2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

2008 is just around the corner and I got my first project lined up for the new year, yeap!! I decided to build a Turbinator from Nick Ziroli plans, I wanted to build a new airplane ( not a jet ) but the Turbinator simply just, jumped infront of me in the thinking room out of my last AMA magazine ( best place to read that magazine ) so, I said why not no one has one around here and it has been ions since I build and airplane ( relly build one ) I assembled like 15 jets just this year alone, so far I only have a TJ F-16 in my shop ( garage ) ready to fly and a King Cat that is been repaired for my friend Jose' from Stockton.

This year I want to try the small turbines, so I been looking at a Wren and the Jet Cat P-60SE and P-70 for this project. The jet is going to weight between 20 to 22 lbs but it has like 1,200 squere inches of wing area, it will defenitelly be light wing loaded for its weight and size ( fuse is 82" long).

Here are some pictures of the prints, the construction maual is only 4 pages !! WOW, simplicity is the word here. Thank you Nick sr. it will be fun to build and for sure I will be posting updates of the progress on the construction sequence :).


For some reason it remainde me of the T-28 Trojan..:eek:

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Nice Carlos. I am hoping to start on my Ziroli P-40 very soon, I might be sliding the Hawk out of the way for that baby since I am not even close to getting an engine for it yet.

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

More pics.

I forgot to say that my friend John ( a long time airplane and jet builder ) is going to help me cut and advise on the building on this project. [&:]

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Carlos,

Looks like a whole lotta sanding involved! I'm allergic!

Happy Holidays man, long time no see!

Raf

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Thanks Ian.

His P-51 looks really nice and scale ( If I only had the time ) [&o][:@]

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

WOW! Hand drawn plans! Is Nick computer challenged?

Dave

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Happy hollydays doctor cito, that's what makes it so much fun, really!!!! Se you soon I hope.

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

That's why Nick jr. is there for. You want it the old ways= Nick sr. / the new ways= Nick jr. :D:D

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Have you looked around Carlos for a Laser Cut short kit? It would save you a lot of time and grief.

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

As usual, any comments or suggestions are very welcome specially from the ones that are building one, questions are ok too. :):D

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

I can laser cut the kit for you, hit me up

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Thank you

I will let you know.

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Can you scale it up for a P-80/P-120 size turbine???

Kevin

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

anything is possible

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Kevin

The jet is big, I think there is a way and room to install my Simjet=P-80=P-120 size, that was one of the first things that came to my mind when I saw it for the first time.

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

I have two in the works right now. One will have a P-70 the other P-80 for power. Nick is a great guy and sells a laser kit for it it just probally isn't listed in the ad. I picked up the two I have at Toledo last spring and have been waiting for this winter to build them. I last spoke to Nick a few weeks ago when he was in town helping me out with a work project, and he told me to build the wings first as you need them for aligning the fuse and tail.

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Thank you Ron. This is the kind of info I been waiting for before I start my build in two weeks ( I have to get the KingCat done by then ).

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

I'm more interested on the one that is going to have the P-80 and on the changes you had to do to get the P-80 to fit and and any other problems that may arise by installing a bigger than suggested engine, like CG, angle on the turbine, how will it be affected and things like that.

Pictures will be nice

Thanks.

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Ya ya, what he said....[X(]

RE: 2008 Turbinator
 

Carlos, we'll have to get together, you John and me and fly our Balsa Buzzards around the sky (Two R54's and a Turbinator). I'll have to find a way to put smoke in mine for a little diversion.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

You bet, I'm planing to instal smoke in the Turbinator for sure, should be lots of fun :):) I estimate I will have it framed by the end of the month and completed and ready to fly by the end of February ( if everything goes according to plans :eek: ).

Defenitely we have to get thogether and fly our wooden pice of high technology :D as soon as I get done and the WX gets a little better.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Carlos,

I am currently in the middle of building two myself. I have several pictures if you are interested. I have one fuse done and the second one well underway. The build goes fairly quick. I am hoping to have both ready to finish by the end of January.

