bonefishfool

My Feedback: (6)

Smart, Gary. Very smart!

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Electronics tray lay out


I finally got around to covering the nose gear retract relief hole on the electronics tray with a small bump up cover


Bottom view


The cover gave me some more real estate on the tray so I modified the layout to mount the RC switch receiver on the cover


Updated and paired all three receivers to the transmitter and got the RC switch paired and connected to the CB400


Revised board layout. Stuff is mounted with masking tape for now since it will all have to be removed for painting the board later.


Another crimping and label session to make up the jumpers that will connect all the stuff

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

I finished the wire jumpers on the electronic tray. The first three jumpers in the photo above turned out to be too short so I replaced them and then finished the rest. I programmed the Cortex Pro, CTU, and all the radio functions possible with out actually hooking up the servos. I got the gear sequencer working and learned how to control all the gear doors from a single door sequencer and still have adjustable endpoints for each of the 4 gear door servos. Major breakthrough for me and the Jeti radio. The more I learn to do with the Jeti the better I like it. It is way far ahead of my previous 18MZ radio system.

I will have to go back and re program all the servo endpoints previously done because I changed the servo output mapping in the CB400. Also when setting up the drag chute Lua program I realized I forgot the Mrpm sensor on the main gear wheel. So I have to go back and install another wire in the servo harness for the Mrpm sensor. The Mrpm sensor is a safety interlock that Dave programmed to determine ground speed after landing to keep the chute from deploying in the air.

Someone mentioned mistakes before...still making them.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Adjusting endpoints


Finished the jumpers with labels on the electronics tray. Everything will get secured after painting the board. I installed the tray and started hooking up each servo one at a time using the servo wire harness cables to adjust each one. I learned the hard way not to plug in everything at once a few years ago when I smoked two high end flap servos that were binding while I was messing with something else. This was the first time I have had the entire system connected with the new servo cables I made. They all worked!



Chute jettison pin closed.


Chute jettison release pin open


Flaps down


Roll left



Roll right


Rudder left


Rudder right


Full up


Full down

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Adjusting gear doors


Got both left and right main gear doors working with the sequencer. Door open


Door closed


Nose gear doors open


Nose gear doors closed. The printed CB400 mapping sheet was really helpful for finding the correct slot for each servo plug. The Jeti telemetry shows about .4 amps at idle with all the servos, CB400, Cortex Pro, 4 receivers, and CTU all plugged in.


The rats nest after everything plugged in for testing

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Motivation photos

Since most everything was together I decided to put the cockpit, nose, and tail on and just take a look.


It does look pretty cool!








I thought that if I could just get the gear toe in rotation problem fixed I think I could see the end of the tunnel. Just after taking this photo Larry sent me email saying he has a plan to do just that by replacing a small part of the landing gear retract. Maybe it will all come together.

skunkwurk

My Feedback: (18)

What paint scheme?

JSF-TC

My Feedback: (2)

Gary,

Looks good with it all in one piece. I bet it helps the motivation for that last push to the finish line.

You will get there, just like eating an elephant - one bite at a time!


Paul

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Vietnam camo for paint.

Thanks Paul, you are right, one bite at a time. Your Buc is getting there too. What a great project!
Gary

smchale

My Feedback: (67)

Looking great, really enjoying watching this build!

jsnipes

My Feedback: (3)

Looks like Mach 2 just sitting there!

Can’t wait to see it airborne!

JS

tp777fo

My Feedback: (28)

Gary, if there us anyone that can make this monster work it is you. You are one hell of a craftsman. Cant wait to see you fly it at Top Gun! (If you dont get invited, it's rigged)

bonefishfool

My Feedback: (6)

Tom I agree! a true craftsman at work

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Thanks Tom, Glenn, but I'm a long way from Top Gun work. I'll need somebody to make a cockpit for this thing after test flights in the primer. Then I will think about scale stuff. I'm still worried about getting the gear to track straight and then fold into the wing!

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Air and gear update


I got the 4 way 4mm Festo connectors in from Aeropanda today. Fast shipping. Thanks. These really cleaned up the air system install.


I got rid of the zip ties I used on the gear air lines and tied them in place with the waxed lacing cord. Much better and softer on the air lines. It's real hard to find space in this gear for anything extra and I still have to figure out the brake lines and wire for the Mrpm sensor on the left wheel.

This is it for the week. Taking off for the SC Tiger Meet. It's the only jet meet I could get to this year that hasn't been cancelled.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Had a great time at the SC Tiger Meet. Great flying, great weather, and best of all great friends! Flew the Havoc the last time. It's for sale. I'll be taking out the turbine and radio stuff to use in the F-105.



If anybody is interested here's the link:
https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/market/11683846

Desertlakesflying

My Feedback: (28)

You can try these zip ties....

https://www.griplockties.com/

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Thanks, Looks like they could work well for the large zip ties but I didn't see the small ones. I can see where they would be nice if there was space.
Gary

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Update

Nothing done since SC Tiger meet return. Been busy with house chores and other RC projects. Havoc sale is pending. I got the K-320 and radio out and its ready for install and setup in the F-105. Went to fly Saturday to help a buddy with waiver training and crashed my foamy Cessna 170 due to a plastic clevis fail on elevator. Repaired it yesterday with a 4-40 metal clevis and finished today. It looks like Frankenstein but is all glued back together and ready to go again.

