Classroom Fighter P47D Thunderbolt 1/48 scale

Allan Wright · Feb 15, 2008, 07:51 PM

This plane is modeled after the Plantraco classroom fighters designed by Joe Malinchak and Robert Guillot. Since both Joe and Robert are friends of mine, when I got started on thie project I picked their brains for design help. Being wonderfully generous friends, then gave me the help I needed to make this plane.

I had intended for my first classroom fighter to actually be a two-seat world war one observation plane, the Junkers CL-II. I have another friend who's an accomplished artist and also a fellow WWI buff who is helping create me some wonderful artwork for that project. In the meantime I found some graphics on the internet that, with some heavy modification, re-drawing of missing areas, and careful re-sizing, were adaptable for this project: The P47d which is one of my favorite WWII planes.

Test flights in my living room prove that I have the incidence and CG pretty close enough to maiden in a larger area on Tuesday at my next indoor flying session. Wires are on the outside of the foam since this is just a prototype. Final version will have the wires embedded between the 2 layers of foam.

More photos and information on my website, here: http://pease1.sr.unh.edu/aew/rc/classroom/P47d/

So, how did I do?

Gordon Johnson · Feb 15, 2008, 10:26 PM

Looks excellent Allan. Very nice version of the Thunderbolt in terms of graphics.

Gordon

Allan Wright · Feb 15, 2008, 11:14 PM

Thanks Gordon. It's a portly 4.48 grams with battery (my Plantraco P40 weighs in at 4.17) but I think it will still be fine. It climbs well in my living room (until it runs out of airspace). I'll get some in-flight video on Tuesday.

It will probably lose a little weight as the glue 'gasses out'. I'm still learning how to apply the Creative glue properly without using too much.

Between the E-III and this, I'm finally feeling like I'm earning my Boston Micronauts club shirt.

Allan Wright · Feb 16, 2008, 05:57 PM

I couldn't resist making a label for the box it lives in that looks like the Real Plantraco ones. Now I know what's inside.

Jerry Combs · Feb 16, 2008, 06:14 PM

Allan,

That looks very nice and I bet it flies great. Very nice job on the graphics.

Jerry

Plantraco · Feb 16, 2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Wright

I couldn't resist making a label for the box it lives in that looks like the Real Plantraco ones. Now I know what's inside.

Haha, cute.

Nice build and nice model there! now how about a spitfire?

Robster · Feb 16, 2008, 10:08 PM

Very, very nice Allan!

It's amazing how well these Classroom style planes fly.

Awhile back I designed these Classroom Reno Racers. May have seen them in the cookups. They were my best humble attempt at Classroom style planes. I still have a lot to learn. The Rare Bear is 4g and the Strega is 4.2g. Both fly superbly!

Rob

Allan Wright · Feb 16, 2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantraco

Haha, cute.

Nice build and nice model there! now how about a spitfire?

Spitfire, Foke Wolfe 190 and Brewster Buffalo are all tempting (ok I have a weak spot in my heart for the Buffalo pilots at Midway). I'm also very tempted to try a P38 with direct drive micro butterfly props and motors on each nacelle.

Rob, very nice planes. Is the mustang a flat plate airfoil?

Robster · Feb 16, 2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Wright

Spitfire, Foke Wolfe 190 and Brewster Buffalo are all tempting (ok I have a weak spot in my heart for the Buffalo pilots at Midway). I'm also very tempted to try a P38 with direct drive micro butterfly props and motors on each nacelle.

Rob, very nice planes. Is the mustang a flat plate airfoil?

Thanks Allan,

Not noticeable in that picture, but the mustang has about the same amount of undercamber as the RareBear.

Allan Wright · Feb 16, 2008, 10:42 PM

Spitfire eh? Well I love invasion stripes, so....maybe this scheme.

rguillot · Feb 17, 2008, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Wright

So, how did I do?

You done good, Allan

Allan Wright · Feb 17, 2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rguillot

You done good, Allan

Thanks Robert, coming from you that's a real pick-me-up! Flying with Gordon really humbles a person. I think I'm finally catching up. Then he'll blow past me again. It's really nice having people like you, Joe and Gordon to push the envelope and motivate me to try to keep up.

Allan Wright · Feb 18, 2008, 09:38 AM

Correction! THIS is the Spitfire I MUST model: http://www.aviartnutkins.com/pilots/...to_the_few.php

Flown by group captain Allan Wright (surprisingly no relation).

More references:
http://books.google.com/books?id=rIQ...ysAcpdN0v5puh0

(Great profile here - first on the page)
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN

Photo of RAF pilot Alan Wright added below (he's in the center)

Allan Wright · Feb 19, 2008, 11:03 PM

Flew fantastic right off the building board. No adjustments necessary. Next up to make the final version with the wires sandwiched between the foam.

