FliteMetal

I'm skipping Toledo and opted to visit with our many customers at Top Gun. While you two contemplate dealing with all the spectators huddled around the Bear...next year, enjoy one on me. First round is on me. I'll send $10 by PayPal to George for the three of you to enjoy... Are you participating in Frankie's qualifier with the T-34, or waiting for the Mint?

I assume you got the same rude PM from HalH as I did. Don't understand why that person feels we're not on the topic. Suppose its your P-40 and wife's photo that set him off... Look forward to your T-34 being converted to a mirror finish. By the way, I just sent George $15 for the round. And HalH, have a wonderful afternoon. Man, chill out...there's no reason to use language like that.

We forgive you...[sm=wink.gif] But will RCU?

PT21Flyer

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I'm in the process of glassing everything right now. Then comes priming and sanding and sanding and sanding. Then paint and Flite-Metal and assembly.

Jerry

PT21Flyer

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Update:

Everything is glassed and first coat of primer on wing. Now more sanding.

Rv7garage

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PT21Flyer- you are one h*** of a craftsman. I have been thinking about trying the T-34, and you will make it tough to live up to!

PT21Flyer

My Feedback: (1)

fltcfii,

Thanks for the compliment. Like someone else said on RCU, when you get to the finishing stage, you're only half done. No truer words were ever spoken. It seems like I'm almost done, but it's taking forever to get there. Thanks again.

Jerry

Rv7garage

My Feedback: (10)

Yeah, I hear ya. It can get to the point where your work will become a museum piece; you can't fly it after all that time/effort invested in the build. With the level of detail that you are putting forth, I'd have to fly it like my life depended on it! Keep sending the pics.....and thanks for sharing(that goes for everyone here).

PT21Flyer

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Here's a pict of the fuse primed and sanded. Worked all weekend putting panel lines on the tail surfaces.

Jerry

PT21Flyer

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I got a coat of epoxy primer on everything that gets Flite-Metaled before I came home from work yesterday. I'm now putting rivets on all the control surfaces and stabs so they can be painted silver.

Jerry

PT21Flyer

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Got the stabs and controls painted silver and clearcoated last night.

Jerry

hercibird

What a great thread! Good job to everyone who's worked on this kit. There are some really great ideas out there.

I just finished flight training with the VT-6 'shooters' ant NAS Whiting Field and would like to make this my next project. (This will also be my first venture into scale RC ). Has anyone tried to do a scale mod to turn this into a T-34C? I've seen a few pics on in this thread where the engine cowl was modified with the starboard and port ram air intakes, but I haven't seen anyone mod the fuselage. The C model has a substantially longer fuselage section than that of the non-turbo variants as well as a different tail section and vertical stab that includes ventral fins and strakes. I have lots of pics and files from the NAVY NATOPS flight manual for anyone interested. Any advice is greatly appreciated as always.

[img][/img]

PT21Flyer

My Feedback: (1)

hercibird,Glad you're enjoying the thread. If I can ever get a break from the things that have to be done, maybe I can get my T-34 finished so I can fly it.

Jerry

teamscalepilot

My Feedback: (2)

The C version was done by Bob Patton in Il. he is also doing a large t-6 you trained in.. about 100" ws.

SarDog

It's been awhile since I've been on this thread. PT, your T-34 is looking Great. I finally picked up my T-34 a few months ago and plan on doing the same finish in flite metal. I just need to finish my Royal F4U. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see how the flite metal looks on it.

SarDog

SarDog

PT, what e-poxy primer and type of clear coat are you using and where did you pic it up?

PT21Flyer

My Feedback: (1)

SarDog,

The epoxy primer is Nason made by DuPont and the base-coat, clear-coat is DuPont. I get them at the local O'Reiley's Auto Parts store that I deal with in my alignment business. I think the silver base-coat is Chromacolor or something like that.

Jerry

veroaviaor

My Feedback: (16)

Hi Jerry,

I'm currently working on my Top Flite T34 and have hust finished the bottom half of the fuselage. I plan to install a sliding canopy. Any idea on where I can get ready made rails or how I can make them?

Would appreciate if you could give me some advice, anyone for that matter.

Thanks

AS

veroaviaor

My Feedback: (16)

Hi Jerry,

I'm currently working on my Top Flite T34 and have hust finished the bottom half of the fuselage. I plan to install a sliding canopy. Any idea on where I can get ready made rails or how I can make them?

Would appreciate if you could give me some advice, anyone for that matter.

Thanks

AS

HalH

My Feedback: (12)

Look at my post on the canopy #139.

veroaviaor

My Feedback: (16)

Hi there,

The color of your T34 is extrodinary and awesome. I'm just building one. Can you post a picture of the wing and one of the bottom of the wing as well?

Thanks

tomdensmore

Well, I finally got my T-34 to the point where I could fly it. I haven't finished the cockpit yet -- I figured I'd make sure I didn't destroy the plane on the first flight before investing more time. This thread has been absolutely invaluable in the building process -- I used many of the ideas such as routing the control surface indentations, and hiding the switches under the baggage compartment door.

The plane is modeled after one of the Lima Lima ships -- I live just a couple of miles from the airport where they're based, and my wife had gotten me a ride in one of the planes a few years ago. When I went to take photos of the plane for detailing, the owner invited me to join the in a formation flight -- definitely a high point in this process.

I used a Saito 100 with a Perry pump, and was able to hide everything but one of the valve covers inside the cowl. I made a fiberglass cover for that, so at least there's not something silver poking through. I also added the exhaust pipes (courtesy of Hal) and routed the engine exhaust through one, fuel overflow through the other.

I'm still trying to get the engine tuned right with the pump -- balancing pump flow with the needle valves. I was really concerned about having enough power to fly it -- it came in at around 16 pounds, including a pound and a half of weight (!) I had to add to the nose to get it to balance. I've never had a plane this heavy before, and it seemed like it might not get off the ground. I tried first at a grass field, and couldn't get enough speed to take off. I then went to a field with a long paved runway, and decided to try a high-speed taxi just to see if it wanted to fly -- it did, and took off before I thought it would. Seemed to have plenty of power in the air, and the trim was right on. My landing was rough because I was dealing with 10-15 mph cross wind, and caught a big gust just before touchdown. Decided to call it a day due to the increasing wind, but looking forward to getting out again to work out the kinks.

Here's a link to a site with construction pictures, pictures of the real N400LL and my flight with them, and a video of the first flight:

[link]http://webcast.qcenter.com/gallery2[/link]

Tom

HalH

My Feedback: (12)

Your model looks outstanding !

tomdensmore

Thanks! You were a huge help in getting it that way!

Tom

PT21Flyer

My Feedback: (1)

Tom,

Great looking T-34. I'm beginning to think mine will never get finished. Something else always seems to take priority. One of these days.

Jerry

tomdensmore

I know what you mean -- it took me two years to get to this point, and I still have the cockpit to do. That will be a winter project I guess, although I'm thinking about starting a DC-3. Never enough hours in the day...

Tom

PT21Flyer

My Feedback: (1)

Tom,

Wish I could claim two years. Mine will be three years in Dec.

Jerry