Well, I have many projects in the works and just finishing a Porter build but now it is on to a B-17F. The markings will be the Memphis Belle and the kit is designed by Pat Tritle and produced by Dare with vac formed parts by Sparky of Parkflyer Plastics.

http://www.darehobby.com/airplanes/index.htm

http://www.patscustom-models.com/

http://www.parkflyerplastics.com/cart/



In the recent past when Dare was being sold I had a lot of trouble getting through to Dare and delivery was super slow. However, this time the response was good, the product was in stock and arrived in less than 2 weeks....much better.

Here are the specs so far:

1. 75" estimated AUW 5-5.5 lbs
2. Controls: Elevator, Rudder, Aileron, Split flaps, Retracts, nav and position lighting and of course throttle.
3. Structore: Balsa with Paulownia stringers & longerons
4. Power: 4X slowfly 880kv 400 size brushless http://www.headsuprc.com/servlet/StoreFront
5. Battery: 2X 2200 3S
6. Servos: Headsup RC 9 gram X6
7. Retracts E-Flight 10-15 mains (modified)
8. ESC's: 4X 22 amp Headsup RC Hurc
9. Covering: Coverlite
10. Paint: Testors Model Master applied by airbrush (olive drab over neutral gray)
11; Props: Master airscrew or GWS 3 bladed 9"
12. Graphics: Callie Graphics http://callie-graphics.com/

Dave

Subscribed
Robert

When I grow up I want to build one of these. I'm in!

Steve

When my wallet grows up, I want to buy one of these...
I'm in too!
Glenn

Oh yeah! I've been checking this forum everyday waiting for this one. This will bring back some fond memories for me. Flaps, retracts and lights? Now that's an ambitious project! Go Dave! I hope you don't mind me throwing in a photo of mine, and a link to the video of Pat's prototype, be sure to turn up the sound, it's what hooked me.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=713910

Doug,

Your B-17 is very nice. I hope I can do as well.

Flaps and lights are no problem been doing that on all the planes lately. I just wish I could find some brighter lights that are not so expensive. I need two systems for this build since there are two red lights on the left, two green lights on the right and 4 landing lights in two groups. The retracts will be tricky to get that forward raked angle.

Flying big multi's is a kick. They just lumber around the field, doing touch n goes is what they are great for.

Dave

Nice, looks like a great project.

Oh man you bet I'm subscribed! The DC-6 master is off on another four-engine project

Ethan

Originally Posted by WAGliderGuy

Oh man you bet I'm subscribed! The DC-6 master is off on another four-engine project

Ethan

Ethan,

I would like to have it ready for Marymoor. Is it in June?

Dave

Dave,

They don't have the date down yet but It will probably around same time as last year, in early-mid July.

Here is the event calendar: http://mar-c.org/upcomingevents

Ethan

Hi Dave
Looking forward to following this build, your DC6 was awesome, this should be a real treat!
Best
Charles

Thanks everyone, I am looking forward to getting into it.

My first step was to clean up the work bench from the last experiment in chaos theory.

My next step is some inspiration: Hang my Memphis Belle litho print that has been hiding behind the workbench since 1990something. I had the great pleasure of meeting Robert Morgan in the 90's. Had a chance to listen to him tell the real stories of the flights over Europe. It was priceless. He said if all the things they showed in the movie had happened to his airplane he would have died of a heart attack. He said all the events were something that happened to a B-17 crew but not his plane in particular.

I happened to get to fly on "Aluminum Overcast" but one of my major "bucket-list" activities is this build of the Belle since I got to meet the real deal.....

Tonight I cutout the forms for the tail and wing bowed outlines. Nothing exciting but it is done now so I can proceed with the tail group. Instead of using 2 layers of 1/16th balsa I used 3 layers of .040" paulownia which is very flexible in that thickness and can be formed dry and just have thin CA wicked into it and it instantly holds shape. Much easier than breaking a bunch of wet balsa and the resulting frame is as strong as spruce but very close to the weight of balsa.

Dave

Your tail outline looks great Dave. I've never heard of paulownia before. Where do you get it? I looked it up and it seems the density is right between balsa and bass wood. It might be just the thing for making those laminated outlines. The biggest downside I can see is that the paulownia tree grows in China. Just what we need, another Chinese product.

Larry

I'd also like to hear more about Paulownia, sounds like a very useful product. No more wet balsa? Sounds too good to be true.

Interesting story Dave, It's a big plus to have a personal connection to the planes we build. My late Father - in - Law was a navigator on a B-17 stationed in Italy, that was the inspiration behind my build. Having met the pilot of the Memphis Belle would certainly be a humbling and inspiring experience.