Kit review 1:10 Military Turbofan engine - TECHING (build review)

[James H]

1:10 Military Turbofan engine - TECHING
Available from EngineDIY for $799.99

 

 

This new kit from Teching, is based on the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine, that powers the Lockheed Martin F-135 Lightning II. A turbofan or fanjet is a type of air-breathing jet engine that is widely used in aircraft propulsion. The word "turbofan" is a combination of the preceding generation engine technology of the turbojet, and a reference to the additional fan stage added. It consists of a gas turbine engine which achieves mechanical energy from combustion, and a ducted fan that uses the mechanical energy from the gas turbine to force air rearwards. Thus, whereas all the air taken in by a turbojet passes through the combustion chamber and turbines, in a turbofan some of that air bypasses these components. A turbofan thus can be thought of as a turbojet being used to drive a ducted fan, with both of these contributing to the thrust.

Animation of a 2-spool, high-bypass turbofan 

A. Low-pressure spool

B. High-pressure spool

C. Stationary components

1. Nacelle

2. Fan

3. Low-pressure compressor

4. High-pressure compressor

5. Combustion chamber

6. High-pressure turbine

7. Low-pressure turbine

8. Core nozzle

9. Fan nozzle

 

The turbofan was invented to improve the fuel consumption of the turbojet. It achieves this by pushing more air, thus increasing the mass and lowering the speed of the propelling jet compared to that of the turbojet. This is done mechanically by adding a ducted fan rather than using forces by adding an ejector, as first envisaged by Whittle.

(Information abridged from Wikipedia)

 

The kit

 

As with the previous turbofan engine I reviewed here, this comes in a very sturdy box that contains FOUR trays of precision machined parts, including two trays of bolts, bearings, nuts, washers, and a small number or specific parts that are machined for this release.

 

The instruction manual is superb, being printed in a glossy 90-page format. As well as the step by step instructions of the assembly of each engine stage, you are also presented with an illustrated parts list, operating instructions, and a list of safety precautions.

 

 

This kit does come with a small selection of tools, such as wrenches and hex drivers. However, I opted to use my Wera tools for the main part.

 

I'll start to post my assembly of this engine tomorrow.

 

 

[ccoyle]

Whew! For the price, it should be able to power a real aircraft! Looks like it will be a hoot to build.

[James H]

The first things that are built up are the intake gearbox and the first stage low pressure compressor. There are bearings and gearings on these which enable them to lock into place as you progress. I also use a very small spot of thread-lock too; the sort that can easily be cracked if necessary. 

 

The low pressure stator housing is now assembled. No fixings here. All of these parts sit neatly in their respective slots, and care is needed to make sure they remain in situ during final assembly.

 

 

 

 

The intermediate receiver assembly is the next section to be built up. All of these parts are built 'dry' at this stage, but will later be packed out with grease for lubrication. 

 

 

More soon!

[James H]

Work continues on the previous assembly, by the addition of the first stage high pressure stator.

 

 

 

As this model is actually electrically operated, the gearbox assembly is now to be built. Light oil is used on the various gears within this. Please ignore that I missed the main meshing gear off on these photos! I did go back and fit it later. The gearbox is then tested for mechanical integrity by plugging it into the base and running it for a few moments.

 

 

Now it's the turn of the high pressure compressor to be built.

 

 

This is sat within a similar housing as the one I built previously. All of the stators in this are different and have identifying text on them. 

 

 

Again, you can see I didn't add the front-most fan. This was done at a later stage, when it occurred to me! One thing I will say is that the design of this model is so that if you do forget to add something, then you will likely need to backtrack through construction and deconstruct large parts in order to fit that part. It's always best to thoroughly read the instructions. In fairness to me, I was coming down with flu and my concentration levels were low!

 

 

Combustion chamber. Adding a nice splash of oxide red into the model, there was nothing at all complicated here.

More soon!

[James H]

High pressure turbine. A typically easy assembly to build. The orientation of the text 'C-1' is vital when building, as it is throughout the model, where text is present.

 

 

 

The low pressure turbine is now built. 

 

 

One area of the build that took the longest was tailpipe/nozzle. The petals on this are fully articulating and you can pose them from fully closed to fully open.  

[James H]

This is called the enhanced nozzle, for some reason. However, this is very simple to assemble. Just two parts. 

 

 

 

At this point, all of the assemblies you've seen being built, will now be put together. Orientation is VITAL as you progress.

 

 

The drive shaft is now slotted into the engine. Note its taper. That taper will mean that any error you make will mean a full strip down due to the nature of design. Keep your eye on the ball as you progress, and you will have no problems. 

 

 

A 3D printed fan is now fitted into the forward engine housing, followed by the intake/spinner assembly.

 

 

More of our assemblies are now slotted and bolted into place.

 

 

Ok, this is one thing you've not yet seen. That drum on the right, is actually a water/atomiser tank which you will fill, and clouds of vapour will emit from it. It also has a ring of blue LEDs to simulate the heat from the engine.

