OWL F-16 Falcon - 70mm EDF
( Semi Scale Model )
~ LW-PLA Digital Balsa and Foam Series ~
Videos and Pictures
We have released 64mm EDF F-16 Falcon successfully as part of “Digital Balsa and Foam” series. The 64mm EDF is designed for hand launching or utilizing catapult launchers. 80mm or more EDF sizes would be too big for no landing gears, so we decided to scale up the model to fit 70mm EDF instead.
We wondered if that size can be still reliable for hard landing, especially the F-16 Falcon model where its intake lip is located at the bottom and front side of the fuselage. Surprisingly, “Digital Balsa and Foam” is not only strong but also light and there is no issue so far with any impacts happening during landing. Now, based on our experience, we would like to go more with “Digital Balsa and Foam” techniques used for our upcoming models.
This 70mm EDF OWL F-16 Falcon model has been tested with 4s 3300mAh and 6s 2200mAh (about 400grams of weight). This model still can be hand launched, but we would suggest launching it with our OWL Catapult Launcher (STL files are free to download). We really love our Catapult Launcher since easy to use and safe. We will use it also for our jet upcoming models.
To protect from scratches during landing, you use fiber tape (you can find it in details below in this page). Now, we give you all solutions to have fun with our models. It flies fast and also slow and no worries anymore during take off and landing.
In general, this model must be printed with LW-PLA/ePLA-LW/PolyLight 1.0 filament only (you still may want to experiment printing some parts with PLA * for example printing wings with PLA for having extreme maneuver *) and no landing gear (hand launch or catapult launcher type of model)
Please note that G-code files generated from ideaMaker does not compatible to use with Prusa original 3D printers. Please use PrusaSlicer instead if you would like to regenerate the G-code files for your Prusa printers.
Flying Play List
Digital Balsa and Foam Series
New Printing Profiles with Gyroid Infill :
As you can see from the pictures below, they illustrate a 3D printed part when using gyroid infill and ribs. You can pick infill percentage to you preferences where the higher you set it will be stronger. To get optimal result, we also still use ribs so that we will achieve parts using optimal gyroid infill percentage. With having gyroid infill, we have tried to use top and bottom layers. The good news is that the AUW is still acceptable for the jet and allow it to use like lego style blocks to assemble.
We run some research and experiment with some number of setting values for infill percentage. Final values will be used in OWLplane slicer profiles. Feel free to increase or decrease the values including playing with other settings if you feel better than ours (we are happy listening / getting your input/feedback, so keep us posted about your build in our facebook group).
Unfortunately, we have to let S3D go since it does not have gyroid infill pattern and also has not sent any new update for couple of years. We are not really comfortable to use in upcoming future. At the same time, we welcome PrusaSlicer to add. PrusaSlicer has been updated to be able to slice our single perimeter models and well known for easy to use. Although, our G-code files are sliced with ideaMaker, we also provide the 3MF files so that if you would like to play with the model, all slicer settings are already recorded in the files. In case you do not know, 3MF is another format to represent 3D model with some additional information such as slicer settings. It can be said as rich STL files with some additional information.
Like Playing Lego :
As explained above, here are some pictures after cleaning the parts, they can assemble like playing “lego” blocks.
Expected Some Stringing but Easy to Clean :
Since active foaming filaments such as LW-PLA is not affected by retraction, some stringings are expected. The good news is that they are easy to clean compared to printing with standard PLA/PLA+. Note : illustrations below are borrowed from F-16 Falcon 64mm EDF.
- Suggested using knife to clean initially.
- Once completed using knife, continue using sandpaper for sanding some strings that still attached to skin.
- Sandpaper could also used to make smoother skin.
- For the plug-in blocks, also use sandpaper to eliminate excessive materials.
Sandpaper Cleaning the Excessive Materials Surrounding Plug-In Blocks :
Sanding parts would make assembling much easier and clean. Excessive materials can be found on the top surfaces. For example, the circle in the picture need to sand so that there is no need to push the part later to fit into the next part.
Sand The Surfaces To Get Smooth Ones :
Comparing surfaces before and after sending it. LW-PLA material let you smoothing surfaces where it would not be applicable with standard PLA or PLA+.
Specification and Some Details
- Wing Loading : 81gr/dm^2.
- AUW/Flying Weight : 1750gr.
- Wing Area : 21.6 dm^2.
- Wing Cube Loading (WCL) : 17.41.
- Flight Performance Category : Racer.
- Radio Channels : Throttle, Aileron and Elevator.
- Length : 1,099.2mm.
- Wing Span : 843.6mm.
Spar Requirements :
- 1 x 6mm OD and with 480mm long fiber carbon tube as front fuselage and wing spar.
- 1 x 8mm OD and with 600mm long fiber carbon tube as back fuselage and wing spar.
- 2 x 6mm OD and with 174mm long for stabilizer spars.
