jofunk

I glued in the landing gear plate, then started backfilling with some balsa and urethane foam. It will all get ground down, get some filler and then some glass.

jofunk

Everything got a few layers of glass to lock it in.

jofunk

I did a hard stop at route 66 last year and flat spotted my Robart stiff foam rubber tires. I bought a new set but I wanted to try and fix these. I applied some Goop glue to the spot, and dragged some out to the perimeter of the flat spot. It flowed out nice and the tire seems to look very round again. If it holds it may be a viable fix. It is clear so once it cures I will scuff it a little and maybe cut some treads back into it.

jofunk

The clear Goop is acting like a magnifying glass and you can see the inner foam of the tire very well.

SECRET AGENT

My Feedback: (18)

Does it roll smooth or does it shake the plane to death at high speed?

jofunk

Hi SA

It is still wintertime here in Chicagoland so I haven't tried it yet but it looks pretty round. We'll see add i'll let you know.

SECRET AGENT

My Feedback: (18)

Thanks, if it's successful I'll have to add it to the old bag of tricks, HA!

jofunk

I finished the gear plate install. It is all ready to get ripped out again for the 2017 season. Well hopefully not.

jofunk

I flew the Panther a few times at Winamac yesterday. The first landing I twisted up the left main. After straightening it the second flight and landing was uneventful. I want to report that the Shoe Goo I used to repair the flat spots on the tires held up really well. I was thinking if I use it again, instead of applying multiple layers I would apply the amount of Shoe Goo I needed and lightly put a ring of parchment paper around the tire circumfrance . The capillary attraction I think would hold the glue round and in place until it cured. I know it would not stick to parchment paper because nothing does.

jofunk

After knocking the nose gear out twice in 4 years, It is time for a new plate and sheeting repair. The fiberglass skin was intact but the sheeting under it was busted up and loose.

jofunk

Jets over Kentucky is Coming soon. Here is a video from last year. Thanks for the video Mr. Richards. BTW that's Scott Adams my spotter standing in the background. Thanks for calling for me Scott.

jofunk

Hey Mike Sula owner of the Gentle Jungle hobby shop, it was good to see you out at the flying field Thursday. You should come out more often..... I totally forgot that Big Bill ( god rest his soul ) gave you his mostly completed 1/4 scale Panther # 5 . That was very generous of Bill and nice of you in return to tell him you would complete it and fly it. Just few notes if you plan on doing something with it. When bill was learning to cut the foam cores for his wings he misunderstood and put the opposite of washout in the tip of his first set of wings. An easy mistake when attaching the tip templates. So don't use the wings you have. It is no big deal to cut you another set of foam cores. I would have cut them for Big Bill. I still have all the plans and foam cutting templates for the plane. As a matter of fact if you are interested, I cut and sheeted another set of wings for a second Panther I was going to start. They have just been sitting in the basement for a while now doing nothing along with a bunch of other Panther stuff. The other thing, the doublers for the main carry through spars in the fuselage for Bills plane are still in my basement. You might want them. Anyways.

Talk to you soon,

Joe

doubledcom

My Feedback: (49)

+1

jofunk

when John Roth was inspired by the built up 1/4 Scale Panther project It started with these two guys in I think England. Unfortunately one of them damaged their Panther pretty good. But since he built it from nothing I'm sure he will fix it. The damage happened at about 10:50 on the video.

jofunk

I secured big Bills Panther #5. The guy who had it is not a modeler and ruined it trying to finish it. I'm not sure what i'm going to do with it.

jofunk

doubledcom

My Feedback: (49)

LOL Joe!

jeff naul

My Feedback: (16)

Fix it and fly it!!! We need a thread to watch...

jofunk

It pains me to say Panther #5 is slated to be dismantled. I decided it is too big of a task to fix everything that was incorrectly built by the second owner. I will salvage only a few things out of the airframe that can be used in future projects.

jofunk

And then there were 4. I salvaged very few parts.

sysiek

My Feedback: (176)

That’s difficult to watch, crushed but not crashed

jerrybern

Sledge Hammer or stomping on it ?

jofunk

After almost ten years of service the Robart landing gear, tires, wheels and brakes need some love. There's worn rubber, wobbled out bushings, worn brake linings and a bent oleo.