Ron Gray Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 Oh yes, I'm liking these ideas, especially as I will probably need some nose weight although not necessarily as much as had been fitted to this one - a nose ring of lead weighing in at 720g (1.5lbs)!!!!! Being epoxied in place it was somewhat difficult to remove, I used acetone which helped soften it then this morning I gave it a few good hits with a large hammer and out it popped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 At a local RAF station in the late 70's I attended a squadron celebration day, this was not a public event but some of us local air enthusiasts were allowed entry. It was a very warm day and seeking some shade sat under the wing of the BoB Hurricane. Got chatting to an older gent also in need of cooling. He told of his time working at Hawkers starting as an apprentice, his first job carving the block of wood [ balsa ?] that made the ventral fairing by the tail wheel. Later he was involved with the attachment of some large lumps of cast lead to the engine bearers to attain the correct CG. This was mainly with early marks, later versions with more weighty/powerful versions of the merlin and variable pitch props not so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 Some progress has been made but here are some shots of it showing the fuel proofer (?) finish that I need to remove I’ve tried sanding down and acetone on some surfaces and whilst it’s a slow process it is working! It does exposes areas that need some work! Canopy is in a bit of a state, not too sure what to do about it yet Nice pilot At some point flat hinges have been replaced with (badly fitted) Robart hinges, they’ve got to go and surfaces fitted a lot closer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 Elevators are off, including the joining wire - I don't want an exposed elevator control horn so I'm going to silver solder an internal horn to the wire and probably run pull pull to it. Started rubbing down the fuse. Inspired by Jon Harper's P51 refurb I sort of like it like this, dry brush some aluminium paint onto the forward white highlights? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottenRow Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Ron Gray said: Canopy is in a bit of a state, not too sure what to do about it yet Ron, The DB Hurricane is 88" span so close to your 82", and they sell spare canopies for £17.50. That might be the easiest option for you. Brian. Edited June 4, 2022 by RottenRow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 I am having mustang flashbacks...and my Spitfire XIV. Rubbing down is my nightmare. On the canopy front you might also be able to try the seagull canopy if they have not deformed it too much. if not the DB is a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 TBH I ordered both the canopy and cowl from Sarik on Wednesday as they have a 'Jubilee discount' in operation. Didn't think about the Seagull one Jon but a good idea! I don't mind the rubbing down as it gives me a new starting point but it's knowing how far to go and will, to a certain extent, depend upon the colour scheme for finishing, leave it as is or a completely new one. As I said above, I'm very tempted to use what I've done as the basis for the weathering to the existing paintwork, to see if it works I might try some dry brushing tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 (edited) How about using NACA ducts either side of the lower cowling at the front. A bit of careful painting might make them almost invisible. Great looking pilot by the way. Apart that is from the flying gloves. I don't think green kid leather gloves were used until the tactical helicopter guys wanted them. Then the fighter pilots objected as you could not see hand signals made with green gloves. So, they went back to pale coloured gloves for fighter pilots. Edited June 4, 2022 by Peter Jenkins Added info on pilot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 I think his eyebrows need trimming! Anyone know who made these? @Peter Jenkinsgloves aren’t green! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 @Peter JenkinsIn fact I even asked him why he had green gloves on, this was his response 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 On 04/06/2022 at 18:06, Ron Gray said: Canopy is in a bit of a state, not too sure what to do about it yet Bit more gaffer tape should do it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 For consideration. Another customer had fitted a 200i into a black horse 80 inch spit. He set up the cooling so that the only air exit was through open scale exhausts. On his first flight he recorded cylinder temperatures under 100'c on both pots and everything went swimmingly. So it may be possible to cool the engine without using the fuselage tunnel method. In truth i would still recommend the tunnel as its not really possible to have too much cooling and its very hard to modify it after the fact. But, in theory it looks like it can be done without that work. Its up to you if you want to take the chance on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 A bit like my Mustang, the cooling through one set of exhaust stubs really seems to work. However I will still be forming a hole in the firewall for the hot air to escape through as I don’t want any turbulence within the cowl upsetting the carbs (as in the Sportster). But I’m not going to bother forming a duct to the rear of the wing, I’m just going to have some holes through the wing into the belly rad moulding and will hope that neg pressure (lip on rear edge of moulding) will extract the air from within the fuse. There is also a hole in the rear tailwheel cover that will also help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Maybe Jon could make a heat sink for these engines, or even just an aluminium spacer plate between the cylinder head and rocker cover?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Hi Ron Now that you have the pilot out of the office, it is quite clear that his gloves are the right colour and also shows what a great pilot figure you have there. Funny thing is that when I look at the photo that triggered my comment, the gloves do look green - perhaps it's just my eyes! Eyebrows look fine to me! Has he got a handle bar moustache under his mask? ? I shall look forward to seeing him fly the Hurri when you have it airworthy. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 1 hour ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said: Maybe Jon could make a heat sink for these engines With baffling in place and airflow channeling, I don’t believe these are necessary. 1 hour ago, Peter Jenkins said: I shall look forward to seeing him fly the Hurri when you have it airworthy Maybe a bit of a wait Peter as there’s a lot of work I want to do first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 Pilot even comes armed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 1 hour ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said: Maybe Jon could make a heat sink for these engines, or even just an aluminium spacer plate between the cylinder head and rocker cover?. I could, but I cannot provide a solution that will fit every model under the sun and i certainly dont plan on becoming a design consultant in individual projects and start making custom one off parts. This engine is aimed at experienced enthusiasts who can sort this stuff out themselves. While i will clearly support the product, its an advanced piece of kit for advanced users and i will expect a certain level of technical understanding and skill from the people who buy it. This is made clear to those who enquire about the engine and some have said they do not feel the engine is for them, which is perfectly fine and they can have a 180 single instead. I know the core engine design is sound from a cooling point of view, so my work is done and it is the responsibility of the customer to make it happen in their specific model. The only reason i mentioned my other customers Spitfire is because its still a learning curve and my current recommendations are deliberately conservative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 2 hours ago, Ron Gray said: Pilot even comes armed! Wow, now that is real detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 No ammo though ☹️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Just as well as you'd have to register it with the Police and keep it under lock and key!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 Fuselage - nearly finished with the rubbing down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme White Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 I think the paint as is looks great, I wouldn't do much more if it was mine. But that's a combination of low standards and laziness on my part. From a distance I think it'll look just right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 I have the ESM Stuka and the firewall is badly fixed, what's yours like ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted June 7, 2022 Author Share Posted June 7, 2022 8 hours ago, Graeme White said: I think the paint as is looks great, I wouldn't do much more if it was mine. But that's a combination of low standards and laziness on my part. From a distance I think it'll look just right. There’s a lot of me that is thinking the same thing Graeme, a nicely ‘worn’ look. 7 minutes ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said: I have the ESM Stuka and the firewall is badly fixed, what's yours like ?. I’m surprised at that Paul as my experience of ESM models is that they are extremely well built. The firewall on this one is rock solid, shame it’s going to be cut out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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