Jim

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Hi Jim

Yes please, I'm very interested on any pictures that you want share in this thread or via my e-mail.

Thank you

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Post pics here:)

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

I'm interested in those pics as well... would love to see them here or email...luis@flyin****.com Thanks!!

Luis

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Hey Carlos, check with Jesse at Laser Lizard. He hooked me up with a beautiful laser cut kit for my Panther. His prices are unbeatable too. Hope you had a great Holiday, the wife and I just got back from PHX/ Las Vegas. Talk to you soon, Nick

BTW- if you dont see the plane on his site, give him a call and he can vectorize the plans, then cut the kit.

http://www.laserlizard.com/

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

thanks Nick, will call you later.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Guys,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to everyone. I have been out of state for the last few days.

Due to the number of pictures I have and the file size, I am making a zip file containing the images. Anyone interested in receiving the file/files please email or PM me your email addresses and I will send them to you.

As of today I currently am about half-way through the second fuse, all four wing panels are built ready to sheet, and both stabilizers are built.



Jim

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Sweet!!!!!:):D

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Sent ya a PM Jim


Luis

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

To all that requested pictures,

The fuselage pictures were sent today. The rest will follow shortly. Thank You!!

Jim
Falcon Models
Custom Building Service

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

I got the pictures, Thank you Jim

They are excellent, they have answer some of the questions.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

I took a few more pics of the plans and with the landing gear I'm planing to use. I'm finally going to have time to go through the plans and read the instructions, 5 on, 1 off 6 on doesn't leave to much time to read, 3 off and out of the rain, YES!!!!! :D:)[>:].

With this landing gear I will have to move the retract mounting plate foward like 1/2" for the tire to clear the flap spar but, the tire is going to endup right where it is suposed to be so I asume I will not have any problems or dificulties at the time rotation. [&:]

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

I spoke to Nick Sr. yesterday about larger fuel tanks I found that fit than the Dubro 50 oz he shows on the plans. Nick Jr. and I have the Nalgene 64 oz retangle tank available from McMaster Carr in our planes with the p-70's. I also think that my old Kanakroo 100 oz tank might fit as well for the larger engine install. Nick says that the P-80 should be no problem fitting in other than the extra fuel burn but we will not need the extra power. I'll be taking a good look at tonight and tomarrow morning and get back with what might or will be needed to fit a p-80-120 in.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Nice!!! I have been thinking about how to fit a bigger fuel tank, lots of room in there, The nelgene 64oz. has crosed my mind as I have one of them and is one of the things I'm planing to do this weekend, when I do I will take some pics. against the plans for you guys to see, smoke is a must for this jet, I'm also looking to where I'm going to put the smoke tank, so far I have been looking at the section infront of bulhead #6.

Pictures coming.

Please keep the info coming.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Here are some of the pics. of the fuel tanks, 64oz Nelgene and 38oz tank from Tamjets A-4, total of 102 oz for the bigger engines or smoke for the smokers like me :D, they are in diferent positions to get ideas but I like the way they go with the 38oz in the front.

What do you think? [&:]

My short kit has been ordered.[8D]

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Well I started my first kit of the two yesterday afternoon at 3 PM. I have the wings and stabs framed out and ready to sheet. The fuse is well on the way and I can probablly put the sides on tomarrow evening after work. So far I have about 12 hours into the build and it is all going good , I did catch a few very small issues that are most likely due to my plans shrinking a little bit as I had to sand a few of the former notches to get them to fit into the crutch once it was bult up. Nick has done a good job laying this one out and it is building faster than my Reaction 54 did a few years ago. Looking forward to getting some pictures up tomarrow for all to see.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Nice going Ron. I got my short kit on order so I expect to get some work done after getting back from Los Angeles on Saturday evening.

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Where did you get your short kit from Carlos?

RE: 2008 the year of the Turbinator
 

Send shok a PM, good price too.

Take a look at the first page.