Charlie Kellogg's TBM Avenger Build
11-09-2013, 06:08 PM
#1776
Don't tell me what it looks like, my imagination is already running wild. Since I am a Governor Christie fan, it looks like one of my Democratic friends took a dump on my wing panel. O'well, after the smell goes away, looks like it will be clean sailing, oooops, I mean clean sanding to match it up then later to narrow the gap to paper width. I'm working guys, can't take the smile off my face. O'God, let it look similar to Peter's Avenger, at least, just similar. Smile. Chic
11-10-2013, 03:36 AM
#1778
Chic,
Looking good, but what's the brown stuff? We used epoxy resin and micro balloons for the wing match.
Another washout today, winds at the field will be 15 - 25 with gusts to 35, not even entertaining the thought of flying the Avenger.
Depending on whether or not I get a flight with my Venus I should have the ailerons affixed to the wing today and be able to run the additional wiring for the wing tip lights and landing light.
Hope you guys are having better luck with your weather.
Larry
Looking good, but what's the brown stuff? We used epoxy resin and micro balloons for the wing match.
Another washout today, winds at the field will be 15 - 25 with gusts to 35, not even entertaining the thought of flying the Avenger.
Depending on whether or not I get a flight with my Venus I should have the ailerons affixed to the wing today and be able to run the additional wiring for the wing tip lights and landing light.
Hope you guys are having better luck with your weather.
Larry
11-10-2013, 08:31 AM
#1780
Noah,
How's the new job working out?
What happened to the F7?
Winds were crazy at the field, steady 20 with gusts to 30-35, can't catch a break but on the upside I will get some more build time in on the Trojan
Larry
How's the new job working out?
What happened to the F7?
Winds were crazy at the field, steady 20 with gusts to 30-35, can't catch a break but on the upside I will get some more build time in on the Trojan
Larry
11-10-2013, 08:35 AM
#1781
Chic,
As a fellow Christie fan (90% of the time), let me say I wasn't sure if a cat or Dem got into your workshop.
As for the smell, I have a 55 gallon drum of Febreeze I can let you borrow...LOL
But it is looking good
Larry
As a fellow Christie fan (90% of the time), let me say I wasn't sure if a cat or Dem got into your workshop.
As for the smell, I have a 55 gallon drum of Febreeze I can let you borrow...LOL
But it is looking good
Larry
11-10-2013, 09:54 AM
#1782
Hi guys, thanks for the motivation. The filler, I'm smiling, I use Prather Micro Ballons (old school - chocolate brown in color) and West Systems Epoxy, tooooo old to change. Sands very well. Febreeze, 55 gallons, not sure that will be enough, that's funny.
11-10-2013, 12:28 PM
#1784
It's all good. If I remember Dave's is also labeled Phenolic Microballoons. Therefore, it should mix real well with ZPoxy and give you a great sandable finish. I have several more scoops of the reddish brown stuff left so I am about to order some more from a company in Washington State. I like the brown stuff because I like seeing where I am putting the brown putty on the airframe, have never used the white microballoons. Ha, ha, ha, now that is an inside joke. Stay well guys. About to start sanding. Chic
11-10-2013, 05:02 PM
#1785
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Hey Larry,
F7F is just in need of TLC. She's not a "goner," but I need to rework the wing mounts. They're just not quite strong enough for 69.5 lbs of twin-engine "beastiness." I over-build (and seriously over-powered) that model!!
Chic, get sanding, man!!!
F7F is just in need of TLC. She's not a "goner," but I need to rework the wing mounts. They're just not quite strong enough for 69.5 lbs of twin-engine "beastiness." I over-build (and seriously over-powered) that model!!
Chic, get sanding, man!!!
11-11-2013, 10:11 AM
#1786
Join Date: May 2005
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CHIC, Happy Veterans day. Thanks for all you and your dad have done for our country. Now get back to sanding. I'm tired of looking at the wing, I wanna see the rest of it! -- Barrett
11-11-2013, 05:46 PM
#1787
Thanks Colonel, my respect and honor to men like yourself who still have the sand of the middle east in your boots. Sanding, heck I hardly have any fingerprints left as it is. Stay well guys-------- all of you guys. Chic
Last edited by redtail; 11-11-2013 at 05:51 PM.
11-15-2013, 08:36 AM
#1788
Anyone ever try or seen the results of a wing using Fliteskin? I'm tempted as the wings and torpedo doors look like good candidates for some. I May give it a go but the expense may will be negated by the costs of the traditional skinning with balsa sheet.
http://www.fliteskin.com/
Ray W.
http://www.fliteskin.com/
Ray W.
11-17-2013, 12:09 AM
#1789
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CHIC, Let's see a pic or two of your wings....I'm sure you've sanded the micro-poop off by now! Are you getting ready for the Fuse yet? I've got my big Yak out of the crate and back together. 're-maiden is tomorrow.
