ORIGINAL: nmacwarbirds
Dear Dave
I don't want to blame anyone, I just don't want to see these beautiful P38's droping out of the sky.
It is a beautiful flying model. I am not the Phil you think I am I am Phil G., the Skyraider Phil, is Phil C.
I hope that makes sence.
I did not build the model, it was however built according to the plans and inspected by the LMA.
It was commended for it's build quality.
After I landed the P38, one of the chaps who was at our event, told me his P38 booms cracked while taxiing out.
I wish he had told me that before I conducted that flight.
The P38 is under repair at the moment and should be back in the air in short order.
I am not Ziroli bashing or American bashing for that matter, I thought it was only right to tell people about this.
There was no boom strike and no panic on my part when the hatch departed.
I am obvioulsly open to suggestions to what went wrong.
It took Peter 2 years to build the P38 and he has invested £3500 in to it.
To say he was distraught when I spoke to him on SAturday is an understatement.
I pointed out to him that it could have been much worse if those booms had let go.
Hence this is when my good friend JetjockGb came to the rescue and is repairing the booms as this time.
So regarding this thread, I am convinced it was the right thing to do.
I am not pointing the finger at anyone.
Regards Phil G.
Hi Phil G.
Sorry for the confusion. I saw a "Phil" from the UK and assumed you were he. I don't think even for a moment that you are American bashing. The thing with plans Phil is that they don't show how to sheet a structure. What I mean by that is, in the case of the 38s booms... If he(the builder) didn't span with the sheeting(and his stringers) that bulkhead where it cracked but rather joined two pieces of sheeting(and stringer) there, that could be why they cracked at that corner. That is a high stress area and any where that there is a high stress point, two pieces of wood should not be butt joined as you would do(and is the norm) with sheeting(and stringer). No one would upon field inspection necesseraly pick up on that. I hope I'm being clear?
I hear you on wanting to tell people about this and making folks aware, regardless of the cause, it will make people pay attention at this area. Maybe it is a design flaw, I've never seen the plans. I have how ever seen cracks like those, on fuselage trailing edge\ wing root area where the builder constructed as I described above.
I feel for your friend here, I really do. I am entering my 3rd year of construction on my 122" CBA P-38. I have a ton of money in mine, I know how he feels. I hope you guys can get her right and she gives the builder many years of enjoyment.
Always nice to chat with our friends across the pond.
-Dave