DON SMITH 103" TIGERCAT 'KING OF THE CATS'
#51
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
Ok, next job was to try retacting the gear with the wheel on.........oops!! so much in the way!! out with the belt sander and before long the gear would retract and was below the gear door opening so would not foul the gear doors when they shut, once it has been tidyed up i will glass the inside of the top sheeting to keep a bit of strength, thats it so far, just started on the other side, no glueing done yet as i want to dummy up both gear to make sure its all square first.....
Last lot of photos....
All the best,
Di n Dave....
#53
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
Hi Darrell,
I wondered if you was going to keep up with this thread, good to hear from you, no problem with doing the templates, all you see so far has not been glued in so i can duplicate for the other side! im enjoying finaly doing it, been soooooo busy, once i have completed the instalation i will sort templates and send them to you.
Top set of retracts!!!....... well worth the wait!!.. it would not of looked the same with any other gear in it!!
All the best,
Di n Dave....
#54
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
Hi Guys,
I cut out the retracts bearers instaled by my builder in the other nacell today, this time i marked and hatched the area so you can see what was cut out 1st!!
Di n Dave...
#55
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
The next couple of hours was spent lining up the retracts so they were both straight and will track straight, the wing was spirit levelled up and the gear was moved around until i was happy they were both in the right place! the main gear mounts were epoxyed in, so i left that and got on with the nose unit......
Well, you will see by the photo of the plan, that the bearer i have layed on the plan is where the new mounts are going, so you can see just how much has got to be cut out, 1st job was to cut out the planked area that was added to mould the doors from, i took measurements from the plan and at each former re measured to mark where the new mounting had to be, i then set about it with my saw!!.........
Di n Dave....
#56
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
Next job was to make the mount for the retract unit, this is fabricated from 1/4" ply again, it runs from the front former behind the nose block right back just past the last former, with so much ply taken out of the nose formers i hope this will put some strenght back! a large hole was cut into it because the steering arm, both air cylinders and the accutuation mechanism all past the mounting, this is how it looks at the end of today, i will put triangle under the mounting plate before the mount is glued in, there is a large ares still unused above the mounting that a large Robart air tank will fit in, i also need to find a home for the servo for the nose wheel!!
BTW the wood nose wheel it only for mocking up while Darrell at Sierra makes the wheels and brakes...
Darrell, i have a copy of the wood mountings so far, shouldent be many more now!!
All the best,
Di n Dave...
#57
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
HI Guys,
I had the Tigercat on its wheels lastnight, im quite happy with the stance, most photos of the full size shows it with its nose up quite a bit, the 'wooden' nose wheel is 4 1/4" so is the correct diameter, with it being so thin it makes the front shot even more thinner!!
All the best,
Di n Dave...
#58
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
Hi Guys,
Not much work of late on the Tigercat, but ive just sold 2 of my large models so i am now going to have to finish the Tigercat a bit quick!!!!
Ive got the paint masks and waterslides from Ralle at Tailormade Decals now, i will take some photos and post this week.
Ive started to cut out the servo and radio mounting tray, this will fit in the fuz below the wing..
All the best,
Di n Dave...
#59
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
Hi Guys,
Here is the photos of the paint masks and the waterslides form Tailormade Decals, very good quality as usual, cant wait for the airframe to have this lot put on it, it will make it come alive!!
Also, a photo of the wheels from Sierra, nose wheel is very distinctive as you can see, the mains are like the majority of warbirds of that time, im awaiting on the brakes for the wheels, but there is no panic for those as ive got enogh to do, Darrell i will get the templates for the retracts mounts in the post to you sometime next week.....
Enjoy,
Di n Dave...
#61
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
ORIGINAL: Evil_Merlin
The Tigercat is bar none the sexist Navy fighter ever. Past current and future. She just LOOKS like she wants to fight.
The Tigercat is bar none the sexist Navy fighter ever. Past current and future. She just LOOKS like she wants to fight.
WOW You sound like you are talking about my 'other half' LOL
I do agree, i realy cant wait to finish this one, just hope it performs like i hope it does......
Di n Dave....
#64
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
RE: DON SMITH 103
ORIGINAL: Jetjockgb
Hi Dave,
Whats this!!!! back on the bench, about time!!!! TG14 ???
Cheers GB
Hi Dave,
Whats this!!!! back on the bench, about time!!!! TG14 ???
Cheers GB
Hi Graham,
Err, no not realy, those photos were taken about 6 months ago, just put them on as i had someone interested in it!
Dave.
#68
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ChelmsfordESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
Hi guys. . . . Well I’ve still got it! Lol it’s been in storage for a few years now, unfortunately it’s got a fair bit of hanger rash now, so will have to have some repairs, no more updates as yet, but will post some as I go,
all the best,
Dave.
all the best,
Dave.