Building the P39

[Mike71]

Hi Mike,

I can only assume that all the formers sit between 2 fairly substantial fuselage sides. I which case getting rid of these bearers will not lose any significant structural strength.

If I was putting this together I would get rid of them and remake the firewall so it fills the whole cross section, and use a grp mount (the holes can be pre-drilled). Then you could mount the engine inverted which would definitely improve the lines.

I appreciate that a significant move away from the plans is probably not what you want to do with your first warbird build, but I don't think it would be that difficult.

If you do go with the bearers then glue it all together very well (using clamps) and go to town with the fuel proofing (I use Tufcoat).

Just a few thoughts.

Mike

[andyb]

I agree. I'd look at cutting the horizontal crutch/ engine bearers off at F1 and making F1 full-depth, with a conventional mount that you can mount inverted/sidewinder/whatever. To get the nose profile you basically fill in with thick sheet and sand it to shape; there's a specific technique in on e of Peter Miller's books (The Aeromodeller's book of Essential Tips and techniques, page 26) - the book is well worth having anyway.

[Mike S]

After some long thought I have decided to put this project on hold. The P39 will require a lot more building skill than what I currently have to hand. I have read many build threads on the Red kit P39 and all suggest the kit is not an easy kit to build and requires most of the wood to be reshaped or cut.

I have since taken ownership of Andys P47 which is billled as being a good first kit to build from.

[Swale]

p47's are cooler anyway