Locking Belt for Attaching Wings to Fuselage :
Aileron/Wing Control Surfaces Rods:
Elevator/Horizontal Stabilizer Control Surfaces Rods:
Elevator Servos with Thin Double Tape:
Please use thin double tape if necessary to make the servo firm in its position.
Electronic Positions :
Feel free to locate the electronics for getting the correct CoG.
70mm EDF Bracket and Installation :
Left picture is EDF installation with removed leading edge lip (you do not need screws to install but please use hot glue to make EDF well attached to the bracket as seen in the picture) and the right side is with leading edge lip intact (used).
Right picture utilizes when you need to install EDF with leading edge lip (no need to remove).
Two sets of EDF brackets can be used. The one with lip removed or the one with the lip intact.
You can find the bracket STL files under “OWL F-16 Falcon 70mm – SUPPORT\F-16 Falcon 70mm EDF BRACKETS\STL and GCODE\withLip” or “OWL F-16 Falcon 70mm – SUPPORT\F-16 Falcon 70mm EDF BRACKETS\STL and GCODE\withNoLip”.
Using Nose Antenna or Not :
Two options are available to choose between antenna and no antenna nose parts. When using antenna version, make sure you fly the model safely since the pointing rod can make serious injury when hitting (note : if not careful, when the rod hitting inside the battery, it would be easily for making fire after crashing).
Lid Assembly Suggestion :
3 types of fins are provided from short, medium and long. Although, short fins are less risk to stuck on the ground, it is still better without fins. You may want to use fins whenever to display the model.
Canopy Assembly and Trim :
Center of Gravity (CoG) :
- CoG is 99.6mm from Wing Root Leading Edge (see the pictures below).
How to Launch OWL F-16 Falcon 70mm EDF Model :
Two methods are suggested to launch the model. The first one is to use OWLplane Catapult Launcher. Please visit OWLplane Catapult Launcher product page under “PRODUCTS” tab after clicking “ALL PRODUCTS”(you can use your own Catapult Launcher, you may need only to use the adapter). The second one is by hand launching.
It is recommended to launch the model by utilizing OWLplane Catapult Launcher or your own launcher since it is human error free.
#1 – By Utilizing OWLplane Catapult Launcher.
Watch the following videos how easy it is to launch the rc model with OWLplane Catapult Launcher and human free errors.
#2 – By Throwing.
Follow the following tips to launch :
– Lean your body backward.
– Put your fingers on designated locations (shown in the following section below).
– Start throwing by also moving your body forward.
Note : Above pictures are illustration only, using 50mm BAE Hawk T1 – 50mm EDF instead.
Printing and Preparing OWL F-16 Falcon 70mm Launcher Adapter :
If you plan to launch the model with your own catapult launcher, please print the parts shown on the right side from “OWL F-16 Falcon 70mm – SUPPORT\CATAPULT ADAPTER”. That parts will use the strongest part in the model fuselage/wings and will not destroy your model when employing high pulling force.
You can find a complete set of them also after downloading “OWLplane Catapult Launcher” ~ free to download ~ under “OWLplane CL – STL and G-code v1.1\CL-ADAPTER\F-16 Falcon\70mm” directory.
Two ropes are used to assembly the back fiber carbon tube. The length of the ropes is about 33cm.
Use paper tape to create tabs as shown in the pictures.
More details regarding assembling the adapter can be found from OWLplane Catapult Launcher product page.
Finger Resting for Hand Launching :
If you choose to launch by throwing, please put your fingers as shown in the following pictures. They are designed to be the strongest positions to throw and located couple of mm right before the correct CoG.
Fiber Tape Protecting OWL F-16 During Belly Landing from Rough Surfaces :
By using fiber tape attached to the belly skin, it will protect a model during landing from rough surfaces. Not only protecting, you may no need to clean the belly after sometime by replacing it to get back clean.
We have tested it and really happy with the result. The model is still in a good condition after landing it on rough surfaces.
Some Note for Slicing STL Files :
Default Value are :
– Retraction : Set enabled only to make “extra restart length = 0.05mm” (PrusaSlicer), “extra restart amount = 0.05mm” (IdeaMaker) or “retraction extra prime amount = 0.5mm^3” (Cura) to compensate loosing materials due to stringing issues.
– Heatbed: 55 degree C.
– Hotend: 245 degree C (you may want to change it between 240 – 250 degree C).
– Extrusion Multiplier : 0.55% (feel free to update this value).
– Extrusion Width: 0.40mm (feel free to find your preference value, but it will be around that value).
– Extrusion Height: 0.25mm (greater is faster but less stronger bonding).
– Printing Speed: 35mm/sec.
– Retraction Speed : 50mm/sec.
Weight and Time Estimation :
Following tables show the weight of printed parts, number of required filament rolls and time required to print. But the number may vary from printer to printer due to:
– Stepper Jerk value.
– Stepper Acceleration value.
– Steps per unit (either calibrated or uncalibrated).
– Extruder quality/condition.
– Nozzle quality/condition.
– Filament quality/condition.
– Etc.
