splais

My Feedback: (25)

I have tried a Graupner 15x8 3-blade on my Roto25. It flew the plane just barely OK. Problem for me was that it looks to short visually and the prop is butt ugly [:'(] (personal opinion of course). I too have ordered a Master Airscrew 16x8 3-blade to try while I wiat for my Solo 3-blade to arrive. I have found that the Scimitar wood 17x8 looks really cool and flies the Hawk great on the 25cc engine. Very scale like except for the fact that it is only 2 blades. I think the Solo 3-blade is going to be just stunning, albeit pricey.

Below is a rare photo I found of the Hawk after Captain Hoyt retired and took his P-6E into the airshow business

Baroncowboy

My Feedback: (1)

Haha,thats pretty cool.... Looks like it was an factory intended decal!
I'll be just as happy as you to see that SOLO prop come in... I would like to see someone have one installed before I get mine... Im prolly gonna go with the new Gloss black blades they have if they have em in stock...Although,nothing beats a good-looking wood blade for a vintage tone.... I wrote SOLO a note asking for a price and info,but I havent heard back from them yet... Oh well,I guess patience is a virtue... Tell me,...which blades type/style did you go with?

splais

My Feedback: (25)

I ordered the round tip 16" blades. I thought about the black ones, but decided the wood would look better. Because you can adjust the pitch down to near zero I almost tried the 17" blades, but common since won out. I think 16x6 will be just about right. I' going to try and get video with the streamers and smoke this weekend. It's hard to tell, but it looks like the real Hawk had aluminum blades, so I'm still thinking about which blades to have sent. they build the props at time of order, so there is about a ten day delay.

Baroncowboy

My Feedback: (1)

I see,.... Well,I thought about that prop size aswell... My Saito 150 can swing an 18x8 according to the manual... I however run an 18x6,and it has absolutely no problems getting that prop to speed,and it produces massive thrust... I might try a set of 18'' and the pitch to about 6 deg. The Saito should be able to handle that since it can run an 18x8 anyhow...
I saw a pic of the hawk with the alloy blades aswell... They were pollished though... I figure a set of gloss blacks should fit the bill for my setup since they have a metalish look to em anyhow...
All they would need is a couple of hamilton stickers on em and they should be plenty scale enough for the Hawk...

splais

My Feedback: (25)

I may have to copy your idea, that looks pretty good. I'm going to contact solo next week to see if there is a possiblity of getting the blades painted auto charcoal.

Wile E

My Feedback: (2)

Are you sure that wasn't a Curtiss propeller on the Hawk?

samparfitt

My Feedback: (43)

Build (continued)

Pic 49:
Servo tray and receiver done.

Pic 50:
Rubber tubing and canopy glued in with '#56'.

Pic 51:
Cowl screwed on.

Pic 52:
15X8 MAS

Pic 53:
14X7 graupner

Pic 54:
14X7 MAS

Pic 55:
two screws on each side, holding the cowl on,
aligned on the hardwood.

Pic 56:
No problem on cowl exit hole not being large enough!

Pic 57:
Aileron rods connected.

Pic 58:
With only one wing, she should fly real fast!!!

Pic 59:
I used a level to get the two wings parallel to each other.
First I got held the tail up until the bottom wing was level.
I then attached the top wing when it was level.

Pic 60:
You can see the felt marker on the fuse indicating where the hardwood is.
Gluing up the wings so the center ribs were all tight worked good:
The top wing struts were only 1/4" away from the fuse and that was easy to move them to the fuse and screw them on.

samparfitt

My Feedback: (43)

Build (continued)

Pic 61:
Make sure both wings are parallel to each other (right to left).

Pic 62:
Except for the flying wires and muffler, she's just about done.
I have to say this is one high quality ARF (also my first Warbird with more than one wing!).
Building materials, covering and hardware are all excellent.
If she flies half as nice as she looks, I'll be happy!

Pic 63:
oblique view.

Pic 64:
one more.
The CG came out perfect (have to add the muffler so that won't hurt).
I forgot to mention that while the plane was in parts,
I used the hot air gun on all the covering to insure all was tight.

Baroncowboy

My Feedback: (1)

splais - Is the "Auto Charcoal" like a flat black,or a grayish-brushed alloy color?... I know you can get the flat black from SOLO...What ever you do,it should turn-out awesome! Im happy to hear you might use my idea aswell...Makes the hobby worth while to me to be able to give a usefull thought ...

Wile E - Im pretty sure its a hamilton,however now that you menchen it,the plane is after all,a "Curtiss Hawk" so I cant really say for sure....I guess I should do a little research on this before anyone buys the wrong decal sheet...
Anyone know the answer??? Feel free to enlighten me!....And post some pics if possible...

Capt G

My Feedback: (8)

First flights today (only 2). Takeoffs are non-events requiring only slight steering. Power is good with the YS 1.20 (even though it's only the third time run and still quite rich). Climb and speed is very good with Graupner 15x8 3 blade prop. Initially required some down trim and a few clicks of aileron but was flying hands off right away. Balance (with battery on the engine box ) was perfect requiring only the slightest down pressure for stable inverted flight. On suggested low rates rolls and loops are fine. Knife edge was fine on low rate. Plane will not snap on low rates - haven't tried high yet. Stalls are very slow and straight ahead. Landings are easy - the plane lands at a slow walk (about 6-7 knots headwind). I've got to say this is one of the easiest planes to fly I've ever had - especially for a scale like warbird! Pics tomorrow.

