WWII replica plans available in 2021?

[vhhjr]

I spent some time looking over the Ryan STA at Oshkosh and was impressed. It's unfortunate that D Motor dropped out of the US market it would have sounded much better than the high rpm Rotax. Perhaps the AeroMomentum engine will be a fit for them. The design really needs an inline four like the original Menesco. How about the newly certified Continental I4 diesel? Pricey I suspect, but if it isn't too heavy might work.

Vince Homer

 

[vhhjr]

Had the same idea for the P-39 a few years back. Called Jerry Bates after several long discussions with members of the Replica Fighters Association. Jerry sent me his 1/4 scale plans and said try it. Now that I have a workshop again, I started to play at Model Scale (MS=50% of the Original). My MS scale has not been adjusted for the 100% pilot yet. Tonight I am working on a new Spar configuration. After I get the new spar figured out, I will reshape for the pilot and build the fuse at MS one last time. If there are no more changes, I'll increase to Final Scale and start cutting parts. I have two electric motors in mind...
View attachment 114125par configuration

I found 70% worked well for the P-39 mock-up I built several years ago using RC plans as a starting point. The mock-up was recently finished and is now part of a display in the EAA Chapter 292 facility.

Also included is a photo of a Jerry Bates 1/4 scale test bed with an attempted rear engine with driveshaft and front psru. Interesting exercise, but only semi-successful. Drive lines with single cylinder, two cycle engines aren't easy.

 

[flitzerpilot]

Hi Scott and PiperCruisin,

I know that the emphasis here has been on aluminium tube and riveted construction and that has been mooted for a Sperry M-1, but as the original was ash, spruce, plywood and fabric, that is the way I viewed the proposed replica. If another 3-cyilnder radial were to be available in due course I would not hesitate to complete my version (started last year): or if I continued with the prototype Goblin for an extant VW, retrofit a 3-cylinder radial for that subject.

The Sperry Messenger suspended in a US museum is a simplified replica with many structural changes which are obvious on close inspection. Pictures of this were forwarded to me last year and I was able identify those aspects. I understand that this machine was intended to fly originally, but as far as I know this aim was never achieved.

 

[ScaleBirdsScott]

I concur that a Messenger, simple as it is, should be wooden construction as per original.

Shame the Verner 3V doesn't make 50-60hp regardless of current availability to order one.

 

[PMD]

I spent some time looking over the Ryan STA at Oshkosh and was impressed. It's unfortunate that D Motor dropped out of the US market it would have sounded much better than the high rpm Rotax. Perhaps the AeroMomentum engine will be a fit for them. The design really needs an inline four like the original Menesco. How about the newly certified Continental I4 diesel? Pricey I suspect, but if it isn't too heavy might work.

Vince Homer

If I was free to do so, I would import and sell these all day long:

Engines ::

Engines.

www.pistovemotory.cz

Have a good friend who built a fantastic float plane with the 6 cylinder - complete with beta thrust. Extremely well proven and cost effective. There WAS a distributor in Thunder Bay ON as I have been told - IIRC no longer alive and his successors not interested in the business.

 

[Tiger Tim]

If another 3-cyilnder radial were to be available in due course

That’s the hold up on my Buhl Pup replica ambitions too.

 

[PMD]

That’s the hold up on my Buhl Pup replica ambitions too.

Can you fill us in on the former LOM PRAHA distributor who lived in T-Bay????

 

[Tiger Tim]

Can you fill us in on the former LOM PRAHA distributor who lived in T-Bay????

Sort of. I never met him but I know his son through work. I was in charge of a charter/medevac company and he’s an aviation inspector at our local Transport Canada office. I suspect his job interferes with any possibility of continuing his father’s business.

 

[Saville]

Having known all the principles and players in Fighter Escort Wing for more than 30 years and having been around their prototype up through flying, I can attest to the absolute quality and fastidious attention to detail as well as very good quality control with the composite parts (my career at Boeing was composite materials/process development).
Somebody needs to rescue that FEW mustang...

I did some web searching on the FEW P-51 after reading post #39. Plane looks good. Don't know how it handles or performs.

 

[PiperCruisin]

Hi Scott and PiperCruisin,

I know that the emphasis here has been on aluminium tube and riveted construction and that has been mooted for a Sperry M-1, but as the original was ash, spruce, plywood and fabric, that is the way I viewed the proposed replica. If another 3-cyilnder radial were to be available in due course I would not hesitate to complete my version (started last year): or if I continued with the prototype Goblin for an extant VW, retrofit a 3-cylinder radial for that subject.

The Sperry Messenger suspended in a US museum is a simplified replica with many structural changes which are obvious on close inspection. Pictures of this were forwarded to me last year and I was able identify those aspects. I understand that this machine was intended to fly originally, but as far as I know this aim was never achieved.

