MEMPHISBELLE

My Feedback: (24)

Gary , I would like to read the posts on the wing issue? Can you post a link to get there? How about a few pics?

MEMPHISBELLE

Avaiojet

Great project an congratulations on your efforts.

I would like to know who did the glass work on your cowlings? The work is excellent.

Do you know who made them?

Charles

MEMPHISBELLE

My Feedback: (24)

I picked them up from don smith. All his products are now sold through precision cut kits.

Thanks, MEMPHISBELLE

Avaiojet

M,

Yes, but do you know who makes them?

Charles

MEMPHISBELLE

My Feedback: (24)

I do not know. That is why I mentioned who sells them so you could call and ask. Are you building a B-24?

MEMPHISBELLE

jollyroger

My Feedback: (6)

Memphisbelle, I see where it does take a lot of time to build one of these large scale planes especially when building from plans only. I would like to build one but don't have the time to cut all the parts so I guess PCK would be the way to go.
My plan is to use electrics for power as they are much more reliable, besides I fly electric power only these days. To me the size plane you're building might be a bit too cumbersome for me to build and move. I would have to build the smaller version just to keep it to a practical size as I do have space limitations in my small workshop and I do mean small as it is only 10'X11'.
My dad flew as a nose gunner with the 5th Air force out of Australia and New Guinnea as a member of the 90th Bomb Group, 321st sqdn aka"The Jolly Rogers" from 1942-1943. I plan to use the "Moby Dick" shark's mouth nose art which was used by more than a few planes in the sqdn.
Ah well, at this point I'm not yet ready to commit to such a large scale build as I feel a bit intimidated by such a large plane.
Very good work so far. It looks great and hope you get her flying next season!
cheers

garyshy

MEMPHIS

Here is a few pics ( I really don't know how to get them any smaller) of my b-24j Shy-Chi baby.

garyshy

I could not get all the pics to send, so I thought I would try again.



Gary

MEMPHISBELLE

My Feedback: (24)

Nice looking b -24. Can I ask if or how you reinforced the wheel well area. I would love to see a pic of that area. What is it powered with and who's retracts? Also what did you use for the covering and finish. How about the weight. Sorry for all the questions but I don't see to many liberators being built.

Thanks, MEMPHISBELLE

garyshy

Memphis,

This b-24 is all wood covered in glass. The engine cowls are made from one I ordered using a plaster paris mold. The clear plastic parts are made using a vacume mold. I used the original plastic as a pattern to build the plaster of paris mold and then put more detale to it. The back turrett in the kit was an A-6,to small for this 146", so I made one with the A-15 turret style. After 52 months trying to get to scale status, I made a lot of mistakes, so it I can help in any way just let me know. I will try my best to put it on this forum. Or PM me if you need.

Thanks for your time.

Gary

garyshy

MEMPHIS,

I am using 4 stroke 91s slanted at a 135 degrees. The wheel well is reinforced with 1/16 ply and on the inside with gorella glue. There is 1/2 oz glass on the plane but 5/8oz where there is stress. The walls of the wheel well is braced and built with 1/8 ply. When I added this extra weight I had to take away weight come where else. With this plane being 95 % complete it weights 47lbs. The retracts are from century jets, they are built for this b-24, 146", don smith plans. I have a pic of the whel well but for some reason I can not send it at this time will try in a few minutes.







Gary

garyshy

MEMPHIS.
Lets try this agsin on the wheel well area.

garyshy

MEMPHIS

You said you made your own nose retract for your b-24, and you said why, but the wheel only protudes (using 1944 block numbers for j model planes) approx. 3/4 of the way out.-using outward opening doors. Or is it because the nose gear does not lock down with out air. This is a major problem with me and trying to set the 24 on all threes without air.


Gary

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Gary,

Very nice B-24. Kind of makes me want to go home and stomp all overy my models.

Dave

MikeKucera

Here's an animation of how the nose wheel retracts, it's simplified but I think it's interesting to see how it works. The images were from a B-24D General Service and Instruction Manual.

garyshy - your model looks great. I've been looking/gathering info on the B-24 on and off for a while. I'm planning on a 1/16 scale electric. I have drawn the fuse shape from Consolidated drawings (see attachment). It's actually drawn full scale.

Are the details (panel lines, rivets, turrets etc.) you incorporated based mainly on photos?

garyshy

MIKE

I have researched this plane for several years before I started. But to answer your question about the rivits.

