AIR RACER GROUP BUILD BECAUSE WE FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED

kermit wrote:

You know... these GeeBee racers fascinate me....reminded me of something ive seen in a scientifical mag years ago. Just did a bit of digging around and finally found what was in my mind all that time: the Stipa Caprioni, built and tested in the very early 30's: There's only a slight resemblance now that i have seen both of the planes again but thought it would be fun to share this bit of useless info Richard

 I remember seeing an artical or two over the years on this plane. A real oddity, but they were on the right track with early ducted fan technoligy.

 vetteman 42- Randy, The GeeBee Z at Kermit Weeks Fantasy of Flight museum is an exact replica. Almost exact, seems he did some flight testing with his replica and found that aileron/wing flutter most likely brought down the original. It was at a time when not much was known about the phenomina, or how to address the problem. 

 Weeks made some mods including the addition of mass balancing the ailerons and he feels the original never came close to fulfilling it's potential due to lack of knowledge at the time. Evendently, he has exceded the speed at which the original crashed , without any problems since the modifications.

  I've always liked the GeeBee racers . Not much more than a big motor with wings attached.

Had a bit of a conversation with Vetteman the other night about the racing group and the rules involved. At first i had the idea of modeling a P47D but found out that the only P47 ever to participate in the Cleveland air races was a P47M model and it didn't even start

Then i had the idea of doing The spitXIV that participated but found out that Jmabx is already doing that one, looking at all the entries on page 1.... (hope you make it a smashing one!)

Without having to order a new model and looking at my stash i was kind of forced to try a fictional, what-if model because all the suitable kits in my stash are radial engine kits with the spit being an exception. Also i would want to try out some stuff before i commit myself with a historically accurate model, experimenting with racing paintjobs and things...

My choice, therefore and if Randy would allow it, will be a completely fictional, almost stock Lavochkin La-5FN in 1:72 scale by Revell.

Richard

kermit wrote:

Then i had the idea of doing The spitXIV that participated but found out that Jmabx is already doing that one, looking at all the entries on page 1.... (hope you make it a smashing one!)

I see nothing that says we can't build the same bird... the more, the merrier!

kermit wrote:

My choice, therefore and if Randy would allow it , will be a completely fictional, almost stock Lavochkin La-5FN in 1:72 scale by Revell.

La-5 will be a cool build.

Kermit A Lavochkin LA-5FN huh ?? Well now leme see .............

I love the idea and you are in !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait to see it kermified.

kermit wrote:

You know... these GeeBee racers fascinate me....reminded me of something ive seen in a scientifical mag years ago. Just did a bit of digging around and finally found what was in my mind all that time: the Stipa Caprioni, built and tested in the very early 30's: There's only a slight resemblance now that i have seen both of the planes again but thought it would be fun to share this bit of useless info Richard

Looks kinda like one of the EGG plane kits doesnt it

I love the idea and you are in !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait to see it kermified.

Thank you thank you thank you!. This morning after our last email i kinda got excited and started already with my "what iffski"... Not fully sure yet but i'm thinking gloss black with red and white pinstripe...

Some pics to get you guys up to speed:

Box...

Interior detail on this pit was rather non existant so there was little to kermiefy... just a light drybrush with white and a bit of soot on the cockpit floor and sides:

Gluing the wings and air intake...

And gluing the whole lot together... Genuine old style revell fitting of parts all around. Especially the wheel wells have a very nasty seam right across. Definately going to NOT bother myself with it and build it with retracted gear...:

And here is where i left it minutes ago. The putty manufacturers must LOVE this kit:

Thanks for watching and see y'all back soon.

Richard

Kermit I'm with Simpilot34, cant wait to see what you come up with for a paint job. You did pick a great subject too, it just reaks of speed. You do too, man you got a lot of work done fast.

I decided to do a decompression build and started the Laird Solution instead of Miss America, well it started out that way anyhow. These little Testers kits are fun and simple to build, doesnt look like there will be any seam issues just a lower wing to fuse issue that will need some putty. The kits also come with little to none in the way of cockpit detail and it has a large very clear canopy. Not wanting to see nothing thru the canopy and after following Chukw's 410 build (sigh), I decided to hummm fix that problem. Got out my newly purchased plasticard, evergreen rod, some .013 dia copper wire and set to work. I couldnt find any pictures of the cockpit so I kind of faked it for my first scratch built pit.

