Fischer Wildcat Kit.
04-15-2016, 07:58 AM
#126
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Interesting stuff,, thanks guys! I allways though the Hellcat was a better fighter than the wildcat so its interesting that the hellcat and the corsair would take a back seat to the wildcat...I know the corsair had issues with carriers but was resolved by the carrier approach for one...but was unaware of the Hellcat having problems. What role was the wildcat used in the Atlantic?
Hey Chad will be in contact
Hey Chad will be in contact
Later in the war they were also used in an ASW role. The Brits continued using them as fighters from escort carriers. In fact the last RN air to air victories in Europe were scored by Wildcats against Bf-109s over Norway.
08-27-2016, 03:56 AM
#127
Well after my Brain Fart at Joe Nall this year..
I have finally received my new replacement Wildcat from Fischer models. It will be some time before i begin the build due to other projects that are ahead of it.
But when i do start i will try to keep you all updated on it..
I have finally received my new replacement Wildcat from Fischer models. It will be some time before i begin the build due to other projects that are ahead of it.
But when i do start i will try to keep you all updated on it..
10-31-2016, 04:38 AM
#132
The main landing gear still needs to get installed after i do some changes to the system. I'm going to try to convert it from the air cylinder it has to using a Firgelli actuator to retract and extend it.
Last edited by Greg Wright; 10-31-2016 at 04:42 AM.
02-12-2017, 06:57 PM
#133
After a couple of months of coming up with a design and mount for the Actuator i chose, to use to replace the air cylinder for the gear i have finally been able to get this project back on track.
The gear and it's former were installed and glued into place the other day and so today i was able to get the firewall mounted with the motor and also did the cowl and it's mounts. I also glued the baffle into the cowl for the cooling of the Moki 250.
I'll post pictures later.
The gear and it's former were installed and glued into place the other day and so today i was able to get the firewall mounted with the motor and also did the cowl and it's mounts. I also glued the baffle into the cowl for the cooling of the Moki 250.
I'll post pictures later.
10-03-2017, 01:36 AM
#135
Joining in
Hello Guys
To start the story, some introduction: I just turned 65 and since I was 10 Yrs old, committed to model aviation. It meant also the beginning of a long professional aviation career, but that's not important here.
I did almost all kinds of model flying, each one of them providing new challenges.
When large gasoline engines started to become available (like the Quadra for You guys who are also longer on scene) I got hooked on bigger engines and ditto bigger planes. The last 15 Years or so I have flown over 10.000 tow flights with big sized tow planes, up to 160cc. About 8 years ago I joined the jet era also.
But the radial was more or less the last power plant I had no experience with, but could never find a good reason (airplane...) to buy one. Wilgas are just too many around and I almost started it with the Fieseler Storch, with a kit from the Storchschmiede, that can be built like the French Morane version with a radial. Very nice kit, also very expensive, but I have never seen such a big model fly that slow.
However one day one of my towing buddies told me he had a Fisher Wildcat kit lying idle at his home, bought over the internet from someone who gave up already in the beginning. My buddy did not work on it neither because he already built and flies one. He had bought the "spare" one, just in case.... But decided this Year because of age he wasn't going to complete the spare one due to time lack and his age.
Btw, I live in Europe, the Netherlands. (Or "Holland" as many US people know it)
So a few weeks ago I picked up the F4F in Germany and the long search and building journey started. Luck for me the first owner did not do a lot to the kit, as I had to undo most things he did like wrong elevator hinges, who were non-removable!
I am now in the process of reading lots of documentation about the F4F and doing so finding the correct version to build plus a nice color scheme. A friend of mine provided me with about 18 scanned books about the Wildcat.
The kit was complete with gear and the horrendous pricey but unbelievable quality cockpit, and including the Austrian built tail wheel set.
That was my first job in removing the original former plus hardware. Tough job but working from the nose opening, with a Dremel plus long extension shaft taped to a 1,5m long wooden stick, I got it removed. Part of the underside skin is removed now to reinstall the new former with the new tail wheel set. After it is glued in I reinstall part of the skin, but will make some of it removable to be able to service the strut etc.
I would appreciate if a few of the owner/flyers could help me with some questions.
