Bald Eagle Aviation

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:06 pm

Jim...love the spitfire!

Too much excitiment for me!

Hope you come to Geneseo with that.

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:56 pm

Jim Beasley wrote:

well it's some Iwo scheme; either Enchantress or one from the 458th FS (that way I get my tail stripes and dual antennas and don't get yelled at:)). Or maybe My Achin' A$$. The better question is whether we'll be back to a republican administration by the time she's ready to fly. Rich?

Dan Johnson II wrote:

"The Enchantress" still in the works?

Solid green tail maybe?

I think that will happen but maybe not until there is a balanced budget.
Rich

51fixer · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:36 am

Since were on the Mustang topic some of the latest stuff that had to be made were-
New 0 sta rib plate from 2024-T3 .125 Alum. The original had corrosion (I find myself saying that a lot) I sent it out to a World renowned shop but the copy they made wasn't airworthy so I had to purchase tooling and I fabricated a HD table with rollers that would fit over the table of my mill. I then can clamp the original rib over the new material. Using a series of drill bushings I made I locate the original hole location from the original and the rollers will self align the setup under the drill. I use reams of the exact size as read from the blueprint and checked against the original part.

The Roller table.

Roller bar. These are mounted so the position could be changed around.

New rib mounted in position for test fitting.
The next part is fitting other parts. Some had to be made new as the locating holes were slightly changed during the rebuilding of the wing. The old ones no longer fit properly.

Fixture made to transfer bottom holes to the new blank angle.

Mounted in place and remaining holes marked and drilled.

New part on Left.

Part clamped so mounting holes can be marked and drilled.
Rich

bentwingbomber · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2004 5:23 am **Posts:** 105

"Typical christmas gifts that keep you busy for days assembling the thing"

"Hopefully it comes with easy to follow instructions"

You have got to get it out of the box first.....

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:16 am

Interesting stuff as always. Thanks for posting, Rich.

Mac

Mark V · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:48 am

bentwingbomber wrote:

You have got to get it out of the box first.....

I remember us getting it out of its last box at DX, what early 2006 (?). Doesnt seem that long ago.

Anyway - a fantastic looking Spitifre, hope to see it flying in the USA next year.

51fixer · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:17 am

bentwingbomber wrote:

"Typical christmas gifts that keep you busy for days assembling the thing"

"Hopefully it comes with easy to follow instructions"

You have got to get it out of the box first.....

Why do I not have a warm fuzzy feeling about this?
Remember, Yankee ingenuity.
Rich

bentwingbomber · **Joined:** Sun Dec 19, 2004 5:23 am **Posts:** 105

Rich

Its on its way.

Just left Duxford

Cheers

Fred

Django · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:02 am

Great fab work.

*still hoping for the Enchantress...* :lol:

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:17 am

And if Brandon's list isn't enough, see here too...

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/nameSQL.asp?nametxt=COMANCHE+WARBIRDS&cmndfind.x=15&cmndfind.y=8&sort_option=5

You might see a few added to this list soon.

Jim

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:40 pm

The Brits have landed a monster in the hangar.
I'm looking thru my kid's Lego instructions. They are more complete than the instruction book I received in the box.
Also an interesting Bio of a warbird operator is due on the market soon.
Pics and info to be released soon.
(My wife just told my 10 yo son he needs a shower as he smells like a British airplane)
Rich

51fixer · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:48 pm

The Beast arrived on Wed and we unloaded in time to "Holiday" yesterday.

We even had some time to start installing the horizontal on to the tail plane. Then things slowed down as I started to dig thru the manual that came with it.

Some of the funny hardware for securing the horizontal.

We'll have to finish this up after some Thanksgiving action.
Rich

steve dickey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:59 pm

Thats awesome

51fixer · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:08 pm

Now that I am fattened after our "Holiday" it is time to tackle some assembly on this thing. After receiving some fax pages and finding out the IPC is in Swedish I remember that if it is easy then everyone would be doing this.

After some fun the hardware is in and tightened down. It is great having a kid who can get washers and nuts installed in those real small and hard to reach places. Now onto the next step.

Inside the rear fus looking forward. A ton of small 3/16" bolts ties the tail onto this thing.

Getting close.

Looking for the Travelocity Troll.

I haven't had to get this far into a small area inside an A/C since I was inside the tail booms of a P-38.
This is about as far as I got today. Some hardware started and I'll finish up tomorrow. (Sat)
Rich

51fixer · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:14 pm

To finish off today some pics of the cockpit and under the bonnet.
Got the cowling off and looked around a bit.

Off to rest up for more in the morning.
Rich

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