Heres the right side, I used evergreen rod for the truss, the seat, rear buldhead, and IP are from plasticard.

Left side, I made the throttle quadrant from sprue, the levers are from copper wire dipped in ca glue to form the knob at the top then painted.

A couple of shots of the fuse clamped togeather. The IP decals are from my just finished P-38 build go figure huh LOL.

simpilot34 wrote:

Creative gizzmology and representation not duplication are a modelers best friends!

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! Love that saying Simpilot34, never heard it before. Thanks for the compliment.

Hey guys I am toying with the idea of a FW190 F8 racer, what do ya think ? Clipped wings,streamlined canopy, maybe a PW 2800 under the cowling.

Randy,

Thanks for the compliments and i totally agree with simpilot there. Nice scratchwork. It is something i didn't even dare touch yet but your work inspires me and you have my admiration.

The LA-5FN is coming along nicely. She will soon be ready for the booth and hope to have some serious progress before i leave to the US next saturday...

She is now puttied and sanded and im working on the canopy:

Richard (who keeps his paintjob a well guarded secret for now...)

Lookin good there Richard. Just cant wait to see the super top secret, secret kermified paint job.

Okay, I'm done.  GOing to work on my Helicopter GB entry for a while then I'll pick another racer to do.  I do have a couple minor issues to fix, like smooth the spinner out and paint the propeller stripes.  Love the Monogram T-6, such and easy yet nice building kit.

Chris

Boy Chris... she came out lookin' great!

What did you use for the gloss coat? Nice and shiny!

She looks like a flying fire truck... love it!

Can't wait to see what you have in store for us at the Helicopter Group Build!

Kg4kpg Sweet build !!!!!!!!!! It looks like the real Miss behavin !!! Did you use future for that nice finish ? The decals look painted on too. I was starting to wander what happened to your build and here it is Well done and our first complete build.

EDIT Your build is on the front page very well done.

 Man, I feel like I'm missin out! Beautiful 6 there kg4kpg!!!

My F-15 still sits, awaiting some work( very hard to pull myself away from deer season) Tryin to get out in the woods, and getting a few builds cleaned up and ready for the show next weekend(will be lookin for them 6's for you V-man).

 I've come up with a paint scheme(I think), Gloss black-overall, with U.S. flag(what else?)flames across the nose and leading edges, and my bands logo markings on the vert.stab.

 Still not quite possitive on the black. What color do you guys think would best go with U.S. flag flames?

 Very sharp Texan you've got there, kg4kpg! Congrats on the first completed build. Love the all red.

 fermis- How 'bout a dark blue base color. Somewhere around the blue of the union on our nations flag. The paint scheme you described is similar to one idea I've got for my F-82. I'm a long ways from that point in my build, so it's not set in stone. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

simpilot34 wrote:

Randy, I have that same kit so let me know of any other issues that I should worry about please. I have the whole series of Testors racers that I might just have to pull one of them out!!

Simpilot I am just about to call this Laird Solution finished, just need to future it, add the decals, gonna try rigging it, final coat it and call it finished. The only issues I found with the kit were like I told you the lower wing to fuse needed some putty. I thinned some testers putty and ran it into the gap, hit it with some 600 wet and dry and problem solved. The second problem was as usual with these small planes was the landing gear legs, they are very thin and long and locating them for gluing is a difficult task, well for me it is anyway. I always seem to get them on a bit off kilter, but made my best attempt on this one.

Here are some WIP pictures, I hope to have finished pictures up on Monday

Gotta come up with a way to get the gear legs on straight.

Randy - She's lookin' good! I really like the black and gold.

I finally started on the Spitfire MkXIVe and got a little cockpit action going on. I was going for a straight OOB build but I couldn't live with the fact that there were no seatbelts. I quickly cobbled together something that resembles a harness so that I won't fly out when I come screaming around the pylons.

So far this seems like a pretty decent kit. The cockpit was a little tricky to get together and looks alright when finished. A few wires and doo-dads added in there would really make it pop but I'll leave that for the next build... I want this one to be nice and relaxing. 

