John Sohm

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Jeff, do they have a website? And do you have a link if they do?

F4u5

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John, the website is www.sacmidwest.com


JEff

F4u5

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Today I got the retracts installed and cleared the wing skin and underlying rib structure to clear the wing. Next, I cut the gear doors from the glass nacelles and test fit them to the wing. I added some structure to support the nacelles. These glass nacelles save a ton of work and fit the wing perfect. Jeff Micko of Micko aircraft layed these up....excellent as always. You can see some of Jeff's products here : www.mnbigbirds.com under Micko Aircraft Products.

Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

Here is the top deck cover made from 1/64 ply and .020 plastic window cutouts to fit. The plan also opt for this to be a solid piece of .020 plastic where the windows are masked off and the plastic painted to match fuse colors. The 2 center cutouts near the front and center line are for the upward forward firing cannons. Imagine the noise for the pilot when he lights these things off just behind and above his head.

Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

I got the read fuse trimmed out for the read gunner area and got the rear canopy trimmed out and test fit to the fuse. You can see the servo tray. I'll paint this area Japanese interior color prior to adding canopy. I do not plan to scheme the rear gunner on this version.

Jeff

John Sohm

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Thanks Jeff, nice stuff at that site. Nice to see you're moving along on the project.

F4u5

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I am nearing the finish line John. Glued the glass nacelle parts on last night. Need to rig up the gear doors and fit the tailwheel and close up the rear aft end, attach the flaps and I can start rpiming and panel lines. Not sure how much I an going to do in the cockpit area at this time. Since this is a prototype, I want to get it up in the air for Dave for proof of flight. I can always come back and add the cickpit. For now, I think just a dash, seat, pilot, control stick and a throttle quadrant.

JQ

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

Now to pount the nacelles. First I had to cut out the gear doors using a thin cutoff wheel on a Dremel. The gap created is OK as a piano hinge is used to attach the gear doors. This will fill the gap.

Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

I added some 1/4 square hardwood along the inside face of the nacelle front that attaches and support the nacelle/motor box attach point. You can see the fillet of Devcon Plastic Welder #14340 along the front inside and outside. This stuff works great for gluing fiberglass to anything. I also tack glues the rear edges of the nacelle while doing this so that I would not fight the nacelles moving around when I did the next step.

Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

Finally after the previous glue step dried, I added a fillet of the Devcon on the inside and outside length of the nacelle. I glued in small block between the motor/gear box and the nacelle side, just for some feel good support, but I don't think I would really need it

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

I got the Robart 160WC tailwheel modified per Dave's plans. He has you add a 7/8 inch spacer between the tiller and the tailwheel bracket; then add a rubber boot from an RC boat universal joint. You then need to extends the wheel fork making it from .064 aluminum. I glued with Devcon plastic welder adhesive (same as on nacelles) and clamped. After dried, I will come back and add the 2-56 countersunk bolts to hold it all together.


Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

Using the same Devcon adhesive, I glued on the top nacelle glass parts. I added a 1/4 square support behind the front lip, just as on the lower nacelle parts. I faired them in with a fillet bead of the Devcon. The nacelles are now permanently affixed to the wing.

Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

Time to mount flaps. The flaps are made from 3/32 balsa, sandwiched between 1/64 ply sheets. They come out straight, strong and warp resistant. I noted the flap leading edge to accept the heavy duty DuBro hinges. They are glued in with Gorilla glue and then glued to the wing. I checked to make sure I have the 45 degrees of deflection called out on the plans.

Jeff

F4u5

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Next I am preparing to mount the cowls. First I drill and tap the cowl plate for four 1/4 x 20 nyon bolts. Then I will align and tack glue the cowl to this plate. I'll come back an glue it solid.

Jeff

F4u5

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Preparing landing gear door piano hinges:

1. Remove the centering pin from 14 hinges
2. Obtain appropriate size music wire and align the 14 hinges
3. Put a bend in one end of the wire and slide the 14 hinges on. Then add a bend at the opposite end to lock the hinges on and cut excess off
4. 4 piano hinges for 4 gear doors

Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

Today I came back and installed the tailwheel and sheeted the rear end. I strip planked this area and then cleaned up the tailwheel bay. I applied a liberal coat of drywall mud. I will sand it smooth and glass the area and that should finish all the building and time to finish the bird up.

Jeff

John Sohm

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Jeff,

Anymore on the Toryu? Haven't seen anything in a month. I know, you're probably out flying more and building less now right? Wish I could say the same.

Regards,
John

F4u5

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Hi John, actually, I just had knee surgery about 2 weeks ago. I am just now getting to where I can stand for longer periods of time without pain in my joint. In the meantime, I have been working on glassing my Ziroli P-47; I can do that sitting down very easily.

I have been putzing on the Ki-45 during recovery. I made a few cockpit parts and got the gear doors mounted. I will be back on it pretty much full time this weeked. Still plan to fly mid summer. That is, if summer ever gets here. We had 4 days in the mid to upper 70's over this last weekend, and now we have some snow.

I did get 5 flights on my big zero[8D]

Stay tuned as the Ki comes roaring back.

Jeff

glazier808

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Get well buddie!

Casey

F4u5

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Thanks Casey.....all those years of Jogging (believe it or not), Rball, football, BMX, dirt biking finally caught up with me, I was still playing Rball 3 times a week. I got banned by Doc from future RBall...now that sux! Of course, age and weight do not help[:@]

Jeff

F4u5

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Back up fromknee surgery, I have completed the nacelles, gear doors and flap trailing edge formers. First, the nacelle tops all in primer.

F4u5

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OK, I am back up and around after knee surgery. Trying to get the Ki-45 done while also prepping winter airplanes for flight and keeping them airworthy...a daunting task. I managed to get the nacelles all done and the gear doors on. I just need to hook up the door cylinders as soon as they arrive at the LHS. Here are some pictures.

Jeff

F4u5

My Feedback: (81)

The flaps were a bit of work. I had to add the nacelle rear "blister" which folds into the nacelle when deployed. I had some of ABS, but I found it easier to build out of balsa. Not great pictures of them being built, but I made them from 2 pieces of 1 inch and a piece of 1/2 inch balsa, sanded to shape, and carved out the innerd to lighten it up using a pull saw and some 40 grit on a dowel . After shaped, I glassed them and glued them to the flaps. You can see how they fold into the nacelle in the pictures.

darren763

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Looking good Jeff, would that piece work better if it was glass instead of abs?

Darren

Hot Rod Todd

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Ki-45's coming along nicely. Hopefully you'll have it in the air by the Owatanna warbird event. I hope to make it there with my Zirolli P-40. At 1:4.9 scale the Ki-45 would look great with the 1:4.8 P-40. P-40's and Ki-45's ran into each other quite a bit over China.