B-47 9th Scale, Boeing Stratojet...In The Middle

[Flite-Metal]

We took a short break before beginning our CNC milling and hot wiring.

This 1:8.7669 aka 1:9 section is going to resume in September...opps,
that's a week away...

I took a break to resolve scale wheels, brakes, electrifying the mains
and the outriggers...

Did I say I took a break.....I need a hobby to offset my hobby!

[pattern14]

Good to see things moving along Ed. ......and the little fellow on the trike is....??

[Flite-Metal]

Alas, it be little ole me, myself and I...on our favorite ride, of all time...



Interesting photo in that it is looking directly out from our front door step where I sat awaiting arrival
of B-47's practicing L.A.B.S. maneuvers. They would pull up vertical just about over that white house
in the background of this photo.

Hummmmmm... pardon the dark glasses while a tear dries...

We've had some software disappointment. One of those things that happens when graphics software
sales person says yes to every question he's asked. He obviously hoped someone buys and not figure
it out before payment clears. Oh its good to not rush into these things.

Not to fret too much...his competitor offered to create the proper export format capability to what is
a more robust version of the middleware. We'll see what we shall see when it rolls out. Meantime, we
continue with our present processes.

[Flite-Metal]

Cross sections are "the" resource in our project managment method of scratch building. Here's a peek into BAC's (Boeing Aircraft Company) original drawings for the XB-47 (1947) and B-47E (1954), both at 1:100th scale.





To these you add another thirty fuselage and fifteen additional nacelle cross sections to replicate the B-47 properly.

Tooter scoot'n along...

[Flite-Metal]

Contradiction within artist renderings and a deficit in engineering drawings has me half way through making our
B-47's wheels. Yes, we are making wheels with brakes...



George Maiorana suggested the removable panel covering the chaff dispenser may not be aluminum because of its
perfectly smooth surface amidst all the surrounding panels with their prototypical accumlative pressure differential
effected surfaces.

Does anyone know if the panel is fiber glass rather than aluminum? I attribute its smoothness to the fact it is not
under T/C as are all the surrounding panels. I have video of panel removal, dispenser refilled and panel replaced to
then dispense chaff in the air.

At this point one would dive into photo documentation for answers...but this project has had little definitive docs
when its been "needed". Its not as if this is a surprise though. Too often there is an assumptive position taken by
people when shooting photo walkarounds.







We have our own as well as wheel images from the web, that's not an issue. "The" issue is correct design of the
rear wheel. Yes, there was an evolution factor. That is a given, but I need 3, yes, 3 of 3 B-47's rear wheels.
Why 3? Well, that's what you call a tie breaker. Above you see how this was achieved.





Thanks for your image posts.

[Flite-Metal]

The painted panel in the side view image of the fuselage is the cover over the chaffe dispensor.
It is a non-stress/pressure bearing aluminum cover frequenty removed to fill the dispensor feed
hopper with hundreds of aluminum chaffe strips...."SAC bling". Panel is attached with quick turn
fasteners.

[Flite-Metal]

I follow the golden rule of scale modeling to the letter...even with more than
a little OCD bling... Thank you Mike Wilson ! !


Many, many thanks to Mike Wilson who continues to be a most valuable resource for this project. I can't
say that strongly enough!

Mike's photos, taken at right angles to each wheel with a tape rule provide answers to questions that
otherwise would go unanswered. The tape rule provides an excellent reference as I draw each wheel
component to bring into 3D so we can print our wheels with our 3D printer.

[Flite-Metal]

Ordered our ATO smoke today. Will saw these into 1 minute lengths after testing groups of five together.
Expensive points these are......every itty bitty K factored point adds up.

[Flite-Metal]

.................................................. ......................................................

Another mentor award goes to Richard Reynolds! Richard's photos and hands on measurements have been
valuable validators. Richard's years of experience in ship building industry enables him to utilize 3D vision to
better understand our project process. Richard accompanied Mike Wilson to NASM's archive recently.

[Flite-Metal]

Upgraded my Multiplex Royal EVO 12 to 2.4 with Spektrum's AirMod AR12000 2.4 upgrade that includes
three satellite receivers with a 12 channel receiver enabling full 12:12 conditional programming.

This permits me to keep EVO's full
12 channels. A cache of AR12000 2.4 12 channel Spektrum receivers was found so I ordered three with
satellites so I finally rolled the Multiplex into a dependable 2.4 full power module.

In the mean time, Horizon offered theirJR DX18 with an AR9020 receiver
at a very reasonable price. This will permit me to utilize all 18 channels in my B-47 with the addition of
the 8 channel expansion module. This works equally well with the AR12000 receivers.

[pattern14]

Originally Posted by Flite-Metal

Ordered our ATO smoke today. Will saw these into 1 minute lengths after testing groups of five together.
Expensive points these are......every itty bitty K factored point adds up.

Still following this Ed. Curious about your ignition system though....Do you intend to light all the RATOs' simultaneously as you roll down the runway, or just as you start your run? How many seconds do you anticipate the burn for as well ( to replicate the real thing ). Multiple ignition is a little tricky, as I have attempted several times to do this with the rocket assist on my Arado AR234. Using the electronic smoke ignition system I made recently, I successfully launched a couple of Estes rockets using the Channel 5 from my Tx ( the Arado having no landing gear). The dual smoke cannisters appeared to ignite at the same time in flight, but the duplicate Walther rockets are positioned on the outer 1/3 of the wing, not behind the aircraft. As it was, on my first attempt the starboard one failed to ignite ( loose wire it turned out to be), but the port rocket( A-6 Estes) worked very well for a 2-3 second burn. The AR did veer heavily, but was already at speed when it happened. I suspect on low take off speed it may have been a different story. Being hand launched means that static ignition is pretty well out of the equation, unless I have protective head gear. Watching with interest...

