Any chance of getting it to fly with rubber power?

[jpuke]

I have a 1000 series P-47 sitting in storage at home (had it since about 1998) and I'd like to see if I can get it built and fly it on rubber power. Do I have any chance at all of making it work? I've contemplated all the lightening holes I'll have to make and other tricks but I'm not convinced it will fly. I do have 100 yards of good 1/4" tan rubber so maybe a motor large enough will get it done. Would I have to swap the supplied silkspan for tissue to save weight? I'm not real experienced with silkspan so I don't know where it comes into play with the weight.

Thanks for any tips or thoughts.

[ADW 123]

you could get it to fly if it has light wood....

but if you have not flown rubber FF before or rarely do i would start with something A LOT smaller....

[BillParker]

This series of videos may answer all you questions:

Uploaded to YOUTube by TheBalsaPilot on Aug 7, 2010

Guillows kits really do fly! After several repairs, the P-47 starts to look promising. She won't turn heads at the ball, but she'll fly.

see:

Guillows Rubber Powered P-47 trimming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rchpb1EQF5c

then

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjmXJ2XhiNc

then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTEBFILldtg&feature=relmfu

then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=AVHhmS4w9qk

then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=KoOpdQfwjoY

then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=dmd-MWd1jTs

[H65 Driver]

That's a lot of work for six 5-second flights and a crash, but that's also how it goes with this hobby.
1. Build
2. Fly
3. Crash
4. Repair
5. Repeat steps 2-4 until exhausted.

[slopemeno]

Get Sciggs to build it...

[jpuke]

My goal is to someday be 1/10th as good as scigs, won't get there if he builds it for me.

I'm going go give it a go, I'll add photos along the way. I've had good luck lately with the smaller planes so I might as well try a larger one.

[Wildpig]

Anything will fly if you attach enough horsepower to it.

Go for it, dude. I"ve wanted to build that model since I was a kid. I suspect it will take every trick in the book to get it light enough. By the way, I've seen larger models than that rubber powered.
From looking at the videos Mr. Parker posted, I think that P-47 had some trim problems that kept it from having better flights.
Please do post a build thread.

[Pauli72]

jpuke,

I have built two of the 1000 "Big Boss" series for rubber free flight. The JU-87 Stuka, and the F6F Hellcat. I really like the larger Guillow's scale war birds in the 1000 and 400 series. Some will argue that these kits are too heavy, and they don't fly as good as other kits deigned specifically for rubber powered free flight. Yes, to some extent that's true. But those little free flight specific kits don't look as cool as the bigger warbirds. The bottom line is your kit will fly.

Just a couple things to pay attention to:

1. Cut weight where ever you can. You mentioned that you've already cut the lightening holes. Sanding both sides of the balsa prior to cutting lightening holes, or removing from the die cut sheet is preferable. If you sand them now, you may do more harm than good if you break formers and ribs. Use your glue sparingly, glue weight adds up fast. Scallop the formers
between the stringers after fuselage assembly, this shaves weight, as well as making the finished model look better too.

2. On the Guillow's side view blueprint, you will find a free flight point of balance. Pay close attention to this datum point. Also try to make sure the left and right wings are built exactly the same. ( weight & airfoil shape are symmetrical)

3. You mentioned that you have 1/4 inch rubber. Excellent! The gray spaghetti in the kit isn't too good for bigger models. Use your 1/4 in. stuff. Armor All for cars is a pretty good lube, and will get you some extra life, and extra turns in the prop.

4. Test glide, test glide, test glide. Once balanced and adjusted to glide nicely, gradually build up the number of turns in the prop.

Your P-47 will give you some nice flights. Don't worry about the silkspan in the kit. It's really good stuff! The 1000 series kits come with medium or heavy silk. It's very easy to work with, and the little added weight is offset buy the added strength it brings. All the best for a sucessful build, and fun flier! Looking forward to your build pics.

Pauli72

[Bill Gaylord]

That guy on You Tube has done an excellent job. I never saw one of these fly rubber power.
Nice links posted to the BalsaPilot's channel. Enjoyed watching them.

I have a good flying one, but then again it's 22oz sheeted and electric rc.

[jpuke]

I already gave up on this project. The wood was so hard and terrible to cut out (I split three formers out of three that I tried to cut) that I went and bought a Dumas 17.5" span P-47. The laser cutting is so nice! I'll have to get a Guillows laser cut at some point.

[Pauli72]

AwwwHH!!!! You're no fun! LOL!

Seriously though, laser cut is pretty nice. Just be careful with their stringers in the kit. They're so light, they become very easily broken. Good luck with the build.

What'cha goin' to do with the old kit & parts? The plastics, blueprints, decals, and canopy could still make a really nice kit for someone willing to fabricate some parts.

[Wildpig]

Yes, what are you going to do with the old kit? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Bill Gaylord]

Looks nice David. I like using the box art for the Guillows Warbirds. At the time I built mine, I didn't pay as much attention to detail as I do now, and missed the grey camo of the Francis Gabreski scheme. I thought about adding it when I built a second wing with an airfoil mod for rounded bottom LE and incidence change, but never got around to it.

[cliffm]

After looking at some pictures of a p-47n I would totally agree with the oversize canopy statement.

[BillParker]