Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[T-CAT]

The stock cover is only a couple of mm thick and doesn't really sit that flush already lol.

Based on someone else's work I got a thin sheet of plastic, cut it to size and fitted some NACA ducts, per this design on thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3659074

Thanks mshagg. I can’t remember the thickness as the last time I had a F-14 was many many years ago. Ha-ha. A couple millimeters is even thicker than I remember the sheet being, LOL. I was thinking of going with the NACA duct idea (which is a really nice design), but I think I’ll may end up having the ESC’s further aft and sitting the heatsink portion flush with the cover, so it’s exposed directly to the airflow.

[mshagg]

The stock cover is only a couple of mm thick and doesn't really sit that flush already lol.

Based on someone else's work I got a thin sheet of plastic, cut it to size and fitted some NACA ducts, per this design on thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3659074

[T-CAT]

I’m planning out some mods for when I get another F-14 when they arrive back in stock. One of those mods is replacing the flimsy ESC cover with all the perforations.

Since I don’t have an aircraft in front of me to judge thickness of the new replacement sheet I’ll be making out of styrene, can someone confirm the thickness needed of the sheet in order to lay flush with the main body surrounding it?

[GarrisonR]

As I know it, low is usually for inrunners and medium is for outrunners. That's the way freewing sets it I believe. I have the same setup you're building and set it to low.

A little late in the game on the F-14. Got the ARF+ kit to add the t-33 9-blade inrunners and A-10 ESCs, but one thing I haven't been able to find info on is the timing of the inrunners. I did read a post where the timing was set to low for outrunners, but wondering if it would be the same for the inrunners? Waiting for a few other parts to arrive, then I will get to start the task of building and flying the Tomcat.

[rlcamden]

A little late in the game on the F-14. Got the ARF+ kit to add the t-33 9-blade inrunners and A-10 ESCs, but one thing I haven't been able to find info on is the timing of the inrunners. I did read a post where the timing was set to low for outrunners, but wondering if it would be the same for the inrunners? Waiting for a few other parts to arrive, then I will get to start the task of building and flying the Tomcat.

[T-CAT]

My updated (the angled plug now fits more flush with the foam cover on the two middle screw holes) STL files for the F-14 wing box cover screw hole plugs are now up on Thingiverse.

it appears the straight plug design is best for the two front and two rear screw holes of the wing box cover, and the angled plug is best for the two middle screw holes.

Thank you Garrison for testing these on your jet and providing feedback.

[Elbee]

I thank you, Sir. I appreciate the assist and I won't forget it. Best, LB

[T-CAT]

Yeah no problem! I started a new Avanti nozzle that's got 4hrs or so left and I'll que them up after that.

[GarrisonR]

Yeah no problem! I started a new Avanti nozzle that's got 4hrs or so left and I'll que them up after that.

Excellent, that helps massively. I truly appreciate the time. I'll modify the angled file now and send you the new file to test fit if you don't mind. I may even make two files, an angled plug with a .5mm change and one with a .75mm change. Thanks!

[T-CAT]

1. Just to be sure, when referring to the low side requiring modification, is that referring to the part closest to head of the plug?
I was referring the low side as closest to the center axis of the fuse or the hump in the cover. The angle slopes towards the center line of the plane

2. Does the angled plug need modification to fit in both the front cover holes and center holes, or just one, the front or center?
I actually found the straight plug to work better for the front and rear holes and the angled for the center holes. When the angled is fitted in the front it does not sit flush as the foam in that area is for the most part flat. The two last pictures I posted earlier are the straight plug in the front hole.

3. In the hole that the angled plug needs altering, when the angled plug is placed in the hole, what orientation of the turn is the plug at (angle facing forward, aft, etc.?) so I can see where the head of the plug needs to be angled more or less?
Angle is facing towards the center of the plane. Its pretty hard to get a decent photo of it but the inside (center line side) of the angle only sits up about .5mm-.75mm.. eyeballed

If you don’t mind taking a picture(s) of the angled plug half way out or marked with how it is turned in the slot to properly seat, and possibly a quick pencil drawing of the angled plug and the mods needed to help me visualize it.
Apologies in advance for my crap photoshop skills

Thank you!

Excellent, that helps massively. I truly appreciate the time. I'll modify the angled file now and send you the new file to test fit if you don't mind. I may even make two files, an angled plug with a .5mm change and one with a .75mm change. Thanks!

[GarrisonR]

The plates appear to be between 6.25"-6.5" wide, hard to tell exactly with the wing on, and just under 4" long (front to back). I would think to achieve the strength you're looking for 6" would give you enough to work with.
12" should be good too, from aluminum spar or front of the plate.. 12" puts you into the bulge just before the rudder.

Good luck!

GR, would a 6" X 12" CF plate be enough material to to duplicate one side and extend far enough aft to cover the main gear mounts? Best, LB

[Elbee]

Hi Elbee, is this what you were looking for or did you need underneath the wings?

