ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

We had a great time building our Meister 102" P-47. So much so, that when the opportunity came our way to build an even bigger Thunderbolt, we jumped on it.

It started when a friend told me about his new project, a 12' P-47. I remembered seeing a huge composite P-47 fuselage and cowl in Frank Tiano's (FTE) shop, while making repairs to my Meister P-47 at Monster Planes in Lakeland. I asked if that was the one, and of course, it was. He told me all about it and said they had one more left from the first run pulled by the fabricator, #6. Well, I talked to my co-builder, my brother, and he got as excited about it as I already was. We jumped all over #6.

The fuselage is so big, I don't even want to try to have it shipped to Ohio from Florida. The plan is to pick that up when we go down for Top Gun. But Scott Prossen asked Frank T. about shipping the short kit for the wings and a few other things to me, and Frank was kind enough to do it. It arrived today.

So, here we go. The fuselage, razorback (oh yea, got to be a razorback), belly pan, cowl, elevators and rudder, stabs and vertical tail are all composite, fiberglass. All you really build is the 12 foot wing, which is a lot in itself. The fuselage is so strong, it needs no supporting structure inside like most fiberglass planes. All you install is the structure to hold servos and other components. Gear is Sierra, and Darrell made six sets for the first 6 kits. More can be purchased later for subsequent kits. He already has the engineering work done now. He also has the wheels and tires (9") and the tail gear and tire. We will be starting on the wing build and working on it over the winter. We plan an aluminum finish like our Meister build. The detail will be fun on something this big. Much surface detail, full cockpit, and maybe even some other things we will hold till later. I'll be posting pictures later of the huge wing short kit.

Our goal is to have it ready to fly at Monster Planes in the fall of 2011, and then finish the detail on her over winter 2011, and make an appearance at the Toledo show in 2012.

We are going to enjoy this. Hope you folks do as well.

Mk23socom

My Feedback: (7)

Gary, if you dont put a 400 Moki in that beast, I'm gonna cry.. and now that you ANDScott are building one, I cant help but be insanely jealous.. Ihave yet to get my "little" 102" started..

NCIS

Gary,

You just had to go and do it to me didn't you? My Corsiar is only 126.8"/10' 6.8" and now you and your brother build a 12' P-47 Razorback. You have me beat by about 1 foot 3 inches. thats 6 & 1.5" per side. It just never seems to fail. I go big and somebody else goes bigger. You are just like me, Crazy as hell!!!! Have fun and I will be following you thread. I am going to subscribe for this one.

Good luck and happy building,

With envy, Barry

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Well, I hate to make a grown man cry[&o], but unfortunately, I don't see us going that route, at least at first. I know at least a couple other guys are using the 400 in theirs, but We are planning for one of the 4 cylinders out there. They are still around 21HP and the Moki is only a couple more at 23, but the price difference is more than 4 times more. We will see, maybe I can sell some more planes.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

What a pair they would make in the air though, don't ya think. I think (I know) this build will be much easier than yours. Heck, the fuselage and tail are already built. Here is a couple pictures of the short kit. We had a hard time getting the wing plans in the picture. We need a bigger shop. These wing ribs are very nice, with supports built on for building off of. All laser cut and of excellent quality. A very nice drawing accompanied them with great surface detail of the Jug. The full scale wing drawing is very basic but adequate.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Here is a picture of Scott's wing, already equipped with that beautiful Sierra gear. He is way ahead of us in the building.

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

That, is, AWESOME!

captainron

SOMEWHERE, THERE'S A TREE MISSING.......... JUST TO BUILD THAT BAD BOY'S WING. [sm=red_smile.gif]

This one will be fun to watch..............................CAPTAIN RON

dpav8r

My Feedback: (6)

Way to go!!! Subscribed, my tiny Meister Jug is almost finished.
Dave

Leadtrumpet

Impressive! So, it looks to have removeable wing tips but essentially its got about an 9 to 10 foot centre section??

Glacier Girl

My Feedback: (4)

Cripes Gary, you going to use 8 penny nails instead of "T" pins on it?[X(][X(][X(]

NCIS

Gary,

You will be done before me but as they say I'll give it more throttle when I get airborn and chew your Jug's tail off. Nice short kit but in your case you better start calling it a long kit. That wing looks huge.

Barry
Mr Envy!!!

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Actually, in the pictures, the tips are simply not installed yet. They are permanent to the outer panels. It has a center section of about 6', with plug-in outer sections each about 3'. Very manageable. The other thing I like is that the gear system can stay closed all the time and be self contained in the wing. No disconnects needed where leaks can develop.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Yea, "short kit" is an oxymoron in this case. It is pretty basic though, when it comes to what you get, but it is very nice to have all those wonderful giant ribs already cut our so precisely. Lots of wood to buy yet. Over 100 sheets to cover it! Man our we glad for the composite fuselage parts.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

We are thinking of maybe doing a Zombie scheme again. We already have the homework done, and it has the metal finish, razorback, and invasion stripes we like. Plenty of time yet, but that is the way we are leaning.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Don't be so quick to think that. I fully expect to still be working on her a year from now. Hopefully though, it will be cosmetic scale details at that point.

As for the speed and power of her, I want a respectable speed and power for nice realistic split S's and loops and such, but the boys with the big radials I expect to be faster. The 4 cylinder engines still sound very cool, and I expect a smooth run from it.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

I'm a carpenter, so our Senco framing gun will come in handy.

Mk23socom

My Feedback: (7)

I've decided to spare the tears Gary.. big 4cyl opposed engines sounds pretty mean too.. I am ok with this!!

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

The materials list knocked my socks off. I'll post it later.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Hey guys, here is another picture of her with the fuselage in place. Scott, Frank and company are paving the way for the rest of us on this. I expect this to be a big help when the time comes. That is a yard stick, not a ruler!!!!!

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Check out this cowl!!!!!!

mistermnkim

My Feedback: (153)

thats a freakin BEAST gary

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

The fuselage, tail parts, and very large razorback canopy..

NCIS

Gary,

Where is the cockpit? Didn't the manufacturer of the fuse even leave lines where to cut it out? I don't like that but everything else is great looking!

Barry

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

It is there. You cut it out. We will be doing some other things too like adding more scale looking hinges.