Charlie Kellogg's TBM Avenger Build
12-10-2015, 02:15 PM
#2052
Going under the knife in the morning to see if they can get my fingers working again. I got lucky and I got an Army surgeon who just came back from the war zone - putting our boys and girls back together. Guys, keep your hands away from those whirling props. For those who do, please place my name in your prayers. Many thanks "GUYS". Chic
12-16-2015, 01:50 PM
#2054
Thanks Ray and those sent prayers my way. It took way longer than expected but the finger is now beginning to move when summoned. I have a decorative zigzag cut on the bottom of my finger and a straight cut on top. I told the surgeon when he started the sutures I wanted a Beverly Hills stitch - in other words make it beautiful. Naturally he just laughed. Back to work on the Avenger next week. Question, did you install receiver and stuff before planking the bottom??? Thanks again. Chic
12-18-2015, 05:26 AM
#2056
Are the fiberglass and plastic parts still available for this plane?
I sent a private message to the son but have not heard anything back?
I would love to get everything I need to build this but do not want to dive in without knowing everything is still available.
I sent a private message to the son but have not heard anything back?
I would love to get everything I need to build this but do not want to dive in without knowing everything is still available.
12-19-2015, 08:33 AM
#2063
Boyd, great hearing from a builder like you. We all want to be like you when we grow up - a great builder. Smile. The TBF-1B is finally starting to show progress. If you come up with any suggestions or advice on/for this build - please holler at me. Again, many thanks. Chic
12-21-2015, 06:53 AM
#2065
It has taken me over 8 years to build this Avenger - but it has been well worth it. I have been blessed through this hobby and this build thread with many new friendships, wonderful tips, and helpful advice. May all of you be blessed this year with good health, new projects, blue skies, and attending many scale events this year. Chic
12-24-2015, 01:36 PM
#2066
Hello, certainly need some help. With the increased size of the Sierra Gear Tailwheels, and the need to tilt the gear to get the tailwheel to sit further up into the fuse, what size Robart Air Cylinder did you use or I need to buy? Thanks. Chic
12-28-2015, 12:05 PM
#2067
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chic,
Looking through my dad's notes I could only find a few things about the retracts. The air cylinders he referenced are:
2 #166 for torpedo doors, Sierra main gears with valve rv-1, tail wheel robart #160. I know he slaved the mains and tail from the same large robart tank, and a second tank for the torpedo doors. I vaguely remember him mentioning about the tail wheel needing repositioning during installation, but that was a long while back. I'll keep looking through his books. Hopefully something pops up.
Looking through my dad's notes I could only find a few things about the retracts. The air cylinders he referenced are:
2 #166 for torpedo doors, Sierra main gears with valve rv-1, tail wheel robart #160. I know he slaved the mains and tail from the same large robart tank, and a second tank for the torpedo doors. I vaguely remember him mentioning about the tail wheel needing repositioning during installation, but that was a long while back. I'll keep looking through his books. Hopefully something pops up.
12-28-2015, 12:33 PM
#2068
Thanks Ray and those sent prayers my way. It took way longer than expected but the finger is now beginning to move when summoned. I have a decorative zigzag cut on the bottom of my finger and a straight cut on top. I told the surgeon when he started the sutures I wanted a Beverly Hills stitch - in other words make it beautiful. Naturally he just laughed. Back to work on the Avenger next week. Question, did you install receiver and stuff before planking the bottom??? Thanks again. Chic
Sorry I didn't see this earlier, we installed everything except the air tank after we planked the entire fuselage.
Looks like the surgeon did a nice job, was it knit one pearl two? LOL
Larry
12-28-2015, 12:36 PM
#2069
Chic,
Looking through my dad's notes I could only find a few things about the retracts. The air cylinders he referenced are:
2 #166 for torpedo doors, Sierra main gears with valve rv-1, tail wheel robart #160. I know he slaved the mains and tail from the same large robart tank, and a second tank for the torpedo doors. I vaguely remember him mentioning about the tail wheel needing repositioning during installation, but that was a long while back. I'll keep looking through his books. Hopefully something pops up.
