Project F-14 Tomcat

[Flitedesign 3d]

Will be available after v2, v1 plans had many bugs to be fixed and test built again. Completely another story if someone will ever take the challenge to build this one themselvs

 

[GrizWiz]

How do you design these models and plans?

 

[Flitedesign 3d]

How do you design these models and plans?

Thats such a large topic its impossible to give a short answer. Basically I make 3d model that's as close to perfect as possible using real foam board thickness and keeping in mind the bend rules for foam board. Here is some thread about this topic:
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/how-to-make-plans.62103/

 

[GrizWiz]

Thanks

 

[GrizWiz]

here are some f-14 foamboard plans if someone wants to try them
2 sheets of foam board

 

[Flitedesign 3d]

So I decided to go big or go home and flew the tomcat with the wings fixed at max sweep, 68 degrees. Gave it a hard toss and it went fine. It is really roll sensitive in the air though but that's not a surprise. The backlash on the stabs doesn't help either, I will improve that on the next version. Also the slight shift in cg is notable. Kinda ran out of battery, tried to make one more turn so I wouldn't overshoot my landing but couldn't make it back and ended up taking a nice long walk of shame into the crops The jet is totally fine though. I'll put the timer on next time!

 

[GrizWiz]

Dude...
Awesome...
Doesn't look that big though
Seven sheets of foam right?😝

 

[GrizWiz]

Jk😝

 

[Flitedesign 3d]

Dude...
Awesome...
Doesn't look that big though
Seven sheets of foam right?😝

8 european size, might be able to squeeze into 7 ft sized

 

[L Edge]

Can't wait until you change angle in flight. Which way are you going to do it? Forward to aft or reverse?

 

[Flitedesign 3d]

Can't wait until you change angle in flight. Which way are you going to do it? Forward to aft or reverse?

I will make the sweep work midflight on the next version, Im not sure how to slow down a servo using dx6i transmitter as it cant do it, if someone knows a way let me know. Im thinking about getting some programmable 180 deg servos that I can slow down. Also thinking about turning the swing arms with a gear on the servo and gear teeth on the swing arm as someone suggested in this thread very early on.

 

[Matagami Designs]

You did an amazing job on this. I cant wait to see it sweep in flight as well. Would love to build this one day especially since i put mine into the dirt. Good luck with the swing mechanism mine broke every time.

 

[Crawford Bros. Aeroplanes]

I will make the sweep work midflight on the next version, Im not sure how to slow down a servo using dx6i transmitter as it cant do it, if someone knows a way let me know. Im thinking about getting some programmable 180 deg servos that I can slow down. Also thinking about turning the swing arms with a gear on the servo and gear teeth on the swing arm as someone suggested in this thread very early on.

You can get a servo delay from Value Hobby for about $3.

 

[Flitedesign 3d]

You did an amazing job on this. I cant wait to see it sweep in flight as well. Would love to build this one day especially since i put mine into the dirt. Good luck with the swing mechanism mine broke every time.

Thank you! A shame that your got destroyed, it looked good with the jolly rogers livery

 

[Flitedesign 3d]

You can get a servo delay from Value Hobby for about $3.[/
Thanks good to know

 

[Matagami Designs]

Thank you! A shame that your got destroyed, it looked good with the jolly rogers livery

Thanks. One thought on the swing wings is to try and put a hard stop between the wing and wing box for the forward position so that during landing the inertia of the wings trying to maintain moving forward dosen't stress the servo but goes into the stop. i hope that makes sense. i think my setup would have worked better if i had a slightly bigger servo and did that.

 

[Flitedesign 3d]

Thanks. One thought on the swing wings is to try and put a hard stop between the wing and wing box for the forward position so that during landing the inertia of the wings trying to maintain moving forward dosen't stress the servo but goes into the stop. i hope that makes sense. i think my setup would have worked better if i had a slightly bigger servo and did that.

Yea that definitely makes sense

 

[L Edge]

Thanks. One thought on the swing wings is to try and put a hard stop between the wing and wing box for the forward position so that during landing the inertia of the wings trying to maintain moving forward dosen't stress the servo but goes into the stop. i hope that makes sense. i think my setup would have worked better if i had a slightly bigger servo and did that.

What part gave out that put it into the dirt?

 

[Matagami Designs]

What part gave out that put it into the dirt?

I just had no control at low speed. I think I needed more throw on the elevons. It would have been fine if I did elevator and ailerons but the way I had the elevons set up only 50% of the total throw is for pitch control.

 

[DazDaMan]

Tomcat is back!

The F-14 Tomcat v1 is finally finished. I have now 2 successful flights on the tomcat with the wings fixed at 20 degrees sweep. The first attempt was a failed launch, I thought it was a smart idea to toss it holding from one of the engine housings, far away from the mid line of the plane. Well, it made a flip and dived into the ground. I had to rebuild the nose, not a big deal. I also added a point under the fuselage to grab on for tossing. The second attempt was a huge success. The tomcat performed beautifully in the air, but that flight was not recorded. The third flight was pretty much as successful as the first one and there is a video also.

Here are some numbers for the F-14:

Length: 1260 mm (scale 1:15)
Wingspan: on 20-68 deg. sweep: 820-1350 mm (Sweep mechanism does not exist yet)
Weight: 1900 g
Static thrust: 1900g at 90A

My stuff:

Edf: 2x fms 11 blade 64mm
esc: 2x 60A skywalker
External bec for the receiver and servos
Batteries for edf 2x 4s 1550mah 100-120C
Batteries for receiver and servos: 2x 2s 350mah
2x sg90 servo for the stabs

That is rather awesome!