Guillow's F-16 and F-15

[BillParker]

Guillow's F-16 and F-15

Recently completed the Today's Hobbies Inc. F-16A Fighting Falcon Kit #TOD-J-1, and thoroughly enjoyed the build,

(build photos)
http://www.parkerinfo.com/ap116.htm

so I decided to bring down off the shelf the Guillow's jets I been saving:

F-16a Fighting Falcon Item Number: 1403

and

F-15 Eagle Item Number: 1401 (there were 2 of these on the shelf....)

(build photos)
http://www.parkerinfo.com/ap122.htm

These kits are going to be alot better in a laser cut version than in die cut. There's alot of notches in the fuse formers, and building three of em at once just about wore me out. Lots and lots of repair work on the formers just getting them ready for assembly... These kits are old and the wood was very seasoned, (hard as walnut) but I finally got the notches ready...







These planes are not built with the same techniques as the prop jobs, former to keel, flip it and do the other side. The fuse is built freehand, dropping the formers into die cut deep notches in the center keel. You're supposed to use a former guage supplied to make sure everything is square. That was a non starter for me, so I added balsa behind each of the keel notches so that I could simply glue up the formers and forget about them. Worked good...

[BillParker]

These plane kits are not designed for flight, glide or power, so weight is not an issue. Several places in the destructions, reference is made to NOT covering the model a5t all for a "bones display model..." There's been some discussion around here as to what might be required to make these kits fly with power, Jetex, EDF, Rocket Engines, etc... It will require a completely different approach to the fuse construction, making it hollow, just to start with. heck, if it wore me, the first thing I'd do is double the size of the plan, (at the very least) before I cut the first piece of balsa...

So, you just drop em into the slots:





Then get your stringers on:





As I planned to cover the wings and tail feathers with 1/32" balsa, I left out all interior 1/16" stringers...

[BillParker]

Beefed up the wing roots: (tripled)





Blocked up the leading edge of all six wings to help glue down the 1/32"...



The sanded it all purty:



Tail feathers are much easier laminations:



Time to start covering, and playing with the plastics, and missles:



More real soon!

bp

[dlazarus6660]

Nice Job!

I've been waiting to see an F-16A build here on phpBB. I just started mine with special modifications.
KUTGW!

If I may make a suggestion. Run the sheeting grain with the leading edge of the flying surfaces. It's stronger that way.

[BillParker]

I did on the wings. On the tail feathers, it was a matter of most efficient use of 3/32" balsa stock. Least amount of scrap. And, considering that the only wind shear that these things will experience is when the Air Conditioning kicks on, strength just ain't an issue...

[BillParker]

Guillow's F-16 and F-15

(build photos)
http://www.parkerinfo.com/ap122.htm



Am I the only one that finds it interesting that the F-16 kit comes with "Phoenix Missles?"

These were fun builds, and they'll be really easy to make into really really large versions. I needs me some big jets, I think!


bp