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DPC Models P-38
Page 1 of 1
DPC Models P-38
I finally got around to starting the P-38. Dave provides a terrific example of a moldie oldie. I took this out of the packaging last evening while digesting our fabulous dinner provided by my wife. First thing first, I bent up the gear wire. I changed things a bit as the original finished out by turning into the rib. Regardless, I sandwiched the gear wire after roughing it up and cleaning followed by epoxy. I let those sit over night. Dave provides square stock for leading and trailing edges. This stock is to be shaped so don't figure on a shaped leading edge. I left all stock square initially until assembly. I shaped the trailing edge and left the leading edge until it was assembled.
Looking at the plan, I arrived at about 5 degrees. When cutting trailing and leading edges, don't take off any more than needed to acquire the angles. Basically, I ganged all stock up and setting the miter saw to 5 deg, I cut all stock at the same time. Seeing you need lefts and rights, just flip the material over. Now, the most important step, mark all material inboard, outboard, top, bottom. Line up the trailing edge and leading edge over the print and tick off both sides of the rib locations. The rib dadoes are NOT SQUARE to the leading and trailing edge. I used a thin kerf blade in my table saw which is exactly a 1/16" kerf. Using the miter gauge, I set the blade height to 1/8" and cut the dadoes into the leading and trailing edges with the blade set a 5 deg angle. Seeing once again, we have a left and right panel, the dadoes are also handed. Just carefully climb cut in reverse to cut the opposing dadoes. Not exactly a correct practice in harder woods, balsa this is fine. Of course one could use a hacksaw blade and do this manually. I spent more time changing my blade then the actual cuts. Accuracy is at a premium here because with all the angles, this wing won't fit together properly.
I'm quite happy with the product, I would like to see the firewalls a bit wider as the Baby Bee backplate barely makes it onto the face of it. I'm up in the air in regards to replacing them. Fitment is terrific on the parts. I despise using CA. I use Titebond only so I like the challenge of making everything fit tight. I'm looking forward to finishing.

Inboard side , plane is on it's gear. Wheels are plywood. I glued them up last night and shaped them in the drill press this morning. Fuse isn't attached, just slipped onto wing for show purpose. The double rib which sandwiches the gear leg is where the fuse gets glued to. Sterling provided a crappy design here. Having the gear leg glued into the ribs means you now have to build the wing upside down. The original provided no sheeting in this area and this kit is no different. This is a must. Either fill in the entire bay or just fill in a 1/2" strip leading edge to trailing edge alongside of the
fuselage and tail booms topside and underside.
prior to assembly, I marked a centerline on the trailing edge stock. Without planing down the top side, I carefully used the razor plane to shape down the stock across it's face to my centerline. Assuming your dado depths are correct, the trailing edge finishes perfectly to the rib thickness.

Power will either be Golden Bee or Babe Bees
Looking at the plan, I arrived at about 5 degrees. When cutting trailing and leading edges, don't take off any more than needed to acquire the angles. Basically, I ganged all stock up and setting the miter saw to 5 deg, I cut all stock at the same time. Seeing you need lefts and rights, just flip the material over. Now, the most important step, mark all material inboard, outboard, top, bottom. Line up the trailing edge and leading edge over the print and tick off both sides of the rib locations. The rib dadoes are NOT SQUARE to the leading and trailing edge. I used a thin kerf blade in my table saw which is exactly a 1/16" kerf. Using the miter gauge, I set the blade height to 1/8" and cut the dadoes into the leading and trailing edges with the blade set a 5 deg angle. Seeing once again, we have a left and right panel, the dadoes are also handed. Just carefully climb cut in reverse to cut the opposing dadoes. Not exactly a correct practice in harder woods, balsa this is fine. Of course one could use a hacksaw blade and do this manually. I spent more time changing my blade then the actual cuts. Accuracy is at a premium here because with all the angles, this wing won't fit together properly.
I'm quite happy with the product, I would like to see the firewalls a bit wider as the Baby Bee backplate barely makes it onto the face of it. I'm up in the air in regards to replacing them. Fitment is terrific on the parts. I despise using CA. I use Titebond only so I like the challenge of making everything fit tight. I'm looking forward to finishing.

Inboard side , plane is on it's gear. Wheels are plywood. I glued them up last night and shaped them in the drill press this morning. Fuse isn't attached, just slipped onto wing for show purpose. The double rib which sandwiches the gear leg is where the fuse gets glued to. Sterling provided a crappy design here. Having the gear leg glued into the ribs means you now have to build the wing upside down. The original provided no sheeting in this area and this kit is no different. This is a must. Either fill in the entire bay or just fill in a 1/2" strip leading edge to trailing edge alongside of the
fuselage and tail booms topside and underside.


