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Don Smith Cessna T-50

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Don Smith Cessna T-50

Old 01-05-2012, 10:42 AM
  #751  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Jeff,

I just looked at my photos of N 30F, an all black with maroon trim T-50 and could not detect any stitching on the fuse. The Wings, Vertical fin/Rudder, Horizontal Stab/Elevator they do have stitching. My photos are not detailed enough to show spacing of the stitching.
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Old 01-05-2012, 11:39 PM
  #752  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Hi Jeff,

There is stitching on the fuse back to under the rear windows. If you go into MAX AIR2AIR Pictures,scroll down and click on the shot of N30F,you'll come up with a fantastic set of shots of it. One is close enough to see the stitches a bit. You can also Google Cessna N30F and find a vedio of it. I became friends with Larry Kelly (silver AAF "415")back in the 90's when the EAA East Coast Flyin was held herein Delaware at the New Castle County Airport. One year early on he came taxing by to his display space and the center stringer or just the fabric was loose and flapping and billowing down the right side in the prop wash like a flag. I haven't seen him for a few years,but they have since done "Panchitta"(a B-25) and both were on his web site "Ragwings To Radials". Larry is a great guy and gave myself and my fellow Bobcat nut buddy permission to come to Caimbridge,MD Airport and take all the photos we wanted. It ended up as a 64 shot photo pack for Bob Banka's Aircraft Documentation. He has several different Bobcats listed. Larry also lent us his Cessna "restricted" shop manuals to copy. In the airframe repair volume there are drawings of the stitching placement and spacing and 3 views of all inspection panels also done on 3 views. There's a strip of stitches near the wing tip on the ply sheeting and a little group of 3 stitches on the leading edge sheeting just ahead of the open bays on all ribs. There are drain grommets galor under the wing and stab also. These books are the next best thing to having a real T-50 to ponder. If anybody's shooting for museum scale,I'd be glad to make and send copies to you. She's a pretty little airplane that is dripping with 30's/40's class, but up close there's a lot of little lumps and bumps to duplicate. It will take some time. I don't have half the details on my 85" version,I just got tired of adding weight! If you go on Mid Atlantic Air Museum's site there's tons of close-ups of their Bobcat in the bones. The Big Sky Stearman site also has one now and they are going to make replacement wood for it to sell. It just says "possibly the most expensive replacement parts available"!

Tony A.
Old 01-06-2012, 10:09 AM
  #753  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

I have some of the Cessna manuals, but not a complete set. Its been about 4 years since I have touched the ol' girl. It is fully covered, fillets are made, and the pinked tape is applied. I need to redo the cloth in the interior as I was never happy with it. I am going for scale, but not museum since I got the airframe half built and the Don Smith drawings have some errors on them that was too late to change for me. Mine was going to be modeled after the Wright Stuff Squadron's UC-78, but they sold the plane. They had hundreds of pictures on their website of the restoration.
I spent 3 months in Cambridge MD[:'(], and never knew there was a Bobcat so close.
Old 03-01-2012, 05:08 AM
  #754  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

It's been a while since I posted anything re my project. Having obtained the French plans for Bruno Henry's T50 model I started to think that there were aspects of the design that I wasn't so keen on. Thanks to tony (T50UC78) I now also have a copy of Don Smith's plan. I have to say that though this is a much older design, it appears to me to have a more "scale" construction. For example the fuselage stringer sizes and placement are closer to scale than the French plans. In addition I prefer Don's construction method for the fuselage.
Bruno's wing is a more modern 2-piece design and uses sheet cores for the airlerons and flaps. As the 2 plans are to the same scale I considered using his wing design with Don's fuselage. Also as Bruno's design used fiberglass engine nacelles, that seemed a good way forward. However, I found that these are not available commercially though, so would have to be custom fabricated over foam plugs. Also the 2 designs vary in wing section and wing chord (same span though) so it would be a fiddle to match the 2 up. In the end I have decided to use the Don Smith plan as the basis of my model and incorporate some ideas from the other design. Another factor in making my choice was that I found a pair of "pre-owned" (but unused) Robart T50 retracts for sale here in France at a good price. This was another reason to go with the DS plan.

I will build a 3-piece wing for my model, but unlike rhsmrt50's very elegant modification, I think I will separate the outer panels from the centre section at the aileron/flap junction rather than just outboard of the nacelles. This does make for a bigger span centre-section, but as I intend that this will detach from the fuselage for transport it's not a big issue. I just need the wing to split to fit in my car, and for storage.

Over here the Saito distributer was selling out the stock of FG-20 engines (prior to the arrival of the new FG-21 model) at a real knockdown price. I decided to go for a pair of these for my T50 as they have that great 4stroke sound and use less fuel (than nitro engines) and the fuel is cheaper too. I have heard & read some negatives about these engines, but I have a friend here and his FG-20 has been brilliant. I need to run these motors in and set them up on the bench then they will go in a Hangar 9 Mustang to prove them prior to going in the Bobcat.

