ESM P47 Build
01-23-2013, 07:16 PM
#177
RE: ESM P47 Build
Update on my ESM P47 Thunderbolt build. I did go ahead and grab that Zenoah G38 for my P47. I'll use that Stihl 4-mix 4 stroke on something else, like an old Lazy Ace 120. I converted the new Zenoah to electronic ignition, but I left the flywheel on because I'll need the nose weight and I think it will smooth out some vibration too. We'll see. Meanwhile, I've just about completed the cockpit kit. I wasn't planning on this, but it came my way as an X-mas present. Here's some pics of the engine and the cockpit kit.
When I found this thread on the ESM P47, I'd hoped that more people would still be building this kit. But that does not seem to be the case, so I'm not sure these updates are doing any good.
When I found this thread on the ESM P47, I'd hoped that more people would still be building this kit. But that does not seem to be the case, so I'm not sure these updates are doing any good.
01-23-2013, 11:42 PM
#178
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: darwin, AUSTRALIA
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RE: ESM P47 Build
ORIGINAL: Pull Up Now!
Update on my ESM P47 Thunderbolt build. I did go ahead and grab that Zenoah G38 for my P47. I'll use that Stihl 4-mix 4 stroke on something else, like an old Lazy Ace 120. I converted the new Zenoah to electronic ignition, but I left the flywheel on because I'll need the nose weight and I think it will smooth out some vibration too. We'll see. Meanwhile, I've just about completed the cockpit kit. I wasn't planning on this, but it came my way as an X-mas present. Here's some pics of the engine and the cockpit kit.
When I found this thread on the ESM P47, I'd hoped that more people would still be building this kit. But that does not seem to be the case, so I'm not sure these updates are doing any good.
Update on my ESM P47 Thunderbolt build. I did go ahead and grab that Zenoah G38 for my P47. I'll use that Stihl 4-mix 4 stroke on something else, like an old Lazy Ace 120. I converted the new Zenoah to electronic ignition, but I left the flywheel on because I'll need the nose weight and I think it will smooth out some vibration too. We'll see. Meanwhile, I've just about completed the cockpit kit. I wasn't planning on this, but it came my way as an X-mas present. Here's some pics of the engine and the cockpit kit.
When I found this thread on the ESM P47, I'd hoped that more people would still be building this kit. But that does not seem to be the case, so I'm not sure these updates are doing any good.
well i am watching,, keep it coming.........
01-27-2013, 01:10 PM
#181
RE: ESM P47 Build
After I finished the Dbalsa cockpit kit, and fit the canopy on, I thought it looked really ridiculous with the silver painted canopy frame. So, I attempted to make it look more realistic. Honestly, it is not the best effort and I may redo it. Maybe I'll let the comments flow in and decide then. I really tired of working on this cockpit/canopy. I want to get on with installing that Zenoah G38. At heart, I'm really not one of those aspergers (my apologies to anyone offended...) type people who can paint one thing for weeks on end, under a magnifying glass. And when they talk about their work, I smile politely. 
I know, we need people like that. We wouldn't have 1 inch long functioning Chevy 283's without them. Sigh.
Here are some photos of my dubious canopy effort.....
I know, we need people like that. We wouldn't have 1 inch long functioning Chevy 283's without them. Sigh.Here are some photos of my dubious canopy effort.....
02-14-2013, 12:55 PM
#182
RE: ESM P47 Build
As of today, this ESM P47 is complete, balanced, and ready to start the engine for the first time. Since the last pictures, I completed the seatbelt harness in the cockpit, completed the electrical wiring, installed all the batteries, installed two power regulators, installed a complicated fuel valve bracket, did the gas line plumbing, and balanced the plane. The final weight is 18.4 lbs. Not too bad, for a warbird. After I spent a lot of time cleaning up the wiring, I discovered the ignition wouldn't turn on from the DX8 transmitter. I had to undo a lot of the wire routes to troubleshoot the problem. It turned out the regulator I was using was designed apparently only for LIPO batteries. I was using a 2S LIFE with 6.6 nominal volts. It worked for a time, but as the battery drained, to the regulator, it looked like a depleted LIPO instead of a healthy LIFE. So, I swapped that out for an MPI regulator that doesn't try to be too smart for it's own good. BAM! Problem solved. Here's some pictures, including the balancing. In one picture, you can see the custom magnetic long allen wrench I made from a salvaged screwdriver handle to install the cowl screws inside.
