockpit opening, allowing room for the full cockpit and pilot I'd planned. The rx can sit behind the fan, keeping the wiring short and lighter and it's battery will be up towards the nose. I was just guessing with the initial fan and ESC placement but it's going to work out.
I also weighed everything up and arrived at 9lbs,3oz.-naturally more than hoped but there it is- the beefier stab arrangement added 6oz., and I've allowed 3 for the cockpit (less pilot). My pilot doesn't know it yet but he's getting his heavy resin head hollowed out.
Pictures to follow...
Tom

[pogo]

Some photos

[pogo]

Cockpit almost done- bit of detail yet to be added to the seat and deck behind, prior to gluing the canopy on, which of course prevents any access. Pilot is a resin figure from Jet Legends. Incidentally, the canopy was ordered from Yellow Aircraft from the smaller F-18 they make- the stock canopy was mishapen (dented) and from a later, 2-seater version with 2 frames.
Tom

[Dennis Pedersen]

Wow you have done a great job on this . Thanks for the photos and build thread.
Best of luck on the maiden.

[pogo]

Thanks Dennis- getting close now!
Tom

[ogopogo]

Tom, that's a great build - love the size too.

john

[pogo]

Thank you John! I should be able to finalize the flight battery mounting this week-end and finish the radio settings. Hope we can get together at some point this summer- I like your fleet.
Tom