F-14 Car Ornament With Folding Wings & Navigation Lights

This is an instructable on how to hack a F-14 pencil sharpener into a car ornament, complete with functional folding wings and navigation lights. It's similar to my V-22 osprey hack with simpler wiring. There's a separate how-to on tapping into 12v dome lights soon.

F-14 die cast model.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IY84IUM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cheap clear nail polish.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EO2G5O4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Red & green 0602 Micro SMD LEDs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P5N1DTM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Automatic center punch.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895XYNWP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

22 AWG wires.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09C2NCHDT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Other Tools (too many to list links)

• Vice Grips
• 1/8 drill bit
• Electric drill (drill stand prefer for better precisions)
• Small file
• Masking tape
• Small hobby clips
• 9v batter with test leads
• 75Ω resistors
• Heat shrink
• Heat gun
• soldering iron, flux & solder
• utility knife

And lots & lots of patients

Fairly simple step: Get it under a drill press, use a 1/8 drill bit & drill thru the 2 rivets. Remove the small metal "stub" above the gear wing box to make more room

Take the micro LEDs, solder them in series with a 75Ω resistors. Use sand paper & rub off the wire enamel, test with a 9v battery. When all works, use nail polish & bush on a layer of insulation.

Slightly bend the LED leads so it's flush against wing tip, secure with masking tape. Remember to match FAA guidance :D

I want to keep the folding wings functional, yet hide the wiring as much as I can. There will only be 2 wires coming out, so the closest hole I can make is slight ahead of wing box, oh well.

Use a center punch, drill thru fuselage, file down burs and thread thru the wiring. Trim down all slacks and re-solder if needed. Make sure wing still swings without pinching anything. Use heat shrink to prevent any shorts, bend/tuck everything under wing box & canopy channel. Attach a battery, put back the bottom, tape shut and check for smooth wing movement with LEDs still working.

This took me a long time to get everything right with not electrical shorts, and minimum wires exposed. Gotta have patient for this.

Once dry fit and operational, mix in some epoxy, use wood stick & put a small dab under the wing and canopy access hole. Also put some on nose & exhaust. Put back bottom. Wipe down excess. Clamp the plane down with small clips. Leave dry overnight. If you want, check every 2 hrs with battery, move the wing around to ensure gears & LEDs OK :D

Also, (using pics from other hack) Insert the 2 wires into a drill chuck, tighten & wind 'em up nicely.

Knowing the access hole is way too fwd, I took it down, bend back the wire enough to C/G, tape and glue to wing box. Leave to dry overnight again.

If done correctly, plane model should hang perfectly at level flight. LEDs should work whenever interior dome lights are on.

Now congratulate yourself !!