P-47 Thunderbolt Brotherhood (All P-47s Welcome)
09-27-2014, 05:55 PM
#1004
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Fort Worth TX TX
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5th Emergency Rescue Squadron - Maiden Flight
Last weekend I got the first flight in on my GS P-47. It started out as an ARTC TF GS Tar Heel Hal, and between work, moving to an apartment, moving to another apartment, life events, etc., it took me about 6 months to get it back to ARF configuration. Along the way, I learned a lot of new things, so maybe I ought to name the plane "The Learning Curve"!
- First GS plane
- First gas plane (DLE-55 with JTech muffler)
- First fiber glassing job (1/2 ounce cloth using Zpoxy fininshing resin)
- First panel lines
- First kit bash (Wylie Warbirds Razorback conversion kit)
- First rivet job (18,000 from Chad Veich)
- First air retracts (Robarts)
- First paint job with Behr exterior latex
- First stencil insignia (GetStencils)
My Warbirds Over Texas running buddy Terry Farmer (Wylie Warbirds) and Greg Pulcini helped me get the engine runs done, and Gary Mills (Top Gun pilot) out the first flight on it. Gary has built three of these planes, so got expert help. Gary and Terry were my coaches, and I could not be more pleased with the results.
As we loaded up the van to head home, my wife asked me what I was going to build next ....
A big Texas Thank You to Gary and Terry for all their help!
Ed
09-30-2014, 10:39 AM
#1009
Building a TF .60 P-47 GE Kit at the moment.
Love the Jug.
One of the best looking warbirds ever in my opinion.
Mine will be powered with either a DLE-20 or an OS GT22. I have both new in box begging for an airframe.
Planning on air retracts, glassed, cockpit, but not going all out with rivets etc as it's my first kit build. Have assembled roughly 15 ARF's.
Love the Jug.
One of the best looking warbirds ever in my opinion.
Mine will be powered with either a DLE-20 or an OS GT22. I have both new in box begging for an airframe.
Planning on air retracts, glassed, cockpit, but not going all out with rivets etc as it's my first kit build. Have assembled roughly 15 ARF's.
09-30-2014, 12:58 PM
#1010
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Bristol, CT
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That's kind of a loaded question. A lot of variables. Meaning, how much can you get done in 10 to 20 hours? Some guys get a lot done while others take a lot longer. Also, detail, no detail? Fiberglass and paint? Or ultra kote? See what I mean. If your just building a bone stock plane without detail and covering in wrinkle kote, and you can get a lot accomplished in your given time, then yeah. It can be done in a couple months. Sorry if that came off rude, didn't mean to. Just a lot of variables like I said.
10-01-2014, 06:50 AM
#1011
My Feedback: (43)
Chorner,
Ball park guess, I'm figuring it took about 980 hours to build my 110" P-47 which includes:
cutting my own parts
functioning doors
functioning cowl flaps
functioning canopy
landing/nav lights
full cockpit
glassed with panel lines/rivets.
So 20 hours a week, a detailed plane can be built in a year. Don't waste time watching TV and have parts available when building and you'll achieve your objective. You have to really want to build a plane to finish it. For me, there's nothing more satisfying than building something 'with my own hands'. As Tim Allen used to say: if you didn't build it, it's really not yours.
Ball park guess, I'm figuring it took about 980 hours to build my 110" P-47 which includes:
cutting my own parts
functioning doors
functioning cowl flaps
functioning canopy
landing/nav lights
full cockpit
glassed with panel lines/rivets.
So 20 hours a week, a detailed plane can be built in a year. Don't waste time watching TV and have parts available when building and you'll achieve your objective. You have to really want to build a plane to finish it. For me, there's nothing more satisfying than building something 'with my own hands'. As Tim Allen used to say: if you didn't build it, it's really not yours.
Last edited by samparfitt; 10-01-2014 at 06:54 AM.
10-01-2014, 06:56 AM
#1012
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Bristol, CT
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Agreed. And I really hope I didn't scare you away from the idea with my response. Like samparfitt said, you just have to really want to build it, and stick to it, and it can be done. You only live once buddy, go for it.
10-01-2014, 08:20 AM
#1013
stevegauth30, no worries I didn't take it as rude at all. I know it's kind of a loaded question, but more wondering what other's experience has been in terms of time involved. Just wondering how much time some guys put into the kit builds as an example "benchmark" if you will.
samparfitt, awesome... that's the kind of response I was hoping for. I rarely watch TV so that's an easy one for me ha ha... Beautiful plane btw, that's incredible. I'd love to see a few more pictures or even a flight video posted up here to see.
Definitely something I want to do. I find I'm not happy in more than a few ways with the ARF's available, so a kit build is becoming higher on my list of "wants" all the time. I might bite the bullet and start a build over the winter
samparfitt, awesome... that's the kind of response I was hoping for. I rarely watch TV so that's an easy one for me ha ha... Beautiful plane btw, that's incredible. I'd love to see a few more pictures or even a flight video posted up here to see.
Definitely something I want to do. I find I'm not happy in more than a few ways with the ARF's available, so a kit build is becoming higher on my list of "wants" all the time. I might bite the bullet and start a build over the winter
10-01-2014, 08:24 AM
#1014
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Bristol, CT
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Like I said. Go for it. You may find that your hobby is more building than flying like me and many others. And you can take it as far as you want, or as basic as you want. The sky is the limit.
10-01-2014, 11:04 AM
#1016
Join Date: Jun 2012
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10-01-2014, 11:44 AM
#1018
My Feedback: (43)
Hey, there's a fine line between a hobby and insanity ( I probably cross the line once or twice a year! ).
I'm retired and, during the winter, I'd rather be building all day (it's fun) rather than watching the idiot box!
During the winter, I usually only work on my hobbies 7 days a week, I take off on the 8th day :] .
I'm retired and, during the winter, I'd rather be building all day (it's fun) rather than watching the idiot box!
During the winter, I usually only work on my hobbies 7 days a week, I take off on the 8th day :] .
Last edited by samparfitt; 10-01-2014 at 11:46 AM.
10-01-2014, 11:56 AM
#1020
Join Date: Jun 2012
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The Mark of a builder. I look forward every year to the start of winter. Not that I don't enjoy flying, I just don't mind rainy Saturdays. I look forward to having even close to your building skills. Thanks.