Tales of a Rookie - LM F22 Raptor Project

Personal Thoughts and Background Information

Hey,

Thank you for taking the time to read this article; if you choose to build this plane it may come in handy to you as I definately learned a lot on the way myself.

But first a bit of background information, as this definately helps explain what I did and why. I am new to RC Model Flying and previous to building this aircraft (which has just had a succesful maiden, my first ever maiden) I only had one aircraft to fly. This aircraft was a trainer as like many people I went to a forum and the imediate advice I got was to join a club and to get some form of trainer aircraft, Specifically the aircraft is the Eflite Alpha Sport 450, a light-weight balsa wood aircraft of the high wing trainer design, this makes it naturally more stable due to the amount of dihedral, etc. Always start with a trainer, it does absolute wonders for your progress and your wallet... :D

But It was decided that I was ready for a second plane, but I wanted to build one as well. So when I saw the Filte Test build video I for the F22 Raptor, I was instantly taken in as it was exactly what Iooking for. The raptor is certainly a step up from trainer aircraft, it is faster and more agile in the air, but you sacrifice the ability to glide. However the Flite Test review is completely correct in what it says, this makes a great second/third plane as it still has some great tendancies in flight. It is remarkably stable and easy to fly, and you can keep it at a relatively low speed when starting out. However it is also nimble and fast, when you get more confident and want to move on to bigger things.

If you are looking for a cheaper, easier option for a home built second/third plane, you must take a look at this....

Build Log

Anyway, onto the real reason why we are here, what follows is my build log of the raptor. I will be looking at:
 

• Materials and Parts
• Component Cutting
• Glueing
• Painting
• Electronics Setup
• Testing and Maiden

Materials and Parts

The components I used where much the same as the materails Flite Test used in their build and review videos, check their build log as it lists links out underneath. I wanted an aircraft that would be easy to fly when starting out, but that would also have the power I wanted when I was more confident and wanted to step up the intensity and fun level :D. Thus I went for a high power 1600kv motor, the most powerful one that Flite Test mentioned in their videos, as I knew this would give me a lot of power when I wanted it. Thus I also had to buy an 18amp ESC (I went for the Red Brick 18amp), as this would not get burned out by the motor. I used the same Turnigy 2 cell 500mah batteries that Flite Test used as well, as these seemed very fit for the job; as well as the same Hextronic 9g servos that Flite Test used. You may be wondering why I used all of the recommended items, I did this because as a rookie to the building process I did not want to buy components that might not work, I wanted to be sure of the set-up. What this means is that I could follow the build video every step of the way, and my electronics wouldn't hinder me in being to big or to heavy. I was reasurred that it should work. The only thing different I used was a HiTec Optic 6 Reciver, as I only have that particular radio manufacturer.

In terms of materials for the fuselage and body, I used two different types of foam. 9mm thick Depron Foam for the main wing, fins, etc. And Blue Foam for the Fuselage. My reasons for this are simple but quite effective. I used Depron because it is lightweight and very easy to use when building a Model Aircraft, this is what many other people used when constructing this design. However I used a stronger, denser Blue Foam for the fuselage, as this was the area that would take the most hits in a crash, etc. This foam was also more variable when sanding, so I could get an authentic shape and look for my design. Both of these materials worked well and are strong in flight, I would recommend them if you were building this design.

Component Cutting

Cutting these components is fairly straightforward, all you need is a sharp cutting knife, a hack saw and some sand paper for finishing touches.

The depron is the most straightforward to cut as it comes in a large sheet, lay your plans over the sheet of foam and draw round them. Then using the sharp cutting knife (and a metal ruler for accuracy), cut down the straightline. The design for the Raptor is good as it has mostly straight lines in its design, this makes it much easier to cut. Remember that you will need to bevel the edge of the control surfaces, etc. If you want a more in detail description of what to do then go and see the Flite Test page that is on this website.

The Blue Foam is a little more tricky to cut and shape, as it cannot be cut through using the sharp cutting knife. Mark out the outline you want and then cut along it using a hack saw. Make sure that you are following the line on both sides, or in other words dont hold your saw at an angle. This will enable you to get a rough outline of your shape, you can then use sand paper to sand down exact lines and add extra detail (such as a pointed nose, etc). Now you are done in terms of cutting!

I would advise you to take great care in this area as it can really make or break the look and performance of your finished product. A badly cut part can make you unhappy with the look, or worse, hinder the performance. 

Glueing

Now comes the most important part of the whole project, the glueing and assembly stage. If you get this part wrong your plane could fall apart under the stress of flight. Again as with the cutting, take your time with this area of the process, dont be careless. It is important to note that I used UHU Por, a special glue designed for foam. However Flite Test uses Hot Glue in all of thier builds. You can use either and they will give you exactly the same results, however if you do not have access to a hot glue gun then UHU Por is the way to go.

When glueing take your time, glue the Blue Foam fuselage to the main wing first, then the control surfaces, etc. Do things in the order that best suits you. Personally I followed the order of the Flite Test video, this worked perfectly well for me and non of the components got in the way of glueing, etc. I found the glueing part of this process relatively easy, as there was not a large quantity of glueing to be done.

Painting

When painting the plane is yours to make a masterpiece :D. Do whatever you want with it, personally I went for a Black and Silver design with an Orange Canopy. This can be seen on the showcase video above. Copy my design if you would like to, post me a comment if you choose to use my ideas. But my best advice would be to get creative and think up your own ideas, or go scale and use an army paint scheme pictures of which can be found online.

Make sure you apply several coats to get the best finish and durability in your paint-work. Also remember to check the paints your using so they dont melt through the foam you have used, it is a great shame to let all your previous hard work go to waste.

Electronics Setup

The Electronics Setup on this design is very straightforward, however specific placing of components will be different for everyone. Make sure you move them around according to your CofG, dont copy it off the video. However as a rough guide I will explain where I had my electronics placed. My reciever is stuck to the right hand side of the fuselage, along with the battery. My ESC is placed on the left hand side of the main wing, tucked up against the fuselage. My servos were glued up against the undercarraige airflow struts, as in the FliteTest video. This worked well as it gave the right CofG but no extra extensions were needed.

Testing and Maiden

(See Showcase Video)

Conclusion

In conclusion, this is a great aircraft that you will have great fun with. Its relatively easy to build and this easy to repair should you crash. It also looks great in the air and will leave the other people down at the club in awe as it zooms past you, high speed or low speed. The aircraft is capable of pretty much anything and will grow with you as you develop in the hobby.

Fun Flying

TehMaxwell