drac1

My Feedback: (4)

Hi Blair,

Which E Flite retracts did you use?

Blair K.

Hi Drac, I used modified Eflite 120 size retracts.

I remove the trunion and bore the hole for the leg to 6.35mm or 1/4", I make a 1/4 "piano wire rod to go between the trunion and the Oleo leg.

The 120 retracts dont go straight in but their much cheaper than the robart ones and can handle the load of a big plane.

Blair K.

I love it! Merry Christmas to me !

Now that ive gone down this road and shown it can be done if you willing to throw time at it, you should do it because who doesn't want an angry 5 cylinder "bare knuckle" fighter from WW11 !

Cheers Blair

Blair K.

I found from previous testing that i get more cooling air than needed and cant get it to exit the cowl properly.
I made this louver on the bottom of the cowl to help the air enter the hi speed flow over the surface. I also baffled the front of the cowl and operating temps came down 54 degrees C on a gas four stroke.

Blair K.

As i previously mentioned my mixture screw extension goes around a corner and allows a screw driver to adjust mixture through the cowl flaps. It uses 3.3 mm speedo cable, i made a socket at one end with a screw driver slot and electrical solder holds the cable into the socket.
It gives surprisingly good feel for adjustment.




the mixture connection end

Blair K.

After initial testing with the FA325 R5 I got the feeling that it may benefit from a fuel pressure regulator. I was going to buy one until a a bit of research revealed a Cline regulator is nothing more than the reservoir side of a walbro style carby. As soon as i saw a cut away i new id just make one and keep the $75.

I have a spare carby or 3 in the shed and a bag of new gaskets and diaphragms so i pieced one together. One of the carbies i had is off a weed eater and happen to be segmented type so the diaphragm section just needed a few holes blocked off with grub screws and loctite, i soldered the brass nipples on with a butane torch and electrical solder.


since i shot this pic i went to work with the dremel and removed all the material between the screws, i pulled its weight down from 31 grams to 22 grms.

Blair K.

This last few days ive taken it from bare engine and fuse to nearly having the cowl done.



The fa325 is bigger than the cowl so i had to make removable panels for the top 3 cylinders. Yes it was a huge job.

DLEVETT

My Feedback: (13)

Removable panels, great idea. I was wondering how you got the cuts so tight to all 3 sets of valve covers.
Looking good.

Dave

Blair K.

Hi Dave, I still have to take off every second tappet cover to get the panels on as im going for that clean look and only have 3mm gap at most. Rigid mounted engine so it shouldn't ever touch, the radial is so smooth too.

Cheers Blair

DLEVETT

My Feedback: (13)

That's the great part about these forums, guys can share their effort and modelling know how with others so that we all benefit.
Your model is surely providing me with the inspiration to modify and finish mine.
Keep the good stuff coming.

see ya
Dave

Blair K.

Ok i got the last of the cylinder head panels on today. I figured ill post plenty of info on this as I had a bit of trouble picturing it till it was done. To be totally honest i thought it would look terrible and entire new custom moulded panels would be needed.







the needed clearance to get it off

Blair K.

How i make my mounting tabs for cowl panels.

I can 18mm x 18mm squares from 1.2mm Aluminum sheet and drill a 1.60mm hole in one corner. Then i coin a depression where the hole is so when the self taping screw does up it doesn't distort the cowl form.

I use my drill press for this purpose without the spindal turned on.




i shape each tab so it matches the cowl form and the outer faces match nicely when all tabs are pushed gently against the inside.

Blair K.

Duplicate

Blair K.

I take a scriber and scratch the buggerly out of the faces to be epoxied otherwise it wont hold for life of the plane.

i clamp a piece of wood off the bench and hang the cowl on the wood with foam pushing the panel against the inside, a few wooden wedges are needed as it always walks around a bit

drac1

My Feedback: (4)

Hi Blair,

Where did you get the Biela prop from?

Blair K.

Hi drac, they are available from Austar models in Australia and Troybuilt do them overseas.
If you intend to run it on the FA325 id suggest holding off a bit as im having some trouble with tuning with the 4 blade. Yes it looks the business and sounds great but i get the impression that a 18x12 biela 2 blade would be money better spent.

Mine turns a MAS classic 18x12 @7100 rpm on the ground but the 4 blade's best has only been 5300, thats a huge loss .

cheers Blair

Blair K.

Ok the fuselage is nearly complete, i did an hour of testing it hits 98 degrees at WOT and 69 degrees at idle.

Pulls a MAS 18 x 12 @ 7380 RPM......it gonna be a real mongrel in the air!

Heres the video of my test ;

Saito 325 R5 in my H9 P-47: http://youtu.be/JFHgm1lHGgM

Elcorro

Hey there Blair , I like the craftsmanship you have put into your Jug, and machining in your engine mount! Looks awesome! I'm curious about the HK tail wheel, how does the quality of it look? And do you think that it will last for any length of time ?

Blair K.

Hi Elcorro, thanks for the nice words, i dont mean to go all out, in fact I just start building and it just happens!

The quality of the tail wheel im happy with, its more than strong enough, the machining on it acceptable and i put it on my servo tester and cycled it 500 times in 2 days so i have confidence in it.

My landing gear is on complete stand alone circuit so even if it were to fail she couldn't bring my p47 down.

Cheers Blair

Blair K.

I took the P-47 to the field today for some testing, I checked fuel consumption, rpm, temperature and more importantly decibels.

I discovered my engine isn't getting enough fuel delivery as its not producing enough exhaust pressure in the tank.

I installed a compressed air tank and a regulator and have it delivering 3 psi to the tank. The results are amazing, 7480 rpm turning MAS 18 x 12 on 15% nitro.

Decibels are 98 so its proving a bit loud but its truly awesome exhaust note.

Its going to be a real mongrel no doubt!

Blair K.

Today was the day RC peoples, with a scale cloud of white smoke the radial in The Dixieland Darling slowly came to life as cylinders come on line.

Take off needed only half throttle and a 5 or so clicks in Ailerons and 4 clicks in elevator to trim her out.

She's an animal in the air with sweetest exhaust note that could only be described as a blend of growl and straight cut gear whine that justifies the cost of the engine.

She recorded 170.3 kph @ 60% throttle, it seriously shifts.

I could quite happily just taxi the Dixieland Darling without needing to fly it, its just awesome.

aghost

My Feedback: (13)

Congratulations on the maiden. Fine looking plane you have there.

skillet92

Congrats on the maiden. Nice looking plane and it sounds so nice. I have one with a DLE 55RA turning a Biela 20x10 4 blade. Flies very scale and lands better than any other warbird I have. I am wanting to do a warbird with a radial too, because like you said they sound so nice.

Blair K.

Here's a snippet of my maiden guys, the pc is out of action so i cant tack it together but its still the business.

Crank up that sound and tell me what you think, shes at 50 to 60% throttle only in the entire video.

Its a mongrel!!
Hangar 9 custom P-47 Saito 325R5: http://youtu.be/6fRAKFGwE-Q

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

The maiden is cool, but the curved mixture screw extension is brilliant! Right on Mate!