Unidentified 1/2A Combat Plane

@Ken Cook wrote:Most kits if that is a actual kit used very poor quality plywood. I only use 1/8" 5 ply which I purchase from Sig. Using blind nuts behind the firewall or nut plates is the best way to fasten the engine. Using good quality ply would also be helpful in assisting wood screws to hold. Whenever a firewall is constructed as your model and many others, a good practice is to wrap the perimeter of the firewall to nacelle with lightweight glass cloth and epoxy. I cut strips of glass cloth 3/4" wide and wrap it around overlapping the strip. If you use blind nuts, the glass will go over the holes for them. I fill the holes with clay and glass right over them. When dry, I poke a hole and the clay prevents epoxy from going into the threads.  Slow cure epoxy works exceptionally well for strengthening, I use 30 min for these kind of models. I just hit it with a heat gun just to thin the epoxy to saturate the glass.

@706jim wrote:I did a Google search last night for Carr's Hobbies in Duluth. I'd heard he closed the store and sold the building in 2020 at the age of 79. And six months after that he died.

Kind of a sad time for me as I had shopped at his store pretty much since it opened in 1970.

But the writing was on the wall as he never brought any new stock in for probably close to 15 years. He also complained about on line sales hurting his business.

RIP Jack Carr, 1940-2020.

@getback wrote:TL that's a pretty wild looking engine mount , have you checked the CG after the application ? It looks heavy ?! Sorry to hear of the passing of another model enthusiastic person and Hobby Shop owner .