11-18-2013, 06:48 AM
#1790
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I have been watching this tread for quite a while, saving my pennies so that I can build this airplane. I purchased the plans, cut kit, and fiberglass parts from Charlie quite a while ago, and I am just now getting around to starting the build of my TBM...
I have a question for Noah and Peter. If you had it to do over again would you chose the Moki 150cc for the power plant? I plan to build the airplane for competition, so I am a bit concerned about fitting the engine in the cowl. Peter, I know you won at Toledo with your TBM, so I would like to see how you fit the engine into the cowl. Noah, is the power better than say a DA 85? Are there any maintenance problems with the engine? What was the final weight, and does it "fly heavy"? Thanks for indulging me with these questions
I thought I had made up my mind to use a DA 85, but then I went to Monster Planes... You just cannot beat the realistic sound of that radial engine
Thanks in advance
I have a question for Noah and Peter. If you had it to do over again would you chose the Moki 150cc for the power plant? I plan to build the airplane for competition, so I am a bit concerned about fitting the engine in the cowl. Peter, I know you won at Toledo with your TBM, so I would like to see how you fit the engine into the cowl. Noah, is the power better than say a DA 85? Are there any maintenance problems with the engine? What was the final weight, and does it "fly heavy"? Thanks for indulging me with these questions
I thought I had made up my mind to use a DA 85, but then I went to Monster Planes... You just cannot beat the realistic sound of that radial engine
Thanks in advance
11-19-2013, 06:11 PM
#1791
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Hey Jerry,
I would not hesitate to do it again... I have had some ups and downs with the motor firing on all 5 cylinders, but it's close to behind me. Even with a sub-optimally running Moki 150, the plane (at 50lbs) does fly very well. Yes, it does fly heavy, but that's just as a scale bomber should. I have never looped my model, but it manages nice barrel rolls with ease. I suspect I could loop it, but did the real Avenger loop? Doubtful. Probably never rolled (intentionally), either.
Regarding fit in the cowl, Peter did manage to fit the 150 with absolute enclosure. We'll have to wait for him to chime in. I suspect with more thought and consideration to engine thrust angles, mounting distance from cowl opening, etc... I could have managed to get *** to fit completely, too. But, once I chose my path there was no turning back.
If it's in your budget, go with the Moki. Ceratinly sounds like it's where your interest lies. Besides, the DA 85 will fly it like a sport plane, and if I know you, that's not what you're looking for. You can always sell the Moki and very easily put a DA85 in down the road... the other direction (swapping DA85 for a Moki) would not be easy to do without major surgery.
Get the Moki, I say!
Peter?
I would not hesitate to do it again... I have had some ups and downs with the motor firing on all 5 cylinders, but it's close to behind me. Even with a sub-optimally running Moki 150, the plane (at 50lbs) does fly very well. Yes, it does fly heavy, but that's just as a scale bomber should. I have never looped my model, but it manages nice barrel rolls with ease. I suspect I could loop it, but did the real Avenger loop? Doubtful. Probably never rolled (intentionally), either.
Regarding fit in the cowl, Peter did manage to fit the 150 with absolute enclosure. We'll have to wait for him to chime in. I suspect with more thought and consideration to engine thrust angles, mounting distance from cowl opening, etc... I could have managed to get *** to fit completely, too. But, once I chose my path there was no turning back.
If it's in your budget, go with the Moki. Ceratinly sounds like it's where your interest lies. Besides, the DA 85 will fly it like a sport plane, and if I know you, that's not what you're looking for. You can always sell the Moki and very easily put a DA85 in down the road... the other direction (swapping DA85 for a Moki) would not be easy to do without major surgery.
Get the Moki, I say!
Peter?
11-20-2013, 04:00 AM
#1793
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Hey Jerry,
I would not hesitate to do it again... I have had some ups and downs with the motor firing on all 5 cylinders, but it's close to behind me. Even with a sub-optimally running Moki 150, the plane (at 50lbs) does fly very well. Yes, it does fly heavy, but that's just as a scale bomber should. I have never looped my model, but it manages nice barrel rolls with ease. I suspect I could loop it, but did the real Avenger loop? Doubtful. Probably never rolled (intentionally), either.
Regarding fit in the cowl, Peter did manage to fit the 150 with absolute enclosure. We'll have to wait for him to chime in. I suspect with more thought and consideration to engine thrust angles, mounting distance from cowl opening, etc... I could have managed to get *** to fit completely, too. But, once I chose my path there was no turning back.
If it's in your budget, go with the Moki. Ceratinly sounds like it's where your interest lies. Besides, the DA 85 will fly it like a sport plane, and if I know you, that's not what you're looking for. You can always sell the Moki and very easily put a DA85 in down the road... the other direction (swapping DA85 for a Moki) would not be easy to do without major surgery.
Get the Moki, I say!
Peter?