I would at least try to figure out a sliding cockpit. Anyone did that? Will be some helluva job'd reckon.
Studying many pics I noticed the LH wing features a landing light, flush with the underside of the wing. I suppose it was a retractable one used for night ops, but I have yet to find a picture with the light active or extended, anyone? As I bought a nice nav light set from www.unilight.at for it, I could also add a retractable landing light, as they have different sizes in their program.
Anyone with access to a full size F4F, or knowing someone who works in a museum, I would love to know the diameter of it to buy a scaled one.
I'd figured out it will take at least two winters to build it, so the choice of engine can be done at a later stage. Apart from the 5 cyl Moki 250, I see there is an 7 cyl 250 also, and a new 5 cyl 300. Which from a power point should be overkill. And Valach also came up this summer with a 5 Cyl 250, however, with those complex engines I don't want to act as a beta tester with an expensive model, I would at least wait till I hear feedback from owners, who have flown a Year with it.
As for the cowl flaps, interesting to read they are very effective, obviously influencing the CHT of the Moki. I am contemplating to make them movable, by air pressure or some small servos.
For the engine I will decide to make a glass "hood" that will fit the fuse and engine with already side- and down thrust built in.
So many things to decide and to do, am really looking forward.
Sure some owners/flyers will have a few tips on what can be done still while in this early stage. I'd appreciate If You would share it with me.
Richard
To start the story, some introduction: I just turned 65 and since I was 10 Yrs old, committed to model aviation. It meant also the beginning of a long professional aviation career, but that's not important here.
I did almost all kinds of model flying, each one of them providing new challenges.
When large gasoline engines started to become available (like the Quadra for You guys who are also longer on scene) I got hooked on bigger engines and ditto bigger planes. The last 15 Years or so I have flown over 10.000 tow flights with big sized tow planes, up to 160cc. About 8 years ago I joined the jet era also.
But the radial was more or less the last power plant I had no experience with, but could never find a good reason (airplane...) to buy one. Wilgas are just too many around and I almost started it with the Fieseler Storch, with a kit from the Storchschmiede, that can be built like the French Morane version with a radial. Very nice kit, also very expensive, but I have never seen such a big model fly that slow.
However one day one of my towing buddies told me he had a Fisher Wildcat kit lying idle at his home, bought over the internet from someone who gave up already in the beginning. My buddy did not work on it neither because he already built and flies one. He had bought the "spare" one, just in case.... But decided this Year because of age he wasn't going to complete the spare one due to time lack and his age.
Btw, I live in Europe, the Netherlands. (Or "Holland" as many US people know it)
So a few weeks ago I picked up the F4F in Germany and the long search and building journey started. Luck for me the first owner did not do a lot to the kit, as I had to undo most things he did like wrong elevator hinges, who were non-removable!
I am now in the process of reading lots of documentation about the F4F and doing so finding the correct version to build plus a nice color scheme. A friend of mine provided me with about 18 scanned books about the Wildcat.
The kit was complete with gear and the horrendous pricey but unbelievable quality cockpit, and including the Austrian built tail wheel set.
That was my first job in removing the original former plus hardware. Tough job but working from the nose opening, with a Dremel plus long extension shaft taped to a 1,5m long wooden stick, I got it removed. Part of the underside skin is removed now to reinstall the new former with the new tail wheel set. After it is glued in I reinstall part of the skin, but will make some of it removable to be able to service the strut etc.
I would appreciate if a few of the owner/flyers could help me with some questions.
I would at least try to figure out a sliding cockpit. Anyone did that? Will be some helluva job'd reckon.
Studying many pics I noticed the LH wing features a landing light, flush with the underside of the wing. I suppose it was a retractable one used for night ops, but I have yet to find a picture with the light active or extended, anyone? As I bought a nice nav light set from www.unilight.at for it, I could also add a retractable landing light, as they have different sizes in their program.
Anyone with access to a full size F4F, or knowing someone who works in a museum, I would love to know the diameter of it to buy a scaled one.
I'd figured out it will take at least two winters to build it, so the choice of engine can be done at a later stage. Apart from the 5 cyl Moki 250, I see there is an 7 cyl 250 also, and a new 5 cyl 300. Which from a power point should be overkill. And Valach also came up this summer with a 5 Cyl 250, however, with those complex engines I don't want to act as a beta tester with an expensive model, I would at least wait till I hear feedback from owners, who have flown a Year with it.
