On the first F-104 prototype I used some already cut dowels from the F-16 kit. Larger wing tanks will be used on the next build.
These larger tanks will change the C/G, I hope no nose weight is needed.
In the picture the larger new tank is set over the first one.
It's really not very difficult to shape the dowel ends. Each end takes about ten minutes of carving and sanding.
Trivia: Somewhere on line are the original plans for the the Estes Mars Snooper. The fin pods were made from just dowels, not nose cones and tubing.
I like that better :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure they will not effect flight dynamics.
Hi Leo,
DeleteI hope it doesn't effect stability. I don't like to add nose weight if I don't have to.
The original Estes Mars Lander plans are on Jim Z's site if any one wants to take a look. Scroll down to kit K-43.
ReplyDeleteSometimes scale accuracy needs to be balanced against flight stability: the elongated Quest X-15 and the modified and slightly enlarged fins of the Dr. Zooch Saturn V come to mind. As long as you capture the "feel" of the F-104, I don't think anyone will mind small compromises. After all, it needs to fly straight, right?
Hi BAR,
DeleteThe instructions I'm referring to are the original plan before it became the K-20 kit. (I should have typed in Mars Snooper, I'll edit that!) It might have been printed in an old MRN. When I saw it a few years back I was surprised the original fin pods were formed from just a dowel. I can't find it now -
It's on the JimZ site under Dom plan 25
DeleteThey actually have you carve the pods from a block of balsa!
DeleteHi Jeffrey,
DeleteMaybe it was balsa! I thought it was a dowel. A balsa block would be a bear to carve round.
Yup, here's the URL:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/eirp_25.htm
Cheers!
Thanks Jeffrey and BAR,
DeleteThat solves the mystery - the pods were cut out of a balsa block! They even provided a "circle guide" template! No wonder the production kit had BT-5 tubing and nose cones.
I was impressed by the thoroughness of the instructions. Many similarities to carving a guitar neck. I think I'll give this a try and maybe use the techniques when I repair my 133% upscale which was to tail heavy with plastic cones on the pods. By the way love the blog it is now on my daily read list.
Delete