Flite Test Master Series F-14 Build

[JAMplan65]

With a 6000 mAh 6S pack, I have my timer set to 3.5 min of usable throttle time. I start my landing with 1 minute left, that way if I have to go around I still have some juice left in the tank so to speak. With my existing power system I find that I'm at max throttle throughout most of the flight. I have to do some creative wing mixing to get the plane to roll, and I have not had the courage to try a loop...don't feel like I have enough power to do it. The power system I'm using was pulled from an old Su-30 that I "refurbished" but its giving me the same flight times as the one John Overstreet recommends in the Flite Test store (I have that power system in my F-18 MS, lighter airframe better performance).

I've been experimenting with other battery packs:
1. 4.35 volts/cell HV packs from SMC racing give better power with similar flight time
2. 9000mAh packs - longer flights (4-5minutes usable throttle) but flies heavy

I'm thinking on my next build to have twin 80mm EDFs on 100Amp ESC using 2x6S 5000 mAh batteries. I'll use the same landing gear, reinforce the battery tray for 2 batteries. I'm confident the air frame can handle it.

Hi Vic, I decided before I bought the kit to go with twin 80mm EDFs (w/80 amp ESCs, recovered from a couple of FreeWing T-33s). Just the extra weight of the plywood for the swing wing mechanism told me to go larger. Of course, I’ve already built and flown the F-18 and F-4 on twin 70mm EDF power, which seemed ‘just right’ 😁. The Tomcat is bigger and heavier, so 80s seems right.

 

[vicentel]

Hi Vic, I decided before I bought the kit to go with twin 80mm EDFs (w/80 amp ESCs, recovered from a couple of FreeWing T-33s). Just the extra weight of the plywood for the swing wing mechanism told me to go larger. Of course, I’ve already built and flown the F-18 and F-4 on twin 70mm EDF power, which seemed ‘just right’ 😁. The Tomcat is bigger and heavier, so 80s seems right.

Hi JAMplan65,
I'm excited about your build! I'm not familiar with the T-33 power system but the one I was thinking of was the MiG-29's, twin 80mm on 100amp ESCs. I'm guessing you're going to use 2x6S packs, how many mAh? Please post copious pictures of your build and please video your maiden.

Cheers,
Vic

 

[Jarofish11117]

Howdy,
After asking Vic if he was going to replace his power system or rebuild a new plane, I decided to try replacing my power system for the educational experience. My F-14 is unpainted so it did not hurt me to open it up and dissect the EDF's lol. Anyways, I bought the 80mm EDF's from the Freewing F-14 and they installed quite easily. If anyone was to try the same process, I would recommend buying the craft paper before you start the project as the original paper was unusable after already being glued, of course, so you don't have to run to the store mid-project. But it was a simple process and went back together smoothly. I did notice that the motor wires and the ESC wires from the FT recommended ESC were not the same size, but I soldered new ends on and I was set. The only downside is that the plane does not fly... The motors do not seem to be outputting enough thrust with the original 80A ESC's and it will not generate lift. I believe that 100A ESC's should fix the issue, however I have also thought about the possibility that the larger EDF's are not receiving enough air? I would love to hear feedback. I used 2x 4500 6S batteries for my attempted flight.

 

[quorneng]

Unless you a grossly over loading the ESC causing it to 'power down' to protect itself going for a bigger one will not increase the power.
A bigger capacity or higher C battery can increase the amps, and thus power, assuming you do not 'cook' the ESC in the process.

Increasing the size of the EDF but keeping the same inlet will indeed limit the air flow. EDFs tend to be pretty sensitive to any inlet restriction.
An 80 mm fan has about 30% more fan area than a 70 mm so it really needs a 30% bigger inlet area to generate the expected extra static thrust.

 

[vicentel]

quorneng is correct. Make sure you are not choking the fans for air.

 

[JAMplan65]

Hi JAMplan65,
I'm excited about your build! I'm not familiar with the T-33 power system but the one I was thinking of was the MiG-29's, twin 80mm on 100amp ESCs. I'm guessing you're going to use 2x6S packs, how many mAh? Please post copious pictures of your build and please video your maiden.

Cheers,
Vic

Vic, getting close to a maiden. Posted pics in the other forum listing, still waiting for decent temps to get it painted. 80mm EDFs and 100 amp ESCs. Right now going with a single 6s 6000mah battery. We’ll see how that works (powering the receiver with a separate 3s 2200mah battery-bec). Keep your fingers crossed… 😉

 

[vicentel]

Vic, getting close to a maiden. Posted pics in the other forum listing, still waiting for decent temps to get it painted. 80mm EDFs and 100 amp ESCs. Right now going with a single 6s 6000mah battery. We’ll see how that works (powering the receiver with a separate 3s 2200mah battery-bec). Keep your fingers crossed… 😉

The current draw from 2x 80mm EDFs is going to be huge! Make sure you don't melt the connections by going full throttle for extended periods of time. Also make sure your battery has a high enough C rating to supply the needed amps. Good luck!

