TLH101

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This is a thread for anyone building or flying a Gee Bee to exchange ideas, thoughts questions and pics.
I have been building mostly large scale Warbirds for most of my last few builds. Time for a change.
This a 1/5 Adrian Page Gee Bee R-2, framed up. I started this a couple of years ago, and just recently hit a point with nothing on the table, so I decided to finish it up. Just need to do the fillets and wheel pants, and some scale details to get it ready for covering. I am going to cover it with Ultracote white, and paint on the red with Rustolium. Plan to use an OS.91 4 stroke. I think I might a few scale details, like flying wires, a pitot tube, nav lites, a nice instrument panel, dummy radial, and maybe a few panel lines.
I'll post pics of my progress when I start to finish it

AtomHeartMother

Lookin' good ! I've got Adrian's 1/4scale R2. Been putzing around with it for 2 years now....geez. I'm the worlds greatest procrastinator. I just need to putty it/ final sanding, and I'm ready for covering. Gonna go the same route as you with the covering and paint.
I've committed myself to a spring '07 test flight... got to finally finish this project !

Flytoolow

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Can we say a RCU group build?!? I have a 25% Wendell Hostetler GeeBee R-2, and i was thinking about finishing that up...[8D] I have the wings framed up, fuse framed up, but both need sheeting, and some minor work, as well as building a set of 1-off scale gear. are you guys up to a build?

TLH101

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Good idea. I will change the title and we can have "official" Gee Bee thread.

Flytoolow

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Here are some pictures of its current state!

TLH101

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Looks pretty good. I think I may do the Adrian Page 1/4 scale sometime in the future. I have already done several Gee Bees, and still have3 in the process of building (A/P R-2, Haffke 1/4 scale R-2 & Model D), and 1 NIB Holman 1/5 R-1 kit.
The first pic is a NWHT (Jack Devine) R-2, second is a Fantastic Models elec R-1, and the third is a Coverite Model "D":

AtomHeartMother

Oh...yeah...a few pics. Had to upload them to my page...
These were taken a while back. Wheel pants are on, radio gear 95% there...engine mounted for test fit...cowl finished, just waiting for paint.
I'm gonna have Adrian cut me some 1/4 scale wing and fuse numbers as well. If I had to cut those, it'd be another 2 years finishing !
[X(]

TLH101

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Looks as if the Page 1/4 scale builds exactly like the 1/5 scale. What do you plan to power it with? I have an A&M 2.0 that weighs less than a G-23, but has power of a G-38, that I think would be great in a 1/4 scale Page R-2. I would also like to change the cowl, and a couple of other details and make it an R-1. Maybe after I finish my B-17, I will take a shot at it.

AtomHeartMother

It's funny you mention...the cowl on mine looks more like and R-1 cowl...I mean the opening is pretty large.
I've got a ryobi 31cc I'll be putting on the R2. I ran it for a few years in a scratch built stick(coroplast design) as a test bed airframe. I've been so happy with the motor I figure it will do well in the GeeBee. No stump puller mind you, but it should be plenty. I run an 18x10 prop at about 6500rpm's with it. Even with the heft of the ryobi, I still think my weight will be pretty reasonable. I've seen several 80 inch span GeeBee's coming in at 20 plus pounds. That's alot of weight considering they don't have much more wing than the 1/4scale Page model. My test airframe was 15lbs wet...I think I can get under that weight with the Page GeeBee.

TLH101

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Heavy Gee Bees are why the myth persists about them being bad flyers. Keep the wing loading down, and they are *****cats. My NWHT was 85" ws and weighed just under 20# with a Brison 3.2. Can you say "rocket"?
Here a good pic that shows the major differences in the R-1 & R-2 models, note the cowl shape.