Looking through my dad's notes I could only find a few things about the retracts. The air cylinders he referenced are:
2 #166 for torpedo doors, Sierra main gears with valve rv-1, tail wheel robart #160. I know he slaved the mains and tail from the same large robart tank, and a second tank for the torpedo doors. I vaguely remember him mentioning about the tail wheel needing repositioning during installation, but that was a long while back. I'll keep looking through his books. Hopefully something pops up.
We went with Sierra gear for everything, the only problem we had with the tail wheel was that it needed a bit of filing for it to stay locked in the down position.
Just got the Bavarian Cortex Demon Gyro from Santa, am going to install it in the Avenger to help with my limited flying skills.
Going back to the Trojan in a couple of weeks now that the shop is done and the Holidays are coming to a close.
Hope everyone had a great Xmas and my wishes to all my buddies here for a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Larry
12-28-2015, 12:39 PM
#2070
Chic,
Be careful with the screws in the air valve, ours undid themselves the first time we started the engine and they are now somewhere at the old field rolling around the asphalt parking lot.
Larry
Be careful with the screws in the air valve, ours undid themselves the first time we started the engine and they are now somewhere at the old field rolling around the asphalt parking lot.
Larry
12-28-2015, 08:35 PM
#2071
Hey there. Thanks Larry, I told the surgeon I wanted a Beverly Hills stitch and not that Knit one Pearl two Granny stitch, smile. He said - O'ooo you mean "You want it to look Pretty", I said Roger That. I told him remember - I outrank him. He laughed and said - Yes that's right, but I hold the scalpel. I said in a skittish voice - "Never mind. Ha, Ha.
Larry, what size air cylinder did you put on the tail wheel - more like what was the length of the cylinder's stroke? Larry are you talking about the bomb bay air cylinder screws? Brett, Charlie did not use Sierra's tail wheel assembly. He mentioned that there was a need for a mod of some kind to mount it. Thanks for keeping your ears and eyes on this build. Just started planking the front end and cowl area. Having fun again. Still have more OT visits, but all the fingers have some movement now. Chic
Larry, what size air cylinder did you put on the tail wheel - more like what was the length of the cylinder's stroke? Larry are you talking about the bomb bay air cylinder screws? Brett, Charlie did not use Sierra's tail wheel assembly. He mentioned that there was a need for a mod of some kind to mount it. Thanks for keeping your ears and eyes on this build. Just started planking the front end and cowl area. Having fun again. Still have more OT visits, but all the fingers have some movement now. Chic
12-29-2015, 05:06 AM
#2072
Chic,
Charlie used a Robart Tail wheel and when we looked at the pix he supplied on the disc we didn't feel it looked right so we went with the Sierra gear.
You need to mount that before you plank the fuse, and we made a removable hatch to get to the servo that works the retract mechanism, we used the largest air tank that Robart makes since you have the mains and the 2 cylinders for the bomb bay doors.
I also made 2 removable hatches one on each side of the fuselage for the switches for the ignition, receiver, lights and schrader valve to fill the air tank.
It's a shame we didn't know about S-Bus before the build, it would have helped with the rats nest of servo leads going to the receiver.
Let me know if you need any pix and I will take them and email them to you.
Be well my friend
Larry
Charlie used a Robart Tail wheel and when we looked at the pix he supplied on the disc we didn't feel it looked right so we went with the Sierra gear.
You need to mount that before you plank the fuse, and we made a removable hatch to get to the servo that works the retract mechanism, we used the largest air tank that Robart makes since you have the mains and the 2 cylinders for the bomb bay doors.
I also made 2 removable hatches one on each side of the fuselage for the switches for the ignition, receiver, lights and schrader valve to fill the air tank.
It's a shame we didn't know about S-Bus before the build, it would have helped with the rats nest of servo leads going to the receiver.
Let me know if you need any pix and I will take them and email them to you.
Be well my friend
Larry