Twin 70mm F14 Build

Splinter189

Master member
This week I began construction on my third F14. The previous 2 had been twin 64mms. By going larger I am able to go with slightly bigger motors and really change up the way I do construction.

My intention is to have plans available for download. I need to make sure this works out okay. If it does I need to finalize plans and put together a build video.

Anyway here is the progression thru today.
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Arcfyre

Elite member
Holy moly that looks amazing! I'd love to see this fly and I wouldn't mind some plans either.

Does this have a working swing-wing function?

Also thanks. Now I'm going to have "Highway to the danger zone" stuck in my head for days...🤣
 

Grifflyer

WWII fanatic
That looks INCREDIBLE!!:eek::D

I also want to suggest that if you do a second prototype, you might want to add some paper fold overs to the front of the intakes, because I've had some delamination issues on some of my own projects.
 

Splinter189

Master member
Spent time working on the wing mechanism. The lower plate is made from carbon fiber and the two plates that attach to the wing are aluminum
The aluminum plates can be constructed of wood or carbon fiber, I just had extra aluminum laying around.

I also attached the fuselage to the wing housing cover. Now I just need to add ailerons, build the battery/accy box and a couple other odds and ends. I have some plans to make the EDFs super easy to service or replace.

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Jaxx

Posted a thousand or more times
This is incredible work! Do you use any type of software to design your projects?
 

Splinter189

Master member
Today I was able to get the ailerons cut and finalized a quick change system for EDF/Thrust tube. This will be kind of a boring update unless you're intrested in the inner workings of stuff😁😁

I also added servos everywhere. I am really trying to keep them hidden.
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JTarmstr

Elite member
Thats a work of art! I have trouble making symmetrical boxes and you can make an F-14 that looks like it was molded! Thanks for documenting this and sharing your tips on how to build stuff like this.
 

Splinter189

Master member
Just finished everything up😜😜

Hopefully we will get a break in the weather and can see how it flies this week. I will likely go ahead and build a forth. I feel like I am a 90-95% done with the plans. As they are, they are very repeatable. The changes I will make will be minor cosmetic changes, addition of fitment tabs and some additional reinforcing.

It definitely feels much stouter than previous versions. I will need to fool with the mixes a bit more, I had just copied my last F14s program.

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Mid7night

Jetman
Mentor
So awesome man! I've made comments elsewhere, you know what I think of your work, so I'll get right to one nitpick ... ;)

I think you can save some weight in the body by replacing the EDF thrust tubes with poster-paper instead of a rolled-foam tube. I'm not talking about the nozzle, just the long straight section that goes from the EDF back to the nozzle.
 

Splinter189

Master member
So awesome man! I've made comments elsewhere, you know what I think of your work, so I'll get right to one nitpick ... ;)

I think you can save some weight in the body by replacing the EDF thrust tubes with poster-paper instead of a rolled-foam tube. I'm not talking about the nozzle, just the long straight section that goes from the EDF back to the nozzle.
Thanks Ben!


My reason for going with the foam tubes may not be well founded. I had built a couple EDFs with posterboard as you describe, everything worked just fine. I recently tried out foam tube once I started making EDFs easy to change out. Since they are sort of pinched in with velcro, I was concerned the posterboard may not be rigid enough.

How often are you accessing EDFs for maintenance with your builds? I like being able to get in and tinker but it may be a feature that people generally won't use.

The other reason was just added durability, In the past I have made the fuselage two layers thick. The F14 engine cells are only single layer, I did this to cut down on weight. I wanted to get some of that strength back, so that was why I went with the foam thrust tube. Most landings are belly landings, definitely adds more cushion.

I think poaterboard will certainly be something to revisit with a future build, may have been waaaaay over thinking this😁😁
 
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Mid7night

Jetman
Mentor
With the other structure you have around the tubes in that underside, I wouldn't worry about strength. If you're landing THAT hard on the belly it's gonna hurt something else as well ... :p

Accessing EDFs ... Maintenance? ... Did I spell that right? ... LOL - Basically never. I fly pretty gingerly for the first few flights to enjoy whatever I just built, but not long after I get it dialed in I start to fly pretty hard to see where the limits are, and the EDF is never the limiting factor...UNLESS I've mis-sized something electronically and fry the motor, which I've only done once on my small Goblin-Jet. I basically ALWAYS wear out the airframe before wearing out the EDFs.