T-28 True 1/5 Scale
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The purpose of this post is to verify my belief that there is a fairly large number of scale moderlers out there interested in building a true 1/5 scale T-28. Correct outline etc. And what type of a kit would be best suited. Plans, Plans w cowl and canopy or full kit. I am in the final stages of construction on just such an project. Just waiting for the cowl to come back from fiberglass specialities. 98.75" wing, weight 30-35#. Plans were hand drawn and are in the process of putting in cad. Wing was first item to do in cad and was totally cut out on lazer. went together very well. Fuse etc, drawings are about 85% completed. After we have flown the prototype we will make any necessary changes and cut a full kit.
Your imput would be greatly appreciated.
I have attached a couple of pics of the almost completed project. (90% built, 50%completed)
JohnnyO
Your imput would be greatly appreciated.
I have attached a couple of pics of the almost completed project. (90% built, 50%completed)
JohnnyO
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Bob Holman's mammoth scale plan is not very good. The cowl is too short , the canopy is too high, all the controls are exposed, ailerons and flaps are wrong size. Not very goods and will not be any way near as nice as Johnny's.
#5

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Very nice work, I am in the process of getting my Iron-Bay 1/5th scale T-28 in primer. As you said 90% complete, 50% done. My joy of building really gets going after that first prime coat. When all the surface flaws are taken care of and I start laying out the panel lines ,hatches, and rivets. Robart makes a complete set of retracts for this plane. Iron -Bay has a set of wheel brakes that go along with their tires and wheels. I am giving them a shot. The brakes were first designed for the big F-15 model Byron had. Same wheels as the T-28. The steering system that Robart designed into the nose gear retrack is great! No cable steering on this bird to fight with. Has a tiller arm. The plane has been a breeze to build. It is great to see some one else get into the larger T-28 market. Good luck with your kit sir.
Gary
Gary
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johnnyo
met you at bandits over kansas (i am the one with the 1/3 pup) myself would be interested in laser cut short kit, plans, glass and canopy
keep me informed when availible
todd
met you at bandits over kansas (i am the one with the 1/3 pup) myself would be interested in laser cut short kit, plans, glass and canopy
keep me informed when availible
todd
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The retracts are modified Robart units designed for the original Byron. I have a set of the origional Mammoth plans. They are ok for a sport scale, I was looking for something alittle more competitive. here are a few more pics taken in the process. Short Kit? Basic ply parts, cowl and canopy, plans ect., no sheeting, correct.
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I've had a love affair with the T-28 since I was a young teen-ager.....even built a Berkley T-28 UC.....that lasted one flight when I tried a wing over and it didn't pull out 
Built the Pica 1/6th and 1/5th (really 1/7 and 1/6th) kits....beautiful planes!
Jerry

Built the Pica 1/6th and 1/5th (really 1/7 and 1/6th) kits....beautiful planes!
Jerry
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Hal, is correct. The kit could be modified to just about any of the T-28 variations. With a new cowl you could even do the turbin version, on the last turbin #3 version, you would have to lengthen the vertical stab by about 2.5".
Looks like a short kit might be the right offering.
Plans
Instructions
Cowl
Canopy
All shaped wood, other than balsa blocks for shaping, such as wing tips etc.
Who's gear would you all prefer. Sierra, Robart, Custom built ????
Here are a couple of pics of the hinge set up. These hinges are laser cut from G10 and are avaliable in two sizes. 1/5 and 1/6 scale. work great on the Dave Platt or Moser kits. Will work for any ac that uses this style of hinge arrangement.
johnnyO
PS I'll try to keep those interested up to date. thanks
Looks like a short kit might be the right offering.
Plans
Instructions
Cowl
Canopy
All shaped wood, other than balsa blocks for shaping, such as wing tips etc.
Who's gear would you all prefer. Sierra, Robart, Custom built ????
Here are a couple of pics of the hinge set up. These hinges are laser cut from G10 and are avaliable in two sizes. 1/5 and 1/6 scale. work great on the Dave Platt or Moser kits. Will work for any ac that uses this style of hinge arrangement.
johnnyO
PS I'll try to keep those interested up to date. thanks
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on the gear, i dont think it matters provided they are strong and AVAILIBLE if you catch my meaning, wouldnt want to be on a list that takes a year to get the gear
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The T-28 main gear struts are angled 3.5* towards the FRONT. This requires that the retract pivot block be drilled at an angle or a piece be made with male/female ends that are at the same angle ( 3.5*) . Darrell at Sierra is aware of this feature. Lenny Sarbin ( Shindin Machine ) makes an adapter that was made for my Platt retracts . I am sure he could make a larger one for the 1/5th scale.
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Gary, a couple of questions regarding the iron bay. Did they provide a lower gear door attachment kit??? Or did you need to make something up. Also the gear that Robart makes for the iron bay is what I am using. However they were 90 degree, which when retracted would go through the top of the wing. Is the top of the wing open on the Iron Bay were the wheels retract? I had robart send a set of 85 degree blocks from their P47 gear and they worked out just right. With my wing design I also had to modify the trunion to get a 3.5 degree forward sweep in the gear leg, without the sweep, the gear came up way to far back in the wingl.
johnnyO
johnnyO
#18

