Tough Jets T-14V
Modern electric, delta jet meets good ole’ fashioned fun-flying!
By Tim Stephens PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM STEPHENS & DAVE GARWOOD T
he F-14 Tomcat is a fast, long-range missile platform formerly used by the US Navy. It’s a large plane that is most notably known for its hinged wings that sweep back during fast flight and forward during slow flight. The T- 14 kit from Tough Jets resembles the F-14 with swept back wings but that doesn’t mean this kit is only for those with quick re- flexes. From fast flight to near-vertical land- ings, this model will accommodate both the novice or the more experienced pilot. The T- 14 comes in two versions, both of which are elevon controlled. Either uses a pusher prop. The T-14V adds to the base model an in- board set of elevons which increase the area of the control surfaces and provides thrust vectoring.
Inside the box The T-14V kit arrived in a large and very flat box. Inside were a few parts bags, pieces of pre-cut EPP foam, pieces of pre-cut Coro- plast™, carbon fiber support rods, clear canopy, motor mount, and an aluminum L- shaped bracket for attaching the motor mount to the body of the plane. The wing of the plane, being made of a single sheet of
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Coroplast™, is the reason for such a large box. For those not familiar with Coro- plast™, it’s a corrugated plastic that is com- monly used for signs. This kit
AT A GLANCE Type:
also came with the optional Tough Jets Power System which includes a 1400 KV brushless outrunner motor, a 9–6 Master Airscrew prop, bullet connectors for the ESC-to-motor connection, and a 50A ESC which will give plenty of room over the 27 amps this prop/motor combination usual- ly draws.
There were still some parts that I would need to complete my T-14V kit: four servos (two for controlling the outboard elevons and two for controlling the thrust vector- ing), a battery, the radio system, and paint. I selected a three-cell 2200 mAh 30C bat- tery and four of the Towerpro SG-50 servos (a 5g servo rather than the recommended 9g); all of which I ordered from Value Hob- by
www.valuehobby.com. The kit also came with a CD containing the instruction man- ual, which can also be downloaded from the Tough Jets website
www.toughjets.com for those anxious to get started. It also includ- ed a few pictures of completed and in-flight T-14s.
Construction: Wing span: Wing area: Airfoil: Length: Weight:
R/C delta-wing pusher-prop foam and Coroplast™ 31 inches 615 sq. in.
undercambered 41.75 inches 2 pounds
Wing loading: Motor: Prop: ESC:
Battery:
7.5 oz./sq.ft. 1400 Kv
9–6 E-flite 60-amp 3S 2200 mAh Li-Po
Radio: 3-channel w/delta wing mixing Manufacturer:
Tough Jets 26 Main Street Kittery, ME 03904 207-475-5177
www.toughjets.com
APRIL 2013
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