redtail

My Feedback: (15)

OK, decided to construct a control horn using carbon fiber/phenolic board to tie the two elevator halves together. The circular portion of the fiber bd simulates the full scale elevator connection. Using Stits System to cover the open bay elevators/ailerons. Fingers look like h%#&, index finger will not bend. Guys, keep your hands away from the prop. Per my suregon, may need another surgery to free up my index finger. They believe the tendon fused to the two broken bones while healing. Working on the Avenger regardless. Smile. Pictures to follow. Chic

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

LENZMIKE

My Feedback: (8)

Hey guys.

I just wanted to check in and see the progress on your planes. I had the chance to talk with charlie a few times before he passed and whne I heard the news pretty much decided his Avenger would be next on my list. I live near Cleveland and heading into the winter months. My Ziroli P47 (70 version is almost ready for paint and will have to wait for spring to be finished so I am waiting for the short kit to arrive from PCK. I was fortunate to order the retracts and fiberglass parts a ways back so I have everything except the motor which will be either a DA85 or a twin (to be determined).

I will most likely do a build thread on RCSB. My hopes are to spark some additional interest in the plans as well as get some of the scale help from there.

I told Charlie way back I would probably have the slowest build ever witnessed but hope to improve on the time I currently have into the P47.

I will keep you posted.

Michael Lenz

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Michael,
As you can see if you read through this thread, you won't be the slowest builder. I hold that record. My wings, stab, elevator, rudder, and fin are done. I am just framing up the fuse formers on the balsa crutch. Slow is my middle name. Thanks to Noah and our Canadian friend - you will learn alot about the in's and outs's of this build. Read carefully through there posts, it will be a great build. Chic

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

lkahn4

Chic,
Glad to see you back at the avenger. I guess with the move I haven't been getting notifications of the thread.
FYI, on the tail wheel you may have to take a file to gear to get it to lock in the down position, John and I found out to late and couldn't get the gear out to do it so as of now it will stay in the down position.
Getting the new shop setup after the move to sunny AZ and hopefully will be back at the bench in the next few weeks.
I am getting ready to purchase a Bavarian Demon Cortex gyro for the Avenger as my flying skills range between newbie and average (love to build more than fly).
Should be back on the Trojan by sometime next month.
Nice work on the Avenger.

Larry

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Hey Larry - Great hearing from you. Believe me I am happy to be back on the Avenger. Will investigate the tail wheel locking issue. Another builder, Jerry, spoke to me just today about the same tail wheel locking problem that I should look into. Will keep you all informed. Enjoy the West. Smile. Chic

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Well, the fuse is framed up and the stringers for the top half of the fuse are in-place. Making some process before the 2nd surgery on my right hand occurs. Many thanks to Brett Kellogg, Charlie's son, for his professional building skills and quick replacement of broken or lost parts to aid in the construction of his father's airframe by me. Again, thank you Brett. Chic

Brett Kellogg

Glad to be of help Chic. I'm glad to see guys are still interested in the Avenger. As for slow builds, Dad was painfully slow in his younger years. He couldn't build as fast as I could crash. Growing up,I probably spent hundreds of hours in the shop building with him. He was always telling me to slow down, don't rush, etc. When CA glues replaced Ambroid and Elmer's in our shop, that was my green light. Kicker was even better! he'd be sanding the same block for hours, I'd have half a wing framed out in 30 minutes. Of course it was crooked and glued to my fingers, but whatever. My favorite memory of him was when he was checking on my progress and asked me if i thought i should take a break. As I tried to say no, I coughed out a cloud of balsa dust. He just shook his head. Enjoy the build!

Brett

westwind two

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Brett,

Your Dad was a great builder and designer of warbirds. Charlie was a regular at Warbirds over Delaware each year and we miss so much and we pay tribute to him at the half time show. Men of his talent and knowledge are a great loss to our great hobby and it was always a honor to have him join us.

