raptureboy

Hey guys, hope everyone is making some progress on their 47's and enjoying the really nice weather we had here in the east. I pulled off my project to build my p-40 arf and also to do some flying. I went to a couple of swap sales and picked up some great deals on accessories for future projects. AY, hope your getting home once in a while for some family time and some build time Post when you can.

aymodeler

My Feedback: (3)

Hi RB! Unfortunately, I have not made much (any) progress on my P-47 lately. I did divert attention to a little Stevens Aero RV4 kit that I picked up as a quick build. I had made some good progress there, but I have been back out on the road again - I got home late last night from my last trip to Maryland, but I'm heading out to Kentucky tomorrow morning - I get back on Friday, but then I'm back out to South Carolina on Sunday! I expect this to continue more or less like this through sometime in July, then it should ease up a bit. I hope I survive until then!!!

charlesp

got alot done on mine have it all built now on to the finnishing sanding and more sanding filling and more sanding

charlesp

just wanted to gt bigger pics up. wont be doing much more on the 47 for a while as i have hurt my finger and can not work with the hand

charlesp

any one have any problems with the alerons binding with the flaos

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

This is a common issue on Jugs when the aileron and flap hinging is simplified such as it is on most P-47 kits. The only solution is a larger than usual gap between the two surfaces.

charlesp

almost ready for paint glassing was better then I thought it would be but the sanding took forever lol

raptureboy

Looking good. I put mine on the back burner for a while, now that flying season is here, and mowing, and pool care, and gardening and... I plan on glassing and painting this summer when I can work outside of the man cave. I hope you didn't use that belt sander to sand with. Loving the new TFP-40 arf I got this winter and the Stearman, they sure do fill the need for instant gratification.

raptureboy

Well, Ithought I would give this a kick to see if it's still living. Ihaven't touched mine all summer, too busy flying and repairing/ maintaining. I hope to get back on it soon if Ican keep my other ones out of the shop. Anybody else?

ramcfarland

My Feedback: (44)

This is a fun build for the most parts and an excellent flyer. After many flights Mine flew away on July 3rd 08 [&o] for reasons unknown and I never did find it as our club field is near a river and a swamp...still I searched several times as it had a Jewel of an engine the O.S. 120 4/c W/ pump . I want another I'm sure the ARF would do but I like to build when I'm in the mood

charlesp

I have mine ready for the maden (maybe this week) then I will finish all the detal

charlesp

well I flew her this week the first flight I had engine problems so it was a short flight. I could tell it was nose heavy. So I fixed the engin problem and moved the CG almost to the main spar and it flyes like its on rails sure is a fun plane to fly. I was out flying it again today and had 2 retract issues all at once one would not come down and the one that did the wheel was turned inward nore then 45* so I had to belly land it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMDp...ature=youtu.be

raptureboy

O.k building season is starting to roll around here in the east so it's time to kick this project back in gear. AY are you still out there brother? I hope you were able to get some fun time in this summer ans you will have some time to finish up your jug.

raptureboy

Well 1 holiday is down and another is coming so I am going to try and resurect this thread and hopefully inspire some action on this bird. Man Ican't believe how much these kits have gone up in price, some $40 or more increasenow for the TF kits it's crazy.So here is a little of what I have managed to do. Iam making a removable tail cone out of fiberglass so I can access my tail wheel and linkages for the rudder and elevator in case I need to fix something, also I have made the gear doors for the retractable tail wheel in the process. First step is to iron down some monokote to form the fiberglass over. Followed by 2 coats of paste wax to help with the release later.

raptureboy

Next, Icut up some 5oz and 6oz fiberglass cloth and mixed up some zpoxy finishing resin and laid it down over the monokote area. Iwent a little on the oversize direction but I wanted to make sure I had enough area to work with so I wouldn't be short. Make sure you really work the epoxy in well to get it all the way through the glass. Ibrush it on then use an old credit card to squeege it in and then brush it out smooth. Allow it to dry 24 hours then start sanding in place. If you get all the excess epoxy offwhen you laying it up then it shouldn't be to hard to smooth it out. You just want to get the rough spots out. Next I spray it with primer filler, which is heavier than just primer and fills all the small imperfections and the weave of the glass. Sand again with 150 grit then 220. Most of it will sand off leaving only the low areas with primer. Hit it again and when dry sand again the same. Next I use auto spot putty to fill in the worst areas and allow to dry then sand again. Another coat of primer and then wet sand with 220 and it should be good to go. Now to remove it all you need to do is slip a putty knife between the glass work and the mono and it should pop right off.

raptureboy

Looking good so far right? RIGHT? o.k so now it's time to cut into the fuselage and remove the area over the tail wheel. I located the stringers inside using pins and looking inside witth a flashlight and then marked the sides so I knew where to cut and then I cut down through using the formers as a guide for the verticle cuts. Next I drew the wheel oopening onto some heavy card stock and then cut it out and laid it on the fuselage over the tail wheel and lined it all up to center the tail wheel and to check for clearence. Make some reference marks on your template and on the fuselage so you can go back and check it again if you need to.

raptureboy

Now lay your glass tail cone back onto the fuselage and tape it down then using a ruler draw a center line down the middle, I use fine point sharpies for all my marking and if you need to redraw then you wipe it off with alcohol. Now lay your template back on top and line it up over the center line and tape it down then trace the wheel opening. I used my Dremel tool with a very thin abrasive blade to cut out the wheel opening because what you cut out will be your doors. Now very carefully( you only get one shot at it) cut down the sides, the end and the middle of the opening to create 2 doors. Ok so how did he cut so nicely around the curve end of the doors? Can't tell you, you'll have to guessJust kidding. Igot to that point and said the same thing, now what? Icould use my 1/8" rotary bit but that would make to big of a kerf then it hit meA long time ago I bought a set of these micro carbide cutters from Harbor Freight thinking maybe I might use these some day and today was that day. They are so small they hardly remove much at all leaving me with a nice set of doors. A little sanding of the edges and things look good.

charlesp

had my jug up after the retract issues and the motor started sputtering as i was trying to bring it in she didnt have the speed to make the runway so i am spending time working on fixing the retracts as they went up into the wing

raptureboy

Charles, sorry to hear about your damages. are you using air retracts? I have been fortunate not to have any problems with air units but I test them pretty thoroughly before committing them to flight. I soap test all connections and make sure they hold air for 24 hrs and will cycle at least 10 times on one tank of air at 100psi. Hope you get her back together soon. I didn't get much done the last month because of all the holiday stuffbut I'm going to get back at now hard. I want this baby DONE by spring.

charlesp

retracts are air but that was not the problem there must have ben some dirt that got between two moving parts and it just bound up and would not come down

raptureboy

Well, I have been slowly making some headway and have finally finished the gear doors and the wing sheeting, and I'm now starting to create the wing fillets. I hope that AY is making some progress and can post some updates. I bought another arf over the winter, the TFP-51 hope to put that together by late spring and be close to finishing the P-47. Still having the server error msg so no pics yet

adreliable661

My Feedback: (12)

Re server error - is that "error 500"? If so, I am having the same problem

raptureboy

Yep! been going on for a couple of days now. Just tried it again and still the same

raptureboy

Lets try some pics

raptureboy

Well where did the time go? Another year another season. I have started in on this project again detrmined to finish it this time around. I started glassing everything last week and will post some pics and detail the process soon. Perhaps some others will gain from it.