Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

I finally decided it has been long enough dreaming and time to start making this a reality. I purchased the kit from Tower during the promotion and only paid $209.00 shipped to my door.
I thought I would do a build on it here in Kits as the Warbird Forum seems to be turning into a sea of ARF's and ARF bashes. Not that I am a snob or anything, I just thought it may be more interesting to do it here.
I live within a couple of hours of Lackland AFB in San Antonio and thought I would go down there and check out the P-47 they have on display. Although the paint scheme doesn't do much for me, I thought referencing it will be beneficial for scale detail I will be building in.
Here are a few pic's I found on the web.
Anyhow, lets get this started. If anyone else is building this jump in anytime.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

I did an inventory on all the parts and I am good to go.
Started the H-Stab, First I started by lightening the ribs up. I hear these things build tail heavy so I put her on a diet.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

A nice beginning redbiscuits

I sure plan to follow this thread.

Zor

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Thanks Zor,

A few more of the H-Stab. I am nearing the point that I need to decide if I'm going to give the elevator surfaces a scale hinge line. The TF kit does not follow the full scale line. Need to research this a bit before I can go much further. I think this mod. would be worth the extra effort.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

I do not know the details of the hinges on the full size .

I was and am somewhat puzzled about the spars I see aft of the stab and leading the elevators.
It seems to me there would be quite a large gap needed there to achieve full elevator deflection.

I will be watching what is happening.

Zor

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

This kinda shows what I'm after a little better.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

All right Gary,

I subscribed. I'll hang out with you on this one. Are you going to be a crazy man and try to have this thing going for Monaville in September?

By the way, I vote for the scale hinge lines. Even if it means I won't see it in Sept.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

I subscribed. I'm always interested in watching a warbird build thread, as I have built many warbrids myself.

Good Luck!

Jason

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Gary,

Just some thinking ___

I see that the hinge line on the full size is a few inches behind the gap.

It would be nice to imitate the same on the model.

The rear spar of the stab is quite thin anddoes not offer much gluing area for the hinges.

I would consider gluing some small blocks centered with the ribs alignment and use some Robarts hinges. Doing the same with the elevator.

Seems to me it is not that much extra work.

Hinges behind the gap need a longer radius at the leading edge of the elevators and the gap could then become negligeable. The curvature at the elevator leading edge would have a center at the hinge line.

As I said above ___just doing some thinking.

I am not telling you what to do ..... just what I would consider.

Zor

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

I got a few flights on mine now and JUST LOVE IT! Great kit and great plane! Mine balanced out perfect with the Thunder Tiger 91 but it needed a little nose weight when I switched to the Magnum 91...Mine came out 9lbs 3 ounces and has no bad habits! youre gonna love it! Good luck T

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

ZOR............hinge blocks are part of the build for Robart hinges.........look up the manual.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Terry.............you're talking about the 63" P47 not the Giant Scale.............kright? I have it figured out that the Giant Scale with Robart Retracts and a Zenoah G62 and a few other goodies that the plane will weigh out at some where around 26-30lbs.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Rick,
I'm gonna try for Monaville.........in like 2012:)

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Terry,
I also have the 60 size but mine is rather portly pushing almost 13 pounds. Still flies great though.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Good day all, I subscribed to your thread this morning and am looking forward to future progress. I began my build last November and I'm basically at a fill and sand point. If you go to the warbird forum and search"TF GS P-47 Build-yeah another bloody one!!" you will find a lot of really good ideas and information that might help with your build.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Billberry,
That looks great, you have made a lot of progress for 9 months. I'll trade ya.:D
Do you have a trim scheme in mind? Would love to see it.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Well it actually has been about four months actual building. The rest of the time has been spent waiting for "stuff" to come complements of UPS. I also opted for the more original landing gear placement which required substantial time and modifications to the wing build. In the end, I believe I have a much stronger wing root. I also modified the tail feathers to represent the original appearance. An OS GT 55 swinging a Xoar 24x10 prop, aFutaba 10 CAG 2.4 GHz with an R6014 HS receiver, nine Futaba 3050 and two 3004 servos, and Robart retracts including the tail gear, just about covers the peripherals. As for the finish scheme, I don't have a clue just yet. I suppose some research is in my not to distant future.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...ular_smile.gif

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

billberry,
Would you mind posting a couple pic's of your tail feathers? I am almost to the point of cutting the elevators off and would like to see what you did there.
I think I'm gonna keep the gear in the same position as per the kit, very nice work you did there from what I can see.
That OS will swing a 24x10? WOW!

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Okay, here's a few photos. As you can see I still have to add the tabs to the trailing edges of the stab and fin. More photos to follow as that process takes place.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

That's real pretty Terry, I love the razorback version!

Gonna follow this thread, I love watching birds go together (almost as good as building one myself!)

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

billberry, that photo almost matched up 100% on my screen to the outline of my part. Thanks for posting that. I was able to get the first one cut, now I have an angle to follow for the other side. Piece of cake! Little bit of touch up and I'll call it scale enough for for me. Who's gonna notice on a 100mph low pass down on the deck any how? :)

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Now where have I seen that before? Looks like you have a handle on it. BTW, just plain Bill will do. I am about to start a build on an Ed Kazmirski Simla kit from Jeff Petroski of Classic RC Hobby, so my time will be divided between it and the P-47. That should give you some time to catch up. More photos to follow.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Hi billberry189

Nice build , ....... very clean

If I may ,...................... the side view with the muffler exhaust . Where the bolts enter the engine , " put a steel plate " , and support the canister on the opposit end . Believe me

I learnt from mistakes .

Michel

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

I feel pretty good about how far I got this weekend. Need to do some hanger maintenance and should get on the V-stab later in the week.

