Foam F-18 Hornet powering by EDF system

[jameswilliam]

HI! Guys,

After reading a lot from Astroboy on his F-15 Eagle thread and it really make me interested in foam project now. So I go ahead with it, but before that I read some post from other website most of them did it and flown very well both F-15 Eagle & F-18 Hornet and I off for the Hornet bug, because since young I like the F-18 very much so I 'll do this plane. A lot of them did it with pushers system and I think hey! why not do it the ducted system which looks more and feel like on right?

So I got my F-18 Hornet plan already and by using the template everything seen very fast with-in 4hours cutting & glueing plus sending down the fuselage nicely. I did some changed on the F-18 template to look more like the real BUG. First was the front fuselage where the two hole to fit in the strake, the 1st strake hole I keep it the same way but the 2rd strake hole I bring it down another 5mm so it will look more like the real BUG. Next is the rear fuselage where the main wing is sitting on it, I bring down 10mm because I 'm going to reinforce 2 wing instate of 1. As for the 1/4" balsa triangle wood I replace it by using the foam, just cut out 5mm X 5mm and stick them on. Weight will be a issue on ducted system so she 's gonne cut down some weight

Ducted fan will be the Super Flying Model(SF) Turbo Fan System and will be running on Brashless motor GS BL B20-40-7, both are from JetHobby but too bad now they are out of stock had plane an order already end of the month will come I hope ESC & Lipo batt I still not sure yet must see how it 's go first any advice from you guys? Was working untill very late start at 10 plus finish around 3 in the morning so want to sleep
Today very busy so only now start posting my project up come

That all from me now got to go home now, maybe tonight I 'll do some more update if I can my eyes now looks like those Panda bear from Chain now

[P4cm4n2000]

Bro you can get from champion also....but got to endure their exceptionally ill-customer service....look for Wemotec ducted fan....or "similar".....

[jameswilliam]

Bro you can get from champion also....but got to endure their exceptionally ill-customer service....look for Wemotec ducted fan....or "similar".....

Yep! did check with them before they also run out of stock so I ask whether can I place an order from them guess what the owner say oh....this one hah we will not bring in any more then I ask if so why your website still put it there and he reply the site is out dated already when I heard that in mine mind I tell myself he is slapping his own face so I want off to JetHobby and place my order from them more better service.

Jameswilliam

[jameswilliam]

update on me F-18 today, the picture on below show the strake on the real Hornet is more rounder & thicker plus the wing surface is one lever down lower then the strake. Next is the main wings, I have thicker the main wing with two 5mm foam and with 4mm carbon rod inside to made it more stronger, the sanding part was the most fun in order the get more lift from the main wings the airfoil is more symmetrically both top and bottom plus the inlet, I rounder it just like the real one. Yesturday didn't do much on the project just a few touch up only will update some more next week

Jameswilliam

[edmond22]

Good luck James, tell us when you maiden. I can provide video cameraing in Punggol.

[Super-Hornet]

Hi jameswilliam

I being F/A-18 favorite also, I not sure whether u know this or not, in most Naval aircraft like F/A-18 Hornet and F-14 Tomcat, its wings is actually consist of 3 parts. The middle part is a symmetric shape while front an rear part is like a triangular shape (of course the rear part is the aileron or flap). The front part is moveable. The purpose of doing so is that it allow to change the shape of the wing to be:
1 - a full symmetric when front and rear part are straight.
2 - an undercambered type of wing when front & rear part move downward. This will allow the wing to have higher lift. Thus allow it to fly at much lower speed.
3 - front part slightly move upward to allow it to fly inverted.

So, are u going to do that kind of wing also? If can make it work will be fun!

Super-Hornet

[AstroBoy]

Way To Go Bro!!!

[jameswilliam]

Hi jameswilliam

I being F/A-18 favorite also, I not sure whether u know this or not, in most Naval aircraft like F/A-18 Hornet and F-14 Tomcat, its wings is actually consist of 3 parts. The middle part is a symmetric shape while front an rear part is like a triangular shape (of course the rear part is the aileron or flap). The front part is moveable. The purpose of doing so is that it allow to change the shape of the wing to be:
1 - a full symmetric when front and rear part are straight.
2 - an undercambered type of wing when front & rear part move downward. This will allow the wing to have higher lift. Thus allow it to fly at much lower speed.
3 - front part slightly move upward to allow it to fly inverted.

So, are u going to do that kind of wing also? If can make it work will be fun!

Super-Hornet

Yep! I know you love the Hornet too we are on the same side the only diffrerent is I love the old version Hornet & you love the new E version SP Hornet. The reason why I did some changed is because the F-18 plan was given by Jetset 44 from RC Group.com don 't really into scale look so I did some change along the way to meet it more scale ofcourse if more foam added weight will be a issue so I 'll try my very best to keep the weight down for ducted system.

