naval flight officer

Well, here goes my first from start to finish plans built build thread.

If every thing goes well it will end up mostly a Hostetler 1/4 scale gee bee r2. Engine will be a DLE 111 (overkill) and eventually sierra will deliver a set of landing gear. The fiberglass cowl/landing gear spats and canopy are from fiberglass specialties.

After starting on the horizontal stab I added a short spar of 1/8 inch bass wood to try and add some stiffness there. Here are a couple of pictures the other side is sheeted already.

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Dude a DLE111!!!!!!!!! This thing would be insanely overpowered with a DLe55!

naval flight officer

I was going to purchase a zenoah gt80 but the local hobby store was out of stock. They had the 111 and it was cheaper. The goal was to swing a scale 24" prop. The 111 will easily accomplish that. It also fits inside the cowl and will hopefully help balance the beefy tail of this monster.

US185Damiani

Subscribed!

mobyal

Me too!

naval flight officer

Progress has been slow the last couple of weeks with work and family requirements. But a little progress is better than none. Here are a few pictures of the tail feathers coming along. Next up will be to start the fuselage construction.
Enjoy and feel free to make comments and suggestions.

naval flight officer

I wanted to stray from the plans for the fuselage building but chickened out. I'm sorry to say that I regret not being more aggressive. Anyhow I think I have what the designer envisioned started and it will probably be sound structurally but is was very awkward going for a while there.

Enjoy the pictures and comments are welcomed.

naval flight officer

Horizontal stab and rudder post mounted. Starting to be able to tell which way is forward.

US185Damiani

Looking good thus far. Looks very similar to the full size in construction
idea.

naval flight officer

Not much to report other than completing the wing spar carry throughs. I did make a wing rack to stow the various wings I had laying around the garage. It took me 20 minutes to make. I'm not sure what took me so long to make one.

US185Damiani

It'll be ready to fly next week right?

naval flight officer

I wish. Having a hard time getting a response from Sierra Retracts and finding time between 5 kids and duty weekends. Also frustrated with my inability to solder control linkage for elevator. Hopefully tonight I will make progress.

naval flight officer

Looks I've had some success with the soldering endeavor. Switched to brass on brass. I think it will be strong enough ... I hope.
The center piece will connect to servo push rod. The outer two pieces are on larger outer diameter tubes and will act as supports for the brass rod and be screwed into the fuselage formers. I don't have a vice at home so I'm taking it to work to use the industrial vice in one of my work centers. This is a complete plagerization of what invertmast used on his 1/4 scale gee bee.

naval flight officer

This the end result of my elivator control horn experiment. The two brass strips sticking up will be trimmed and drilled to attach to bass wood blocks yet to be installed. They will help support the brass rod and remove a bit of the stress from the actual hinges on the elevators.

xradarusa

My Feedback: (8)

Hi Naval Flight Officer,
Glad to see someone else in the area is building a Hostetler Gee Bee. It is a tough build. Looks like your making progress though.

I am out here in Port Angeles and built a one-third scale a few years back. Would actually sell it to you if your interested. One flight, rebalanced, 3w 157, covered in 21st century fabric. Was going to fly it again but am still building up the courage.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

naval flight officer

Will do. It's been slow going here for the last few weeks. Hoping to steel some time away in the garage tonight. I need to set up the servo mounts in the tail before I can start making the fuselage into a barrel. Also need to bend the wire for the tail gear as well. I think I can do that tomorrow at work while I'm on duty. We will see. Your gee bee looks great but may be a little big for me to transport to the field. Also would need a field big enough. Not many down here that fit the bill.

naval flight officer

It's starting to look like a chubby little airplane. Next step will be working on the wings and wing roots. Also need to start thinking about receiver, servos, fuel tank and batteries for engine and radio equipment.

naval flight officer

Back on dry ground with a little but of free time. Finished the tail section construction.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Ok I have got to watch this build! They say a barn door will fly with power, well this is going to be one insanely over powered barn door!

naval flight officer

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I missed one thing in my previous post. Naval Flight Officer THANK YOU for your service! I know you active duty guys don't hear that nearly enough so I want to make a point of saying so. You work hard for little pay and both you and your family make a lot of sacrifices. So please pass my gratitude to your family for supporting you in your naval career.

Mike

naval flight officer

Thanks Mike, I am truly humbled when people go out of their way to thank me. My journey back into the Military was convoluted and strange. I am grateful for the opportunities that both my enlisted time in the Army and Officer appointment in the Navy have given me. I wouldn't be where I am without the hard working and not so hard working tax payers in our country. So, thank you, for allowing me to follow my dreams and affording me the ability to provide for my family.

Scott

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Well Scott, I have a son that was just medically retired from the Army and he and his family are living with us until they can get on their feet. I see what they are going through as I have seen other service members go through so I have an inkling at how tough it is. My old brother served in the Vietnam Era, I was med boarded not long after enlisting giving me with a very short military service, my father served in the Army Air Corps from 1940 until after VJ day in 1945. I'll spare you the details of Spanish-American War, Civil War, and that Irishman that went over the hill while in British Army.

Now days I work as contractor for the Veteran's Administration which further heightens my awareness of Veteran's issues as well as active duty issues. All this leads me to cherish what are military personnel and their families do for all of us at home. Most of which we take for granted!

Mike

naval flight officer

Give your son and his family my best. We have chewed up a lot of really good people the last 10 years or so and my heart goes out to them.

Scott

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

So how are things coming Scott, are you back on duty and away from the build?