Also, here's a link to a Youtube video of the retracts working. You have to focus on the tailwheel retract, because it's hard to see and it happens pretty quick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4yY6bPlOEo
Also, here's a link to a Youtube video of the retracts working. You have to focus on the tailwheel retract, because it's hard to see and it happens pretty quick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4yY6bPlOEo
02-14-2013, 02:22 PM
#183
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Qld, AUSTRALIA
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RE: ESM P47 Build
hi, it looks great, you have put in a lot of detail, this bird flies like a dream, very happy with mine, might I be able to suggest opening up around your exhaust area, to let more air through over the engine, there is a reasonable gap around the cowl, but in my opinion not enough to keep the engine cool.
great work, cheers, Oldtimer
great work, cheers, Oldtimer
02-20-2013, 11:03 AM
#185
RE: ESM P47 Build
ORIGINAL: oldtimer4759
hi, it looks great, you have put in a lot of detail, this bird flies like a dream, very happy with mine, might I be able to suggest opening up around your exhaust area, to let more air through over the engine, there is a reasonable gap around the cowl, but in my opinion not enough to keep the engine cool.
great work, cheers, Oldtimer
hi, it looks great, you have put in a lot of detail, this bird flies like a dream, very happy with mine, might I be able to suggest opening up around your exhaust area, to let more air through over the engine, there is a reasonable gap around the cowl, but in my opinion not enough to keep the engine cool.
great work, cheers, Oldtimer
Final weight came out to about 18.5lbs. Wing loading is between 38-40 oz per ft2. Weight added to balance aircraft is 2 oz at the firewall. Plane is ready for first engine firing, which will probably take place this coming weekend.
02-25-2013, 08:01 PM
#188
RE: ESM P47 Build
Over the weekend, I got bogged down in creating semi-realistic looking machine guns. It took more research than I anticipated to get close to the correct flash suppressor tubing diameter, the location, and the length of each tube. Also in question was whether the guns are parallel to the ground, or if they follow the wing leading edge. It's the former. Also, you'd be surprised how rare STRAIGHT-ON views of the P47's machine guns are on the web. Any pic taken at an angle throws off all attempts to properly scale the photo. There are 3-views online, but most of them are jpg files, and when you zoom in enough to see the guns, the image pixels bleed into mush. Anyway, it's done, so here's a few pics of the finished guns. The little tubes inside the outer tube are carbon fiber. The outer tubes are .327 dia ancient phenolic pushrod tubes from a bygone era. But they were close to the right size. I installed the little inside tubes by making bushings on a lathe. I super-glued the bushing to the inner tube, and then slid the bush/tube combo into the outer tube and set the depth.
Oh, and one other little detail. The engine RAN FOR THE FIRST TIME! Here's a Youtube video. http://youtu.be/KHjTiipQUgg
The plane's complete specs are listed under the video, but the static thrust with that amazing G38 with EI ignition (flywheel just for balance) is 17.3lbs. Almost 1:1, not quite. The P47 weighs 18.4 lbs.
Here's some pics of the machine guns. The smoke stains are real. Almost lit the plane on fire. Then, the smoke is "set" in place with flat clear polyurethane.
Oh, and one other little detail. The engine RAN FOR THE FIRST TIME! Here's a Youtube video. http://youtu.be/KHjTiipQUgg
The plane's complete specs are listed under the video, but the static thrust with that amazing G38 with EI ignition (flywheel just for balance) is 17.3lbs. Almost 1:1, not quite. The P47 weighs 18.4 lbs.
Here's some pics of the machine guns. The smoke stains are real. Almost lit the plane on fire. Then, the smoke is "set" in place with flat clear polyurethane.
02-26-2013, 01:20 PM
#190
RE: ESM P47 Build
Thank you GT. It was fun, though frustrating, to build. As of now, there is really only one small thing that needs fixing. In post #182 you can see a little hole to the left of the muffler pipe exits, on the bottom of the cowl. The fuel valve pokes out that little hole in the cowl. But the clearance hole is too small, doesn't allow for filler tubing to be installed easily. So, I have to grind that hole bigger. That's not bad....nothing else broke loose.
