Old CL Gee Bee

rdw777 Fri 13 Dec 2024 - 11:16

I bought this with the intention of doing a rsv1 type restore on it Thumbs Up

…..And possibly try and fly it…..Anyone know what it is?….I’ve looked for old Scientific, Enterprise, and similar old kits and plans and haven’t found anything….I think it has an OK Cub in it….Described as having a 13-1/2” wing span….Seller’s photos….

rsv1cox Fri 13 Dec 2024 - 12:12

This is going to be fun Robert!

It looks like the wing is built up, sheeted on top tissue underneath. Fuselage might have structure covered with sheet balsa. Needle looks to be aftermarket. Can't wait to see what you will do with it.

Now I have to search out Gee Bee kits with that wing span. I never could figure out how the thing flew, its all engine ........... and visability, forget about it.

rdw777 Fri 13 Dec 2024 - 13:09

“This is going to be fun Robert! “

You bet Bob!….Kind of reminds me of the Firebaby(s) project, That was really
enjoyable Very Happy

….I’m thinking Gee Bee was a kit rather than scratch built because of the decals….. I noticed in one of the photos a nut on a screw or stud between the landing gear on the bottom side…. That and the way the paint is separated from top to bottom hints the it may come apart like two shells for accessing the inside… Would be great if it does so we can get to the fuel tank …. Hopefully some of our members can shine a little more light on this plane….

**944_Jim** Fri 13 Dec 2024 - 19:10

I dig this model! How hard could it be to clone one? OoooOOH, Duane! You watching this?

I found a few that could be close, but I suspect this model was home-brew using components from several other plans.

The right size:
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=8691

Similar construction as the "home-brew:"
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=6174

Add a little...take away a little:
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=2631

If I did this one, it would be a short tank job just for 15-20 laps of Roundie-Roundie.and lots of giggles.

roddie Sat 14 Dec 2024 - 10:16

some history..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Gee_Bee_Model_R_Super_Sportster

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Brothers_Aircraft

Vid of an R-2

Vid of an earlier "Z" model reproduction.

rdw777 Sat 14 Dec 2024 - 10:19

Thanks for those links Jim Thumbs Up

…. The Hobby Craft plan type construction looks near to the one I bought….. Near 50% reduction would put it very close in size…..Will be useful for making the missing parts….. Maybe it was a home-brew after all…. The non scale paint job indicates the builder just used what he had which is fine, I’ve done the same thing at times….. He would have had to come up with some decals though…. Interesting….

rsv1cox Sat 14 Dec 2024 - 10:26

Seven come eleven, you rolled the dice and came out a winner on this one Robert. I'm envious.

It's the wheels and tires that fascinate me. Gotta be a clue in there. I hope the seller packs well, and ships fast.

rdw777 Sat 14 Dec 2024 - 10:27

Thanks Roddie!!… Lots of history with Gee Bees…. Doesn’t look like they would even fly let alone be aerobatic as in the videos …. Pretty good engineering to come out of the 30’s!!

rdw777 Sat 14 Dec 2024 - 10:39

Thanks Bob, ….Yes, This one’s a mystery….I did some digging around on the rc bookcase site thru 50’s and 60’s magazine ads but didn’t find anything …. Fun to try though….Maybe there will be some more clues when we get it… Thumbs Up

KariFS Sat 14 Dec 2024 - 15:39

That’s SO cool! Great find, very nice patina. Would be nice to see more details, please post more pics when you get the model home Thumbs Up

rdw777 Sat 14 Dec 2024 - 16:39

Absolutely Kari, Love to share these kinds of things with like minded folks Very Happy

**944_Jim** Sun 15 Dec 2024 - 12:46

Those wheels look a lot like Scientific 1/2A wheels. I can measure the ones from my late Scientific P-40 profile kit. I seem to remember they are 1.25".

rsv1cox Sun 15 Dec 2024 - 15:14

Ah Robert, I would make this picture your avatar picture for now, then replace it when you get it finished.

I am so struck with it that I may sneek a copy in as I did with Renes pontoon plane a couple of years back. Ground tether only, I made three, .049, .020, and .010. Mark and I ran the .049 around the driveway on a tether to little success. Maybe make duplicate stensils.......... Smile

Something along these lines. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" Smile

rdw777 Sun 15 Dec 2024 - 16:18

Those wheels look a lot like Scientific 1/2A wheels.

Thanks Jim, Any leads may be helpful…. It sure has some of the marks of Scientific on it…. More looking at old ads today but still haven’t found anything….

