Old CL Gee Bee

"I’ve been working on installing some pins to keep the two shells lined up."

I used three finish nails ground to a point on both ends and tapped in.  Got lucky E/W when I joined the two, off a bit N/S.  Had to trim on the miter saw.  Mine are positioned internal to allow for rasping/sanding to shape.  I like your idea for final assembly. When I get it shaped externally, I will remove them and rout the interior.




Table saw cranked all the way up made nice even cuts on the balsa blocks.




Maybe wheel pants, but for sure wing tension lines.  My guide picture.

The nails did well keeping this thing in alignment while I carved it up on the band saw, hopefully when I get around to sanding it also.  



It will be interesting to see how you round out those holes Robert.  Maybe just plug them and start from scratch which looks like you have already done.  Balsa mixed with epoxy is hard to do and sand.

rdw777 wrote:Your build photo looks great Bob!…. Lots of references there including a 3-D model….A nice project for a cold winter day…. Yes, Just starting from scratch with the plugged openings…. The plugs are installed with carpenter glue which sands fairly easy…. I added just a tiny bit of right thrust and got rid of some up-thrust so the head opening will need some adjustment…. Fuel tube penetrations will be different as well…..

You did such a good job on blending in those plugs that at first I did not notice it.  The more difficult job may be in blending in the paint.  

I am trying to determine the best angle to take while sanding in the bottom of the fuselage.  Pictures of the full scale show almost no angle at all while your drawings, the plans from two different Gee Bee manufacturers, and the plastic model show different angles.  




I get a kick out of these pictures showing people getting in and out.



I think if I had not cut the balsa blocks I might have been able to carve in the Vertical stab and rudder.  

I have changed my mind so often on this that it has a little Frankenstein monster in it.  All to be sanded away.






It looks like the tail wheel was fixed.

"I think my model is a “stand way off scale”

I would agree Robert, these two pictures tell the story;




Building it with the elevator/horizontal stab on the same plane as the wing would be a simple solution with the split hogged out fuselage.  I think that you have a unique model there.  Have you thought about asking the seller if they knew the history?  I have done that several times, usually just picked up at a flea market or something similar.  But, sometimes I get a personal history that is very rewarding.

It's great that you have the sellers photos and the ones that you took when you first received it.  I have quite a few models that I built back as the originator first rendered it.  

I am torn whether to replicate your model or modify as a duplicate of the real thing.  Simple to duplicate the full scale, just use your colorized modification drawing or simply cut a block out of the lower half and drop the wing down an inch or so and replace the block.  This Bee Gee is tall and flat sided from the cockpit back.

Either way I'm making a heck of a mess.  But, its a learner.  If I build another I will get two different sized blocks.  

Robert and Bob,
You two are knocking it out of the park! I'm digging the builds.

My ...... I think that the wing/stab. both being on the fuse's center-line would make for a better flying control-line model. I'd bet that with a good strong engine; the model might be capable of flying inverted. I wouldn't want to try that with a scale wing/stab. orientation.

rdw777 wrote:The nice thing about scratch building Bob is that one can make as many versions as you like…. I think my version happens to be the way it is because it was easier to manufacture as a kit…. Looking at the photos of the inside before I hollowed it out further, It looks like a large, abrasive wheel milled it out….It would be easy and efficient to keep the wing and stab on the same plane doing this way….

As roddie mentioned too, probably fly better. Did you weigh it?

rdw777 wrote:Yes Sir, 181 grams - 6.38 oz as found….Heavy for about 30 sq in….I lost 12g hollowing the shells, Not much…. I plan to make some new wheels that will let it loose a little more weight…

How about a Testors "Fly-em" P-51 with the same 13.5" W/S. Lots more wing on the Scientific P-51.

rdw777 wrote:Yes Sir, 181 grams - 6.38 oz as found….Heavy for about 30 sq in….I lost 12g hollowing the shells, Not much…. I plan to make some new wheels that will let it loose a little more weight…

Chuck that heavy OK Cub, fuel tank, mount, and fuel line and install a ripping more powerful Cox BW/GB/ BB...............on your duplicate build.  You just know you have to build one.   Learn from my mistakes.

Mine gets a BW with a 5 cc tank.

rdw777 wrote:Yes Sir, 181 grams - 6.38 oz as found….Heavy for about 30 sq in….I lost 12g hollowing the shells, Not much…. I plan to make some new wheels that will let it loose a little more weight…

Those look like one-piece solid rubber-wheels. What diameter are they? I have to wonder if they were chosen for their weight, to shift the balance?



Good that you were able to hog-out some wood.. even if it's just 12g worth; that can make a big difference. If those wheels were originally needed for weight, I would think that you should be able to go with a much more lightweight set now.



It's tough where there's nothing to tell you where the CG should be. I agree with rsv1cox/Robert; that you should try to contact the seller regarding the models' history..

If you PM me your address, I'll send you a pair of 1" dia. wooden wheels.

Yea.. I'm not surprised; you wanting to make your own replacement wheels. I'll be eager to see them.

I like the artwork here. Lots of good stuff to take away.

Incredible Paper model Jim.

Maybe a quickie profile with a Bee…

Here you go Robert.

I'm jonesing to build a flying CL one after this thread began.

I resuscitated an old color printer on one of my deployments. Then I printed a copy of a free paper "kit" at 50% so the wing was at about five inches. At this point I don't know what paper kit it was, but I do know it was red/white. I can't even remember if it had markings on it, or if was only panel lines and color.

While I have too much on my plate, the ideas for building my own flying copy at thirteen inches is keeping me awake late at night. So, like it or not, I need to start mine...even if only so I can start sleeping again!