Deeper Test of Rhino 8: Designing F-16 XL RC Plane From Scratch, To Production Layout

Rhinoceros 8 has been released for quite some time. There have been some updates from McNeel, the developer of Rhino, as well as some tips and tricks from Sentra Grafika Kompumedia's customers in order to go with better productivity, efficiency and faster workflow in using Rhino. Now, Sentra Grafika Kompumedia (SGK), as always, will put further test on Rhino 8, in designing F-16 XL RC Plane, from nothing, to production layout. Remember, SGK is also user of Rhino. We're not just selling it.

​The General Dynamics F-16XL is a derivative of the F-16 Fighting Falcon with a cranked-arrow delta wing. It entered the United States Air Force's (USAF) Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) competition in 1981 but lost to the F-15E Strike Eagle. The two prototypes were shelved until being turned over to NASA for additional aeronautical research in 1988. Both aircraft were fully retired in 2009 and stored at Edwards Air Force Base.

General Dynamics F-16 XL

Rhinoceros 8 offers many new commands and features, that bring almost everything to the next level. Many things that could take workarounds and much longer steps done in previous Rhino 7, can simply be accomplished with just some clicks in Rhino 8. Therefore, we're putting Rhino 8 into our own test, in creating the RC Plane version design of F-16 XL with 700 mm wingspan.

If you're not aware of the design process, the output is layout drawing for manual or CNC cutting pattern for 5 mm polyfoam or depron sheets, and turn it into 3d model RC plane of F-16 XL.

Depron Sheets

​Some of the major breakthrough commands in Rhino 8 are PushPull, SplitFace and many more. This, obviously, bring the productivity and the whole design process to a next level. Including accuracy. And the 3d model of the F-16 XL, is as following. And the design process has never been as fast. How fast? Less than 2 hours in total.

3d model of F-16 XL in Rhino 8

We'll bring some more updates on this.



UPDATES June 21, 2024:
Exploded parts have been completed. Rhino didn't sweat at all to create the F-16XL up to this stage.

​​Design validation process is nearly completed. Next phase is to create a cutting pattern layout for this great plane design.