JC's Planes and Projects

Top Flite Giant P-47 Thunderbolt (continued)

12/23/00 - The Robart retractable tailwheel is still back-ordered at Tower. I have gone as far as I can on the fuse without this part. The good news is that I have started the wing! Construction is easy with die-cut balsa ribs and basswood spars. Hey, the landing gear rib doublers are actually laser-cut! Yep, laser-cut parts in a Top Flite kit. The only point of confusion was the construction and gluing of two wing ribs. You have to be careful to because you will eventually cut the ailerons and flaps from the wing. Studying the plans and reading ahead in the manual cleared things up. I would have liked a flap and aileron leading edge to be built into the wing assembly - similar to the way the tail surfaces were constructed.

This shot shows typical jig-tabbed ribs and upper/lower basswood spars. Root section forms a channel bounded by spars and front/rear 1/8" ply spar joiners. A dihedral brace will eventually fit inside (I hope!) to join the wings. The wings will be 85" long and one piece.

Here is the massive landing gear! The Jug has a wide track gear and huge wheels. The wheels shown are the recommended 5" Dubro treaded lightweights. According to the manual, the wheels are slightly smaller than scale! Retract assembly is a really impressive Robart product. Compared to the fuselage, the wings look kind of stubby.

There they are! The laser-cut wing rib doublers. Note use of 1/4" square balsa stock to hold ribs in alignment during wing framing. Pre-shaped wing leading edge will save on the sanding.