OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm EDF
( Semi Scale Model )
~ LW-PLA Digital Balsa and Foam and PLA Series ~
OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm
The OWL F-18 Super Hornet (70mm EDF) is a high-performance jet designed for versatility and durability. This special edition includes two complete sets of STL and G-code files, specifically optimized for either LW-PLA or standard PLA.
Optimized Material Engineering
Because LW-PLA and standard PLA have different structural properties, we have designed the internals for each material differently:
LW-PLA Version: Optimized for our “Digital Balsa and Foam” approach, providing maximum strength at the lowest possible weight.
PLA Version: Features a reinforced internal structure designed to be printed without infill. While the PLA version is approximately 330g heavier than the LW-PLA version, our updated slicing profiles add extra top and bottom solid layers to significantly improve impact resistance during belly landings.
Pro Tip: To further protect the fuselage from landing scratches, we recommend applying fiber tape to the underside.
Power System & Compatibility
This model is built to accommodate a wide range of power setups:
EDF Support: Designed for a 70mm EDF. Unlike some models, there is no requirement to remove the intake lip. Popular units like the FMS 70mm 6S inrunner will fit perfectly.
Universal Mounting: We provide a generic bracket to ensure most 70mm EDFs fit. You can download the 70mm bracket for free to test the fit before purchasing the full model.
Battery Options: Optimized for either 4S 3300mAh or 6S 2200mAh LiPo configurations.
Launching & Flight Tips
Whether you are a seasoned jet pilot or a newcomer, we want your first flight to be successful:
OWLplane Catapult Launcher: If you aren’t comfortable with hand-launching, we strongly suggest using our catapult system. it eliminates “human error” and allows you to keep your hands on the sticks from the moment of release.
The Maiden Flight: Use the catapult for your initial flights to get a feel for the handling. Once the aileron and elevator surfaces are properly trimmed, hand-launching becomes much easier and more predictable.
Directory for PLA : OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm – STL, 3MF and G-code ver 1.0\PLA Set
Directory for LW-PLA : OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm – STL, 3MF and G-code ver 1.0\LW-PLA Set
It is not with landing gear model (it is a hand launch or catapult launch type of model).
Videos and Pictures
Flying Play List
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LW-PLA Digital Balsa and Foam Series
This is a special edition model where supporting for both LW-PLA and PLA filaments. Infill will be used when using LW-PLA but 0% infill for PLA. Both have their own characteristics and depending on your preferences, you can chose either one to print. Two sets of gcode and STL files are provided since they are designed and sliced according to the type of filaments. To make things simpler and easy to slice, the 3MF PrusaSlicer files are provided. In this edition, other PLA slicer profiles are not provided but if you are familiar with other slicers feel free to slice the PLA STL files with your preferred slicers.
Below is brief explanation about “LW-PLA Digital Balsa and Foam” design approach.
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 our 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).
*) Below is from F16 part for illustration.
Like Playing Lego :
As explained above, click the right side youtube video showing how to assembly the fuselage 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+.
*) below are sample parts from F16 model.
- 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 also cleaner. 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 harder later to fit into the next part.
*) a sample part from F16 model.
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 when sanding standard PLA or PLA+.
Specification and Some Details
- Wing Loading : 65.8-80.8 gr/dm^2.
- AUW/Flying Weight : 1750gr-2150gr (with battery 2200mAh 6s).
- Wing Area : 26.6 dm^2.
- Wing Cube Loading (WCL) : 12.7 to 15.7.
- Flight Performance Category : Racer.
- Radio Channels : Throttle, Aileron and Elevator.
- Length : 1,195mm.
- Wing Span : 936mm.
Spar Requirements :
- 1 x 8mm OD and with 460mm long fiber carbon tube as front fuselage and wing spar.
- 1 x 8mm OD and with 760mm long fiber carbon tube as back fuselage and wing spar.
- 2 x 6mm OD and with 215mm long for horizontal stabilizer spar.
Locking Belt for Attaching Wings to Fuselage :
Aileron/Wing Control Surfaces Rods:
Elevator/Horizontal Stabilizer Control Surfaces Rods:
Canopy Assembly Support Rod and Pins :
See below figures to assembly the Canopy by using 2-2.5mm support rod and provided 3D printed pins.
Electronic Positions :
Feel free to locate the electronics for getting the correct CoG.
70mm EDF Bracket and Installation :
Below pictures show how 70mm EDF installed into the fuselage.
