Ron S

My Feedback: (2)

Congratulations! :-D
It's good to see all that hard work finally come to fruition!
You never know what you're gonna get on first flight - sounds like a minor issue... :-)

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Thanks Ron! Its definitely a good feeling looking back on it. Its nice to know that all the last minute worries i had were mostly un-necessary. The gear issue isn't much of a surprise as that left main struggled a bit once installed to fully retract. For as complex as a project is, for that to be the only gremlin (minus the need for a bit more power), i couldn't ask for much more.

kevinthoele

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Congrats on the maiden. A little scary early but looks like you got that worked out. More power please for sure!!!! Wonderful job!!!!

invertmast

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before i throw money at it, im going to find a place with more runway… preferably paved… and get the gear issue fixed. I’m also going to move some stuff around to try and remove the ballast weight.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Congrats! Great milestone passed. With a few adjustments it will fly great. I love it.

kevinthoele

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Was the final weight as on scales posted? Over 50 fueled ? Did you do a static thrust test? I know my Skymaster one is pretty heavy wet and really worked to get CG just right. Maybe your CG could be tweaked a bit? Loosing weight always a good idea!!!

JSF-TC

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Thomas,

Congratulations on an impressive build and maiden. Every maiden needs a heart-stopping moment. I look forward to you maturing it and tweaking the settings to just make it even better.

I couldn't find it, but what motor did you end up using? At the beginning of the thread, you stated a 160-200 size, but it had me wondering based on your under-powered comment.

With my Bucc weighing in at 48lb dry/ 60lb wet, and being powered by 2x 100 class motors, around 44lb total thrust (uninstalled), I continue to be impressed as to how much power it has - with it almost being over-powered. Maybe my 2 tapered exhaust pipes are helping, and not having to deal with the losses associated with a Y-pipe.


Paul

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Thanks paul! Its 44.5lbs dry, 52.5lbs wet. The turbine is a swiwin 190, so 42lbs of thrust. The tailpipe is about 3 1/2 feet long though. The next time i put it together im going to use my CG meter to measure the thrust of it, both with the bypass lid and without to see if its potentially starved of air, which i dont think it is as the temps seemed ok, but i havent reviewed the telemetry yet.

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Today is the first day since sunday that i have been able to do anything and not be in substantial pain, so i printed up some nomenclature and insignia’s/emblems and added them to the T38 before it goes on display this weekend.

kevinthoele

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I like the little details

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Its amazing how some things so small can make such a difference.

ECalderon

Hi

Are those water transparent decals printed in laser printer, or you made masks and painted them?

Regards
Eduardo

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

They were printed on a inkjet printer, using laser jet clear decal paper, then coated with a rustoleum clear before applying them.

invertmast

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fw190

My Feedback: (37)

Thomas! Amazing accomplishments! Congrats Bro!

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Well…. The past few days i have been slowly plugging away at the cockpit design and its parts. The front cockpit is mostly done. The rear cockpit is slightly different, but shhhhh, no one said that!

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Ive been doing cad work the past week and a half, as well as 3D printing a ton of stuff. I also started trying to figure out how make the MFD’s functional.





Central MFD using a raspberry Pi pico and a TFT display. Programming isnt my strong suit, so this is a Bmp to hex conversion which inverts the colors…. If i can ever get the built in SD card reader to work so i can display a jpg to the screen, i wouldnt have this problem… anyone know anything about raspberry pi pico’s?



cad view of the forward cockpit





3D printed parts beginning to accumulate.






All the necessary parts for the forward cockpit, minus an ejection seat. The tub and glare shields are 3D printed as well, but only for mockup. Once its all verified, i will make molds for fiberglass pieces.

mongo

My Feedback: (15)

have ya noticed that Bob Fiorenze has his molds and stuff listed in the classifieds?

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

I have. It would probly be a good deal for the right person, i feel the model is to small for todays market though.

kevinthoele

My Feedback: (1)

I couldn't agree more with you. I flew one when it came out but it's just too small. The scale of yours makes so much sense in today's turbine market!!!!!

Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Flight #2!

Left main gear is still being uncooperative, but things are getting better.

I was able to let the airplane accelerate more and it flies much better, even with one gear stuck half way up.

Power wise, it feels better, but could definitely use a 200 or 220.

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

T-38 Flight #3

I greased the spindle shaft on the retract and it looks like if i would of had more delay on the inner doors closing it might of gone all the way up…

Oh well, small steps.

scoeroo

My Feedback: (9)

Niiiiice -

kevinthoele

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Getting closer every flight. Hopefully you can figure out what’s going on with the gear. It’s a great accomplishment!!!!

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

I have three options at this point.... One- buy another pair of ER40 main units to see if these had been tweaked and are now slightly bent (i bought the main units used), Two- upgrade the mains to ER50's and i'll have to put a 1/2" tall bump on the top of the wing skin to allow the retract clearance or Three - design a low profile set of ER40 main frames (and possibly new upper oleo struts) and have those machined.

My flying season is almost over due to incoming cold weather and I go back to work tomorrow and begin long term training at a new employer and a new metal tube... so things are going to be pretty busy. Option #1 will probably be what i do initially, with option #3 being the long-term fix.... option #2 i just hate the thought of. lol Retooling the wings to be thicker for ER50's is out of the question as it would require retooling the fuselage as well do the the wing root being part of the fuselage as well.