(thanks) I thought I'd better start putting my pen to paper and contribute a posting.I got the bug for jet turbines after having a fly of Ali Mashinchy's Boomerang XL at my Hastings Club, when they arranged for the club members to have a go at flying jets.
I got the chance to own my first jet, a boomer intro from Tony Hooper, which I stripped, rebuilt and recovered, and reinstalled the running gear plus rewired it, as it had seen a lot of flying with Tony and was looking rather tired.
The model unfortunately only lasted four flights
and went in on the fifth due to an early Spektrum 2.4 plug-in module, where the aerial wire was connected via a brass nut, which came loose and caused a lockout. (Evidently it was muted that you needed to Locktite the nut on which I discovered too late)So I purchased another S/H airframe from a friend for £250, which also needed revamping and recovering.
My Wren turbine had to be sent back to Wren as the bearings were grumbling, plus I needed a new Fod Guard, EGT sensor probe, ECU and mounting bracket, which cost me just under £500
The Intro is now recovered with modifications to the air intakes and a new floor. (Due to the original being fuel soaked) The model came with retracting piano wire legs, this has now been updated to Jet1A trailing link oleos, and Behotec C50 retracts units.
At the moment I am in the process of installing the components on the internal systems tray, and I have just purchased a bigger air tank for the retracts and brakes, and a Powerbox switch with incorporated battery backer, the receiver is a Spektrum 2.4 5channel unit, which will be flown using a JR DSX9 transmitter.
Whilst the Intro was out of service, and before I started its rebuild, I purchased a Boomerang XL, which has a low hours Simjet 3000 turbine. This model was also stripped out and has had a reinstall and update of all the radio equipment, new systems board, and new air system.
The model has now been fitted with a Powerbox Evolution, JR 2.4 9channel receiver, and two JR Matchbox’s, two Jetronic electronic valves operating the Jet1A retracts, with trailing link oleos and brakes.
When I bought the model it was fitted with Hitec 925 servos, these have now been replace with JR 8411’s, the model also had a Tamjet smoke system, and an Eagle Tree telemetry system on 35Mhz, both of which have been removed. The model also came with an old glow fuel bottle for a tank, that was also discarded and a proper Sullivan XL 4ltr tank installed. The model is now awaiting some decent weather to test fly.
I am also the proud owner of four Avonds F15’s, this is a jet I have always liked and wanted a model of, but why four? You may ask, well it was quite unintentional really; I went up to Yorkshire to buy a turbine version, which was in a grey military scheme, he also had a lovely (non scale) triple coloured model that was fitted out with an OS91 Ducted Fan unit, as both models were very reasonably priced, I bought the two. The multi-coloured version has now been stripped of all the ducted fan equipment but I was short of a S/S bifurcated pipe and other accessories associated with the turbine version.
Another friend had one and had destroyed the nose on take-off; I offered to buy it from him for the parts. Whilst he was making his mind up what to do, another one came up on the BMFA cheap not too far away, so I immediately phoned the guy and arranged to go see it, I did so and bought the model, well the airframe is in reasonable nick, although the interior has been stripped out as he had just repainted it in an off-white colour. (I got the pipe, the retracts & tanks separate)
Meanwhile, my friend decided to take a small amount for his damaged model, which included the pipe, retracts, and the tanks, which has now given me an assortment of parts to build a couple of models, of course I won’t be keeping them all, but you can’t beat a few spares
The damaged one I will eventually make a new F/Glass nose for and probably move it on. I intend to refurbish and do up the white version for my first training F15. I will add some colour to it, will do it in the Red, White & Blue Anniversary scheme, as it’s a scheme I like, my XL is also done in the same scheme. The Military version needs repainting as its flaking, this will be re-done in a military scheme as it has a lot of the scale features like undercarriage doors and grills etc. I may even get a rocket set to complete the scale appearance, but that is all in the future
I’ll add a couple of photos of my models later.
Cheers,
Vince.
fantastic, well done. Lets see some pictures.
am selling (and have sold) most of my prop planes to help fund my jet craving 
so a few of my F15's will get sorted as the money becomes available, and unfortunately there are one or two other model that I fancy, but that's in the future 
two will be sold on, as i want to do one as a nice scale aircraft, and another for general flying, but that's if I live long enough