TOP FLITE GIANT SCALE P51 ARC
11-04-2013, 08:21 PM
#251
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: englewood,
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All the guts now removed so the front canopy top deck.
Rear side frames looks okay in the back however one side separated from the formers.
I will start by removing the side balsa sheeting, clean and epoxy back the side frames.
I was fortunate to receive a retired airframe (well used) from a friend (thanks Clark!), it will allow me to use some of the parts or draw new ones if not clean from oil.
Lets get going!
Rear side frames looks okay in the back however one side separated from the formers.
I will start by removing the side balsa sheeting, clean and epoxy back the side frames.
I was fortunate to receive a retired airframe (well used) from a friend (thanks Clark!), it will allow me to use some of the parts or draw new ones if not clean from oil.
Lets get going!
11-06-2013, 12:28 PM
#252
Bruno - It about made me sick to my stomach when you guys went down. I know that the mid-air didn't do your digestion any good either! But as we say in this country, "C'est la vie!".I'm so glad you've decided to repair/rebuild that beautiful Mustang. Clark and I will do our best to avoid any similar situation so we can see the squadron airborne once again this Spring (or sooner!) I know that when you set your mind to a task, nothing can stop you from doing an excellent job. Let me know if I can help in any way.
11-08-2013, 08:30 AM
#253
Thanks Doug, you can start with a nice rack lamb!
Looking forward to fly formation again but for now I have all the formers needed cut and working on the side frame part destroyed in the crash.
Once done I will put the fuselage on a jig and start reassembly.
Looking forward to fly formation again but for now I have all the formers needed cut and working on the side frame part destroyed in the crash.
Once done I will put the fuselage on a jig and start reassembly.
11-10-2013, 10:41 AM
#256
Formers glued and front frame sides replaced.I also replaced the balsa stringers on the side frames, to match the size from what was originally installed I glued a 3/16X1/4" with a 1/8X1/4" to get the 5/16X1/4" needed. The top frame stringer is just 1/4X1/4"
The fire-wall and forward section survived the crash okay, will clean it up and reuse it.
Should have the fuselage ready to prime in about couple of weeks!
The fire-wall and forward section survived the crash okay, will clean it up and reuse it.
Should have the fuselage ready to prime in about couple of weeks!
11-10-2013, 05:09 PM
#258
OMG BRUNO............BUMMER MAN..!!!! I am so sorry to see Lil Margaret go in. She's such a proud bird. Looks like your well on your way to bring 'n her back..........you go dude.. Mid airs are a beastly evil and unfortunately it seems to happen to all of us at least once during our flying career. That's the way I lost my first TF P-47 when Larry and I had a mid air. Good luck man, Your a gifted talented builder and she'll be back.....See ya in the spring at the best event in the country.
CAPTAIN RON
CAPTAIN RON
11-10-2013, 11:28 PM
#260
Wow Bruno! Your progress is impressive to say the least. I am honestly awed by the skill and dedication you're showing especially since the crash was only what, A WEEK AGO??!! Clark is still wrestling with carburetor issues with his 'Stang although he got his TF GS Jug up for some good flights with Ken and his Zirolli Hellcat and me with the Princess this Saturday. Keep up the awesome work! We miss you and 'Lil Margaret and are eagerly awaiting your return to the field!
. I would expect nothing less from you if the situation were reversed!
11-13-2013, 10:16 PM
#266
Sorry Bruno, all that beautiful work, it's a real shame but these things happen. Surprised to see you jump right back on it, if it happened to me I'm not sure I would know what to do with it, it's a credit to your building skills.
Leroy
Leroy
11-16-2013, 07:42 PM
#270
Magnifique!! Now a little glass, sand prime, sand prime, a few pieces of flight metal, some bits, some paint and then you can move on to the wing! At this rate, that beauty will be ready for combat by the first of the year. I know that 3W70 is just itchin' to scream from start-up to shut-down!! Remember, if you need a warm place to paint, my hobby room is at your disposal.
Last edited by fytrjok; 11-16-2013 at 07:45 PM.
11-16-2013, 08:25 PM
#271
There is nothing more motivating than looking forward to fly Lil'Margaret in formation again! But for now she is taking a break until back in shape.
Epoxied the front muffler shield and left the fuselage alone until cured. I started to clean up the wing and looking at option to fix the break. The top and bottom "longerons" are made of hard wood which I don't know the origin, balsa share-webs are glued on both sides with the grain perpendicular to each other.
The goal is to apply a fix that will minimize the weight gain, to do so I will stabilize the wing section in saddles positioned so I can cut a one inch "V" shaped slot on the outboard/inboard "longerons" of each wing sections. I will then insert a new piece and new ribs keeping attention that the wing length and washout remain unchanged, once cured I will proceed with installing new share-webs and sheeting.
Last edited by flyingchef; 11-16-2013 at 08:27 PM.
11-17-2013, 12:37 AM
#272
Well, while you are waiting for the epoxy to cure I invite you to enjoy a little video of your maiden flight and a few subsequent test flights. Lots of interesting things here...landing learning curve, toe-in removal to get rid of the dreaded "bunny hop", decreasing throws to make inputs less sensitive and discovering that a little timing adjustment could get rid of that full throttle burble. I even included a flight of the Princess that you shot. She misses 'Lil Margaret and can't wait until they can play together again! By the way, those "longerons" are called spars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXSC-...ature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXSC-...ature=youtu.be
Last edited by fytrjok; 11-23-2013 at 12:29 PM. Reason: re-edited video
11-17-2013, 01:47 PM
#274
Sorry about your midair Bruno. We all experienced that one time or another.
I wanted to vomit for a week straight when I lost mine last year.
Anyway I glad to see you're moving along with the repair.
One question.....how did you cover your elevator and rudder before grassing them?
did you use solartex film or you just skinned the surfaces with 1/8 balsa sheeting like the fuse?
thanks for the help
Fabio
I wanted to vomit for a week straight when I lost mine last year.
Anyway I glad to see you're moving along with the repair.
One question.....how did you cover your elevator and rudder before grassing them?
did you use solartex film or you just skinned the surfaces with 1/8 balsa sheeting like the fuse?
thanks for the help
Fabio
11-17-2013, 04:14 PM
#275
Thanks Fabio,
I covered the elevators with 1/32 balsa after removing some material to compensate for the thickness, ailerons and rudder received the same treatment.
moved forward by reinstalling most of the cockpit details and glued back the deck with the windshield. She almost back in her original shape!
I covered the elevators with 1/32 balsa after removing some material to compensate for the thickness, ailerons and rudder received the same treatment.
moved forward by reinstalling most of the cockpit details and glued back the deck with the windshield. She almost back in her original shape!