 

 

A lot of the work so far built will now be covered up with the exterior engine casings. These have clear panels and align with the cutouts in the interior engine.

 

The nozzle assembly,mbly can now be fitted. Careful with this one as it's quite heavy.

[James H]

The gearbox is now bolted into position....

 

 

 

....followed by the external ancillary details, such as electrical boxes and plumbing. 

 

 

With that done, the engine can now be mounted to the stand and be ready for running in.

 

All I need to do now is to make a video of the engine running. I'll do that very shortly.

[NavyShooter]

That's Awesome!!!

 

I have a buddy who's kid is a Tech in the RCAF and works on CF-18s...but is likely to be transitioning training to the F-35's...I see a Christmas Present option for him to buy his kid!

 

NS
 

[James H]

7 minutes ago, NavyShooter said:

That's Awesome!!!

 

I have a buddy who's kid is a Tech in the RCAF and works on CF-18s...but is likely to be transitioning training to the F-35's...I see a Christmas Present option for him to buy his kid!

 

NS
 

 

This kit is currently 20% off on their Black Friday deal. 

 

[James H]

And finally, here's the video!

 

 

[ccoyle]

Very nice! Though I can see where the endlessly repeating engine start-up loop might do this to a person:

[James H]

Conclusion

 

In all, this is a seriously nice kit. The very nature of construction means that you need to thoroughly read the instructions and ensure everything is assembled exactly as it should. I wouldn't say this was a beginner kit, unless you are a stickler in the way you work. There are over 600 parts to this model, including nuts and bolts, and the finished project is a real eye-opener in every sense. Also remember that this model is incredibly heavy too, so I wouldn't recommend a glass shelf for display!

 

My sincere thanks to EngineDIY for sending this kit out for the purpose of review here on Model Ship World. To buy directly, click the link at the top of the article.

 

[ebony678]

Thanks for posting. I saw something I had never seen before and learned something.

[shipman]

So glad you found this kit so rewarding.

 

Sad my earlier wry comments weren't appreciated and subsequently deleted.

 

My expectations were this would be a functioning gas turbine engine.

The disappointment was totally mine; that shouldn't detract from the pleasure you sincerely derived building this kit.

Thank you for sharing.

[James H]

Just now, shipman said:

So glad you found this kit so rewarding.

 

Sad my earlier wry comments weren't appreciated and subsequently deleted.

 

My expectations were this would be a functioning gas turbine engine.

The disappointment was totally mine; that shouldn't detract from the pleasure you sincerely derived building this kit.

Thank you for sharing.

I removed the comments as it just came over as disingenuous. This was never going to be an actual turbofan engine. It's a hobby kit. An engine that has as much thrust as one of the wooden ships we build, has actual sail power. It's an electrically operated kit that is a whole hobby genre in itself, and one that many enjoy participating in. Many of these are used for display or will sit on an executive's desk. 

 

You will surely never find an actual model turbine engine (with thrust) for £700.

[dvm27]

That is one cool model. I'm thinking of building one for my Grandson. He has just started on a path for commercial aviation and he would go crazy for this. Unfortunately, it may have the opposite effect on his parents!

[James H]

14 minutes ago, dvm27 said:

That is one cool model. I'm thinking of building one for my Grandson. He has just started on a path for commercial aviation and he would go crazy for this. Unfortunately, it may have the opposite effect on his parents!

 

If it's commercial aviation, then take a look at this one:

 

 

[realworkingsailor]

On 11/27/2024 at 10:50 AM, ccoyle said:

Very nice! Though I can see where the endlessly repeating engine start-up loop might do this to a person:

It strikes me as a bit odd, as for years model railroad sound decoders have been able to play the full range of engine sounds from startup to idle to full throttle (and everything in between), sequenced to whatever the controller throttle is set at. “Engine startup” when electrical power is  first applied (or the locomotive’s digital address is selected), endless idle sounds until a movement order is sent, then the appropriate increase in engine rpm to a new setting, and so on.

For the price of the kit, and other qualities not withstanding, I think they could do better on the sound than having just a continuous startup sound loop.

 

Andy

[James H]

31 minutes ago, realworkingsailor said:

For the price of the kit, and other qualities not withstanding, I think they could do better on the sound than having just a continuous startup sound loop.

 

I do agree there.

[shipman]

James, thank you for accepting my apology.

 

Out of interest there are Plenty of DIY projects to be found online; people making their own simple, working turbofan/turbojet engines.

Often these are made from the simplest materials, with varying results, but usually succeed by producing something which demonstrates the basics of this type of engine.

The simplest and most remarkable are the pulse jet types which have no moving parts at all!

 

I should point out that taking that rout can be fraught with danger, but a big dose of common sense and a modicum of research would be wise.

 

Looking at your model I can see it could be modified to work as a real engine, but for how long?

 

Again, thank you for sharing your project, I'm sure you'll have years of reliable service.