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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

Dino's Cat is out!!

Hey, Diego... the defects are surely not your fault, nor of the other testers. It has been a very complex project - so it is perfectly normal that hobbyst developers, like me, are unable to catch all the defects. The problem is that quality requires time...and I don't have much :)

The Tomcat will surely get better in future...and I have to confess that I am pretty happy with it as it is right now.
 
Been waiting for a chance to get it. Thanks Dino, will test after download. Getting the latest 0.93 update. :ernae::medals:

Caz
 
Sorry to report this, but there is a big problem with the verticle stabalizers after the .93 version

tail.jpg


Both stabalizers are yet still too much at an angle, and something is funky with the right one

Maybe this photo will help,

A20040156000%20F-14%20restoration%20team.jpg


Diego
 
Yes, I detected the same. Seems also that the right Stab is leaning a hair outward more than the left Stab(or my eyes are going to hell-lol). Dino, the model is usable as is, just take your time making the fixes. 99% of us are happy with what you did thus far and patient to wait on fixes.
 
In school, I was a crappy math student but I Aced Geometry! My ole Mk-1 Eyeball sees angles that many never notice. I have driven many people crazy with that tool/gift(or curse-lol)
 
Since we are on the topic of lines and angles, anyone else notice the canopy could use some re-shaping? Seems too low, if that makes any sense.

(I'm not hating, remember, I'm just trying to give my feedback to hopefully make it closer to the real deal)
 
Diego, I agree. Also, I noticed a tiny triangle of the refueling probe sticks through the fuselage. I noticed this after I cycled it, dont know if that has to do with the bug or not.
 
I think the canopy shape may be tied into the nose shape. It appears as though the nose tapers too much too quickly. The real F-14's nose seems to retain much of its thickness until it gets to the nosecone where it rounds out to a point. Hard to explain...this pic shows the shape well though. If this is true, its such a minor geometry issue...its hard to tell...

http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Yuma2005/Statics/F14SideView.jpg

Also, I dont mean to drive Dino nuts with this stuff either - just pointing it out.
 
MenendezDiego said:
I'm the same way.​



Hey Dino, did you do some work on the nose for the .93 version? It looks much better?​
Click to expand...
Quote from his blog---
Version hotfixes to 0.93:
- formation lights on right tail were missing
- taileron roll position was reversed.
- visual "hole" through the VC pedals
- reduced AIM-7 wing dimensions...
- tail geometry and animation sequence reworked
 
I will investigate that tonight. Unfortunately I will not have much time to work on the Tomcat in the upcoming months - so I have to fix all I can asap.

Dino

BTW angles were matched agains drawings - I prefer not to use photos as there may be some distortion. Still, seems the drawings were inaccurate.
 
Dino Cattaneo said:
I've just released version 0.93 - see the links on my blog - which addresses (I hope) the geometic issues with the tails.

I am sorry for having updated so often (3 times in 48 hours). I know this generates confusion. Still, while the Tomcat has been tested by several persons for more than one month, some major mistakes found their way to the public release. No changes to the flight dynamics so far.

My apologies for the inconvenience. I hope the Tomcat, despite its defects, provides a fun ride.
Click to expand...


Dino IMHO you have nothing to apologize for, for someone like you who has taken so much of his spare time to produce such a fantastic piece of work my hat is off to you.
You have done an outstanding job on this big bird. I do hope your not to miffed with all the..........this isn't right that isn't right......this is off by a few degrees.
I found something small, was it worth posting.....no I don't think so. I'm just having a blast tearing all over the sky and trapping.

Thanks again...........just my few cents worth !
 
Hi Dino,

First of all, thank you, once again, for this beautifull bird that you have provided. Your efforts were greatly appreciated, as you can read right here.

Concerning the fixes, as said already above, take your time. The community is very pleased with this addon anyway.
 
Daube said:
Hi Dino,

First of all, thank you, once again, for this beautifull bird that you have provided. Your efforts were greatly appreciated, as you can read right here.

Concerning the fixes, as said already above, take your time. The community is very pleased with this addon anyway.
Click to expand...

Agreed! Dino, please don't feel any obligation or pressure, you have already gone above and beyond and I know most of us are very thankful!! :medals:
 
Here's a couple of good reference links for the drawings and Vertical Stab Alignment.

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-dimensions.htm

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-dimensions-01.htm

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-cutaway.htm

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-fin.htm

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-vtp.htm

Regarding the question about Speed Brake and Spoiler interaction/deployment, this photo is interesting showing the center section of the Spoilers deployed with the Speed Brakes in flight.


 
Well, as I said, comments are always welcome! Does not matter to me if it is a small detail or a big mistake - it is really important to me to have feedback from other people because "the eye of the owner makes the horse fatter"...you can't really observe objectively the result of your efforts.

That being said, I did the Tomcat first and foremost for myself and for the fun of doing it...but while I am not a "rivet counter" (I should write an essay on the various subspecies of simmers) I really cannot stand some defects... I'm just finishing a further build. Then I am done with the Tomcat for the rest of this week.
 
Regarding the question about Speed Brake and Spoiler interaction/deployment, this photo is interesting showing the center section of the Spoilers deployed with the Speed Brakes in flight.
Click to expand...

Thats the DLC in action on landing! Cool pic! The mid wing spoilerons are the surfaces that you see actuating.
 
Actually, heres a modified excerpt from a paper I wrote for an advanced aerodynamics class:

Wing Control Systems:

The control surfaces on the wings of the F-14 included spoilers, leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps. The slats and flaps would move only with the wings fully extended in the low speed configuration. The leading edge slats were controlled automatically as 'maneuvering slats' - in that they would extend under wing increased loading conditions during maneuvering flight (up to 7.5 degrees) to reduce airflow separation by energizing top-flow air. The inboard portions of the trailing edge flaps could also extend under this system to a maximum of 10 degrees, increasing effective camber. The spoilers, which ran nearly the full length of the wing, were composed of three inboard and two outboard units on each wing. The inboard units were also the same used for DLC (although initial testing with the F-14A was done with the outboard units). The spoilers were used for primary roll control for conditions where the wings were extended beyond 57 degrees. Below 57 degrees, the spoilers would lock in place in the retracted position to prevent possible rolling g load damage in high speed flight - and the all-moving horizontal stabilators would remain the only roll control devices.

DLC:

Because the aircraft was slow to respond to control inputs at final approach speeds, a Direct Lift Control (DLC) system was adapted (similar to the one the Lockheed L-1011 uses) which reduced control movement required by actuating the mid-wing spoilerons between 2 and 28 degrees (when the stick was pushed forward or the throttle was retarded at a controlled rate). This allowed the aircraft to vary its glide path without changing its flight attitude. Through this system (either automatic or varied manually via a wheel on the stick), carrier approaches received a variance in lift, without minimizing drag produced by the flaps. The DLC system allowed for a greatly reduced workload for the pilot on precision carrier approaches.

Kinda cool how the systems work together!
 
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