R4D-1
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R4D-1
Greetings,
I got a Top Flite DC-3 from a former club member who had framed it up. It had considerable hanger rash. It took a lot of fixing, filling and sanding over the year. I decided to try and do something different and chose a Marine Corps R4D-1 transport. I got pictures from Bob Banka's Aircraft Documentation. I covered it with .56 oz fiberglass cloth using water based polyurethane and used Warbird Colors water based poly paint (7 different colors) for the finish. After primer I applied panel tape and sprayed again. I removed the tape and used a section of brass tube in a soldering iron to simulate rivets. I thought I would never get done with the rivets.
The plane came with a pair of OS .30 Wankels but I couldn't get them to run well enough to trust them. I purchased a pair of new OS 35 AX engines. But to install them would have been difficult because of the firewalls being set for the Wankels. Our club President had just purchased a milling machine and agreed to mill some aluminum mounts to fit in place of the back plates. He did a great job. They allowed me to install them without changing the firewall. I'm still in the process of running in the engines. When I have them running reliably I'll do the maiden flight. I'm using a JR 9503 2.4 for the radio system.
I've enjoyed the project an I feel it turned out pretty good.
Thanks...rotoman
I got a Top Flite DC-3 from a former club member who had framed it up. It had considerable hanger rash. It took a lot of fixing, filling and sanding over the year. I decided to try and do something different and chose a Marine Corps R4D-1 transport. I got pictures from Bob Banka's Aircraft Documentation. I covered it with .56 oz fiberglass cloth using water based polyurethane and used Warbird Colors water based poly paint (7 different colors) for the finish. After primer I applied panel tape and sprayed again. I removed the tape and used a section of brass tube in a soldering iron to simulate rivets. I thought I would never get done with the rivets.
The plane came with a pair of OS .30 Wankels but I couldn't get them to run well enough to trust them. I purchased a pair of new OS 35 AX engines. But to install them would have been difficult because of the firewalls being set for the Wankels. Our club President had just purchased a milling machine and agreed to mill some aluminum mounts to fit in place of the back plates. He did a great job. They allowed me to install them without changing the firewall. I'm still in the process of running in the engines. When I have them running reliably I'll do the maiden flight. I'm using a JR 9503 2.4 for the radio system.
I've enjoyed the project an I feel it turned out pretty good.
Thanks...rotoman
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RE: R4D-1
It has all of the bells and whistles. Robart retracts, flaps. With the JR 9503 I used the twin engine mate so I have two separate throttle curves to set matching rpm through all of the stick movement. I used every slot on the R921X receiver. The R4D-1 has nine servos. Two for flaps, two for throttle, two for ailerons, one for elevator, one for rudder and one for the retracts.
Thanks....
Thanks....
#7
RE: R4D-1
Hey rotoman,
Nice job on the R4D! I also built the T/F DC-3 as an old Navy/Marine bird. The Navy gave a few of their planes to NASA, for X project mission support and transportation. I got my documentation from the Dryden Research Center and there was only one color photograph in existence for this particular paint scheme!
I have OS .40 four strokes in it with the Robart retracts. Have not flown it as of yet...[]
Here are a few pics of my early 1960's NASA support plane.
Ben
Nice job on the R4D! I also built the T/F DC-3 as an old Navy/Marine bird. The Navy gave a few of their planes to NASA, for X project mission support and transportation. I got my documentation from the Dryden Research Center and there was only one color photograph in existence for this particular paint scheme!
I have OS .40 four strokes in it with the Robart retracts. Have not flown it as of yet...[]
Here are a few pics of my early 1960's NASA support plane.
Ben
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RE: R4D-1
Great looking plane. I looked at the NASA plane and almost did it as well. I was able to get more photos of the R4D-1 from Bob Banka so that's why I went with it. I wanted something different.
I hope to get a maiden flight in before the weather gets too cold up here in Minnesota.
Thanks...rotoman
I hope to get a maiden flight in before the weather gets too cold up here in Minnesota.
Thanks...rotoman