Now just need to finish off my Brian Taylor OS-2U Kingfisher so I have a clear bench to work on!

Anyone been flying their T50 yet this season?
Old 03-02-2012, 11:52 AM
  #755  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Hi All,

I just wanted to offer this to readers of this thread first. I have a set of Don Smith T-50 plans and a machine cut short kit I am selling. The plans include

an extra sheet which is a mirror image of the wing panel. So you now have both sides of the wings to build on.

Package deal is $200.00 shipped to lower 48 states. Plans and kit shipped together in one box.

I have three different scale plans for the Bobcat and after studying the plans I decided to build a 1/6th scale version(about 84 in span) due to my building space

and transporting to the flying field. The short kit is not laser cut. I bought this from another builder a year or so ago. I checked a number of cut parts against the

plans and they matched perfect. The kit will save you a lot of work and time in selecting wood and cutting parts.

I prefer Paypal(no extra fees) but will also take a USPS Money Order. Email me if interested as I am having trouble uploading pictures of the parts.

Thanks for looking
Old 03-02-2012, 01:01 PM
  #756  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Hi Stan,
Interested in your short kit.I have sent you a PM.
Regards
David
Old 03-02-2012, 01:37 PM
  #757  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

I have one of these on the shelf for a later build. This will be a great thread to follow.

There seems to be a few problems on viewing pictures. Some of the pictures earlier in the thread are dead links and current pictures will not load in a enlarged view. Is this a problem with RCU? I do not have the same problem on other build threads.

Keep up the great work. BTW, the black T-50 looks great.

Cheers,

IR3
Old 06-15-2012, 01:30 PM
  #758  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

There has not been much activity on this thread lately. Has anyone finished their model, or have photos of their models flying this season? My project is stalled because of an impending house move so the workshop has to be packed up, hence no building. Still very interested to read about ongoing projects though.
Old 06-15-2012, 03:56 PM
  #759  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

I to would like to hear about progress from anyone. ??? My project is in a holding pattern till fall. I went to Joe Nall in hopes of catching a look at a t-50 but none were there that I saw. Not many multi engine planes. Only a few "twins" (B-25, P-47, and a 310), then a gas B-29 and elec B-17. No T-50. Did get a chance to talk to the "Down and Locked" folks about converting my gear. interesting trip.

Joel
Old 06-15-2012, 04:36 PM
  #760  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Glad to see some thread activity! To date, my Songbird is basically finished. I decided however that I needed to move the elevator servo back beside the rudder servo which meant re-do both. That's mostly finished. I did a wet test/taxi test and had a few issues like some RFI that I have since resolved. Right now, I have the engines off and on a test stand to fine tune them.

But most of all, I'm waiting for the wind to calm down a bit...oh, then there's the butterflies that need to calm down a bit as well.

I did take her to the Rocky Mountain RC Expo and displayed with an episode of Sky King on a TV. ( I don't know who that goof-ball standing by the plane is, however.) I was surprised by how many guys were familiar with the T-50.

Shouldn't be much longer till Maiden Day!

M
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Old 06-15-2012, 08:16 PM
  #761  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Murphey, Thanks for posting the photo. Your model is looking superb and hopefully the test flights won't be long now.

Though my project is not progressing at the moment , I'm still thinking it through. I'm wondering about fitting a gyro on the rudder to help keep the plane straight down the runway on takeoff. I imagine it being switchable on and off from the Tx. That's all 11 channels on my XG11 radio potentially in use now on the T-50!

David
Old 06-21-2012, 06:29 PM
  #762  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

I have so much backlog for building that my Don Smith Bobcat Kit + extras is just going to gather dust. I know that the thread has been pretty quiet for a while but I will give it a try. The kit was cut by Precision Cut Kits and has been started. The tail feathers are partially complete. Included is the new Robart retracts and the Dynamic Balsa cockpit interior kit. The retracts do not come with an air kit or fittings, just the dual cylinders are connected by a tee. Asking $650 shipped CONUSA.

