RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S?  
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RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/24/2004 6:19:22 PM   
Nickrc3



Posts: 412
Joined: 1/12/2002
From: Miami, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Mitch,
I've got my D/S -17 fuselage/tail surfaces built and run into a stumbling block with the fuselage nose bowl.
Several D/S B-17 modelers, including myself, have run into a problem with a mis-shaped fuselage nose bowl. It's actually way out of the port side - doesn't come close to the fuse contours. Did you encounter this problem when you built your version? If so, what was your remedy?
I thinking to now form a new bowl from foam and send it out to be vacuum pulled, as I don't have the equipment for this process.

I also will be using the G-23. I was fortunate to purchase four consecutively-serialed engines (not like it makes a difference) before the G-26 introduction. My question Mitch is, do you extend the nacelles out and/or beef up the formers in this area? What modification had you performed on the structure to accomodate the heavier powerplant.

I recently purchased a digital camera and will surely break it in on your 17 at Top Gun next month.

Thanks,

Nick

(in reply to GlennisAircraft)
       Post #: 51

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/25/2004 2:39:13 AM   
b17mik



Posts: 99
Joined: 11/25/2003
From: Visalia, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Yes there is a problem with that nose bowl..I dont know if this would work or not but I was thinking of filling up the bowl with plaster of paris..Let it harden...Pop it out and the reshape the plaster to what it need to be..Set the hard reshaped plaster back into the plastic and then hit with a hot air gun Wouldnt it shrink down to the respaped plaster..I dont know I am afraid to try because i don't want to wreck it..Michael in California


_____________________________

[b] Vonnie Gal[/b]
B-17G-5 DL

(in reply to Nickrc3)
       Post #: 52

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/25/2004 3:28:33 AM   
nine o nine


 

Posts: 274
Joined: 5/22/2003
From: Leominster, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Nick. You'll have to make a new plug to have a bowl pulled. Mike...the plastic will NOT shrink down. You'll ruin what you have by trying. Mine shows a bit of a bulge on the left side but it's not that terrible. It only shows from pretty much a direct overhead view. If someone makes a new plug he could recover his expense just on this newsgroup alone!!!
The G-23 installation doesn't require any beefing up of the nacelle structure but the firewall has to be set back one inch and a ring of 2 layers of 1/2" balsa faced with
a 1/4" ply ring glued to the firewall and faired in. It's not difficult and this mod is spelled out on the Don Smith plans. My fuel tanks are on either side of the rib that goes between the nacelles and fueled with dots on the lower surface. I used tygon line throughout and safety wired every connection. I never want to have to pull those tanks so the fuel is double filtered before it goes in. On the G-23 there is space on the carb side of the engine to mount a mini servo right on the crankcase on a 1/4" ply deck that's screwed and epoxied right to the engine. No problems with about 30 flights. They run through a matchbox in the bomb bay. The G-23's overpower this beast....1/2 throttle is plenty for cruise flight.
Hope I helped guys.....a great newsgoup. Mitch

(in reply to Nickrc3)
       Post #: 53

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/25/2004 4:03:43 AM   
frank99



Posts: 460
Joined: 6/10/2002
From: Sheridan, AR, USA
Status: offline 		nice very nice

(in reply to MEMPHISBELLE)
       Post #: 54

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/25/2004 1:32:57 PM   
Edwin


 

Posts: 3431
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Leander, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I'm assuming that 4 saito 1.20s would work if people are using G23s. I happen to have them. Just a thought for a way off project.
Edwin

(in reply to frank99)
       Post #: 55

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/26/2004 12:19:47 AM   
Nickrc3



Posts: 412
Joined: 1/12/2002
From: Miami, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I generally do not like using heavy or over-powering engines in my giant warbirds, but after witnessing local modeler Doug Smith fly his G-23 equipped version to over 300 flights, I'm sold on gas. I wouldn't consider anything else on a multi-engine model.

This past weekend in Cape Coral, I watched his B-17 lose both outboard engines on climb out. The plane was nursed back around safety and undamaged.