GR, would a 6" X 12" CF plate be enough material to to duplicate one side and extend far enough aft to cover the main gear mounts? Best, LB

[GarrisonR]

1. Just to be sure, when referring to the low side requiring modification, is that referring to the part closest to head of the plug?
I was referring the low side as closest to the center axis of the fuse or the hump in the cover. The angle slopes towards the center line of the plane

2. Does the angled plug need modification to fit in both the front cover holes and center holes, or just one, the front or center?
I actually found the straight plug to work better for the front and rear holes and the angled for the center holes. When the angled is fitted in the front it does not sit flush as the foam in that area is for the most part flat. The two last pictures I posted earlier are the straight plug in the front hole.

3. In the hole that the angled plug needs altering, when the angled plug is placed in the hole, what orientation of the turn is the plug at (angle facing forward, aft, etc.?) so I can see where the head of the plug needs to be angled more or less?
Angle is facing towards the center of the plane. Its pretty hard to get a decent photo of it but the inside (center line side) of the angle only sits up about .5mm-.75mm.. eyeballed

If you don’t mind taking a picture(s) of the angled plug half way out or marked with how it is turned in the slot to properly seat, and possibly a quick pencil drawing of the angled plug and the mods needed to help me visualize it.
Apologies in advance for my crap photoshop skills

Thank you!

[T-CAT]

Thanks T!
Still need paint but they fit well and wont fall out on their own. The angle one works well enough for me and what it's intentions are, but the low side could use a bit more of angle to meet the foam, the high side seems fine. It is turned to the optimum alignment as well. I know that's hard to quantify and tweak in the CAD and hopefully the pictures show what I mean.
Thanks for taking the time!

Thanks a ton for the great feedback! This should help me achieve a final design after modifications.

Hopefully you don’t mind me asking more questions to see what needs to be altered . Since I don’t own the F-14 any longer (I’ll be getting another later this year to modify), I’m doing the 3D modeling without a jet in front of me, ha-ha.

1. Just to be sure, when referring to the low side requiring modification, is that referring to the part closest to head of the plug?

2. Does the angled plug need modification to fit in both the front cover holes and center holes, or just one, the front or center?

3. In the hole that the angled plug needs altering, when the angled plug is placed in the hole, what orientation of the turn is the plug at (angle facing forward, aft, etc.?) so I can see where the head of the plug needs to be angled more or less?

If you don’t mind taking a picture(s) of the angled plug half way out or marked with how it is turned in the slot to properly seat, and possibly a quick pencil drawing of the angled plug and the mods needed to help me visualize it.

Thank you!

[Elbee]

Hi Elbee, is this what you were looking for or did you need underneath the wings?

GR, thanks for the quick reply. I am wanting the basic dimensions of the 'large' plates at the Fuselage. These have been highlighted in a couple of builds as a modification that also supports the MG by lengthening the OEM plate. I am wanting to do this in CF as part of my build. I am not in the same location as the kit, but I am ordering parts for the build. Best, LB

[GarrisonR]

Thanks T!
Still need paint but they fit well and wont fall out on their own. The angle one works well enough for me and what it's intentions are, but the low side could use a bit more of angle to meet the foam, the high side seems fine. It is turned to the optimum alignment as well. I know that's hard to quantify and tweak in the CAD and hopefully the pictures show what I mean.
Thanks for taking the time!

If you don't mind, please 3D print them and test fit these to your Freewing F-14 80mm EDF Jet. Let me know if they need any modifications/revisions to the design. I'm not sure if some covers have changed in any way over the years on this jet, the tolerance, etc., so these may or may not work as is for you.

[GarrisonR]

Hi Elbee, is this what you were looking for or did you need underneath the wings?

Hey Tomcatters, could one of you give me the width and length dimensions of the swing wing mechanism 'aluminum wing plates'? Thank you in advance. Best, LB

[Elbee]

Hey Tomcatters, could one of you give me the width and length dimensions of the swing wing mechanism 'aluminum wing plates'? Thank you in advance. Best, LB

[T-CAT]

Hey I'm on the road alot (truck driver). And I finally finished my F-14 Tomcat . I notice that my elevators have alot of play in them. is this normal......

If I remember correctly, I believe Alpha and Tom from Motion RC both said the stabilators have play in them and is normal. Mine had the same play (and what I consider to be quite a bit), as does every Freewing F-14 I’ve seen. However, some people prefer to upgrade the servos and the linkage system to reduce unwanted movement, but far more people fly it in the stock PNP form without any issues.

[T-CAT]

I 3D modeled some wing box cover screw hole plugs to use after screwing on the cover to help conceal the foam screw holes for better visual presentation. I have always disliked the eye sore of the screw holes of the cover, so this is an idea I had to cover them up by means of a rather easily removable solution. One plug is angled and intended to be used on the two front and two middle holes. The straight plug is intended to be used on the two rear cover holes.

If you don't mind, please 3D print them and test fit these to your Freewing F-14 80mm EDF Jet. Let me know if they need any modifications/revisions to the design. I'm not sure if some covers have changed in any way over the years on this jet, the tolerance, etc., so these may or may not work as is for you.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4722203