Dave Malchione
CD WOD since 1997

Brett Kellogg

Thanks Dave, for your kind words. It's hard to believe it's been two years that he's gone now. I used to come to WOD with my son pretty regularly to watch Dad fly. You and your crew put on a great event every year. I've mostly been flying parkflyers, and teaching my boy to fly. There isn't much time for building with three teenagers. It seems my building table is always covered with projects other than airplanes. Perhaps I'll get Dad's Stearman ready for Spring and head down to Delaware the year. Have a great building season.

Brett Kellogg

westwind two

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Brett let me know if you can make it........It would be great.

Brett Kellogg

will do

lkahn4

Brett,
Let me add a few words of how kind your dad was. My friend and I started on his Avenger and he was always there with a word of encouragement and advice on a question we would ask.
We were lucky enough to meet him 3 times at the WRAM show and he was always willing to talk planes, he is surely missed and I hope to be 1/10th the builder he was someday.

Larry

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

OK all you Avenger builders, Noah, Larry, Peter, and all of you that I have not named -- please, I need your help and advice. I have questions that either I forgot the what or why or just don't know the answers or the how.
QUESTIONS:
1. Did you permanently mount/glue the center wing section to the fuse? I can't remember if I read that any of you did that.
2. If not, how did you mount the center section to the fuse - can you remove it if necessary and how did you do it?
3. Where did you mount the receiver, batteries, elevator/rudder servos?
4. I know some of this information my be buried within this build thread, if so just tell me that it is and I will search it out while I recoup from my surgery on Thursday.
5. The positive incidence on the wing and stab, I do not know how to do that. Please advise me on your techniques to get this done.
6. How did you cradle the fuse when you turned it over to plank the bottom half?

I am currently modifying the cowl to the type used on the TBF-1B version. The RAF received the TBF-1B/C off the Lend/Lease Program during the war. I have changed the color scheme, should look good. Many thanks guys for your help. I am thankful to you all. Chic

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

The color scheme is black, white, slate. dark sea gray, along with the usual RAF colors.

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

lkahn4

Hey Chic,
I will try and answer as many as my brain can remember

1 - permanently mounted
3 - Ign Batt over the engine box, rec battery where the pilot sits, rec behind the turret under the removable deck, as for the servos we pretty much followed Charlie's layout.
5 - Don't remember but our flies
6 - we built a cradle out of PVC piping and covered it with foam pipe wrap where the horizontal surfaces touch.

Hope this helps

Larry
PS good luck on the surgery and ask Shirley to put a warning sign on her pocket book before you go digging for $$$$ the next time [SUB][SUP]
[/SUP][/SUB]

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Larry, thank you. You are certainly one of the guys who has been so good to me. Would you please explain/photo the "removable deck" if you would please? Ha Ha - Shirley has the skills and genes to sniff out where money may be hiding. Smile. She said she will behave while I am under. Heck, I'm broke now, just purchased washer/dryer for engaged daughter and future son-in-law. She took that from me of course. Chic

lkahn4

Chic, deck I'm talking about is right behind the gun turret we put the recv in there, way too many wires, if I had the $$$ I'd change the whole thing over to S-Bus and be done with the rats nest of wires. I hear you about daughters and $$ we bought ours a used VW convertible and then I DROVE it to her in Florida, I guess it's what we do. Now doing the grandkids thing.
I am sorry the wife and I didn't get to meet you guys before the move to Arizona, but if your out this way you are always welcome. I'm asking for a Bavarian Demon Cortex gyro for xmas if we have any $$ left over after sons family and daughter, will put it in the avenger to help me with my limited flying skills.
I will text you a pix of the deck

Larry

Ham639

My Feedback: (13)

Hi guys,

I will just apologize upfront in case I missed it somewhere. I heard Charlie's family was going to offer the plastic and fiberglass parts again. If so has anybody had any luck yet getting what they need? I have the plans but need the other components Charlie offered.

Thanks in advance.

Chuck

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Go back to Post 2039 and send a PM to Brett Kellogg - Charlie's son. He will get you what you need. Chic

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Photos of the Modified TBF-1B Cowl from Charlies' TBM-3 original cowl:

redtail

My Feedback: (15)