Nick

(in reply to Edwin)
       Post #: 56

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/26/2004 2:50:10 AM   
b17mik



Posts: 99
Joined: 11/25/2003
From: Visalia, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I am not so sure if the saitos1.20s whould fit well because my OS91s just bairly extend outside the cowl ring by just its valve cover and the saitos are a much larger motor..aren't they?/as for the g23 motors..I have never seen a DS b17 fly live but have seen videos on the web and to me it just sounds like 4 chain saws flying by...The thump of four strokes seems the way to go...My oppionion ...Thats all.... Michael


_____________________________

[b] Vonnie Gal[/b]
B-17G-5 DL

(in reply to Nickrc3)
       Post #: 57

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/30/2004 5:31:27 AM   
b17mik



Posts: 99
Joined: 11/25/2003
From: Visalia, CA, USA
Status: offline 		here are some more photos for everyone interested..There are 10 formers making up the nose just like on the real plane..I figure the nose is where everyone will look in and I just want it to look good...Michael

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_____________________________

[b] Vonnie Gal[/b]
B-17G-5 DL

(in reply to b17mik)
       Post #: 58

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/30/2004 2:43:54 PM   
flydoc


 

Posts: 97
Joined: 4/26/2002
From: faifax station, VA,
Status: offline 		Michael,

Your b-17 is looking very good! I think the additional formers in the nose are a neat idea, Wish I had thought of it.

_____________________________

Howard Kahn
Fairfax Station, VA

(in reply to b17mik)
       Post #: 59

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/31/2004 4:26:16 AM   
b17mik



Posts: 99
Joined: 11/25/2003
From: Visalia, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Thank you Howard for the compliment!...You said that you cut your own parts...For me that is the only way and then you can make custom changes like this..But it sure is a lot of work!..Im not so sure if I am going to use the plastic chin turret or not..I think this area is in need of a real working gun turret,Dont youthink??

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[b] Vonnie Gal[/b]
B-17G-5 DL

(in reply to flydoc)
       Post #: 60

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 3/31/2004 2:52:59 PM   
flydoc


 

Posts: 97
Joined: 4/26/2002
From: faifax station, VA,
Status: offline 		Mike,

I think I'll pass on the working chin turret. I think making a new nosebowl will be time better spent, for me, at least. There is so much detail that could be done on these planes that you could get buried in small projects and never finnish. Since I build for my own pleasure, and don't compete in scale competition, I tend to spend time on the things that are significant to me, and others will likely have different priorities.

_____________________________

Howard Kahn
Fairfax Station, VA

(in reply to b17mik)
       Post #: 61

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 4/7/2004 12:23:43 AM   
b17mik



Posts: 99
Joined: 11/25/2003
From: Visalia, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Howard..When do you plan to make your new nose piece??I have seen it done in the magazines before but would like to see the piece I need done also..If anyone needs a special shot of a picture for details on your plane to see what a real b-17 looks like at certain location ,just let me know as there is a b-17 in tulare,Ca that has been sitting there at a airport since 1958..Comanding officer of the 379thBG Col. Maurice Preston flew it there then and it has and it never flew again..Really kind of sad... It has been vandelized and gutted...A couple of trucks have come off the freeway where it sits near and have hit it in the tail area(it was kind of fixed) and most reciently in the number 2 engine..A couple of months ago..anyway here is a picture of the nose as it sits today...Michael

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_____________________________

[b] Vonnie Gal[/b]
B-17G-5 DL

(in reply to flydoc)
       Post #: 62

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 4/7/2004 2:38:07 PM   
flydoc


 

Posts: 97
Joined: 4/26/2002
From: faifax station, VA,
Status: offline 		Mike,

I don't know when I'll make a new nosebowl. But I am pretty sure I will. The one Don Smith provides is really a poor piece of work, IMHO. I can't imagine why he would supply such a misfitting part, when the rest of the parts he sells are fairly good. Anyway, when I do make a new nosebowl, it will be a simple matter to make a few extra for those of you who don't want to use the DS one.

I appreciate your offer for photos of the B-17 you have near you. I think I remember seeing that plane when I was in California, on my way to King's Canyon. If possible, I would like some photos of the rear underside of an inner nacelle. I'm not clear on the contours of the area, and the nature of the vent that I think is there.

_____________________________

Howard Kahn
Fairfax Station, VA

(in reply to b17mik)
       Post #: 63

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 4/7/2004 6:59:30 PM   
Mustang51


 

Posts: 879
Joined: 1/20/2002
From: Norristown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Guys, My nose piece is about 3 yrs old and fits-up pretty good. My guess is Don had someone else make the pieces (yours) and really screwed the pooch.
Question... Are you guys trimming down the piece far enough as this is what I did until I got to the right circumfrance?

All my planking is finally done and I'm working on mounting the wing and the saddle.
Thought I would be ready for Warbirds over Del. but...TICK TICK TICK.

-CH

(in reply to flydoc)
       Post #: 64

RE: "DON SMITH " B-17'S? - 4/7/2004 7:10:08 PM   
Mustang51


 

Posts: 879
Joined: 1/20/2002
From: Norristown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		YOU DA MAN!
I have been racking my brain trying to get a picture of the hinge line between the rudder and the vertical stab.
Any chance you could help out?

Thanks,

CH
(Dave)

(in reply to b17mik)