Weather is a changing, decided to dig into the Gee Bee. I inlarged my plans by 100% which gives me a 41" wing. Decided to build the tail feathers first. It's a Designe in progress. Going with silk span and dope.

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Really good start. I used silkspan back in the day but can't find it anymore. Ask in the hobby shops and they look a bit vague and say they have not seen it for years. Also will be watching the electric setup. This is miles ahead of glow fuel with the attendant mess.
Mike

I get it from Brodak, a supplier south of Pittsburgh Pa.. Check their web sight out. They have a lot that may interest you. They also handle Dare kite.

This airplane hold a special place in my flying experiences. Since I finally mastered 4 Chanel R/C, I have to build it. Besides, building season is coming very soon.

Mark

Right after I posted I was on the Volare site and they carry Lite-Flite white that they say is a bit heavier than silkspan but works as well.

Yes, building season is coming soon. That's when I get to build most of the day most every day. I started building my balsa and wire supply and still need to get some of my plans enlarged to carry me thru to Spring although I really dislike shoveling the driveway.
Mike

Fuselage sides set up, formers cut out.

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Huey...this is going to be a real beauty!  I look forward to your progress!

Nice warm day, got the formers installed....

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Formers and some stringers installed. Oh ya, the vertical stableizer also. Some reprofileing (sp) going on.

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Always loved the Gee Bee's and you're doing this one proud!

Installed the rudder and elevator servos. Working on the tail wheel installation. Would like to make it steerable some how.

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You could use the sprung horns from the rudder to the rear wheel as some civilians tail draggers use.  You'll have to allow the tail wheel/axle to swivel in some manner into the fuselage or below it for that to work.
Tom

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Made some progress. Not use to building with sutch large material. 1/8" sq stringers. Project my go on hold, no heat it the garage and the weather in going down hill fast.

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Huey - Beautiful work and a terrific job splicing together the wood for the formers. The silkspan on the vertical stab is exactly what I am used to seeing, smooth and and continuous weave, not like the tissue I'm using these days. Sorry to hear you may need to stop production. Weather here in my part of Canada is changing pretty quickly too.
Mike

Thanks Mike...

Christmas in October... Just received my cowl, engine front and pilot. It's going to be in the 50's for the next few weeks, I'll fire up my small heater to take the chill off. I'll start sheeting the top of the fuselage and make a battery access hatch. Waiting for the Polyspan to show up.

Mark

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Have been looking for an engine front like yours. Where did you order it from?
Mike

Check out Park Flyer Plastics. They have quite a verity of product, you'll be surprised.
Because my cowl needs rocker cover "Bumps" I ordered their wing tip lenses. I'll use some of them as a mold to make the bumps.

I've browsed Park Flyer but never in depth, I'll look again. Great cross purpose use of the wing tip lens units. Thanks for the reference.
Mike

Installed the motor. Mounted the engine front in the cowl, used tooth picks as pushrod tubes. Also have installed mountings for the cowl- firewall attachment.

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Looks very nice.

Mike

Outstanding job on the cowl and engine!!! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Great job on dressing up the motor front and the toothpicks are a great addition for the pushrods. Coming along nicely.
Mike

We're on hold till further notice. Mother Nature's in charge.

A friend does his own 3D printing. So, I downloaded a CAD program and layed out the rib for the Gee Bee. There's a left and a right. Now I have to design compression struts. Thinking of painting them an aluminum color..... 36 of them are needed. This way all the holes will line up.

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The T51 project hasn't showed up yet (2 weeks late). So, make some progress. Decided to make the ribs using 1/8" sheet, I have a lot of. Made an aluminum template to keep them consistent. Didn't have the correct size material for spars so I made the main spar a box spar. Decided to build the wing so I can keep an eye on the C/G. Everyone needs a driver.

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Looking good, always nice to have something to work on while other things are delayed!
Tom

Huey - I'm absolutely loving this build and really good move on the spar, strong and light weight. Always admired your use of aluminum for templates and such. I know you use it nearly every day and my experiments look as if I had torn it out of tissue paper.
Mike 

Huey, it is nice to have friends with great toys. I am really enjoying your progress.

Bob

I've been trying to get as much done as I can as my Project Is showing up Monday.

Had a Pilot bust that seems to fit the scale. Should put a mustache on him.

Built a jug for the wings. Worked in about a 1deg wash out. Used 1/8" for the ribs as I have about 25 sheets of it that I inherited from my partner in the Stinson. Not the way I'd like to. Sheeted the top leading edge with1/16". The ailerons will be actuated via carbon fiber torque tubes.

Want to get the wings together and attach temporarily to work in to the C/G. I've been thinking about the location of the battery and its size. It will be the determining factor for the C/G.

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There is a lot of work and love gone into this model and it shows. That wing construction seems quite complex and time-consuming, but necessary. I have been watching as you progress, but I haven't commented so far. It'll be a real beaut when you are done!
ian

Wing construction reminds me of the "D tube" construction I used to use in my RC days.  This is really turning into a very nice model.  I will enjoy following this build.  Brings back fond memories of some of my RC builds. 
Tom

Worked out all the bugs on the left wing, now to the right wing. Then the landing gear. Look'n go so far. Now to find the time.

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She's looking fantastic and love the photo stand and background.
Tom

Up date... While waiting for some parts, I got into the wings. Currently working on how I'll attach the landing gear. Thinking of making some metal flying wire attach points. Covered one aileron with Brodak Lite, Ceconite or Dacron in the lite form. I like the weave in the fabric, almost looks scale. Really looks good with two coats of nitrate. The aileron pocket needs closed up on the bottom side, not sure how I'm going to do that yet. Had my daughter paint the inside with her acrylics to give them some character.

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While waiting for parts got some things done. Two coats of Nitrate and two coats of butyrate. The spray colors are in Butyrate. The date on the cans are 1997. Don’t think you can find them now, 13 cans worth. Daytona Cream and Tennessee Red. Perfect!

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Inherited these cans of spray Butyrate Dope, 13 of them. They are date coded 1997. Perfect colors for the Gee bee.

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Great to have that kind of inheritance....but make sure they still spray ok before committing to the model!!! Enjoy your inheritance! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]