Roddie's SWOS P-51's

akjgardner wrote:I Like em. I think they look pretty good myself. How do they fly?

Thanks Joe, I tried flying one of them once, shortly after building.. but had engine-issues. I didn't have a local field back then.. (still don't..) so they've both been hangared ever since.

I also feel that I could have given the tail-span another inch at least. There is decent elev. area though.

They look really nice. Good job you done there.

roddie wrote:

akjgardner wrote:I Like em. I think they look pretty good myself. How do they fly?

Thanks Joe, I tried flying one of them once, shortly after building.. but had engine-issues. I didn't have a local field back then.. (still don't..) so they've both been hangared ever since.

I also feel that I could have given the tail-span another inch at least. There is decent elev. area though.

Yeah, those are decent looking. I agree with you on the short stab and elevator span. Maybe follow the curve of the stab onto the elevator for a Flitestreak style look. Some gussets behind the firewall might be a good idea. So would some decorations. They should be competent flyers.

Shoot man, fly those things. From what I have seen you have enough stuff to hit the field. It doesn't need to be an actual dedicated place. Just a quiet open area. Crank it up, knock out a couple flights.

Heck, feel like a kid again. Pretend you are being bad, run to the car and do a burnout as you leave the field.

Flying is therapy, it makes you feel above the clouds. Then while still excited you can write up a hell of a report.

Love ya man. Go fly!

BINGAMOSO!
Good one, Ron. Ditto that.
You can even put one of your donut mufflers on it if you want to.
Put some skis on the darn thing.

Hey, I'm going flying tomorrow. I'll take it easy and see how much I can work up to before I catch on fire again. I'm feeling like I might be able to do it.

To bad this forum wasn't up and operating during 1968-1972 roddie. Oh ya, no viable internet then because I would have been your flying buddy even if I had to pull you out of the cradle to do so, well maybe grade school.

Nice looking pair. Clip the wings and tail sections for an even more P-51 look. And, who else but you would come up with using foam pipe insulation for tires. That stuff comes split so you had to trim and join it together, no small task. You have the patience that I lack.

Ya, as Rusty says, back up that firewall and go fly them.

Bob

I second (third? fourth?) that. Just go out to any field and fly 'em. If someone complains, go somewhere else next time. I personally have never had anyone complain when I fly at the empty schoolyard, ball field, or park. Those should fly fine. if they look good, they'll fly good. Get 'em in the air and have fun.

The Outlaw Mark

I started replies to this twice.. but didn't like what I'd written. First of all; thanks for the encouragement!

These two airplanes marked a place in time, where I started to build again.. but ceased to fly. Most of my other previous designs had been flown. Nothing since has. I have however kept gathering flight-support equipment and am well-stocked with engine re-build parts.. hardware, props, wood.. etc.

As many of you know; I really like to experiment with stuff.. and enjoy sharing my ideas with all of you here; no matter how wacky they are..

Bob commented on how I made the "wheels" for these two models. Not everyone's cup of tea.. but I have a wheel-fetish.. It comes from flying without a pitman to hand-launch. Now that I've learned of the "bathmat-stooge".. I'm sure I will give it a try!

Back to this wheel-design though.. Reading Bob's comment got the "wheels spinning in my head".. for something to try. You're probably familiar with the foam "noodles" that are sold usually with swimming-pool accessories. The noodles are seamless, unlike foam pipe insulation; making them easier to make. Just slice-off pieces to the tire-width that you want.

They can be found in "black".. have a 2.5" diameter and a 1.0" core. A 1" hardwood dowel, cut and epoxied inside the core.. would serve as the wheel. You could make a LOT of wheels from one noodle and a length of dowel.. (food for thought)