[Flite-Metal]

Smoke "system" is high density theatrical smoke for use outdoors. There are individual ignition components
for each canister. I will make ATO canisters into which these are inserted with the electrical ignitor. Know
its been a long time, but this was presented back when this project began.






Horse collar ATO cradle is released by the B-47 after takeoff during the completion of the initial race track around
the field perimeter. Cradles were dropped into a recovery zone, just beyond the end of the runway.

[pattern14]

Are you going for a dress rehearsal prior to the real thing, or a static ground test? From my experience with such things, they generate enough heat to to cause distortion when there is no air flow over them

[Flite-Metal]

It is what it is until it isn't what it was thought to be, then it will be what is what it is found to be, later on...



Sometime down stream I will put a group of these together and see how effective they are, and witness
the effect of their use. I had planned to print a RATO master canister then pour flexible mold and create
these in volume with either indothermic or crystal resin.



I will test laminating the interior and exterior with Flite-Metal to see if the shape will survive temperature
during combustion of smoke chemical. I will saw the cylinder in thirds or quarter lengths to determine how
much smoke I can generate over 'x" time. Best case is igniting these just as I finish taxi out, turning to a
stop then pulling out onto the runway for a rapid deployment "scramble" rolling take off sequence.

I have a considerable amount of work to complete before testing...

[pattern14]

Originally Posted by Flite-Metal

It is what it is until it isn't what it was thought to be, then it will be what is what it is found to be, later on...

Glad you cleared that up for me Ed

[Bill G]

It is what it is until it isn't what it was thought to be, then it will be what is what it is found to be, later on...

With that thought, they actually hung beer kegs off of military planes also, as well as filling other implements with beer, that could be attached to the plane:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/air...eer-35041.html

Spitfire hauling kegs. I wonder if part full could cause jostling issues:

[Flite-Metal]

Bill,

Spill no brew before its tyme...Silly Brits got a wee upset about a little “after~glow” left
behind after each RATO from 1950 through 1962.

If you must hurl d' brew then here's the way to lean over and deliver during rotation.



Note fine stencils applied by our good friends at Morton-T in Ogden...

[Flite-Metal]

If you have not been keeping up, aka reading these two threads to catch up before we start publishing
the "third of four" on our pair of B-47's...I recommend you do so at this time. Things will begin to move
along rather rapidly without revisiting details previously provided.

This is to say strap your seat belt on as all future curves will be taken at speed...if you get my drift...

[Flite-Metal]

This is an exceptionally crude video. However that fact in itself is a most valuable component in witnessing
the effeciencies Tom Cook and two GE engineers designed into the Dynamax...27 years ago.

Yes, 27 years: 2013 - 1986 = 27 years!

My B-47 project would not be possible if it were not for Tom Cook. Tom has been this projects most valuable
asset since its second day when I was still considering use of kero. Tommy has been a friend since '83 and a
valued resource in my DF and EDF experiences.

Pay attention to the ineffeciencies of the video:

(1). 80% of FSA for an exhaust outlet (85% recommended)

(2). Minimum clear air distance between fan face and wall.

(3). Crude (higher drag than required) test bed and measuring device.

(4). No evidence of a bell mouth inlet.

Under these poor conditions the net was still 22.0462 pounds thrust!

YouTube Video

15s/8000mah
Jeti Spin 300 ESC
80% FSA~10kg (22.0462#)

[Flite-Metal]

Wow! Gee thanks!

Don and the gang are to be recognized for their fine efforts keeping this site alive and well.
Without them this site would be little more than like all too many of the others...
Thankfully, Wattflyer is more than the sum of its parts...!

[Flite-Metal]

Realistic expectations:

XPS on 12S:
25 pound 100" w/s PST F9F Panther with 12s drawing 109 amps.
This air speed is what I anticipate to be our similitude.

YouTube Video

Any comments?

[Buckarooo]

Thanks for the link Ed. Subscribed.

Dean

[Flite-Metal]

Well, our CAD is back on track... I've been patient and not itchie...Sam's the one with the Gottsta Syndrome here...
Ah, he had to go to his new office complex downtown...Nothing like a new office complex to settle into...or in his case
wedge in.

I ended up buying a pair of the Home Depot 20 gallon deep tubs for $4.00 each. I can now move all the B-47's itty bits
into safe harbor and prepare the shop for the next step... I prefer the storage totes at Walmart, but found more toys
at Home Depot so I needed something to carry them home in...

Hey, here's a heads up....there are massive rearrangements going on in two locations right now. One's clearing out a
third garage bay space for assembly tables and oh my goodness...what is that...

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

[Flite-Metal]

These are our fuselage parting points from nose to tail. They provide for our CNC milled nose and rear sheaths,
and (3) three hot wired middle sections. I know I stated this before...when you begin what you see is an overall
airframe. When you break the airframe down into "buildable" sections you "must" see the parts that constitute
the whole.

As an example, the dog leg shape of the fuselage bottom rear is composed of an elbow, not a single intersect.

[Flite-Metal]

Well, I just received the Toshiba P-25 I bought on eBay for $170. This will replace the desktop that took a bad hit
during the windstorm just before Christmas. Ah, its good to get back to a PC with some horsepower....