New avatar is a good idea Bob, I like it!….Absolutely, would be fun to make a copy….We’ll get some good measurements of it and few sketches so it could be replicated Thumbs Up

….. It would fit right in with the tri-motors along with Silver Lining and its variants…Those planes on your glass display have so much character!…. The little Gee Bee would fit right
in Very Happy

rsv1cox Sun 15 Dec 2024 - 16:27

rdw777 wrote: Those wheels look a lot like Scientific 1/2A wheels.

Thanks Jim, Any leads may be helpful…. It sure has some of the marks of Scientific on it…. More looking at old ads today but still haven’t found anything….

New avatar is a good idea Bob, I like it!….Absolutely, would be fun to make a copy….We’ll get some good measurements of it and few sketches so it could be replicated ….. It would fit right in with the tri-motors along with Silver Lining and its variants…Those planes on your glass display have so much character!…. The little Gee Bee would fit right
in

Thanks Robert. Nothing like putting you on the spot. Smile

rdw777 Sun 15 Dec 2024 - 16:31

My pleasure, Interesting (and fun!) were this model airplane thing leads Very Happy

rsv1cox Sun 15 Dec 2024 - 16:34

rdw777 wrote:My pleasure, Interesting (and fun!) were this model airplane thing leads

Beautiful avatar picture Robert, absolutely beautiful. Smile

Is it showing up on tracking yet?

rdw777 Sun 15 Dec 2024 - 16:52

Yes Sir, Keeping an eye on tracking…. Was sent from Sugar Land, right here in Texas…..Only 453 miles away Very Happy

….. Being processed near Dallas now…. I messaged the seller asking if he knew any history on it…. Not really, He just buys and sells….

getback Mon 16 Dec 2024 - 8:08

I personally think they look like fling blips with wings and wheels LOL Thats just me though , hope it gets to you safely ! Santa

**944_Jim** Mon 16 Dec 2024 - 20:10

~~Solved...Scientific carved fuselage, solid wing. Look at page two, 1/3 up from the bottom.~~

The wheels are one tell. The little aluminum flat bellcrank is the other.

https://www.coxengineforum.com/t18406-just-for-the-heck-of-it-walt-musciano-models-plan-list-from-2001-corrected

Nope. Just found the Scientific Gee Bee on OZ...and this ain't it!
I still think home-brew...using Scientific parts.

TD ABUSER Fri 20 Dec 2024 - 15:07

rdw777 wrote:I bought this with the intention of doing a rsv1 type restore on it …..And possibly try and fly it…..Anyone know what it is?….I’ve looked for old Scientific, Enterprise, and similar old kits and plans and haven’t found anything….I think it has an OK Cub in it….Described as having a 13-1/2” wing span….Seller’s photos….

What a find...!

If this were mine I would do as little as possible to get it in the air with a strong engine just to see how well it flies....then try my luck at scratch building a 1/2A Gee Bee that would outperform it. Cool

rsv1cox Fri 20 Dec 2024 - 15:13

TD ABUSER wrote:
rdw777 wrote:I bought this with the intention of doing a rsv1 type restore on it …..And possibly try and fly it…..Anyone know what it is?….I’ve looked for old Scientific, Enterprise, and similar old kits and plans and haven’t found anything….I think it has an OK Cub in it….Described as having a 13-1/2” wing span….Seller’s photos….

What a find...!

If this were mine I would do as little as possible to get it in the air with a strong engine just to see how well it flies....then try my luck at scratch building a 1/2A Gee Bee that would outperform it.

Words of wisdom TD-A, and exactly what I would do. Maybe right now (as I am) Robert is looking around for a suitable plastic bottle cowl...............

Bob (The other Robert Smile

)

rdw777 Fri 20 Dec 2024 - 16:33

Thanks guys, I’m anxious to inspect the little Gee Bee and find out its details…. Still watching tracking…. Should be here soon!…..

rsv1cox Fri 20 Dec 2024 - 16:56

There is a belly seam. The cowl looks.........formed. I get a kick out of the arrow indicating propeller rotation. It will be interesting to discover it's construction.

rdw777 Fri 20 Dec 2024 - 18:02

The directional arrow for rotation is kind of funny….Surprising, looking at the rest of the plane the builder would need that reminder..,, I’m seeing a seam as well from front to back…One of the other things I noticed besides the paint job not being “scale” is both the wing and stab are on the same plane or line as that seam…. Part of one of the plans that Jim found for reference….

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