menards wrote:
flightsimer wrote:
menards wrote:
$320k for the kit... how much $ is there really in materials?
Don't know as it wasn't a kit.
I have more appreciation for the project now because its not a kit.... very cool.
The Allison engine is the right engine off of a P-38.
The prop is a reprofiled DC-3 toothpick prop.
The landing gear are stearman landing gear legs that he reconfigured to be able to retracted.
The cockpit is done with all authentic spit gauges
My understanding is that it is an authentic front windshield and possibly canopy as well.
Jack, from what I can remember custom fabricated the exhaust stacks, tail landing gear, main landing gear mounts and retraction system, spade grip (control stick), main fuel tank and the engine mount himself but had someone else do the welding and he had both radiators custom made by a machine shop.
The cowling is made from Carbon Fibre. Other than the cowling and the above metal parts, plus the elevators which he did in metal, everything else has been built with wood using the same exact techniques that was used to build the Mosquito. This is true except for the two metal panels on each side that can be seen from the cockpit forward which were added to provide fuselage stiffening.
Jack is an award winning Stearman restorer and has I believe 2-4 planes under restoration right now.