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The wing center section out to about half of the flaps are apart of the fuse, wing stops just past the landing gear mount., so the wheels go up into the fuse. did not even think about this. Those good old boys at Byron's have come up with some neat ideas. They are quit deep in the wheel wells. I have now primed, filled, sanded, primed again on mine. I then found a couple of pin holes that did not get filled properly, so have to do it one more time. I have found a great time saver for the sanding part. My wife bought me a Black and Decker Mega Mouse sander that is an orbital sander allong with a standard sander with small detail foot. I used 220 grit discs on the orbital sander and cut the sanding time by 70%. Hate sanding. Anyway should have the final prime coat on it so that I can start laying out the panel lines and rivet detail. These things have a bazilion button head rivets on it. The only flush rivets our on the leading front part of the wings.
Yes they di provide a lower gear door attachment system, utilizing there wheels. Again mine has the brake system on it also. Can not wait to see that nose droup when the brake is appiled...LOL
Keep the progress going.
Gary
Yes they di provide a lower gear door attachment system, utilizing there wheels. Again mine has the brake system on it also. Can not wait to see that nose droup when the brake is appiled...LOL
Keep the progress going.
Gary
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Johnny,
My first encounter with full scale heavy metal was in a T-28 "A" model over 40 years ago. I would certainly be interested in plans, cowl, canopy, and either templates or laser cut ribs and formers.
If anyone has access to accurate cowl cross-sections, I would really like to build an "A". I know, it had a puny 7 cylinder engine but that cowl was more streamlined and the USAF and ANG trainer version just doesn't look right with the big cowl. Besides, once you got the "A" all cleaned up and moving along, it was probably the most honest bird to fly that anyone ever hung a prop on.
Now if I just won powerball...and could get a medical again...I would buy that "D" that is on Ebay and quit fooling with RC scale. (If wishes were horses, beggars would ride!) Thanks for starting this build and best of luck. If you have never done one of these before, you will be in for a pleasant surprise when you fly it. Some kits have tried to duplicate the combination of downthrust and incidence angles on the full size bird and wound up with one that has to be re-trimmed constantly. This may be an area to evaluate once you have it flying.
Best regards,
My first encounter with full scale heavy metal was in a T-28 "A" model over 40 years ago. I would certainly be interested in plans, cowl, canopy, and either templates or laser cut ribs and formers.
If anyone has access to accurate cowl cross-sections, I would really like to build an "A". I know, it had a puny 7 cylinder engine but that cowl was more streamlined and the USAF and ANG trainer version just doesn't look right with the big cowl. Besides, once you got the "A" all cleaned up and moving along, it was probably the most honest bird to fly that anyone ever hung a prop on.
Now if I just won powerball...and could get a medical again...I would buy that "D" that is on Ebay and quit fooling with RC scale. (If wishes were horses, beggars would ride!) Thanks for starting this build and best of luck. If you have never done one of these before, you will be in for a pleasant surprise when you fly it. Some kits have tried to duplicate the combination of downthrust and incidence angles on the full size bird and wound up with one that has to be re-trimmed constantly. This may be an area to evaluate once you have it flying.
Best regards,
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Thanks for the kind words. I have finally recieved the cowl from Fiberglass Specialties, I must say they did a great job from my plug. I try to post a few pics soon with the cowl mounted. All of the deminsions are correct on this project, wing is 3* positive at the root and 0 at the tip, 4* down thrust in the fire wall and 1* right thrust in the vertical fin. With 7* of dihedral, I think it will fly just fine with the CG set at 27-28% of MAC. Power is a GT80 swinging a 24-10 two blade. hopeing the finish weight will be in the area of 35#s. Next project is getting the scale exhaust done, then it is time for a test flight. Everything is servo'd up, etc.
There is now a cowl availabe for this project from Fiberglass Specialities and we are looking at doing a short kit that would include laser cut formers etc, canopy, full size plans and instructions and cowling from either us or FS. Have not come up with pricing as of yet. Want to get a few test flights to make sure it is a good concept.
JohnnyO
There is now a cowl availabe for this project from Fiberglass Specialities and we are looking at doing a short kit that would include laser cut formers etc, canopy, full size plans and instructions and cowling from either us or FS. Have not come up with pricing as of yet. Want to get a few test flights to make sure it is a good concept.
JohnnyO
#21

JohnnyO,
Thats a beautiful bird!! I have been watchin this thread and glad to see movement and await the results!
Are you going to also offer it in 1/6 scale?
Thats a beautiful bird!! I have been watchin this thread and glad to see movement and await the results!
Are you going to also offer it in 1/6 scale?

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Yat, Its coming along and hopefully will be test flying in the next 30 days. Have no desire to do a 1/6 as there are a couple of pretty good examples out there already. (Dave Platt and Vance Moser)
JohnnyO
JohnnyO
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Gary, very nice job. You seem to be a little faster than I. What engine are you using? Have you had a chance to fly?
I'll keep everyone up to date with a few pics etc this weekend.
JohnnyO
I'll keep everyone up to date with a few pics etc this weekend.
JohnnyO