AtomHeartMother

Yes, the R-2 had the smaller wasp engine...for cross country, hence the smaller cowl.
Good documentation. The prototype R-1 with the smaller vertical fin was a little squirrely in flight...so they added the "trademark" fin and rudder area we all recognize on the GeeBees.
Funny thing, the Granville Bros. didn't own the engines or propellers on the original R-1 or R-2. They were on loan from wasp radial. Now that's trust...lol

Flytoolow

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My R-2 is getting a G-45 on the front of her, I couldn't believe it, but it needs the weight and engine to choose a prop to clear the fuse sides.

TLH101

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You might find the G-45 a little low on power for the Hostettler R-2, unless it is "very" light. Better to use a G-62, since it is the same price, case size, and weight as the the 45, but much better power.
Also, the prop does not need to extend beyond the fuse. Props are tractors, not pushers. They work like a screw. Adrian Page flew his prototype 1/5 R-2 with a 12" prop (just see if it would work), and fuse is 12" in diameter.

TLH101

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Here's an update on the build. Working on making the wheel pants. Several parts, but they are pretty close to scale when all assembled. This just "mocked-up', when the get the other side done, I will start to glue the assemblies together where needed. It's a nice set-up, as you can remove them for wheel or gear service. May put a set of Robostruts on later.

Reg Hinnant

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Hey Terry,
Whats the kit you had for sale at Bomber Field? It had an al f/g fuselage?
Reg

TLH101

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Reg,
That's the 1/5 Holman R-1.

AtomHeartMother

Yup, those pants look familiar.
One thing I did to possibly help prevent tip overs is to add small blocks of wood on the inside of the pant. One on each side. They touch the landing gear legs on either side of the wheel. The idea being that if the gear leg flexes due to take off/landing loads, that the pant will move with the wheel and leg. This way the wheel won't rub into the pant and act as a brake. Seems good so far and it looks like the pants will have enough flex in them not to become damaged.
We'll see if it works once I get the beast finished and test flown. I still don't know if it will even fit in my car ! lol

TLH101

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Oh yea, I will be installing the inside rubbing blocks, and I also open the wheel opening as large as possible on the side, & especially the rear, without effecting the looks. I am thinking about using silicone to mount the assemblies to the wing.

Ralph V

Here is some pictures of my Great plains Gee Bee 68" wing span.
For power I am using an AXI 4130-20 with 24 Ni Cad cells, I added
1/8" dia aluminum tubing for the flying wires, it flys easer than you
would think but with electric power it is scary quiet. This is my practice
plane for my bigger 1/4 scale Gee Bee I will be using electric power.
I have Adrain's 1/4 scale GeeBee, nice kit, went together fast .
I will be covering it with white solar tex, with the red painted with Dupont
automotive acrilic enamel, should be ready to fly this comming Spring.
Hope you like the pictures.
Thanks
Ralph V.

RVM

I so need to build a GeeBee R2.

GREAT looking plane!

robert4u

Hello,

I'm also a great fan of GeeBee's. It's just one of the most beautifull planes ever designed.
Here are a few pictures of mine 1/5 Adrian Page GeeBee.
Don't pay attention to the ugly Graupner prop. It now has an 15x6 APC, looks much better.

Robert

TLH101

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Robert,
Really nice looking R-2. What is it powered with? Is that Adrians "dummy" radial?

robert4u

Hi Terry,

It's powered with an OS FS 91 Surpass II, and that's more than enough engine for this plane.
And you're also right about the dummy radial. It's a real nice detail for a plane like this.
I read you're planning to cover yours completely in white and then paint the red.
Mine was covered completely with white and red oracover (practically the same as monokote) except for the fiberglass parts.

Robert

RVM

How do the GeeBees fly?

TLH101

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From all I have read, the A/P R-2 is a great flyer. That's why I am building it. The NWHT R-2 I had was also a good flyer, and very easy to land. The small Coverite Model D was harder to fly due to high wing loading, however it was not that bad. Anyone with a few hot low wingers could handle it. None of the Gee Bee's are for the inexperinced flyers, or those who don't understand basic flight physics. I have seen a lot guys who have a ton of flying experience, but don't know "how" to fly. You need to know "how" to fly before trying a Gee Bee.