AIR RACER GROUP BUILD BECAUSE WE FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED

Thank you for the kind words everyone! I always like to build "clean" models anyhow so show planes like these are right up my alley. The P-39 "Cobra II" is next on deck. I picked up an Eduard kit cheap for the clear parts I needed so I am good to go.

Jeaton01, Awesome work on the Turner Special! The polished aluminum finish looks perfect. Nice work!

Well, I've pretty well finished the Turner Special, and I'm pleased with the result.  I should have done a bit more work on the ailerons and flaps, but I won't tell if you don't.  The markings are as the airplane was for the 1939 race, sponsored by Champion Spark Plugs. Sorry about the no pilot in the flying shots, but Roscoe never let anyone else fly the airplane and I couldn't get him on the phone.

Howard - Love the way she's looking... you sir, are a talented man!   The wingtips on that bird are insane. Do you mind sharing more on how you went about making them?

John - I can't believe you've cranked out two pretty racers and I haven't even decided what I want to build next! I'm green with envy!   (couldn't resist)

Well done!

Gentlemen, and Lady, We Have a RACE!

This is the P-51C flown by Jacqueline (Jackie) Cochran in the 1946 and 1948 Bendix Trophy Races. The kit is the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 scale kit built OOB. The markings represent the aircraft as it appeared in the 1946 race.

Daddy1 Howard I don't know what to say about this build I really cant find the words it seems. I look at it, have been all day, and my chin just hits the desktop. This is gonna be a racer dreams are made of me thinks. It just resks of speed and power and doesnt even have the props on it yet. Those wing tips really make those short stubby wings. Damn I am rambeling here. Can't wait to see more !!!!!

bigfoot01 wrote:

Had a relatively quiet weekend of Ambo Duty, only two runs, so I got quite a bit done this weekend. It is actually a relatively dark green, but the light in the pictures gives me flashbacks of Kermit the Frog singing "It's not easy being green" and "Rainbow Connection"

Oh come on now.. we would never do something like that.. 

  Bigfoot01- John, that is one sweet , green Mustang. Cockpit looks great. Man! how do some of you guys build 'em so quick!?

 Actually, I used to build them quick. Still can sometimes.

BTW I remember seeing the CAF's F-82 in the summer of 76 ,after I graduated high school before entering Air Force.

 The (dare I say it) Confederate Air Force main headquarters was at Harlingen ,TX then. The Twin was parked in the Fighter hanger , outside on the ramp was Fifi . I would love to have seen it fly. At least the AF museum is still a good home for thier Twin Mustang. She'll be cared for, I hope.

 I was all set to post some primer pics of my racer yesterday , but forgot the scheduled site maintainance date. Soooo, here they are today.

 Still some sanding between primer coats to do , but I want to build the cockpit and get the radiators/ belly scoops in place. Then I can tackle the final bodywork and build the props

 The cockpit should be fairly easy since it'll be a strickly pure function/no frills/ racer cockpit. Not unlike what you might see in an Indy or Sprint car. I'll pretty much scratch build it from some kit parts along with parts box and some sheet plastic ,sprue, wire , what ever will work.

 In the background of the pics you can see my other "project" . I'll have the wings on her and be painting in a couple more days. I'll work on my F-82R during the overnight drying stages of the Lib.

 TTFN God Bless,

Howard

jmabx wrote:

Boy, John, you work fast! That sure is one green Mustang. Now... get some decals on it stat before these clowns start in on ya...

Yeah like, 'I'm green with envy' HAHAHAHAHAHA

bigfoot01 wrote:

flashbacks of Kermit the Frog singing "It's not easy being green" and "Rainbow Connection"

  Thanks for dragging that from the locked vaults in my brain!

Boy, John, you work fast! That sure is one green Mustang. Now... get some decals on it stat before these clowns start in on ya...