Power will either be Golden Bee or Babe Bees
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5036
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
Re: DPC Models P-38
Nice Ken. Looks like you shaped the leading edge.
Have you seen this electric? Construction perhaps not as nice as yours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yhvtWsJf0
Have you seen this electric? Construction perhaps not as nice as yours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yhvtWsJf0
rsv1cox- Top Poster
Posts : 8851
Join date : 2014-08-18
Location : West Virginia
Re: DPC Models P-38
rsv1cox wrote:Nice Ken. Looks like you shaped the leading edge.
Have you seen this electric? Construction perhaps not as nice as yours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yhvtWsJf0
EEEWWWWheee!
that electricnoise wanna make me barf!
Marleysky- Top Poster
Posts : 3617
Join date : 2014-09-28
Age : 70
Location : Grand Rapids, MI
Re: DPC Models P-38
That's Airsoft Brenda from Texas. She introduced me to Dave Cowell. Dave cuts great kits. Ken, provide feedback to Dave regarding your concerns about the firewalls. He has adjusted/improved kits based on feedback.
I think the guy's name is Mike Halbrook over on Facebook...his is the silver job on the Sterling plans for this plane at OZ. Halbrook has a few really snazzy Guillows 400 series CL jobs.
I think the guy's name is Mike Halbrook over on Facebook...his is the silver job on the Sterling plans for this plane at OZ. Halbrook has a few really snazzy Guillows 400 series CL jobs.
944_Jim- Diamond Member
Posts : 1673
Join date : 2017-02-08
Age : 57
Location : NE MS
Re: DPC Models P-38
Didn't Brenda post on here some years ago? We need more women in this hobby. I taught my daughter how to fly but her interests shifted. I really want her to try it again. One afternoon I was flying in a small lot with my son and a woman drove in to watch. She told me her father taught her how to fly and she loved it. I said when was the last time you flew which she replied probably 30 years ago. I told her to grab the handle and she flew my plane which I could see a immediate smile. She finished, thanked me and drove away. I never saw her again but my son always laughs about it.
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5036
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
Re: DPC Models P-38
@Brenda's last post was May 29, 2015.
https://www.coxengineforum.com/t5421p25-cox-electric-control-line-aeroplanes#105124
She expressed herself by posting this:
https://www.coxengineforum.com/t8199-what-other-hobbies#104126
https://www.coxengineforum.com/t5421p25-cox-electric-control-line-aeroplanes#105124
She expressed herself by posting this:
https://www.coxengineforum.com/t8199-what-other-hobbies#104126
GallopingGhostler- Top Poster
- Posts : 3842
Join date : 2013-07-13
Age : 68
Location : Clovis, NM, USA
Re: DPC Models P-38
Callie? chessie? Chedde? Something like that. Sold gaskets for McCoys etc.
rsv1cox- Top Poster
Posts : 8851
Join date : 2014-08-18
Location : West Virginia
Re: DPC Models P-38
Chellie Romo I believe. I've contacted her via You Tube in the past. I know she surfaced on another stunt forum which didn't seem to be very positive. At least that's the impression I received.
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5036
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
Re: DPC Models P-38
@CHELLIE Romo goes by the E-Bay name: https://www.ebay.com/usr/verysassyblond/. She discontinued selling there may be 4 or 5 years ago. I purchased Testor McCoy Red Head .35 gaskets from her. They were of excellent quality, of finer modern gasket material. Her last post here was Jun 12, 2015.
Their disappearance from CEF at about the same time are strictly coincidental. She and Brenda are 2 different people.
Their disappearance from CEF at about the same time are strictly coincidental. She and Brenda are 2 different people.
GallopingGhostler- Top Poster
- Posts : 3842
Join date : 2013-07-13
Age : 68
Location : Clovis, NM, USA
Re: DPC Models P-38
Ken,
I keep watching for news regarding the build. How is it coming along?
I keep watching for news regarding the build. How is it coming along?
944_Jim- Diamond Member
Posts : 1673
Join date : 2017-02-08
Age : 57
Location : NE MS
Re: DPC Models P-38
Essentially, this is a direct copy of the original. That being said, Sterling uses spars which in my opinion were never necessary, this one being no different. All it essentially does at this point is hold the ribs onto it somewhat like a building jig. What it does do is get in the way of the bellcrank. I had to use the small Perfect which I don't care for. Nonetheless, I'm just looking for fun here and nothing more. I had to use solid leadout wire which I also don't like to use. Only reason is that it gets kinked and causes binds when it does. And it rattles in the car on the drive to the field. Currently, at this stage, I need to dig out some more 1/32" balsa for additional sheeting on the wing around the nacelles. I managed to go flying Saturday and yesterday was dedicated to housework. This week should get some more activity.
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5036
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania

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