I would not hesitate to do it again... I have had some ups and downs with the motor firing on all 5 cylinders, but it's close to behind me. Even with a sub-optimally running Moki 150, the plane (at 50lbs) does fly very well. Yes, it does fly heavy, but that's just as a scale bomber should. I have never looped my model, but it manages nice barrel rolls with ease. I suspect I could loop it, but did the real Avenger loop? Doubtful. Probably never rolled (intentionally), either.
Regarding fit in the cowl, Peter did manage to fit the 150 with absolute enclosure. We'll have to wait for him to chime in. I suspect with more thought and consideration to engine thrust angles, mounting distance from cowl opening, etc... I could have managed to get *** to fit completely, too. But, once I chose my path there was no turning back.
If it's in your budget, go with the Moki. Ceratinly sounds like it's where your interest lies. Besides, the DA 85 will fly it like a sport plane, and if I know you, that's not what you're looking for. You can always sell the Moki and very easily put a DA85 in down the road... the other direction (swapping DA85 for a Moki) would not be easy to do without major surgery.
Get the Moki, I say!
Peter?
The Moki is a squeeze and one side of the cowl needs to be persuaded but it can be done.
I as Noah choose to fly scale in a scale manner and she should fly "heavy",
trade the aerobatics for torpedo drops.
Once you have the Moki think of all the other planes you can stuff it into.
GET THE MOKI
Peter H
11-20-2013, 05:36 AM
#1794
The full scale TBM is a bit heavy on the controls and is a lot of work if flown agressively. It is very docile otherwise and easy to land. My uncle had six ex sprayer/firebombers and we restored and flew two. I flew the TBM twice but never got my type rating in it. I always flew the SNJ and N3N when we went to airshows. The TBM was a great airplane and I always liked the looks of them. I built up the canopies and turret domes on the airplanes we restored. The most dangerous thing about flying a TBM was falling off the wing when getting up to the cockpit. Don
11-20-2013, 06:01 AM
#1795
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Noah and Peter,
Thanks for your insights. You are right I would likely not be happy with anything but the Moki... Looks like I need to save my pennies... You guys need to buy more graphics
Peter,
I understand that you are doing your part... Vikie says she is working on some graphics for a Harvard for you.
Don,
Thank you for your insight, it is always interesting to hear from someone who has flown the full sized replica
Thanks for your insights. You are right I would likely not be happy with anything but the Moki... Looks like I need to save my pennies... You guys need to buy more graphics
Peter,
I understand that you are doing your part... Vikie says she is working on some graphics for a Harvard for you.
Don,
Thank you for your insight, it is always interesting to hear from someone who has flown the full sized replica
11-21-2013, 06:30 AM
#1796
Open questions: I found that my issue of Sierra gear for the TBF axles are not threaded. I can't find Sierra Precision link that works.
Does anyone have a link to Darrell so I could ask him or , secondly, does anyone know the thread size on the newer TBF gear axles?
No matter how close I'm to completing my current project, I still rifle through the pile of wood and play with the landing gear in great pre Christmas intensity.
Ray W.
Does anyone have a link to Darrell so I could ask him or , secondly, does anyone know the thread size on the newer TBF gear axles?
No matter how close I'm to completing my current project, I still rifle through the pile of wood and play with the landing gear in great pre Christmas intensity.
Ray W.
11-21-2013, 07:04 AM
#1797
Open questions: I found that my issue of Sierra gear for the TBF axles are not threaded. I can't find Sierra Precision link that works.
Does anyone have a link to Darrell so I could ask him or , secondly, does anyone know the thread size on the newer TBF gear axles?
No matter how close I'm to completing my current project, I still rifle through the pile of wood and play with the landing gear in great pre Christmas intensity.
Ray W.
Does anyone have a link to Darrell so I could ask him or , secondly, does anyone know the thread size on the newer TBF gear axles?
No matter how close I'm to completing my current project, I still rifle through the pile of wood and play with the landing gear in great pre Christmas intensity.
Ray W.
11-21-2013, 08:38 AM
#1799
RCHS1,
I was wondering the same and, having remembered a recent post saying Charlies site was back up. I went looking and found that the site now shows to have been suspended. I did a google search and found this article...
http://www.theintell.com/obituaries/...9963196d9.html
Unfortunately for all of us who thought much of Charlie and his great plans, Charlie passed from this life earlier this week. The Article linked above gives a few details...
Fair Winds Charlie. you will be missed.
I was wondering the same and, having remembered a recent post saying Charlies site was back up. I went looking and found that the site now shows to have been suspended. I did a google search and found this article...
http://www.theintell.com/obituaries/...9963196d9.html
Unfortunately for all of us who thought much of Charlie and his great plans, Charlie passed from this life earlier this week. The Article linked above gives a few details...
Fair Winds Charlie. you will be missed.
Last edited by georgewaldrop; 11-21-2013 at 03:42 PM.