As you 're mention about the wings symmetric shape I 'll just sand it down to more symmetric if I'm going for that I 'll need more power to push the place partly is because of weight also. Saturday want down to Rotor and get some bearing for the tailwings stabilator where the 4mm carbon rod will be install in. The stabilator will be power by two servo one on each side and the fan will be duct with some light plastic sheet usually can be found like the coca-cola bottle, the ducted will be front inlet where the intake will be and the rear will be after the fan unit all the way to the back so clear airfoil will be foil through the duct tabe.

HI! Astroboy, hey thanks for all the information you 're given it 's really helps me on the way when this project is on. wait for me huh let me finish mine Hornet then we can fly together in some jet fast by pass O.K.! can 't wait to get her on air man but still waiting for my fan system lay..........as JetHobby owner told me it will be in this month end only.....


Jameswilliam

[AsiaSRC]

Hello Jameswilliam,

Enjoy building your baby bug. Beautiful attempt.
You will learn a lot about LEX usefulness during high AOA. just like F16
For BUG, power = life.

Regards
AsiaSRC

[jameswilliam]

Thanks Mr Albert

Jameswilliam

[jameswilliam]

Over the pass few days wasn 't free so now made used of the hoildays to do some work project on my F-18 Hornet. I have moving on the tailwings now. For the stabilator system I used a 4mm carbon rod and 4mm ball bearings the bearing are from RotorHobby $2.50 each so got 2 for myself(694ZZ) it is a 4x11x4mm size and then went down to SHS for the carbon rod 4mmx100mm cost only $3.30, actually on the way down also want to ask about mine ducted fan was it arrived yet from JetHobby but was not open till 23rd May so just got this both items and went home. I didn 't start anything till today since I got a long hoilday so just did the stabilator system only. First the fuselage is mark then follow by making a small hole first after that a bigger hole is drill through just made sure it is not too big for the 11mm diameter just fit in will do then using some 4 washers with a hole of 4mm and glue them on each side of the fuselage. 2 washers will be on euch side, the reason of doing this is to hold the bearing in the fuselage. I 'll try to get someone that have a camera to post the step by step for all of you as I don 't have one so can 't really show everybody how it 's done. Now just need to install the ducted fan and some setting and all will be done. Oh......BTW, I did show cut on the front fuselage this is to cool down the ESC just beside the inlet as the ESC will be inside the fuse there will not be having any cool air flow through the ESC so this is a must, I not sure anyone did that to their F-18 or F-15 before or not but just to share with all of you.


Jameswilliam

[MicroHeli-Nut]

Nice work.... the motor layout looks neat....

[jameswilliam]

After waiting and waiting for my ducted fan system it 's still not here yet.......... Call Mr Mok from JetHobby 2days ago to check if my ducted system here, too bad Mr mok told me as what he told Ernest too the back order was since 3months back , I even try AceHobby seen to me everyone is out of stock. But later Ernest tol me he got it from Champ Hobby but I still not sure which one he got it, have to comfirm with him again if not I 'll go for the one that Ernest got it...........

Jameswilliam.

[AstroBoy]

Hi James, i just bumped into Steve Shumate's (jetset44 from rcgroups.com) new F-14 Tomcat design, and somebody called FL62 successfully maidened his Tomcat with twin Wemotec Microfans! So take a good detail look at his setup, i believe the F-14 has similar weight to this F-18, F-15 he has created.

Read post #300 for FL62's equipment setup, he's using 4S 2100 lipos!

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374502&page=20&pp=15

I'm trying to help you, don't want you to go around looking for something that might not work for your F-18 setup. Take note that he uses rolled-up photostat paper to make cylindrical cones behind EDF for air to exit out, something like 1 to 0.9 exhaust diameter ratio at exit, cheers!

[ER69]

After waiting and waiting for my ducted fan system it 's still not here yet.......... Call Mr Mok from JetHobby 2days ago to check if my ducted system here, too bad Mr mok told me as what he told Ernest too the back order was since 3months back , I even try AceHobby seen to me everyone is out of stock. But later Ernest tol me he got it from Champ Hobby but I still not sure which one he got it, have to comfirm with him again if not I 'll go for the one that Ernest got it...........

Jameswilliam.

Hey James,
After trying the SF ducted with a 3 turn on my electrajet.. think better dont use this set up on your jet coz it only produce about 390g of thrust. My jet weight 640g with batt. well, it can still fly but not much thrust and speed...
Astroboy is right... go for the set up suitable for your jet...
Coz our jet weight are different...