Thanks for looking,

IR3
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Old 11-21-2012, 12:03 PM
  #763  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

.....Happy Thanksgiving to all ......... Sorry.......I lost interest in my project for a while..........but recovered and I'am back at it..........I actually started building this plane in 1996.........then set it aside for several years, and then went back at it again and so on and so on.........I have promised to have it ready for the last three "Bomber Field Events" at Monaville Texas in Sept..........but, here I am .......still working on it.........my friends tell me if I dont have her ready to fly by Aug, they will give up on me...............so......I cant let that happen, they are the best friends I have ever had!.........Thanks so much.....Ross, Ken and Ben.........................and , besides all of that, I am 72 years old and and only have so much time left.......so, I better get busy!!!............I will start with a description and photos of the finished wing, then the 1/5 scale compass......and then the engines.............by the way, I have switched from the Saito 180's to the OS Gemini 160 twins........the OS twin fits better, sounds better and uses far less fuel...........the engines will be vertically opposed rather than horizontal.........this will work just perfect when installed behind the baffel plate with the dummy Jacobs mounted on the front.......that is because the Jacobs is a seven cylinder engine, which has the top cylinder vertical with the OS top cylinder......this provides cooling when the dummy cylinder is removed for flight..........the two bottom cylinders have an air passage between them thru a large air filter.........this will provide cooling to the bottom cylinder of the OS engine........now, on to some photos.......

Rich.
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Old 11-21-2012, 12:10 PM
  #764  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

......Two shots of the wing on the alignment table......
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Old 11-21-2012, 12:19 PM
  #765  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

.....Now my favorite part...........those beautiful Gemini Twins!!!!!
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Old 11-21-2012, 12:35 PM
  #766  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

........now......on to the exhaust system for the twins.......
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Old 11-21-2012, 01:32 PM
  #767  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Your a true craftsman. Can't wait to get back onto my Bobcat. Chic
Old 11-21-2012, 01:35 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

You got lots of time left!
Old 11-21-2012, 02:12 PM
  #769  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

.....Thanks for your response Chic.......we need to keep this thread alive!..........we need input from all of you members out there, not just comments......we need descriptions and photos of your own Don Smith Project........I have a ton of info!........but I would really like to hear more about your project!.........Tell us why you love this ole Cessna Twin..........was it because you were young enough to remember the "Sky King" series every Saturday morning back in the late fourties and early fifties?..........or, were you young enough to actually fly one during the big war?...........why are you fasinated with this particular airplane?.......I can tell you why I am......I want to hear your reason why................while I'am waiting to hear from you..........I will post a few photos of this fine ole bird........

Rich.
Old 11-21-2012, 02:18 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Thanks Mike!!!!........good to hear from you......and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!.......your just the guy I need tohelp keep this thread going.............lets talk after the holliday........OK?


Rich.
Old 11-21-2012, 02:25 PM
  #771  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Rich,

Glad to see you back at it. I'm still impressed at your attention to detail. a true labor of love. I'm sure you've thought of it already but I did a "custom" exhaust for my B-25 (top flite). I also had a servo mounted very near one of the flexible pipes. I ended up having to use a piece heat barrier fabric. I can't remember the exact name of the stuff but the gas turbine guys use it a lot as a heat protector. I caught while doing final engine test runs with the cowls and all in place. The heat melted the side of one of the servos bad enough to jam it up after about 4 min. Could have been disaster in the air.

Why the boxes around the cylinders ?

Joel
Old 11-21-2012, 02:25 PM
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

OK! It's not gonna be much of a Thanksgiving here; I had a tooth pulled today (a molar) and don't think I'm gonna be able to eat much of anything for the next few days.
Old 11-21-2012, 03:05 PM
  #773  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Rich, presently, I have the Bobcat fuse and tail feathers framed up. I to, started my Bobcat a number of years ago. I am old enough to have not left the house on Saturday mornings until I found out how Sky King solved his latest problem from the sky. I also layed the Bobcat aside and started up a Bird Dog and a TBM Avenger (both on RCU under Warbirds). The Bird Dog (DAWG) was completed and ready for paint when I started the Avenger torpedo plane to hopefully take to the AMA 2013 Nats. The designer of the Avenger also built a DAWG and had problems with it. He told me that he found out he did not build in the washout - needless to say, I checked mine and found out that I did not build in the washout. Hummmmm. That meant new wing panels had to be built. So, I set the Avenger aside to catch up on the DAWG rebuild. So you see, the Bobcat is now #3 in the que. I want to use two Z26 engines, do you think I will have enough engine??????? My paint scheme will be a desert camo with RAF roundels. Thanks Chic
Old 11-21-2012, 03:07 PM
  #774  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Thanks so much for your response Joel!!.............you are a good observer.......the exhaust is very close to the throttle servo....and that does concern me........I thought about a heat shield........something like the heat sheilds used on autos to protect the starter from the exhaust manifold heat.........let me know what the product is when you find out........it sounds like it would be just the right thing........

The boxes are air baffel passages to cool the cylinders of the engine........necessary when using a baffel plate........in this case, one that supports a dummy Jacobs engine....

Rich

Old 11-21-2012, 03:08 PM
  #775  
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Default RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50

Murphey,

Love the photo. I like others I'm sure are waiting for the maiden video. BTW, all said and done what is the dry weight on yours ?

Thanks

Joel

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