Building another P-38, 50 years later

rsv1cox Fri Sep 17, 2021 12:37 pm

I am finding that I have neither the eyesight, dexterity, or passion that I once had for a project like this but I press on despite the inevitable questionable outcome.

I am disappointed in the quality of the SIG airfoil that I received. Therefore, I am leaning towards profile twin booms and pilot's pod, but may change my mind. If I do go profile, I'll just paint it, slap a couple of Cox engines on it and fly it, or have Mark fly it. If I go scale, I would be hesitant to do that for fear of a crash. Depends on how much work/time I put into it.

A beginning:

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011622

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011623

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011621

The ham handed approach. Reduces sanding time down from an hour to two minutes.

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011625

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011626

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011624

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011627

Add trailing edges, dihedral, glue, finish sand, - think about the rest of it.

rdw777 Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:04 pm

Looking forward to your build…. I bet it will be a memorable trip for you…. Build ‘er to fly … You already have the pretty one for display… Now it will have a wing man Very Happy

rsv1cox Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:29 pm

rdw777 wrote:Looking forward to your build…. I bet it will be a memorable trip for you…. Build ‘er to fly … You already have the pretty one for display… Now it will have a wing man

Thanks, I'm weakening. Tending now to build hollow log beams and pilots pod. I really want to use that clear canopy. I'm trying to re-educate myself how I built the first one. Fifty years is a long time. The wing was built up, I know that. And, the twin booms too. Pretty sure I built two halfs out of sheet 1/4" balsa boxed and reenforced inside with triangular stock on the corners then sanded to semi-ovals like the full scale.

Still thinking.

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011628

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011629

roddie and I did a little back and forth some time ago where we compared weights of our various models. I posted pictures but can't find them, however the P-38 didn't come off to badly in the weight dept.

I'm amazed that the original has lasted this long. I built it when I was in the Navy and it went through several moves being packed and unpacked many times. Add to that, multiple flights and a few hard landings.

**944_Jim** Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:51 pm

Good for you, Bob. I want to make another pass with a few planes from earlier, too. Just not that much earlier!

Subscribed!

davidll1984 Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:17 pm

it's rare to have a plane so long Sometimes we can have an object that defies all the laws of time that continues to function or just be almost a miracle it can be.its a very beautiful model I almost bought an p38 electric model Small size I wanted to convert it for cox motors but rc With a line it is different the last time I had to recover from it Stunning is part of it I really have to try it again even though I get dizzy every time its simple To build For once I think I should build something new and new To me I never built with two engines Huh...

I thought I noticed watching video of an airplane control line Two engine with one that continued longer then I noticed that the plane seemed stable to continue as if nothing had happened.

rsv1cox Sat Sep 18, 2021 8:19 am

davidll1984 wrote: I thought I noticed watching video of an airplane control line Two engine with one that continued longer then I noticed that the plane seemed stable to continue as if nothing had happened.

My son and I were just talking about flying this plane. He mentioed that one time the inside engine quit first and it started coming in on me. I don't recall it, but I must have stepped back and kept the lines taunt. I always topped off the inside engine last but there are variables.

At one time I had it dressed up pretty good with matching spinners. For some reason that now escapes me, I sold them with the Black Widows and propellers on ebay.

Actual ebay picture from the day probably about twenty years ago. Ya NUTS. Since I have replaced the Black Widows and then some.

Building another P-38, 50 years later Pb190017

Before NUTS:

Building another P-38, 50 years later Pb190018

getback Sat Sep 18, 2021 8:57 am

Sounds good Bob , good to see your going for it and hopefully you can feel the insertion to go with the hollow log so you can educate me as you go . Popcorn

rsv1cox Sat Sep 18, 2021 9:12 am

getback wrote:Sounds good Bob , good to see your going for it and hopefully you can feel the insertion to go with the hollow log so you can educate me as you go .

..................I'm sure that I would lead in the wrong direction Eric.

Just for the record, I'm probably the least creative, least talented, least everything builder on the forum. I am a true hack. Witness the belt sander above. I measure with a stick and cut with an axe.

I never have been more than a backyard flyer and a backyard builder. I build for the shear fun of it, if it flys, ok, if not that's ok too.

getback Sat Sep 18, 2021 5:18 pm

rsv1cox wrote:
getback wrote:Sounds good Bob , good to see your going for it and hopefully you can feel the insertion to go with the hollow log so you can educate me as you go .

..................I'm sure that I would lead in the wrong direction Eric.

Just for the record, I'm probably the least creative, least talented, least everything builder on the forum. I am a true hack. Witness the belt sander above. I measure with a stick and cut with an axe.