1/48 Scale P47 R/C Profile Plane (1 min 0 sec)

micromad · Feb 20, 2008, 01:11 PM

Allan,
What program do you use to create the graphics?

thanks

Alex

Feb 15, 2008, 07:51 PM	#1
Allan Wright Gambler-AG DLG Designer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lee, NH, USA Posts: 4,665	Classroom Fighter P47D Thunderbolt 1/48 scale This plane is modeled after the Plantraco classroom fighters designed by Joe Malinchak and Robert Guillot. Since both Joe and Robert are friends of mine, when I got started on thie project I picked their brains for design help. Being wonderfully generous friends, then gave me the help I needed to make this plane. I had intended for my first classroom fighter to actually be a two-seat world war one observation plane, the Junkers CL-II. I have another friend who's an accomplished artist and also a fellow WWI buff who is helping create me some wonderful artwork for that project. In the meantime I found some graphics on the internet that, with some heavy modification, re-drawing of missing areas, and careful re-sizing, were adaptable for this project: The P47d which is one of my favorite WWII planes. Test flights in my living room prove that I have the incidence and CG pretty close enough to maiden in a larger area on Tuesday at my next indoor flying session. Wires are on the outside of the foam since this is just a prototype. Final version will have the wires embedded between the 2 layers of foam. More photos and information on my website, here: http://pease1.sr.unh.edu/aew/rc/classroom/P47d/ So, how did I do? Attached Thumbnails 3/4 profile view 25.5 KB · Views: 404 the pretty side - this is how it should look when I do the final version 25.2 KB · Views: 238 top view showing the invasion stripes - you HAVE to have invasion stripes! 29.8 KB · Views: 239 resting comfortably in its box 64.7 KB · Views: 228

Feb 16, 2008, 05:57 PM	#4
Allan Wright Gambler-AG DLG Designer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lee, NH, USA Posts: 4,665	I couldn't resist making a label for the box it lives in that looks like the Real Plantraco ones. Now I know what's inside. Attached Thumbnails 72.4 KB · Views: 251

Feb 16, 2008, 10:08 PM	#7
Robster Sheba, don't eat my plane Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brentwood, CA Posts: 957	Very, very nice Allan! It's amazing how well these Classroom style planes fly. Awhile back I designed these Classroom Reno Racers. May have seen them in the cookups. They were my best humble attempt at Classroom style planes. I still have a lot to learn. The Rare Bear is 4g and the Strega is 4.2g. Both fly superbly! Rob Attached Thumbnails 97.4 KB · Views: 424

Feb 16, 2008, 10:42 PM	#10
Allan Wright Gambler-AG DLG Designer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lee, NH, USA Posts: 4,665	Spitfire eh? Well I love invasion stripes, so....maybe this scheme. Attached Thumbnails 52.4 KB · Views: 235

Feb 18, 2008, 09:38 AM	#13
Allan Wright Gambler-AG DLG Designer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lee, NH, USA Posts: 4,665	Correction! THIS is the Spitfire I MUST model: http://www.aviartnutkins.com/pilots/...to_the_few.php Flown by group captain Allan Wright (surprisingly no relation). More references: http://books.google.com/books?id=rIQ...ysAcpdN0v5puh0 (Great profile here - first on the page) http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN Photo of RAF pilot Alan Wright added below (he's in the center) Attached Thumbnails RAF pilot Alan Wright (center) 51.2 KB · Views: 132 Last edited by Allan Wright; Feb 18, 2008 at 11:29 AM.

Feb 15, 2008, 10:26 PM	#2
Gordon Johnson Printed Tissue Fanatic Join Date: May 2001 Location: Boston, Mass Posts: 5,425	Looks excellent Allan. Very nice version of the Thunderbolt in terms of graphics. Gordon

Feb 15, 2008, 11:14 PM	#3
Allan Wright Gambler-AG DLG Designer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lee, NH, USA Posts: 4,665	Thanks Gordon. It's a portly 4.48 grams with battery (my Plantraco P40 weighs in at 4.17) but I think it will still be fine. It climbs well in my living room (until it runs out of airspace). I'll get some in-flight video on Tuesday. It will probably lose a little weight as the glue 'gasses out'. I'm still learning how to apply the Creative glue properly without using too much. Between the E-III and this, I'm finally feeling like I'm earning my Boston Micronauts club shirt.

Feb 16, 2008, 06:14 PM	#5
Jerry Combs RIP ElectRick Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wyandotte Oklahoma Posts: 2,720	Allan, That looks very nice and I bet it flies great. Very nice job on the graphics. Jerry

Feb 20, 2008, 01:11 PM	#15
micromad The ceiling is the limit! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: South of England Posts: 1,229	Allan, What program do you use to create the graphics? thanks Alex

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Product Classroom Fighters - 4 Gram, 1/48 scale Micro RTF	Plantraco	Indoor and Micro Models	510	Apr 03, 2009 03:27 PM
Discussion 1/48 scale Classroom Corsair	Joe Malinchak	Indoor and Micro Models	18	Nov 17, 2006 10:29 PM
Video 1/48 Scale Classroom Corsair	Joe Malinchak	Airplanes - Electric Videos	0	Sep 25, 2006 02:26 PM
For Sale: 1/48 scale I-19 Japanese Submarine	j.winfrey	rec.models.rc.water	0	Dec 23, 2002 01:52 AM
1/48 scale A-10	aerogel	Indoor and Micro Models	15	Nov 04, 2002 07:11 PM