As for the cowl flaps, interesting to read they are very effective, obviously influencing the CHT of the Moki. I am contemplating to make them movable, by air pressure or some small servos.
For the engine I will decide to make a glass "hood" that will fit the fuse and engine with already side- and down thrust built in.
So many things to decide and to do, am really looking forward.
Sure some owners/flyers will have a few tips on what can be done still while in this early stage. I'd appreciate If You would share it with me.
Richard
03-11-2018, 09:25 PM
#141
I need to call Mr Fisher anyhow today or tomorrow so I will ask. As far as I know he is busy with a small batch which will be his last one, as he is approaching a respectful age.
Richard
Richard
03-16-2018, 05:36 AM
#142
Basspilot
I just spoke to Mr Fisher. He is currently building a batch that was supposed to be his last one (he is turning 70...). But due to ongoing requests for more he might consider a new batch.
Just drop him an email which can be found on his site (although don't expect an answer in the next day...)
Good luck!
I just spoke to Mr Fisher. He is currently building a batch that was supposed to be his last one (he is turning 70...). But due to ongoing requests for more he might consider a new batch.
Just drop him an email which can be found on his site (although don't expect an answer in the next day...)
Good luck!
08-30-2020, 05:23 AM
#143
The project is creeping on. Both wings are nearly complete, but still a lot to complete on the fuse, as is the purchase of the engine. Now definitely chosen as the Valach 250.
By never ending (corona) changes to our retired life holiday plans, I could persuade my wife in a two weeks visit to former "eastern" countries, like Poland, Slovakia and The Czech Republic. The Wildcat's fuse plus one wing and one tail plane, would fit into my RV's garage so we hauled it all the way to a small village in the south of Poland (some 1150 kms!!!) where we met with the owner of the famous REVOC wing and fuse covers.
After a few days we collected it and I was perplexed with the high quality. All to a reasonable price, taking into account they had to measure the complex fuse in detail (using sophisticated measuring equipment). And regarding the whole cost of the project...what is "expensive"....
Also the manufacturing process uses very professional equipment like laser cutting of the panels, that will be stitched together, in THREE layers! At the moment he employs about 20 female workers, a few are designers or quality controllers.
Anyway, If You are interested, they now have accurate 3D data and can make Your version of the Fisher F4F fuse, wing and tail plane covers. You can choose color of outside and inside layers and make a suggestion for a design. Even, if You have a different scale Wildcat, they can scale it down or up to Your size.
As the Fisher kit is very light, largely because of thin glass layers with a strong honeycomb in between, it will damage easily, so I choose an extra strong outside layer.
Alas, I cannot show any pictures yet, There will be an article about the visit in a leading German model aviation magazine, I have to wait till it is published.
Richard
By never ending (corona) changes to our retired life holiday plans, I could persuade my wife in a two weeks visit to former "eastern" countries, like Poland, Slovakia and The Czech Republic. The Wildcat's fuse plus one wing and one tail plane, would fit into my RV's garage so we hauled it all the way to a small village in the south of Poland (some 1150 kms!!!) where we met with the owner of the famous REVOC wing and fuse covers.
After a few days we collected it and I was perplexed with the high quality. All to a reasonable price, taking into account they had to measure the complex fuse in detail (using sophisticated measuring equipment). And regarding the whole cost of the project...what is "expensive"....
Also the manufacturing process uses very professional equipment like laser cutting of the panels, that will be stitched together, in THREE layers! At the moment he employs about 20 female workers, a few are designers or quality controllers.
Anyway, If You are interested, they now have accurate 3D data and can make Your version of the Fisher F4F fuse, wing and tail plane covers. You can choose color of outside and inside layers and make a suggestion for a design. Even, if You have a different scale Wildcat, they can scale it down or up to Your size.
As the Fisher kit is very light, largely because of thin glass layers with a strong honeycomb in between, it will damage easily, so I choose an extra strong outside layer.
Alas, I cannot show any pictures yet, There will be an article about the visit in a leading German model aviation magazine, I have to wait till it is published.
Richard
