|
The Aircraft Models of john ernst
Grumman TBM Avenger: 28" span - Dave Diels kit
|
|
HomeWHAT'S NEW?Aichi D3A1 'Val'Art Chester's Jeep RacerAlbatros D.IIBoeing F4B-2Brewster BuffaloBristol M1 Gypsy RacerCessna AWCurtiss SB2C HelldiverDouglas M-2 BiplaneDouglas SBD- 3 DauntlessERCO ErcoupeFairchild F24 C8AFairchild PT-19Fokker D.VIIFokker D.VIIIGrumman TBM AvengerGrumman G-23 "Delfin"Halberstadt CL.IIHeath MidwingKocherigin - Gurevich TSh-3Laird Super SolutionMartin MO-1Messerschmitt Bf-109Messerschmitt M20bMitsubishi Ki-30 "Ann"Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate"Nakajima Ki-84 "Frank"North American O-47ARenard R.17Republic P-47N ThunderboltSolar MS-1Sopwith PupSopwith TriplaneSpartan FighterVought SB2U VindicatorWaco SRE
|
06.24.08:
Just wanted to check in with a flight report on the Avenger. After
adding a lot of nose weight, and about 1/8" shim of down thrust, I've got the TBM flying for about 30-35 sec on two loops
of 3/16" rubber - about 16" long. My next step will be to increase the loop to 1/4" @ 60" long, then double it up to 2 loops
@ 30" or so, and braid the motor. It looks so majestic in the air. Now, to get rid of the hugh lump of clay on the nose... 6.01.08:
Well, this model is as 'finished' as I'm going to take it. As always, there are a few things
I wish had come out better, and a spot here and there that I wish I had done differently. One thing I did try with this
plane is to use sheet foam for the machine guns and antenna. From 24 in or so, you can't tell that the parts are 1/16" square
and not round, but I think the flexibility for the guns and antenna to 'spring back' is more important than 'scale' representation.
The antenna wire is also flexible elastic thread for maximum 'give'.
I'm happy with the way this plane turned out, and would recommend it to anyone
who has built a few stick and tissue kits.
If you'd like to see the complete line-up of Dave Diels kits, follow this link:
5.26.08:
Covering is almost complete. The canopy glazing is finished. The round framework on the gun
turret was done with an 'Olfa' circle cutter. The first bay at the wing root was left uncovered so I could fit my fingers
in the wing and 'squeeze' the root ribs against the fuselage for assembly.
5.18.08:
Began covering. I'm trying an 'Avery' glue stick instead of my usual 'Uhu'. It doesn't seem
to have the same wet strength stickiness when applying wet tissue. I hope I don't regret the decision.
5.11.08:
Added photos of turret fairings and the beginnings of the headrest bulkhead in the cockpit.
5.10.08:
The framework is complete and sanded. You can see that the RH wing panel has a bit more dihedral
than the LH panel. I plan to add a 1/32 strip along the root rib upper outline to help 'kick' the panel down a bit.
I did finally settle on a color scheme. I'll be doing an early TBM with Midway colors - red/white
striped rudder.
5.02.08:
The majority of the framework is complete. The magnet attachment for the wing mounts need to
be installed and cap strips on the stabilizer added. Then sanding can begin. I'm still not sure about a color scheme...yet.
2.24.08:
The main fuselage frame is complete. Next I'll be adding 1/16" sheet infill around the nose
area.
2.22.08:
The
image above is of the fuselage on it's side, with the top of the formers to the right side of the image. Hopefully, you
can see how the left and right formers 'interlock' with each other, helping to align the the pair once the first side has
been built nice and true on the building board.
If you look closely, you can also see the wing spar behind the solid wing root. At each former, the spar incorporates built in 'gussets' to absorb the stress of the adjacent wing mount. 2.17.08:
The main framework for the stab is finished, but cap strips need to be added. The left side
of the fuselage has been framed up.
2.10.08:
Began with this project today. The tail feathers are always the first to
get built.
|