03-01-2013, 01:06 PM
#191
RE: ESM P47 Build
I broke down and bought a Biela 4 blade carbon fiber propeller. it was pretty pricey. I've never paid that much for a prop. Probably many others haven't either, as evidenced by the people in the LHS who thought it was a static prop. I am not going to fly this prop on maiden, or even a few flights later (if it survives) until I fully understand it's propensity to end-over. I will, however, static test this bad boy. It's a 17.3x8 dia/pitch. Here's how the bird looks with it's new prop on the front. Oh, rather than subject you all to the mess in my shop, I created a Jimmy Hendrix background. 
edited: The picture won't upload right now, will have to try back. Whoever bought RCU, this server issue cannot stand. People will abandon you in droves.
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Update several days later: Still can't upload pictures, from a variety of systems I own. It's RCU's fault. I get an "internal 500 error, the internal resource can't be accessed". The guy who owns RCU gets off his job at Cupid's Hot Dogs at 11pm, comes home and plays "IT guy". Well, there's more than one way to skin a cat. I'm hosting my own picture. Here's a link to it: [link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/4blade.jpg]Jimmy Hendrix P47[/link]
edited: The picture won't upload right now, will have to try back. Whoever bought RCU, this server issue cannot stand. People will abandon you in droves.
************************************************** ***************************************
Update several days later: Still can't upload pictures, from a variety of systems I own. It's RCU's fault. I get an "internal 500 error, the internal resource can't be accessed". The guy who owns RCU gets off his job at Cupid's Hot Dogs at 11pm, comes home and plays "IT guy". Well, there's more than one way to skin a cat. I'm hosting my own picture. Here's a link to it: [link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/4blade.jpg]Jimmy Hendrix P47[/link]
03-03-2013, 08:40 AM
#193
RE: ESM P47 Build
I gave up on RCU's photo upload function. It's totally broken, so I hosted my own picture in the prior post. Just click the link. Sorry it took so long, besides RCU's obvious problems, I've been distracted outfitting a new flight box for the coming season. I spotted this toolbox at a local hardware chain called Menards. These are on closeout for $49, and I love the design. The slide-out top sections with tool trays seem awfully convenient. Here's some pics of that, too. To those who aren't interested, and think this is off message, please be tolerant.
[link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/flightbox1.jpg]Flightbox1[/link]
[link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/flightbox2.jpg]Flightbox2[/link]
[link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/flightbox3.jpg]Flightbox3[/link]
[link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/flightbox1.jpg]Flightbox1[/link]
[link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/flightbox2.jpg]Flightbox2[/link]
[link=http://webpages.charter.net/ripfree/flightbox3.jpg]Flightbox3[/link]
03-03-2013, 06:32 PM
#194
RE: ESM P47 Build
I was watching old WWII film footage, and amazingly enough I happened to see REAL wartime footage of P47 Death From Above running up for a mission. Really looked cool. It's only a glimpse, but rewarding anyway. Here it is:
Minute 12:09 of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEJa9iBPYb0
The Fight For The Sky: Our Fighter Pilots Vs the Luftwaffe in Western Europe
Minute 12:09 of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEJa9iBPYb0
The Fight For The Sky: Our Fighter Pilots Vs the Luftwaffe in Western Europe
03-20-2013, 10:18 AM
#196
RE: ESM P47 Build
some more pictures.....
Also a video of my Engine beeing converted by Adrian at CH-ignitions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITRqnWsSkH8
Also a video of my Engine beeing converted by Adrian at CH-ignitions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITRqnWsSkH8
06-12-2013, 11:05 AM
#200
RE: ESM P47 Build
Gentlemen:
After a long time waiting for suitable weather, I decided to maiden my P47 in NOT-so-suitable weather last night, in Rice County, Mn, USA. It was windy as hell. Here's a pic of it coming across the numbers, and a link to the whole flight on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTYLs...ature=youtu.be
After a long time waiting for suitable weather, I decided to maiden my P47 in NOT-so-suitable weather last night, in Rice County, Mn, USA. It was windy as hell. Here's a pic of it coming across the numbers, and a link to the whole flight on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTYLs...ature=youtu.be