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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jun 12, 2021 10:44:28 GMT 12
The material used for fuselage frames strikes me as quite thin, how does it hold up to handling during construction? Frame #10, closest in the last photo is made from some new aluminium (1050 grade) I got and is a lot less stiff than the original supply. This frame was made from 2 halves instead of the usual 4. I was able to mould the internal curves with my thumb, compared to the usual annealing and hammering. I have considered remaking this frame, but when the splice plates were added it became manageable. The radio and hydraulic racks are helping to stiffen the structure. Working on adding stringers and the bottom skin at the moment, which are doing their job of holding everything in place. All of the original .2 & .3mm aluminium was from Japan 20 years ago when I lived there. Been trying to find a new source, but can only find .2 mm so far that is similar in stiffness. |
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Post by planecrazy on Jun 14, 2021 17:28:58 GMT 12
Been following this with interest, great to have the detailed record of the build as I would imagine a lot of what we are seeing will be hidden away. Grasshopper would imagine you are aware of the below site but just in case and foerothers who are interested a great reference site on P40 details. www.p40warhawk.com/Models/Technical/Technical.htm |
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jun 14, 2021 18:22:41 GMT 12
Been following this with interest, great to have the detailed record of the build as I would imagine a lot of what we are seeing will be hidden away. Grasshopper would imagine you are aware of the below site but just in case and foerothers who are interested a great reference site on P40 details. www.p40warhawk.com/Models/Technical/Technical.htmThanks for the link. I found that page early on in the process and used some of the drawing initially before finding the DVD with all the plans. There are a lot of good reference photos, which I should refer to more as the build progresses. All of the access panels will be functional, so some internal details will be visible. |
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jun 14, 2021 22:53:02 GMT 12
Took close to 6 hours to make the bottom skin between Sta #8 to Sta #13, line up the section between Sta #7 to Sta #11 and Sta #12 to Sta #18. This is about half of the fuselage. A lot more stringers and skin panels to go until it is structurally sound.  |
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jun 26, 2021 13:52:16 GMT 12
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Post by planecrazy on Jun 26, 2021 18:07:56 GMT 12
Sorry if this is a silly question, just interested? So the inside of the top of the rivet
is tapered (male) and fits into where you are using the drill to make the (female)
taper in the skin? Then you just pean over the underside with the punch, seen in
the picture, to firm up the rivet so it holds snug?
Hope that makes sense?! Really enjoying this build also so helping those among
us who are P40 fans learn about the legends creation so thank you.
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jun 26, 2021 22:26:54 GMT 12
Sorry if this is a silly question, just interested? So the inside of the top of the rivet is tapered (male) and fits into where you are using the drill to make the (female) taper in the skin? Then you just pean over the underside with the punch, seen in the picture, to firm up the rivet so it holds snug? Hope that makes sense?! Really enjoying this build also so helping those among us who are P40 fans learn about the legends creation so thank you. That is the process, very time consuming. The rivets are 3mm long. The excess tail is trimmed off with side cutters to leave approx 0.5 mm, which is then peened over with the nail punch. I am cheating a bit by using a drill to create the countersink. This thins the metal quite a bit and would make the joint a lot weaker in real life. Normally the thicker main structure would be drilled to create the countersink.  The matching skin/s would then be dimpled, maintaining the original thickness of the skin, but providing the recess for the countersunk head of the rivet.   |
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jul 1, 2021 19:03:28 GMT 12
3 day lockdown, so getting some work done on the aft fuselage. Aligning the stringers and drilling out the skins.   |
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jul 1, 2021 19:45:03 GMT 12
For a reference to scale and why I sometimes wonder why I decided to start this project.... My arm just fits inside the aft fuselage to hold bolts in place while attaching nuts on the outside.  Normally someone would be on the inside holding a bucking bar.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 1, 2021 22:49:41 GMT 12
That looks truly amazing!
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jul 9, 2021 18:37:56 GMT 12
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Post by Mustang51 on Jul 9, 2021 19:11:18 GMT 12
How do you keep it true" without a jig?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2021 21:16:33 GMT 12
Wow!!!
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Post by planecrazy on Jul 9, 2021 23:24:52 GMT 12
Great comparison the last pic to the real one with the chap hanging
on to the bucking bar, this is just awesome to follow.
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jul 9, 2021 23:44:34 GMT 12
How do you keep it true" without a jig? Lots of measure twice, cut once. |
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Post by Mustang51 on Jul 10, 2021 19:10:28 GMT 12
A la Birdog.....at $450 a sheet you cannot afford to waste anything.
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jul 11, 2021 0:30:46 GMT 12
A question for the group.
Gloria is currently fitted with a 52 gal centre line drop tank, as does GAC at Ardmore.
I have seen some photos of RAAF P40’s carrying the 75 gal centre line drop tank.
Question is, did RNZAF P40’s carry the 75 gal drop tank? Would these only have been an option for long range ferry flights only? Say, the islands back to N.Z?
Would the 52 gal tank mainly be used with a bomb load?
I have a 75 US gal tank kit with the horizontal seam, which I would like to use to represent NZ3220 prior to the final departure back to N.Z if this is appropriate.
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Post by harvard1041 on Jul 11, 2021 7:46:26 GMT 12
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Jul 11, 2021 11:02:41 GMT 12
Thanks very much for the link. This is the paint scheme I want to possibly finish with. Looking through the other photos, 3148 also carried the 75 gal tank, so may have been a common thing. |
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Post by bevanid on Jul 11, 2021 11:21:27 GMT 12
A lot of the photos you see in the pacific are actually 110 Gal drop tanks they have quite a flat appearance on the top and bottom,
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