Here are the summary table :
Klipper Firmware Does Not Accept “#” / Hash Character
Unfortunately the Klipper firmware does not accept the “#” / hash character when naming the file. More and more 3D printers nowadays and upcoming most likely will use the Klipper firmware where when using previous firmware such as Marlin, Prusa, etc. do not prevent it from processing.
Since our naming convention for our g-code files utilize the “#” character and already since we started the OWLplane, we still keep them until our new release models dated after July 2024 (after BD OWLjet 70mm 6s EDF).
No worry, to use our g-code files, just need to remove the “#” character, that is it !
Fore example :
“FUSELAGE-1 # P3_H15″ replace the file name with “FUSELAGE-1 P3_H15”
Note : no “#” character is used in the new file name.
How To Extract Our Zip Files
Somehow when the folder path is too long, files and directories can not be extracted directly to a destination directory. There is a workaround for this, just follow the guide below. What you need to follow is to double click zip file until you find the directory. From there, double right click to invoke a “copy” command. After that, just paste the directory into your destination directory. That is it !
Table of Contents
Update History
Updated Weight and Time Table from v1.0 to v1.1 – Dated October 2nd, 2023.
– Made correction on “Time to Print” column where the number was copied from 64mm EDF version not 70mm EDF version (no change on the STL and G-code files).
Recommended Setup
- Motor Options : 70mm EDF 4s and 6s as shown above where their EDF brackets are already provided. EDF bracket STEP files are also provided just in case you need to try with not listed above but you need to make some modification by yourself.
- Servo Options : 4 x 12gr servos for aileron (left and right) and elevator (left and right).
- ESC Options : ESC may be enough with 80A, please consult to your EDF manual if safe enough to use.
- Battery Size : LiPo 4s 3300mAh or 6s 2200mAh rated 70C with weight around 400gr.
Battery Protector and/or Weight Balancer Holder for 2200mAh 3s/4s and 3300mAh 4s Battery :
One of challenges in 3D printed plane is where it has a wide range of possible total weight result. For example, the plane printed with 0.40mm comparing to 0.32mm extrusion width may end up the CoG moved about 2cm – 3cm backward with using the same battery. You may need to move the battery forward or add more weight at the nose to get back the CoG to its previous location. To solve this issue at the same time protecting your battery, the following STL files are created for your 2200mAh 3s/4s and 3300mAh 4s. Feel free to download and use the files (G-code files are also provided for Bowden or Direct Drive setup including STEP files).
Tools and Materials
- Printer, in general 200mm x 200mm x 200mm (W x L x H) for all OWLplane Models.
- Filament: LW-PLA from ColorFabb, ePLA-LW from eSUN and PolyLight 1.0 from 3DLabPrint.
- CA glue with accelerator. Use thick glue to join surface to surface. Use thin CA glue for coating the joint surface areas.
- Velcro sticker/polyester hook and loop peel-n-stick self-adhesive for locking the battery.
- Fine sandpaper.
- Sharp knife.
- Screwdriver and/or allen wrench for chosen screws/bolts.
- Pliers, needle-nose pliers, nippers.
- Steel bolt cutter.
- Dremel/rotary tool for cutting carbon fiber tubes and rod with more than 2.5mm.
- Electric drill, its drill-bit size from 1.5mm - 5mm and step cone drill.
- Propeller shaft reamer or hole puncher reamer.
Hardware Needed
For Fuselage and Canopy:
- Self tapping screw 2 x M3x20mm or M2.5x20mm with their washers (optional) for mounting left and right wings with locking belt and 2x for fuselage lid - 4x.
- Self tapping screw 2 x M3x12mm or M2.5x12mm with their washers (optional) for mounting left and right wings without locking belt.
- Ballpoint pen springs for Canopy - 1x.
For Aileron and Elevator Servos:
- 2.0 - 2.5mm rod is used for crating aileron and elevator hinges (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod but preferred TIG Aluminum Rod instead).
- 2.0 - 2.5mm rod is used as aileron and elevator pushrod (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod).
- 2.5 - 3mm rod for creating aileron, horizontal stabilizer and canopy support (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod).
- Landing gear wheel stop set collar D2.1mm or D2.6mm for aileron and elevator - 4x.
- Linkage stopper D2.1mm or D2.6mm for aileron and elevator - 4x.
*) Illustration only
Setup for Servo Travel/Throw
Suggested setup for medium travel/thrown are depicted below and you may adjust the setup according to your need.
Please pay attention to start and end measurement location. Especially elevator, it needs wider throw than usual model with about the same dimensions.
- Aileron = 13mm (you may want to use +- 2mm).
- Elevator = 13 mm (you may want to use +- 2mm) as shown above. Yes, Elevator needs more throw than usual (other models).
Assembly Figures
F-16 Falcon 70mm Fuselage Assembly
F-16 Falcon 70mm Wing Assembly
F-16 Falcon 70mm Horizontal Stabilizer Assembly
F-16 Falcon 70mm Vertical Stabilizer Assembly
F-16 Falcon 70mm Canopy Assembly
