Richard, you're on my list!


John, got the PM, just a little short on time, I'll get back to you later on this evening! Were you mocking me!?[:@]

I don't know about mass production but I have 10 sets of gear doors now, the thing that's the problem is shipping, I hate to charge the $3.85. I don't intend to make vacuum forming appear easy, because it's not. In theory it's simple, but the application is where the problems start! Also if you all want a good radial engine for this one the old Royal one is a perfect fit, I have those too.

I'll finish up the tank tonight...

Dion

1)Luke your pirces are worth it !! Trust me the interior kit was a steal
2)I can believe you cut those wings , the only wing I cut are with tree branches ....lol
3)I wont bug you , as you get some time I will take a set of gear doors and radial engine , just pm me when you have the time .
I am enjoying the build keep us posted

I would be interested in the doors and dummy engine as well. PM me with the info.

Thanks, Wayne

Luke, I'm also interested in the gear doors and a pair of dummy radials. Thanks.

Gear doors for me please.
Dom

OK, got everyone's requests in for doors and other things, just give me a little more time and I'll get back to you all.

Got a question, where is the best place to buy the CJ retracts for this bird. Do I have to buy them directly from CJ? Or can I get them cheaper somewhere else? I was going to use another set of gear I had but I think I'll just settle for the CJ's.

Dion

I haven't found another place that sells CJ retracts for this bird.

For those that don't know what the old Royal Radial looked like, here are some pictures. It does not have the rocker arm housings, I added those by cutting a balsa stick in about 1/4" sections and gluing them on. Lightly sanded and painted you can then use 1/8" plastic tube for the push-rods. Of course you know that the engine should be mounted to a sheet of 1/8" ply. The last picture is the radial I painted.

Dion

Ok Richard, Thanks. Looks like I'll be giving them a call...

Thanks Richard, I'll get back to you on that.

Luke, I can make a page on my site for all your custom parts, along with ordering and contact info.

Dion,
Must say I admire your work. I would love to have a set of CMP Hellcat doors & Radial. If you are selling theses please PM me with your asking price. I have time so you won't be rushed. Just wondering if you have doors for the CMP Spitfire as well?

Thanks
Kevin

Not 100% sure but if you check with Bruce at CJ , one of the CJ sets that he sells Tower may work for the Hellcat . Some of the gear he sells is very close in demensions and Tower was cheaper then CJ direct

Its been some time since I have followed up on this forum but seems like there s been quite some developments
and keeps getting only better.

My Hellcat is flying awsome and getting better every time ......!!!

Dion I have to say you are right on [sm=thumbup.gif]! ! ! ! with this Gear Doors and Radial Dummy engine.. they sure add so much to this model

Please let me know If I can buy from your 2 sets of each. !!!!!

dang Dion!

YOU and an ARF!?!?!?!?! Maybe this should be submitted to "Ripley's Believe It or Not"......

I am like the others - I have had my Hellcat for quite some time, having stripped all the covering off the wings and tailfeathers and using .75 CST glass and Deft finish, followed by auto polyprimer and paint. I used Darrell's retracts (Sierras) along with 4 inch Robart aluminum hubbed wheels, BUT, no gear doors. I, along with several others, would be VERY interested in buying at least a couple of sets of doors and radials. I had originally intended on modifying the wing and the tail section to more closely "approximate" the real Hellcat but shortly after I bought the CMP 'Cat, a Saxton (re: Byron) Hellcat fell into my lap which will eventually get all the bells and whistles...

at any rate, if I can squeeze into this ever-growing line of guys that want doors/radials, let me know.

thanks pal!!

randy

Thanks Kevin. I'm working on the parts, I'm just now sure how I want to do this is all. When I figure out how to get them to everyone I'll post it here.

Thanks LDM, I'll check them out.


LOL! You have no idea what you can do with these ARF's though! I'm pretty sure mine is going to be sick! lol!

I need some help with a tail wheel decision, look at the first picture and tell me what tail wheel to use! Just kidding, actually I did consider the Robart one but it's to short, so I made a scale one. It's very lite, made mostly out of PC board and aluminum flashing, the only brass is the wheel mount tube.

Ailerons are next.

This is fun!

No whang on just a sec. I, for one, would like to see the step by step fabrication process for that tailwheel. Much coudl be learned from that! For instance, how did you fabricate the horseshoe shapped yoke part? Looks perfect!

No step by step! I like your attitude, I can tell you like information and learning. Most people couldn't care less about the details of something like this tail wheel because they don't want to build one. I didn't want to take pictures because it slows me down, I built this thing in 2 nights, the last one I was up till 1:30am and I had to be up at 6:00am. This is just going to be some highlights, I might go into more detail on more basic modifications that most might try. I've cut the tail cone off and cut my tail wheel hole, after accessing what I have to work with and figuring it all out I'll post more pictures.

Thanks for the compliment!

Dion

You are a master craftsman Dion!
Dom

Is he (Luke ) good or what!!!! You the Man Luke!!
John

Thanks Dom and John, glad you're enjoying my work so far! [8D]I would like to continue to see others projects in this thread, it's not my intention to take it over.

I cut the tail cone off and then cut a generous opening for the tail wheel. It can be tough working inside a finished glass fuselage.

Using the outside shape of the fuselage as a guide I cut a plywood template for the tail wheel mount. I pulled all the plastic pushrod out far enough so that they won't interfere but not to far, I may be able to use some of them.

I attached the tail wheel to the ply former and I managed to get all of that in through the tail wheel opening for a test fitting.

I had to go outside to take a picture of the internal fitting of the ply former, but you can see it's a pretty good fit.

Dion

About what do you think the all-up- weight of the tailwheel unit will be Luke? Also, what thickness ply did you use for your former? And when you get thru, will you just fiberglass the section of the fuse (that you cut off ) back on? Keep it coming !!! I'm liking it!!
If I have 3 thumbs they would all give you a "3 thumbs up" Luke!! LOL

LOL! 2 is fine dude, although if you had another thumb attached so you could do that I would be impressed!

The tail wheel mounted to the plywood comes in at a hefty 1 3/4 ounces, think that'll work? It's just a 1/8 thick ply bulkhead, should be fine. I'm going to make the tail cone removable so that I can get to the linkage and remove the tail wheel if needed.

Glad your having fun John, now let's see some pictures of what you are doing with yours!

Dion

I think the 2 most dramatic mods you can make to this plane is cutting the wing to the proper span and adding a scale canopy and cockpit area. I'm surprised at how easy it was to cut the wing and the cockpit mod should be just as easy if not easier. I'm just posting these changes not because I think they should be made, but it's just fun for me to do them and it might help another modeler that wants to personalize his plane and make it more scale. I was inspired by some of the mods others made in this thread so I'm just returning the favor in my own extreme way! lol I can't wait to see how my plane looks when I'm done, if I'm right, I think the CMP Hellcat is an excellent starting point for a really scale Hellcat if you want it. I'm making changes to the tail feathers also, the actual size of the fin is correct, it's just the rudder that is off. This is an easy fix. I'll post my progress later on but just so you can see what I'm doing here are some pictures for you to look over and think about! You can see how large the rudder is on the CMP Hellcat, making it the scale size will really help the overall outline of the plane.

Dion

Dion -two quick points -
1) there is a set of CJ Rotating gear for sale on RCU that are made for a Corsair , I sure Bruce from CJ or the RCU member selling them will give you the specs , there a good deal from what I can see
2)Where do you buy PC board
Thanks
Lou