I agree with Scott, building one with the similar techniques/wood seems appropriate. If the engine available does not have similar power, then maybe it needs to be scaled down a bit and/or the construction modernized a bit to reduce weight.

I think the one at the Smithsonian is real and not a reproduction. Their website says, however, that it was a "Sport"/2-place and was converted back to the military configuration as it would have been in WWI.

 

[David L. Downey]

I did some web searching on the FEW P-51 after reading post #39. Plane looks good. Don't know how it handles or performs.

I spoke in person with at least 4 pilots who spent time in the prototype. they all praised it for its behavior. Of course, suitable power was the struggle all along.

 

[Saville]

I spoke in person with at least 4 pilots who spent time in the prototype. they all praised it for its behavior. Of course, suitable power was the struggle all along.

Was this before LS V8 engines really came into use?

 

[Twister51]

Having known all the principles and players in Fighter Escort Wing for more than 30 years and having been around their prototype up through flying, I can attest to the absolute quality and fastidious attention to detail as well as very good quality control with the composite parts (my career at Boeing was composite materials/process development).
Somebody needs to rescue that FEW mustang...

What were FEW's problems as a company? Why did they fail? Not poking a stick in their eye, many great designs have failed as a business. Was it solely the lack of a reliable engine? I saw one YT video of a FEW that flew after many years of work and it soon crashed. Heart-breaking.

 

[flitzerpilot]

PiperCruisin,

Yes the Smithsonian example is original, reconverted to single-seat/aerial 'hook-on' parasite configuration for the Museum.

The one suspended in the (Cradle of Flight?) museum is a replica and differs structurally from the original in several aspects.

The basic Flitzer Z-21/21 is close conceptually to the M-1. The replica I started spans 18', like the Flitzer, but has more wing area due to the increased chords, at 39". I decided on the deeper USA 27 airfoil which was tested on an actual M-1, to take advantage of its depth for structural reasons while maintaining authenticity. The M-1 pilot is situated much further forward than in the Z-1, which is advantageous for light engines and the mobile CP of the USA 27, like that of the USA 35B of the Z-1, provides for good X-country stability combined with excellent manoeuvrability in pitch..

 

[nicknack]

what about this one. Says the basic configuration uses a rotax915is and faster variant may use an LS engine?

SW-51 Mustang | ScaleWings - realizing pilot dreams!

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https://www.scalewings.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Foto_Petr_Kolmann-28.jpg

 

[ScaleBirdsScott]

ScaleWings, like ScaleBirds and Titan and others are basically all kit-only. Good data points to have tho. Being new, and European, and carbon, it's definitely expensive and it isn't first to come to mind for many here. But they do make a very nice looking machine for absolute surety.

For my part with ScaleBirds I don't anticipate ever offering the designs as plans in part because I've basically made up my mind to design as much as possible around CNC made parts vs hand-made parts where it can provide some substantial benefits. But we have debated doing a 'stripped down' base kit that provides a potential customer with a core fuse frame and a wing and tail kits and all the CNC parts and weldments needed; with a few base options of starting point for landing gear and so-on. And then we'd pair that with a set of plans and patterns for taking that stripped base to the as-designed final form of one of our established designs, say the P40. So like a half-plans/half-kit approach.

Now, whether the builder follows those plans, or goes off on their own direction from that point, well that is between them and their DAR I guess.

 

[Svetlio_i]

This Spitfire thread got me thinking about WWII replica plans or kits that are currently available. The Replica Fighters Association lists only the Supermarine Aircraft Company Spitfire Mk26, the Titan T-51D and T-51B, and the WAR replicas series. I know that the Jurca Mustang, Spitfire, and FW-190 plans are still available, Lyle Sindlinger still sells his Dad's Hurricane plans (I own a set). Scott and company at ScaleBirds are working on P-36/P-40 kits though they are not yet for sale.

Have I missed any WWII replica plans or kits that are readily available right now?

.

I build 80% Avia B-534 IV . Later on I will make plans how to build it

 

[Bigshu]

And then we'd pair that with a set of plans and patterns for taking that stripped base to the as-designed final form of one of our established designs, say the P40. So like a half-plans/half-kit approach.

Yeah, I'd be interested in that approach. If it was reasonably cheaper than a full kit. Although, a P40 with an inline 4 engine sounds pretty sweet. Too bad I'm so huge!

 

[billyvray]

Please share more pics and maybe do your own thread showing how you built it! Nice.

I build 80% Avia B-534 IV . Later on I will make plans how to build it

 

[Svetlio_i]

Please share more pics and maybe do your own thread showing how you built it! Nice.

This are the projects I have been working so far. Albatross F2, Nieuport 24Bis, Flying Flea are complete. Now is Avia B 534 , Next hopefully will be a Messerschmitt BF109G6.