I got these in the mail Saturday.

These are the F-105 gear mod parts from Larry. These parts control the rotation angle during retraction and extension. Larry made a slot instead of a fixed hole in the angled corner that will allow me to find the proper angle and epoxy the pin in the correct angle. Then he can machine a part with the hole in the proper place. Hopefully this will fix the tow in angle when extended and rotate to fit into the wheel well when retracted.


The block is shown here in the lower left corner of the gear truss. The angle of the rotating pin controls the rotation of the lower strut during retraction and extension of the gear strut. This one is off about 6 degrees when extended. The pin must be in the block about 6 degrees clockwise from its current position to work correctly. Hopefully I can set the proper angle in the new ones and then Larry can make more with the proper angle. This is the last major issue I have other than just getting it all done. Thanks Larry for the help.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Its been about a month since I posted. Several folks asked about the delay. I got sidetracked by another project after I sold my Havoc. I saw a Freewing Mig-29 EDF fly at the SC Tiger Meet and decided I needed to convert one to turbine. So for the last couple of weeks I got it going and it flies great. It's all done now and I plan to get back to the F-105 next week.

Build thread here: Freewing Mig 29 EDF to Turbine Conversion

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Finally got back to F-105 project this week. I got the new gear rotation control blocks Larry sent me last month installed in the main gears.


The replacements blocks are shown before install.


The blocks are mounted with two countersunk screws


Removing the old block. You can see how rotation of the pin in the block rotates the lower strut. The angle of the pin when extended controls the tow angle of the wheel and when retracted it controls the rotation of the wheel into the gear well. The first blocks were about 5-6 degrees off when extended. When I fixed the tow angle it caused the wheel not to go inside the gear well. Hopefully getting the correct angle will solve both problems.


The new block is for testing and has a slot instead of a hole to allow adjustment of the lower strut angle.


New block installed showing pin in lowest position.


Pin shown here in the highest position. The only way to find the correct angle is to assemble the jet on the gear and set and test for the proper angle. Once that is determined I will apply a release agent to the pin and epoxy it in place. Then I can send it back to Larry to make a final block with the correct angle drilled in.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Main Landing gear alignment...again.

I finally got caught up on other projects and chores and got back to the F-105 again. The objective was to test the main gear alignment with the new rotation blocks I got from Larry (shown above) installed.


The first task was to get the jet up on the gear and mark lines parallel to the table edge under the main wheels to set the alignment.


The very next thing that happened was a disaster. I did not get the nose gear locked down and it folded up and crushed the nose gear doors. The right door hinges broke off as shown. AAAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!! Now I have to fix the door hinges somehow. I took them off for the picture here.


I got the lines marked on the table. Then I jacked up the gear with the boxes so I could swing it to test the rotation and set the alignment. I had to use the air gun to get the cylinders to lock in up and down positions. I set the lower strut and wheel to track straight with the upper strut rotated fully counter clockwise in the slot of the block.



This is the rotation pin fully seated in the new block shown all the way to the left. This is probably 5-6 degrees farther that the original part allowed which resulted in the tow in before. Now the main wheel is straight. After testing the rotation on retraction the main wheel will fit into the wing wheel well.


Next I had to figure out a way to mark the set screw position on the upper strut pin. I sanded a fine Sharpie marker to fit into the set screw hole.


It finally allowed the marker to get in deep enough to hit the pin


The pin was marked and some guide lines made to help with keeping the grinding wheel in position


A double layer grinding disc was used to make the flats on the pin.


Strut replaced and set screw centers remarked to check how I did. I was happy as the centers seemed to be on the flat spots.



Lower strut replaced and retraction rotation tested. I was pleased that the wheel fit into the wheel well


However the lower strut still hangs out too low. The only option is to remake the gear doors to cover the bump. But its way better than it was before.


Main wheel is now aligned. Good enough. This was the main show stopper for the build starting from the very beginning of the project. The next big question from the beginning was and still is... if there will be enough internal air to raise the main gears in the wind. They have to retract forward and rotate and the gear door and wheel become big wind catchers with lots of drag. We will see. The saga continues...

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Looking good Gary!

i just converted the retracts in my 40% cessna 310 over to 5/32 (4mm) airlines. Even with only using a 1/16” airline between standard nipple air tanks, the landing gear is extremely violent in retraction and extension, so much so that slowing them down is now the problem. Considering the struts are 18” long and about 2lbs of mass at the axle, its pretty impressive.

If your setup performs anything like mine, i think you will be fine.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Hi Thomas,
Using the shop air gun into the festo fittings they smash up and down. Don't get your fingers in the way. I have yet to operate all of them together through the aircraft valves and fittings so it will be interesting to see how that works. Hopefully soon.
Thanks,
Gary

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Main gear alignment... the other side


Left side wheel aligned and set screws marked. Flats ground in pin and reset.


Left wheel now goes inside wing


Same as left side the right strut still hangs out of the wing gear well


Wheels aligned, it rolls better now.


The rotation block marked where the hole need to be drilled. I am sending this part back to Larry who will make a final version.