The Flite Test Master Series F-16 Viper, is released!

[CappyAmeric]

Many thanks for the replies. I did notice that there was more than one set of decals and it included the Alabama Red Tails that Josh flew with and also included Israeli Roundels. I'd done an image search but not found the colours for the Hatzor squadron. I have a 70mm EDF to go with it so will see what it's like when it's complete.

I did my first one as Israeli #107 from squadron 116 - the world’s highest scoring F-16. Shortly after taking delivery, Israel used her to bomb the Osarik nuclear plant in Iraq. #107 went on to shoot down 6 enemy fighters before being retired to the IAF air museum.

 

[Sebastian/717]

Are there plans for scratch building

 

[AIRFORGE]

Are there plans for scratch building

No plans, friend.

 

[spondonste]

I did find these plans for an EDF F16. Not sure if it's scratch build of kit but it certainly looks very similar:- XF VIPER - Foamboard F-16 EDF | FliteTest Forum

 

[AIRFORGE]

I did find these plans for an EDF F16. Not sure if it's scratch build of kit but it certainly looks very similar:- XF VIPER - Foamboard F-16 EDF | FliteTest Forum

Original plans by Ben Harber, @Mid7night .

 

[kart125]

Hi all!

First post on this forum!

I bought a F16 Master Series as a project with my 14 y/o son. We started the build yesterday after looking at the PDF instructions and looking at the techniques videos on the FT youtube channel. We are at the nose section.

I have a question about the F2 and F3 formers. On page 7 of the instructions it says to "keep a pair of dash marks uncut on top/bottom/left/right. We didn't see this info before cutting all the dash marks, so the center piece is now loose. It does not say in the rest of the plans what to do with these center parts. Do they need to be removed at the end of nose cone build? If not I dont understand the necessity to cut them almost all out before assembly.

Also, what servos are you guys recommanding for this build?

Any help appreciated!

 

[CappyAmeric]

Hi all!

First post on this forum!

I bought a F16 Master Series as a project with my 14 y/o son. We started the build yesterday after looking at the PDF instructions and looking at the techniques videos on the FT youtube channel. We are at the nose section.

I have a question about the F2 and F3 formers. On page 7 of the instructions it says to "keep a pair of dash marks uncut on top/bottom/left/right. We didn't see this info before cutting all the dash marks, so the center piece is now loose. It does not say in the rest of the plans what to do with these center parts. Do they need to be removed at the end of nose cone build? If not I dont understand the necessity to cut them almost all out before assembly.

Also, what servos are you guys recommanding for this build?

Any help appreciated!

I think you are talking about the hole where the battery/accessory box passes through the formers. The reason to keep the piece partially uncut is so when you install them, those formers don’t crush. You can take those pieces and temporarily tape them back in. The blank pieces should be removed after you have nose skins wrapped around the formers securely.

9 gram servos will work fine. Since the elevator servos get lots of pressure on this model, try and find metal gear servos for those two.

 

[kart125]

Thanks CappyAmeric that is what I was thinking about the cut pieces. Once nose is glued I'll remove them.

I'll try to find the correct servos with metal gears!

 

[CappyAmeric]

Thanks CappyAmeric that is what I was thinking about the cut pieces. Once nose is glued I'll remove them.

I'll try to find the correct servos with metal gears!

I used these on all 5 surfaces and they work well: https://store.flitetest.com/ft-es08a-ii-8-5g-servo/

But, seeing as these are only $5 more, I recommend these for the elevator servos: https://store.flitetest.com/ft17g-metal-gear-servo/

Edit: if you decide to use the 17 gram metal gear servos for the elevator, you may need to slightly increase the size of the servo holes in the foam board. If you don't want to worry about that, use the regular 9 gram servos (what I ended up using).

 

[kart125]

I'm also on FT store. I will buy 3 8,5 g plastic gear servos and 2 17 g metal gear servos. Since the metal gear ones are a bit bigger will it cause problems for fit?

 

[CappyAmeric]

I'm also on FT store. I will buy 3 8,5 g plastic gear servos and 2 17 g metal gear servos. Since the metal gear ones are a bit bigger will it cause problems for fit?

Yes, the 17gram are bigger so if you decide to use them, you will need to make the holes larger. I used the normal 9 gram servos, but you may want to make the mod for the larger servos. The 9 gram work fine though.

 

[mcmoyer]

My donor aircraft and the recipient side by side. So far, this is a really satisfying build.

 

[jack10525]

Wow I know building is very rewarding. I've built at least 100 FT planes from speed builds and downloaded plans but $80 for this kit seems way too high. Even $50 seems high. It now seems more economical to just buy a pnf plane and add your radio and battery. I'll still be waiting for the maiden video's on this.

 

[CappyAmeric]

Wow I know building is very rewarding. I've built at least 100 FT planes from speed builds and downloaded plans but $80 for this kit seems way too high. Even $50 seems high. It now seems more economical to just buy a pnf plane and add your radio and battery. I'll still be waiting for the maiden video's on this.

Don't let the relatively short wing span fool you (just under 1 meter) - the length is about 1.5 meters. This kit is huge. There is as much foam board in the F-16 kit as the FT Kraken SBK which normally sells for $85.

 

[mcmoyer]

The instructions say to use the same EDF former for a 64mm and a 70mm, but there's a lot of room around the end tube of a 64mm EDF tube. I ended up cutting a smaller hole to get a tighter fit.

 

[mcmoyer]

I also noticed on the build instructions, there's a section about installing the rudder and aileron servos, then another step, then it goes back and mostly repeats information about installing the rudder and aileron servos.

 

[mcmoyer]

I'm going into this plane with the idea that I'll make a few iterations on it. I'd love to figure out a way to make the EDF unit serviceable. Since I just had to replace a bearing on my Marlin's EDF unit, this was in the back of my head as I glued the unit into place. Right now with this configuration, I'd need to destroy a large portion of the plane to get to the EDF.

In my mind, I paid $80 for the "plans", I just didn't have to print them out and paste them on poster board. The downside is that I can't down size the plans at all

 

[Ligbaer]

Don't let the relatively short wing span fool you (just under 1 meter) - the length is about 1.5 meters. This kit is huge. There is as much foam board in the F-16 kit as the FT Kraken SBK which normally sells for $85.

f-16

 

[flyboy330]

My kit should arrive soon. I am planning on 8s and vectoring thrust

 

[mcmoyer]

I’m on the last steps of the build, top of the tail and the EDF exhaust. I have no idea what this part is though. It’s got no markings aside from center ticks. Anyone know where it goes? I thought it might be related to the BDF since I didn’t do that option, but I didn’t see it in the build doc.