Yes;;; I used pics off the net because I am not near a b-24 except a pby in galvestion, Texas. I have hundreds of pics
in color of the Witchcraft B-24 witch was built in the same block number as the Shy-Chi. I am talking about the Witchcraft built during ww2. I can only use pics of rivets on b-24 built in california although most b-24 had the same rivet pattern. I found that ( in research) most rivets were not even spaced and changed sizes in some cases. I never found a rivet pattern for the top of the wing so I had to use wrecked pics of planes. And how the wing was built using cross sections off the net.
The Shy-Chi was parted out in 1946 so I only have a few pics of the origional plane. My plane is 1/9 scale, so that made it a little easer to put rivets on. I made the wing all one piece ( going to be heck to carry) because the tips of the wing are very small and I had to brace it up pretty good. I read on the net several years ago about the wingtip. Hope this helps.

Disregard my spelling:::::::::::::::


gary

MEMPHISBELLE

My Feedback: (24)

The top of the wheel is flush with the bottom of the fuse. I have just over an inch of suspension travel in the front strut. Once I complete the plane I will adjust the spring in the front strut to set the proper wheel height according to the weight of the plane. I still feel the the c.j. nose retract looks very weak and could brake on a hard landing. If you look on the first page you will see the pic of the nose gear. The air cylinder pushes the retracting link to the over center position, so when it is locked it will not put any force on the air cylinder.

Wes

garyshy

Wes

I suppose I will just have to live with the nose grear I have. Unless I can figure something out about the stress on the cyclinder. I just realized that your pics are the ones that got me started on this b-24. My wife and a few creditors would really like to get their hands on you.HaHa. I do have a question about the doors but will wait until I have pics of what I made since you mentioned air under the doors in a few pages back.

Gary

Warbird Man

My Feedback: (95)

Garyshy,

I'm very impressed with the finish you put on your bird. What paint are you using there? I thought it was flight metal at first but a closer look at the pics looks like it was sprayed. Am I correct? I'm currently building a DS B-29 and want to have a natural aluminum finish like that.

garyshy

WARBIRD MAN

That question on paint is going to be very hard to explane and tell you how it was done. but I will try:::::::::::::

The paint is not paint,,,it is mirrachrone from Alas corp. It is very hard to put on because you can not correct any mistakes you make. If you try it, DO NOT USE IT ON YOUR PROJECT, until you have made atleast 5 or 6 test items, then you will see what I am talking about. I made so many mistakes that I was going to give up. If you get on the net, look for killer chrome first. That is the least expensive way to test. My plane, so far, has taken two quarts of mirra chrome and two quarts speed clear. Read the makers statements very closely for what you want to do or PM me for more info. It is to hard to explane here. But I am more than willing to Help anyone.

Gary

Warbird Man

My Feedback: (95)

Thanks Gary,

I checked out the web site. Very expensive stuff. What were the problems you were encountering? 2 quarts seems like a lot of material for the plane. How are you doing weight wise with the stuff?

Doug

garyshy

WARBIRD

It is a little costly, but I wanted more of alum look that was not as hard to put on. I found that this paint was moreof a hassel than I thought. Yes, the weight did go up a little, that is why I used 91's insted of 60's. The proble I had and still having, nomatter what I do, is the chrome pulling from the jet black when I mask off an area. I had to use a lighter masking tape. The steps are;;;;;;;; prime plane very very very smoth;;;;;;spray with their jet black to a high gloss;;;;;WEIGHT at least 4 hours and do not touch;;;;;;apray the chrom on and weight 20 or 30 seconds thenbuff with a very soft cloth then spray to your delight;;;;;WEIGHT at least 4 hours then spray lightings clear, DO NOT USE LIGHTING CLEAR as a final coat, it will not hold up under glow or gas. ;;;;;put decals on.;;;;then spray with speed clear as final coat. Remember do NOT make a mistake or run on paint because you can not correct it. I dit make mistakes and it cost me weeks of corrections.
sory this so long but you asked for steps and comments. I hope other builders have better luck. I love mirrachome butit does have it's drqwbacks.


GARY

garyshy

sorry about the spelling of (WEIGHT) WAIT. bUT I have not had my coffee yet;

Gary

Warbird Man

My Feedback: (95)

Thanks for the info. I'll have to give it some thought. I just started my build so it will be some time before I get to the painting stage. I was considering using skinny dip, but I'm not sure if you can clear coat the stuff without losing the effect. I hear that stuff can be a mess to work with as well.

Please keep us posted on your project. It looks awsome!

WM

cobi.p

hello gary how are you ??

happy to see you here , i was looking for you and lost your e-mail ( sorry ) .

i love'd to see your work , awsome ! , amazing !, astonishing ! , beautiful and so high quality .

as you know i have build the nose gear with one servo that work very good , i am looking for the main gear but dont have it yet , how is yours ??

i am posting the draw of how it work and the door servo draw .

this is my new e-mail , please send more photos of your baby !!

[email protected]

cheers - cobi