Bill, what engine you plan on using in the Simla?

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Another one you could look at is tarheel Hal down in Galveston I was thinking about painting mine like that one but I decided that I will build a razorback when I finally get to it

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Good morning "Red",I should be receiving an OS120 AX for the Simla later today. As for the finish detail on the P-47,I am not sure how crazy I want to get with that. I have been building models for over fifty years, but this ismy first giant and my first war bird. The guys in the build I referred you to earlier went all out on the panel lines and rivets. They really look great, but I'm leaning more to a stand off scale appearance; at least for this first time project. I have been thinking about aMustang and/or a Corsair build in the future, so maybe I can get crazy on one of those.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

I built the TF 60 P-47 and added the panel lines and rivets. Honestly it only added maybe a few days to the total build. Panel lines are easy, took all of 1 day to lay the chart pack tape out, spray the primer then wet sand the next day. Rivets, maybe another day or two max.....it really doesn't take as long as you might think. Makes it worth it when just one person comes up and knows what I put into it..
Some people still ask me though "Who makes that ARF?" I should start saying "Nitro Planes".:)
Gary

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

redbisquits and billberry................how did you determine where and how much to angle the horizontal/elevator/fin/rudder hingeline angles at the tips. I've pondered doing that and just cannot seem to figure out where to start the angle and the angle itself. Would either/both of you be so kind as to publish the dimensions you used so I could follow suit? Also, I'm thinking of adding triangle stock to the trailing edge of the horizontal and fin to make a better hingeline that does not have a gap. I've looked at some photos of the real thing and it seems that that is how the real thing was. I have studied and studied this bird and am making decisions on what I will and won't do while building it. My father-in-law flew a P47 in WWII which got me interested in this particular warbird. I'm also building it as a Razorback............just like that style better than the bubble version.

Thanks in advance,
Andy

If you prefer just email me at [email protected]

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Andy,
I kinda just eyeballed it from what Bill did on his. I could get the protractor out and tell you exactly if you want. I still want to fiddle with it a little as the full scale isn't just a straight angle cut, It has a little bit of a curve to it.
Here is a link I found that may help a little.
http://rwebs.net/avhistory/history/p-47.htm

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

redbisquits...............yes........anything you could provide would be helpfull............I heard from billy via email and between the two of you I should be able to figure something out. This is the reason I didn't do it in the first place.........figuring that no matter what I did..........it would be wrong :D

Thanks again,
Andy

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Oldtyme, consider this. How wrong would it be if you did nothing at all? Even a little off is better than a straight line on the stab and fin. If you are not involved in scale warbird competition, give it a go and be satisfied with the results. Good luck!

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Bill............you sound like me............been building forever and this is my first (and last) giant and first warbird. I've wanted to do this for a long time and now that I'm retired I have the time............and maybe patience. This will also be my first glass/paint and I mostly have just covered all my models in Monokote and I've only had two models before this one with retracts. I've bought the retracts, wheels/brakes and engine and have also acquired fiberglass parts from Fiberglass Specialties and as I did not want to work with the ABS parts. Did that on the TF C182 and HATED it!!

Cheers,
Andy

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

This might sound dumb but I dont think you will want brakes on this plane as it is a tail dragger.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Andy,
I couldn't find the protractor, kids must of took off with it.
I hope the pictures explain themselves. I went ahead and hinged everything and I'm leaving the way it is.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Cub's have brakes.:D
No, I don't think you would want brakes on this.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Oldtyme, I did use the ABS cowl, but then I have about 45 years experience with automotive plastic repairs ( I am a retired autobody man and painter). when you get ready for your fiberglas covering check with ACP Composites. They have a nifty .5 oz cloth. You have to be careful using it because it tendsto stretch apart when you pull on it. I used itto cover my wingsusing a first coat of Dupont urethane clear applied over the glass with a soft bristled brush 2 to 3 inches wide. Spread the clear out as thin asyou can get itover the glass while you work out the wringles and bubbles. Let the first coat set up completely.The surface of the wing will look semigloss with a cloth look to it. Next, scuff the surface lightly with 220 or even 180 grit paper if your careful not tosand through the glass. After that brush or spray on a second medium heavy coat of clear. Let it cure over night and then sand with either 220 or 180 grit until you get a smooth surface. After that I plan on using two light coats of grey urethane primer followed by a mist coat of black spray can lacquer as a guide coat. Block the surface until all of the black disappears and you should have anexceptionally smooth surface to work with. This method assumes that you have done all your filler work before you glass the surface. From here you should be able to apply your tape lines for your panels followed by a couple of light coats of primer, rivets, light scuff with 320 or 400 grit ( or even a scotch brite pad if the primer comes outreally smooth). Apply what ever finish color scheme you have decided to use. Because this method can add a bit of weight it is important to pay close attention when you are sanding and sand as much of the filler coats off as possible. I have been following my build weights and I believe I should come in at between 26 and 28 pounds. We'll see.

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Redbiscuits I know they do its called a Prop.:D

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

It stands for

P ositive
R eversal
O f
P ower

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif

Zor

RE: Top Flite Giant P-47 Build
 

Bob........that may be true.......we'll see.......but I wanted to play with them and I have them and they were expensive..........but I don't have to use them :) We fly off of a 600' paved runway and some of the planes just roll and roll and roll so even a light touch would be helpful. The wheels that come with the brakes are awesome looking!!! After all this is just a toy to me and I wanna play. I'm even looking at having the intercooler doors work with the throttle. I got the design off of RCU and thought when the time comes I might....just might......give it a try. Thanks for the comment though......always a lot to think about with these things.

Andy