Had a relatively quiet weekend of Ambo Duty, only two runs, so I got quite a bit done this weekend. It is actually a relatively dark green, but the light in the pictures gives me flashbacks of Kermit the Frog singing "It's not easy being green" and "Rainbow Connection"

Jeaton01, your engine and cowling for the Turner Special look awesome! Can't wait to see it finished up

Daddy1, That P-82 sounds like it's going to be incredible. It will probably be the hottest looking plane in this GB. Lets see some pics how shes coming On a side note, I just read that the P-82 that the CAF was hoping to be gotten back in air is being reclaimed by the USAF Museum and likely will never fly again I always hoped to see one of those fly someday, but I guess that ain't gonna happen.

Vetteman42, yes, I will eventually be doing Cobra II when the new canopy and doors come in in. Yes, all of these kits are AM.

Here is where I am at. Just starting to fill in the gun barrels and shell discharge openings. Once all the seams and surface are cleaned off it will be out to the garage, I mean "paint booth"

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v485/BigFoot01/Air%20Racer%20Group%20Build/

Daddy1 sounds like a better idea than mine was I will be keeping an eye on your props.

vetteman42 wrote:

Daddy1 Had to complain about the tease dont ya know, just couldnt help myself You are right about the panel lines, on the fully painted racers I have only seen access panel lines and and cowling panel lines. On the NMF racers like Risky Business they smooth the panel lines as much as they can and use only flush ( in the litterial sence of the word ) rivets. I think five blade props would look nasty on your F-82 just mean and fast as he##. I have given thought to carving a master prop blade from wood and molding it from fiberglass resin so they would be indentical but dont know if they would be too brittle as thin as they would be for sanding and such. I have been following your Lib build and can only say thats gonna be one awesome model when finished, cant wait to see it. So hurry up and finish that one, so the father daughter build can get goin. I envy you that build its gonna be too cool.

 I'm going to use the license tag plastic I've been using for the props . It's pretty pliable and retains shape fairly well. I plan on cutting the the blades from some thicker sheet then laminating a strip or two on top of that. Then I'll file and sand the air foil shape. 

 To create the twist , I'm thinking of carving two wood bucks for the different direction prop blades and with the aid of a hair dryer, some how burnishing the blades  down on the bucks to get a consistent twist from one blade to the next. 

 Putting a push on the Lib right now to get that one complete. Isn't it amazing how ideas for projects come up faster than we can build them. Trust me fellas they will be done. 

 Sorry for the tease. Will get some fresh pics up soon as I get the low areas filled,sanded, and reprimed. With all the bodywork I'm doing on the F-82 , I plan on several coats of primer ,sanding in between, to get a very smooth finish. I will probably be minimalistc with the panel lines for the same reason. It's my understanding many of todays Unlimited Gold class racers fill and glass over many panels to get a slicker surface.

 As far as the props? Still figuring out how to go about that. 

 I thought of using a couple of the extra prop blades left over from my Tamiya P-47 as a base to build from , but the twist is in the wrong direction for the counter-rotating side. May go with 4-bade scimitars like Tsunami's ,but I really want 5-blade props. 

  I will use the kit spinners as idea/patterns for the hubs and new spinners. Scratching 10 blades the same shape won't be hard, but consitency in the airfoil profile and twist of the blades could be a little tricky. Just takes some figuring out and coming up with some kind of jig and a contour gage.  I will put together a good 'how to' when I build them.

 Right now I'm getting my Lib back up to speed ,so it will be complete when the Collings people come around in Jan. Then I'll also have the work space to start the Texan. Looking forward to that one for some quality daddy-daughter time. 

 BTW - Work does still progress on the F-82. I take it to work and sand out the contours at break time.

jeaton01- Looking good! Nice cockpit too. I've always liked this airplane. It looks fast.

Daddy1 Oh so you are just gonna tease us by tellin us the F-82 is in primer now huh with no pics, geeze....... You are going to scratch build the props for this build ?? Wow that has been a sticking point for me on a bearcat I want to build. Maybe you could give us a how to on that, as I have no idea where to start making my own props. This scratch building is all new for me.