Baroncowboy

My Feedback: (1)

Heres some info sites on the hawk,and a little info on the prop types different versions used,although most seem to be Hamilton it looks like to me>

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p6.html

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero...urtiss_f6c.htm

http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/jjhs/T...odd/65960.html

This site below,shows a detailed cast model of the hawk,and the three blade prop looks like its wearing the Hamilton badge for sure... Im including a preview pic of this model below...
http://aircraftresourcecenter.com/Ga...wry/gal574.htm

This site seems to be the most usefull,and it clearly shows a few P-6E's with Hamilton props,Im posting more pics of this aswell>
http://www.curtisshawkp6e.com/

Hope this helps guys,... Josh

Baroncowboy

My Feedback: (1)

Some more food for thought>..... Anyone thought about adding these items?

The (Red) arrow shows what I think is a sight tube
The (Blue) arrow seems to be a drop tank
And last but not least,the (Green) being nav lights....

Not to take it over-board,but I love to see improvements of any type,regardless if its just a sport scale model... With enough add-ons it should be possible to make this thing a led-sled yet!
Haha,just joking,but all laughs aside,I plan to add the sight tube if nothing else.... I feel that the left over push-rod tube that was intended for the trottle link should be about just right in diameter to make a moch up of this add-on....

splais

My Feedback: (25)

The Truckf paint Charcoal Gray looks very close to what an aluminum or steel prop looks like in some of the Hawk photos I've seen. It does not appear to be a polished color. I have seen none of the items you reference in the photo above on the "real" #40 Hawk pictures out there. Ive seen group squadron photos with 8 or 9 Hawks and they all seem to be a little different,i.e., one strip, three strips, no strips on the wing and different painting on the fuselage. Apparently the Hawks were not all that standardized in there coloring.

sseward

My Feedback: (1)

Baron,
There is most definately a site in front of the cockpit. There was an auxillary fuel tank added below the wing for range, but I do not believe it was a "drop" type tank. There was traditional nav lights on the wings and tail.

I'm a P-6e nut..it's my favorite plane of all time and I have a Profile Publication, a Squadron book, and a few older magazine articles on the P-6e that show all kinds of detail. I also I have a Classic Airframes 1/48 kit I use for reference. If you really wanted to nitpick the details, there are a few things about the GP model that aren't 100%, but I still love it! It wouldn't take a whole lot to make this plane 100% accurate, which is why I wish they'd offer it up as a kit as well.

Can't wait to get mine in the air!

Steve

splais

My Feedback: (25)

Yes, I got to apologize. I found several pics with that "sight" and "tank". I tried to get several closeups to download, but couldn't. I also can't find that squadron in flight photo I saw.

samparfitt

My Feedback: (43)

Build (continued)

Pic 65:
Flying wires.
Might as well work on these while watching the game!

Pic 66:
ditto

Pic 67:
again.

splais

My Feedback: (25)

Here's that formation pic. I also found apic someplace that sure looked like it had that red Hamilton logo on it. the below is a link to a very nice scale model. Unfortuneately there is nothing about sources to validate what you see.

http://www.classicairframes.com/arti...6ehawkjv_1.htm

Capt G

My Feedback: (8)

Cool formation pic. Here's a couple from today's maiden.

scale buff

My Feedback: (24)

Steve, you might be interested in knowing about a book entitled "Hawk Safari" It was written by Mr. Ralplh Rosanik, who lived in Omaha, Ne before his death and is the builder of the P6E that was donated to the EAA museum in Oshkosh, WI. It was published by Lion Publications of Omaha. He searched the world for parts, so he could restore one, but was able to find only a very few parts. Consequently, he built most of the plane himself. I knew Ralph and he was a most interesting guy. According to Ralph, the Hawk he built, from Curtiss factory drawings, was not a replica but an actual production model. That is probably up for argument. All I know is that his Hawk was absolutely beautiful and, if you haven't yet, you should go to the museum and walk around it. It never flew, for several reasons, although it was airworthy, which the Hawk at Wright Patterson is not. I have a video of Ralph moving the Hawk from the hanger on the east side of Eppley Airfield, the Omaha airport, to a hanger on the west. He had a tough time starting it, as the Curtiss Conqueror engine had some very complex carbs. The book has some beautiful color pictures of his plane.

Frank T.

Capt G

My Feedback: (8)

Just two more.

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

It looks great with the mountains in the background. How far along are the houses near the field? Glad to see the Propnuts are still around. Jeff

Capt G

My Feedback: (8)

Houses are across teh road to the south - not a problem...yet. G.

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

Gald to hear that. If you see Angilo flying any of his Corsairs, say hello for me from Minnesota. Thanks. Jeff

sseward

My Feedback: (1)

Frank,
That's some great info! I know there are some repros out there flying on V/8 engines, but I didn't know there was another full size one. I've been trying to get to Dayton for years to see #40, but it just hasn't panned out. My pilot friend has been trying to get me to go to Oshkosh with him for the last couple of years, now I guess I have a reason!

It's a shame that more of these planes didn't get saved. I'll have to see if I can find a used copy of that book.

Thanks!

Steve

Wile E

My Feedback: (2)

Well, I dug through my library some more and verified that the P-6E has a HAMILTON STANDARD 3-blade metal propeller. Source is The Complete Book of Fighters, Revised & Updated Edition by William Green and Gordon Swanborough. There is a very nice X-Ray drawing of the internal structure with labelled parts.