HET F-20 Construction Photos
Kit components unpackaged and laid out for inspection.
Some parts slid into position for a trial fit.
The WeMoTec 70 mm fan with
HET 2W-20 motor installed.
A variation from the included CD manual. I found it easier to construct the thrust tube on the outside of the fuselage.
Tape in place over front of fan, slip rear through the tail cone and mark for cutting.. Leave approx 3/8" overlap. Lightly sand the overlap area and tape in place. Wick thin CA into the seam line inside the tube and allow to cure. Add clear packaging tape to outside of tube along seam line. Reinstall fan and slide tube into fuselage from rear. Mark the location of the mounts and cut 3/8" notches to clear the mounts.
Don't let this happen to you. Read the review page carefully before attaching the wings. I wound up with a small amount of dihedral in one wing with the other being almost flat.
Another variation from the plans.
3/16" balsa is used to build up the floor to level with the stringers. 1/8" balsa strips are laid across to give a base for the ply plate to be epoxied in.
Lite ply battery base laid in and marked for velcro strap locations.
The spacing on the 1/8" balsa plates allow room for the straps underneath.
Finished battery tray.Be sure to drill the hole for the launching hook through to the bottom of the fuselage before epoxying the top into place.
HET Tsunami 72 ESC attached to motor. Connectors from ESC to motor shrink wrapped to prevent coming apart.
Fan, ESC and Thrust tube trial fitted.
Main power wires get heat shrink at plug in connectors to prevent them from coming loose as well
Elevator servo wire routed underneath the thrust tube to receiver location on opposite side of fuselage.
Small guage solid wire pulled through from servo cutouts into fan area of fuselage. Again, read the full review for details.
Canopy base marked for location of 1/8" dowel.
With canopy base taped in place, a 1/8" hole is drilled through canopy base and fuselage former.
Remove canopy base and slighly enlage the hole in the fuselage.
Trial for dowel to fuselage
1/8" wooden dowel is glued into place in the canopy base.
After trimming canopy to size, lightly sand inside where it will be glued to the canopy base.
Canopy is glued to base at front and rear of formers then removed and glued along sides.
After gluing, excess plastic below the base is removed.
Finished canopy in place on fuselage
Magnetic latches installed on rear of canopy. I was guessing about how to do this since it's not shown in the CD manual, but seems to have worked out ok.
Canopy masked and ready for painting.
Completed radio installation. Using the Spektrum radio's flaperon mixing function eliminates the need for a "Y" harness on the aileron servos.
Launch hook installed
Vertical fin is finally installed and tail cone attached with clear silicone.
Completed model resting on top of the PVC launcher platform. Weight without the battery pack is 32 oz.
RTF weight with a 3200mah 4S pack is 42 oz.
Attractive and basically well built ARF kit although it could use a more in depth & slightly rearranged construction manual for assembly.
If you feel "the need for speed" I'd suggest a visit to the Electric Jet Factory. Prices are competitive, and has good customer service to boot.