 

[JAMplan65]

The current draw from 2x 80mm EDFs is going to be huge! Make sure you don't melt the connections by going full throttle for extended periods of time. Also make sure your battery has a high enough C rating to supply the needed amps. Good luck!

Yeah, darn near melted the connectors on my F-4 that I maidened! I think I’ll switch to 2 6s batteries 😬

And the F-14, well I’ve messed up the mode programming and somehow got my ailerons and ‘tailerons’ opposite each other. No flying until I get that figured out 🙄

 

[JAMplan65]

Here’s some pics of both my F-14 and F-4

 

[JAMplan65]

The Tomcat did a quick ‘flip’ due to the messed up controls. She pancaked flat, so no major damage, but some things to fix besides the mix programming.

 

[vicentel]

I'm starting another F-14 build. This time I'm using twin 80mm EDF with 2x 100amp ESCs running on 2x 5000mAh 6S lipos.

 

[vicentel]

Hi Guys,
I know my last post said that I was starting my build but then posting nothing for 5 months! Sorry about that. But now I actually have started building and have some pictures of the build in progress:

Master Series F-14 that John designed, with a few modifications of my own.
1. Included rudders and did not go with differential thrust for yaw control
2. Included retractable landing gear and steerable nose gear - right now I'm leaning towards Freewing's MiG 29 mains, F-14 nose gear
3. Will use plasitc bits from my Freewing F-14 to add some additional details, i.e. FLIR in the nose (think that.s what it's called), gun in the nose, tailhook, plastic inlets for the cheater holes, under-wing missile rails
4. Power system taken from the 2x 80mm EDFs, 2x 100Amp ESC taken from a Freewing MiG 29
5. Battery is 2x 6S 5000mAh

 

[vicentel]

I've built the landing gear housing for the mains. I'm using the Freewing 80mm MiG29 landing gear that rotate. I needed to hog out some foam to get them to fit and function but it works! I'm working on the nose gear next. I also reinforced the battery box and had to engineer a battery tray to be able to slide 2 x 5000mAh 6S packs in the required space. To make sure the twin 80mm EDFs are not starved for air, I installed cheater holes using plastic vents from a Freewing 80mm F-14. I also had to reroute the wires to get the batteries to fit. I'll post more pictures shortly.

 

[vicentel]

Hi Guys,

More updates. Here is a video of the functioning landing gear. The mains rotate, and the nose wheel is steerable. See video below.

F-14 landing gear testing video

 

[vicentel]

Hi Guys,

Here are some more build pictures.

1. To get 2x6S 5000mAh batteries for fit I had to route the wires from above.
2. I created a battery tray and used a hook&loop strap to secure the tray. The batteries velcro to the tray and the strap secures the battery/tray combo into the battery box.
3. I reinforced the ventral fins using polystyrene sheets
4. used Freewing F-14 missile pods to hide the landing gear and have he ability to mount ordinance
5. Completed and installed nose gear with steering servo in the nose

 

[vicentel]

Hi Guys - I finally have video of my maiden flight! The additional power was really needed especially with all the additional weight and drag I introduced with the landing gear, gear doors, ordinance, plastic scale bits (i.e. tailhook, FLIR nose pod), 2x 6S 5000mAh batteries. And, as I expected the airframe is able to handle the additional power. I don't have video of my third flight where I max the throttle and push the speed.

Cheers,
Vic

 

[vicentel]

Started painting my F-14. I decided to paint it the Jolly Rogers livery for an F-14A. I got the vinyl stickers from Callie Graphics for the appropriate scale of this F-14.

 

[vicentel]

Hi Guys - So I got the base coat painted, applied the Callie graphics of the Jolly Rogers VF-84 livery (F-14A) and airbrushed some panel lines. So I programmed my radio similarly to my version 1, the only difference being the gear doors and nose gear lights. I setup the landing gear and gear doors on a sequence and it's working well. And because the nose comes off and I have gear doors installed I had to come up with a convoluted process for putting in the battery tray, raising the gear, installing the nose, lowering the gear and plugging in the nose-gear door servo...worth it. I will try to get another video of the plane flying with the newly painted livery.

Cheers,
Vic

 

[ConcordeSpeedbird1978]

Hi Guys,
Will there be free plans available for the F14,F18 and YF23 available in the near future?

Many Thanks And Kind Regards

Steve😎👍 🇬🇧

 

[vicentel]

Hi Guys,
Will there be free plans available for the F14,F18 and YF23 available in the near future?

Many Thanks And Kind Regards

Steve😎👍 🇬🇧

Not for the Master Series Jets.