Bigfoot01 Your build is listed on the front page. Are you still planning on building the Cobra II if so I will list that one also, and that was an AccuMini kit too ?

Jeaton01 Sorry but you had to show off the business end of the Turner Special huh ? YEAH right ! From the looks of your WIP pictures this one is going to be a build to write home to Momma about. Lookin sweet so far. Your extra work on the prop really makes it stand out. Well done I must say, but it doesnt seem enough.

simpilot34 wrote:

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!  VVVRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

I was thinking the same thing!

Prop looks good John!

jeaton01 wrote:

The prop is on!  The prop is on!!  Sorry, I'm just having a bit of fun before I go back to sanding the fuselage...

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!  VVVRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

The prop is on!  The prop is on!!  Sorry, I'm just having a bit of fun before I go back to sanding the fuselage...

John, cowl and engine are really looking good!!!!!! Going to be a beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Howard looking forward to more pics of the F-82 and First pics of the Texan!!!!

John, This one should be an awesome build asthe other with less heartache hopefully!

Here's the next project. Hopefully will have better luck than the last one.

jeaton01- Beautiful, absolutly stunning.

 Glad the Smithsonian has such a wonderful piece of aviation history. 

 We were sationed at Grissom till retirement of the Hustler in 69. Pop was civil service by then ,but very much Air Force. I also remember the issue of Wings with the piece on the Turner special. Seeing the cover of that magazine ,definately a great blast from the past.

 Richie & Randy- The whole series of Sky's the Limit ornaments are great. I think this years is the Cessna 410. Some aquire a fair collectable value. They run around $15 to  $20 at time of issue. The GeeBee, the 2001 release , I've  seen online for $100 mint in box. A beautiful Beech Staggerwing from 2002,$80.

 I have the boxes stashed away, but the planes are lined up across the top shelf of my model desk. I love 'em.

 Put the first of several coats of sanding primer on the F-82 this morning. Looks good but discovered several low areas along the leading edge of the wings, on the rudders, and on the right fuselage where I covered over that cockpit. I've skim filled said areas with five minute epoxy. Now to sand and reprime.Then I'll build the cockpit from underneath, finally adding the radiators and building up the lower fuselage including the NACA scoops. Then I'll move to the props.

 I will probably scratch build the props. I thought of using the kit blades as base material, but I want five or six blades each side . The kit parts would still leave me a couple blades short of the proper direction.

 Prop blades are basically twisted wings and its not too difficult to shape an airfoil. So I'm going to make the attempt. They will be similiar to Jeremy's Spitfiretron props. I like the scimitar look of those props , would make this twin 'Stang look down right sinister.

 I've also dug up some parts box drop tanks that I'll cut the ends off to use as new spinners.

 Have decided on the color for the T-6 . Model Masters 'Colors by Boyd' True Blue Pearl. Will start that one when I get my Lib or the F-82 farther along. 

 While I'll be the primary builder on the Texan, I'm going to sit my daughter in lap , put the brush or other tool in her hand and guide her hand. She loves to draw and color , but has some fine motor skill issues. She has become very good about coloring in the lines, yet handling  a paintbrush, needs a little more "slow and in control" skill. My assisting her in the Texan build should go a long way toward that.

 God bless,

Howard

Cowling looks great, John.   I really like the way the cockpit turned out and the instrument panel is perfect.

Can't wait to see her all dressed up!

Gotta show off my cowling.  Please don't mention that the carrier is still showing on the Twin Row Wasp lettering.  I'll try some more MicroSol on it but it is on SNJ paint.  Not so bad though in the eye instead of the camera and the photos were taken when the decals had only been on an hour.  The prop is still in gloss black, perhaps I will get the aluminum on it tomorrow. I just love that part when the decals are on.  I did the panel lines with Dymo tape and a #11 Exacto blade dragged backwards lightly in the primer coat.  The exhaust is K&S aluminum painted black inside.