This is a new PSS project for 2011, which I hope will be ready for next year’s flying season. It is a very large F14 Tomcat made from blue foam, with a swing wing system which extends to just over 2m wing span. The model came from a free plan of a small electric prop jet, which was blown up on the photo copier by approx 200%. My f14 is the second one to be produced, the first was made by Ian Robb of the Langford model club and was made from polystyrene and flew off a dolly with a large electric motor and a pusher prop. Ian’s f14 flew very well and looked great in the air, however, you needed a big runway to get the model off the ground when using the dolly. I had intended to make my example an electric pusher jet as well, however, over the last few years I have got into PSS flying, so the big f14 will be converted to a power slope soaring model.
I have worked on the model on and off over the last year or so, and thanks to Ian for making the swing wing section and the elevator control system, both work great and should perform well in the air. One of the problems that I had with working with blue foam was the amount of dust when using the sander in the workshop, which give me health problems, even with a mask on, however with warmer and longer evenings, I can now work outside where the dust can blow away better.
So back to the model, The f14 will be a semi scale jet, made from, blue foam and glassed all over. The wings , will have a variable sweep system and flight controls will include elevators and ailerons, may add rudders later if required.
This is the F14 example that I have got decals for:
F-14B Tomcat VF-103 Jolly Rogers
Photo of the first f14 pusher prototype in action (build by Ian Robb)
This how the f14 looks so far:
Wings sweep back
Wings in the forward position.
Two 25kg digi servos to operate the wing sweep system, which works very well!
I will keep you all updated as the model takes shape, not looking forward to all that sanding again!!
