RCU Forums - P38- Prototype

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- - P38- Prototype (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-warbirds-warplanes-200/665370-p38-prototype.html)

Well its been almost a year in the making... The first glass part (prototype) was layed up yesterday. There were lots of delays of course... such flying, building a cnc machine, flying, building a vacuum form machine, and of course more flying. It has taken me entire month just putting on the panel lines on the plug, sigh!

I like to thank my local buddies for their help and encouragement and of course my wife who thinks that I might be crazy when I work till the sunrise.

Believe or Not! It feels like Christmas everytime I open a mold to see how the parts comes out. Kind a like when my son Ryan was born... well not really at that level but it reminds me of it. I say 'A baby is being born' .

I was not to open it right now (parts are still curing) but I had to sneak-a-peak and this is what it looks like.... more pictures as it is unwarped... tommorow...

Vic

:cool:

NICE! how'bout some specs? engines, WS, estimated weight, when can I get a kit?!

I got to have one of those! Looks great Vic, as does all of your glass work, i'm sure it is truly "top drawer", absolutely beautiful, i know the 190 and spit sure are! Keep me posted!
Lenny S

"shindin"

www.homestead.com/shindinmachine

Awesome job Vic! I admire your determination.

JG:)

is mine ready Vic!?:D

Todd

Very nice job!!!!
How were you able to join the 2 halves together? I've joined my stuff together with an access hole but it doesn't look like you had one.

Thanks.

Vic, the check is in the mail. When can you ship? Let me know when I can swing by to pick it up.

Sung

I saw a guy at our field with a p-38 a while back. It was the maiden flight and that thing was amazing. Ya gotta luv the sound of twin 4 stroke engines. Nothing beats it.

Vic, youdaman!! :thumbup:
Can't wait to see it as it progresses! I'm still enjoying building the spit you did for me, thanks again!! :)

Nice job Vic, my question is how is this one diffrent than the one that Robart offers?

I believe Robarts' is 100", and Vics' is 88". But don't quote me.

Not only that but the best part is...he didn't buy it... he MADE it!
Very, very nice Vic.

http://robart.com/kits/images/P38.html
The Robart kit has the same dimensions as the Ziroli, 114"

http://vicrc.com/P38-4.htm
This one of Vics, is 88"

Ray

Thanks to all for your kind words!!

Here is the spec - 1/7th scale, 88 inch span. Don't know weight yet but I think it will be around 15-20 lb range, its a big range because I have no idea which engines will fly it. I don't want to be under powered but I am looking at a pair of G26 as they are reliable and hear very good things with them, plus no ignition battery to worry about. A pair of Webra 120s will fit entirely inside and give the most power but that will require larger gas tanks and plenty mess to clean up.

Everything is scale as best I could. Lots of premolds were built prior to the main mold to accomodate the step down for cowl, gear doors and certain access panels... this is what took the longest. Probably could have easly built three of these from sticks in about the same amount of time. But it sure is less time now to build one :D

Robart is bigger, based on the Ziroli design and a good flyer at that. That would be the ultimate composite P38, hope to get good flying on the one I have and get the Robart later on.

I joined the two halves together using chopped glass, cabosil and resin, its pretty strong, stronger than other places that has no joint... I do have access in the front cowling area and I did not want to cut up my molds any more than I had to and I can figure out exactly where I will need it, YUP! access holes makes laying up a lot easier. By the way, I cnc cut my horizontal stab and sandwhich it between the mold... man it is strong in this area.

Sung, Ray and Henry - I'll bring one over for show and tell.

Lenny, in about a week, I will make some more specs on the gear - I am sure it will be as nice as the spit gear!

See next thread.... :D

The baby is born!

Born April 2, 2003, 2:15 pm
Labor induced for 1 hour 10 minutes
Her name is California Cutie (this is for you P38 fans)!
Weighing 6.2 lbs

Here she was half way out....

Here she is sizing you up for her 4 cal machine gun and a 20mm cannon...;)

nkvl;reaigv k[rt9

oops, the drool shorted out my keyboard.

On its back already, lets not practice that....:(

You think I am crazy!!!

I have reason to... as I told my wife, I am being haunted by the ghost of past Lockheed employees, heck the original P38s where built within 5 miles from my house in Burbank. :eek: not to mention that my house was built in the late 30's when Lockheed was big in the San Fernando Valley. God know who lived previously in my house.... :confused:

shing! Shing! SHING!

LOL...

Last one.... the horizontal foam core is in there, but the picture does not show this.... :rolleyes:

hmmmm she looks a bit hairy.... needs trimming....

Vic:

Re: You think I am crazy!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by fw190

hmmmm she looks a bit hairy.... needs trimming....

Vic:

Oh, it's just a little bit of the placenta...You know, in nature the mother eats that...Heh, heh....

Seriously, you can be very proud of that P-38. It's beautiful.

More pics and progress

I have update my site with few more pictures...

http://www.vicrc.com/P38-5.htm

Here is a preview of the mold for the canopy frame.

Now we can see the foam inside the horizontal stab...
:)

Hey Vic, how am I suppose to pretent to work if you keep posting pics of your bird.

Sung