Jmabx Your Spit is looking really good ! I really like your seatbelts, gotta ask if you made those buckles yourself or if they are AM.

Oh I have to admit your seatbelts have given me a moment !!! I have been thinking something is missing from my cockpit and low and behold I dun fergot the seatbelts, actually lap belts because I dont think these planes had shoulder straps sooooo, hopefully I can think of a way to fix that problem.

Thanks for the complement, the paint job follows the box art. I did find the Tamiya gold painted from the rattle can was a PITA. I can't paint enamels inside, and can't, or should I say am too lazy to drag my airbrush setup outside, so used the rattle can. The first coat of gold paint had to be stripped as I laid it on too thick (easy to do with that can) and it came out blotchy, the metal flake puddled togeather. So I stripped it all off and very lightly fogged the paint on, took 4 very light coats, and it came out much better

Randy - I made the buckles from some thin wire bent in needle nose pliers. Luftwoller (Guy) showed me how to make seatbelts. Mine aren't very accurate but they resemble something that should be there and that works for me. 

Hope Guy doesn't mind but here's the little tutorial he showed me for the seatbelts.

Luftwoller wrote:

Seeing as im in full flow, i did a quick toot for Jeremy with the seatbelts. Heres how i bodge em together. First you need an old cake tin, mmmmmmmcake. and some lead wire or copper. As long as its thinnish, 1stly cut a piece of the tin off and burnish it flat with the blunt end of your scalpel, next up cut a length roughly to size, (Good refs are vital) and add a half loop about half way, I then make the buckle. To do this i use my tweezers and bend the wire around them, a side at a time to make a square shap roiughly the same internal width as the belt width, this is then simply CA'ed to the belt over the half loop you made. I also cut the belt off to....err..belt shape and poked a few eyelets in it, then a simple coat of Tamiya Khaki and its done, The whole thing including pics, took about 10mins (And it shows) Take a little more time and you could have genius work in your hands. The good thing about using the cake tim, is the fun eating it, Obviously, and the fact you can bend and glue it easily. ...Guy

I use the thick aluminum tape for duct repair instead of the pie tin but it seems to work either way. Thanks to Guy!

You may have a problem getting those belts in there now Randy... that cockpit looks so tiny. Sucks that you had to strip the paint... I've never been able to get a good paint job out of a spray can but I see plenty of models in these forums that look excellent with a spray bomb on 'em.

Thanks for the tip on the landing gear Randy!!! Will have to remember that when I get around to my kit. Your 'Solution' is looking great!

Jeremy, ur spit is coming along nicely!!!! Looking forward to seeing more!!! Thanks for posting Guy's seatbelt technique with us as well!!

Two sets of WIP pictures you all have to suffer thru today from me This afternoon I decided to rig the Laird, started out using .007 dia beading wire. Bad idea for these not so steady fingers of mine, they made great pretzels though. So I ended up using .013 dia wire, worked out much better for me anyways.

Let me know what you think guys, what I could have done better.

Hi Vetteman,

 Wow this GB has come a long way in just a short time. I definitely want in, this is right up my alley.

Can you put me down for  1/32 scale ORION XP-1  (Prototype/Experimental Air racer)

vetteman42 wrote:

Avadon Sure thing you are in and welcome to the group of speed freaks. Can you give me the name of the kit manufacturer you will be using as a base kit and let me know what catagory your build will be in ? Then I can update the front page with your build. Maybe even tell us a bit about your concept.

Ooops sorry I forgot to mention this is a scratch build..So Avadon's hangar is the manufacturer ;)  It's a Fantasy Racer. Luckily I have finished the plans. Technically the name is XTP-71A. But if I can't get the two seat cockpit right i'll have to throw out the two place part. lol

 3) Fanatsy racers would have to meet rules 1 and 2 but will allow for your own paint scheme nose art and modifications. Make it your own dream racer guys.

Here are the blueprints. (Caution: Actual model may very lol)

Avadon WOW man !!!!!!!! your build is in, you have done some work there. Those are some very nice drawings you did and a very interesting design. Now being a car nut myself I gotta know, are you using the Garrett Turbo on the Toyota Lexus engine like the pond racer did ? If memory serves me right that engine was certified for aircraft use by the FAA.