We've completed most of the conversion on the F-20. Do to it's very small size there isn't a good place to split it to create a nose section. After doing the early Dremel routing out of the aft end and removing a good bit from the inside fuselage it was determined with a Piece of T2+ (micro minimum diameter body tube) placed all the way to the cockpit tub their just was not enough room for all the inner stuff for a normal break apart flying model.
This one is going to have to be Rear ejection. UGH! that means I had to remove even more plastic and round out the fuselage enough to pass a T2++ (.316" OD) tube as a pod slide tube. T2++ telescopes over our normal T2+ Micro motor tubing. Cutting a 1" T2+ motor tube I added a double length 3/8" T2 (.246") motor stop extending out the back 3/16". this well house a .020" dia Stainless steel bend double hook shockline & Streamer anchor point. I'm have to show you guys the bent wire and mounting method a bit later when I get the pics out of the camera. After drilling 2 tiny hole 180° apart in the extended coupling the hook prongs are inserted in the cardboard bound by a bit of CA inside and out. the outer area is then ground down flush with the exterior of the T2 tube allowing the unit to slide nearly friction free in and out of the T2++ body tube. Now we'll set the Motor mount & shockcord mount aside while we tackle how and where we will install the 2.8grams of Nose weight needed to make our model stable.
Just no where to put all those tiny #9 lead shot without removing the cockpit tub. it just has to be done. Dremel on...we carefully cut out the entire tub leaving only the exterior edge. a tiny filler piece of .010" styrene is MC'ed in place to close off the area so we can fill the void with shot. We're building this one Wheels up also so a new front wheel well door is fashioned for the styrene sheet as well. After a bit of CA & the tinyest amount of Epoxy applied to fix the T2++ bodytube in the fuselage the two halves of the model are MC joined. now we're ready to load the nose weight and fix it in place with a small amount of CA run thru a scrap of T2 tubing to the top of the lead deep inside the model. I suppose it might have been possible to load both halves before they were joined but I wanted to get the Shockline as far down in the nose as possible surrounded by lead shot and CA/epoxy. I forgot to mention we're using a 70lb Braided Kevlar 42" long shock line triple knotted and buried in the nose weight. the kevlar is run on the outside of the T2 glue deliver tube so only the kevlar in the nose is glue soaked.
After allowing the model to stand on it's nose for a couple hours the CA as set and it's time to inject just a bit of 5 minute epoxy to seal off the end of the T2++ motor tube from the plastic. Using the same T2 tube and a 3/16" hardwood dowel punger, a small mount of epoxy loaded in the forward end of the T2 tube is carefully inserted and squeezed out sealing the T2++. again sit this assemble aside to cure.
While the epoxy is curing we decide which weapons will be added, assemble, and CA to the ends of Bamboo sticks for painting. Stores pylons are added to the under wing and belly. Now the wing and elevators are installed taking care to align them. some of the center seam lines were kinda bad so a little CA is added, cured and sanded smooth, A needle & pin vise and panel scribe tool help re-install the panel lines after sanding. Most of this was done so quickly many of the steps were missed as I was concentrating on the HOW to make this one work...sorry bout that. I did catch myself before I went to far I'll upload the photos take soon.
We're ready for a light primer coat and two greys on the aircraft. while it's drying, the weapons stores are brush painted.
Before adding the stores I wanted to be sure I got the CG correct. added our 1/2" by 12" yellow teflon streamer after tying on the shockline to the stainless anchor mount. slide a MMX-II in the mount, just taped the canopy in place...dang it...shes still a tab bit tail heavy.
only one thing to do...I'll add a few more shot in the canopy tub hole. CA in place and perhaps paint the inside of the canopy dark blue or black? Well see.
After painting the upper body gunship grey over the bottom aggressor grey the shot in under the canopy may not be objectionable.
Hopefully tonight I'll get the stores added and canopy installed.
Hope to unload the camera also if time permits, perhaps photos will upload tomorrow?
Edit: Haven't captioned these pic yet hope they help with the text above.