*) Pictures above are from OWL ViperJet 70mm EDF for illustration only.
Two sets of EDF brackets can be used. The one with intake lip removed or the one with intake lip intact.
You can find the bracket STL files under “OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm – SUPPORT ver 1.0\EDF BRACKETS”.
*) For illustration only from 64mm EDF
Below showing 70mm EDF and their brackets. You do not need to glue the fixed intake lip EDF into its bracket but you need to screw left and right side arms before attaching to the fuselage so that the bracket will not easily separated from its bracket.
Left side : using screws to attach to the bracket for EDF with fixed intake lip.
Right side : using hot glue for 70mm EDF with no intake lip (removed intake lip).
EDF Hatch Support Rods :
Please insert steel support rods about 1.5mm OD into the provided holes to make parts stronger as shown by the pictures below :
*) Left side picture is for the front side of EDF hatch and right side picture is for the back side of EDF hatch.
*) Pictures above are from SuperOWL Jet 70mm EDF for illustration only.
Elevator Servos Installation :
Please follow step by step below to install the elevator servos into the fuselage. For the brackets, please find them under”OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm – SUPPORT ver 1.0\SERVOS\12gr ELEVATOR SERVO BRACKET”.
Note : hot glues is preferred to use instead of CA so that it can be easily replaced whenever necessary (use hot water to remove the servo from its bracket).
Keeping Vase Mode Printing for The Outer Perimeter :
Please cut areas shown on the right side picture for FUSELAGE-5 # B2T2_GR1 printed with LW-PLA filament.
Center of Gravity (CoG) :
- CoG is 74mm from Wing Root Leading Edge (see the pictures below).
How to Launch OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm EDF Model :
Recommend to launch the model using catapult launcher. If you wish to launch with our 3D printed catapult launcher, please visit OWLplane Catapult Launcher product page menu under “SHOP & PRODUCT LIST” tab after hovering the mouse over (you can use your own Catapult Launcher so that you just need to print the hook adapter).
Watch the following videos how easy it is to launch the rc model with OWLplane Catapult Launcher and human free errors.
Printing and Preparing OWL F-18 Super Hornet 70mm EDF 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-18 Super Hornet 70mm – SUPPORT ver 1.0\CATAPULT ADAPTER\GCODE & 3MF\PLA” for the puller and need to glue the hook bar “F-18 SUPER HORNET HOOK # GR4” from “1. FUSELAGE\GCODE & 3MF” directory.
Feel free to use your own catapult launcher or you can print OWLplane catapult launcher for free.
Optional : Fiber Tape Protecting The Model During Belly Landing
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.
*) Using F16 belly part as illustration only.
Some Note for Slicing STL Files – LW-PLA :
Note : please go directly to 3MF files for PLA filament.
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 for LW-PLA Only :
Following tables show the weight of printed parts, number of required filament rolls and time required to print for LW-PLA only. For PLA, please go directly to read from PrusaSlicer output information. 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, right click to invoke a “copy” command. After that, just copy and paste the directory into your destination directory. That is it !
Table of Contents
Update History
None.
Recommended Setup
- Motor Options : Powered with 70mm EDF 4s and 6s (see above but not limited to).
- Servo Options : 4 x 12gr servos for aileron (left and right) and elevator (left and right).
- ESC Options : ESC 80A/100A, please consult to your EDF manual if safe enough to use that rated Ampere value.
- 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. 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 210mm x 210mm x 210mm (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 screws M3x25mm with their washers (optional) for mounting left and right wings including EDF hatch - 4x (2x wings and 2x EDF hatch).
- Ballpoint pen springs for Canopy - 1x.
For Aileron and Elevator Servos:
- 1.5- 2.0mm rod for aileron and elevator hinges (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod but preferred TIG Aluminum Rod instead).
- 1.5 - 2.0mm rod for aileron and elevator pushrod (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod).
- 2.0 - 2.5mm rod for aileron, horizontal stabilizer and canopy support (ER308L - TIG Stainless Steel Rod).
- Landing gear wheel stop set collar 6x2.1mm for aileron and elevator - 4x.
- Linkage stopper D2.1mm for aileron and elevator - 4x.
*) Illustration only
Assembly Figures
F-18 Super Hornet 70mm Fuselage Assembly
F-18 Super Hornet 70mm Wings Assembly
F-18 Super Hornet 70mm Stabilizer Assembly
F-18 Super Hornet 70mm Canopy Assembly