I never have been more than a backyard flyer and a backyard builder. I build for the shear fun of it, if it flys, ok, if not that's ok too.

You are right down my alley then Laughing

I would have troubles building a sq. box out of wood that WAS SQ. lol!

You do alot better than most when it comes to repair to fly ! If you don't want to build the full fuse then don't ! I use to build R/C That had to bee full fuse and i love the way they look but are more fun to build .. How are you going to do the nautilus???hollow out a couple balsa blocks ?

rsv1cox Sun Sep 19, 2021 12:22 pm

No just a continuation of the booms, tail to nose. 1/4" X 2 X 36" boxed and sanded and hollowed out to shape. Sort of monocoque without much of the coque. Smile

Stressed skin you might call it with triangular balsa in each 90 degree the full length. What I did with the original. Strong, sacrificing lightness. (but not by much) As I mentioned, many flights and moves packing and unpacking and still ticking. I want it to resemble the real thing, not something with an oversized wing.

Tired of balsa, I started thinking about engines. Got out some Black Widows, but also have Silver Bees and Golden Bees. Need the stunt tank, but not any stunting wiil be done, just easier to fill and provide for overfill drainage. See drain tubing pictured above, left engine compartment looking at you.

One reason it has lasted so long. Two part Hobby Poxy paint and I always removed the engines and wiped out the compartments after flights.

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011630

Remember these poorly anodized parts that Berni offered? I made up a couple but I'm thinking about pulling them apart and rebuilding them with upgraded matching cylinders and using them. Did anyone else get these?

Building another P-38, 50 years later P1011631

Getting the scale angles right.

Building another P-38, 50 years later Scan_290

**944_Jim** Sun Sep 19, 2021 2:24 pm

davidll1984 wrote: I thought I noticed watching video of an airplane control line Two engine with one that continued longer then I noticed that the plane seemed stable to continue as if nothing had happened.

David,
I think the one video of my Black Hawk Mosquito shows the inboard engine dying first. Yet the plane soldiered on. Find it by searching YouTube for "CL Jim Mosquito." I really should change my Gmail avatar to match the one I use on my Top Three sites.

30D41_Jim in MS

davidll1984 Sun Sep 19, 2021 2:45 pm

It's possible I watch so many videos in my spare time Here it is published here it is sure that I saw it I looked at the possible engine you had, it's a funny color both that look like a golden bee Are these original parts?

**944_Jim** Sun Sep 19, 2021 5:00 pm

Well, David,
You make me feel like Mila Kunis..."It wasn't me." My published twin had Norvel .074s.

Bob,
Since you are back on a building kick...care to tackle the BHM Electra later this winter? I love the idea of a group build log. Well, as "groupie" as two of us can be.

30D41_Jim in MS

rsv1cox Sun Sep 19, 2021 6:17 pm

944_Jim wrote:Well, David,
You make me feel like Mila Kunis..."It wasn't me." My published twin had Norvel .074s.

Bob,
Since you are back on a building kick...care to tackle the BHM Electra later this winter? I love the idea of a group build log. Well, as "groupie" as two of us can be.

30D41_Jim in MS

I don't know Jim, I'm pretty unreliable. A few months back I fell in love with this Wild Cox model that Rene had, he even sent me the specs for it as i promised to build it. Got the materials together, but never the motivation.

Building another P-38, 50 years later Wild_c12

Building another P-38, 50 years later Scan_291

Maybe, buzz me again about November. But I did find this;

Building another P-38, 50 years later Scan_292

Built up wing, profile fuselage, 1/2a's. Wouldn't have to risk my vintage Enya's 09's.

**944_Jim** Sun Sep 19, 2021 6:49 pm

Bob,
That bottom one looks familiar!

30D41_Jim

Building another P-38, 50 years later Img_2056

getback Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:45 am

I remember that skitter , shes a cutie Very Happy

rsv1cox Mon Sep 20, 2021 2:27 pm

getback wrote:I remember that skitter , shes a cutie

If I named planes............which I don't...........but if I did... I would name that one Pug for Pugnacious. It just has that look, in profile anyway - different from the BlackHawk models that we did.

Moved operations out to the shed, keeps sanding dust out of the loft and is closer to my cut it with an axe equipment. Still keep the lawn mowed. Winter coming, then snow. Sad

REALLY disappointed in the SIG airfoil now. 4" section what I want to use for the top of the wing has almost no camber, darn near flat, while the 3" section has plenty of camber. I would turn it over, but the semi symmetrical (under part) of the wing is defined by the 3" section.