John Clarke was kind enough to provide some comments and pictures of his latest project.
I am finally able to build the ACROPRO but mine will be a ACRO - GOLDEN. I will have a dummy Radial engine up front, a pilot with a White Scarf, Covered landing legs, Golden Age Wheels and the color scheme Blue fuselage and Cub yellow wings and tail feathers. I am sure I will have some neat graphics. I want to look like a 1930's plane that may have been flying at Roosevelt field at Long Island. I am having a ball doing it and it called Kit Bashing.
Here are some pictures of the genesis of the new bulkhead to hold the Dummy Radial Engine for the Kit bashed ACROPRO. The pictures the drawing and
then the template and some of the construction of the bulkhead and the rough engine crankcase. I will be sealing the wood and later painting the crankcase and bulkhead. After that I will make the modified fuselage sides and hold everything together with rubber bands to try fitting the new bulkhead prior to gluing. I think it is coming out neat. I am trying to kit bash the SR Batteries ACROPRO into a sort of Golden Age look alike. I will call it the ACRO - GOLDEN.
Click on the picture for a larger view.
I will be sending more pictures as I progress.
John sent this photo of the engine to tease us!
I made a aluminum strap to hold the motor in place. I think I will make a better one, a two piece strap.
I made a mockup by pinning the dummy engine to the nose of the plane. I had some surprises but to correct it will make it better. I will have the dummy engine removable.
Ok now that I have made a second set of motor clamshells it is a great success. It takes a little time and a Tin Snips, sheet of aluminum (.032 Inches thick) a little patience and you have a custom Clamshell that holds the motor tight and doesn't slip. I like it. It is easy to form the aluminum around the shape of the motor and some filing and cussing you have a custom mount.
Look at the pictures of the rough Motor clamshell. I decided to use a clamshell so it wouldn't spread the wooden bearers and spread the fuselage sides out. More pictures later.
I think I rate a pat on the back.
We do too!
I found some time to do the rear hatch!! Just would like to show how the fuselage looks with things are together.
This is the finished wing and Fuselage. I have to finish the sanding and installing the equipment. So Far so good.
A few pictures for the ACRO-GOLDEN. I am getting there.
One is the covered fuselage the others are of the wing tip to show the line between the bottom of the wing.
Ok here's the ACRO-GOLDEN hanging up in my computer room. All I have do is to paint the wheel hubs dark blue, install the radio gear, make the
landing gear fairing and the numerals NC 9473 on the top right wing and some other minor things.
I have finally finished the ACRO-GOLDEN. I will be flying it about the first part of June.
I have installed my FMA CO-Pilot for the first few flights to get the jitters out and aft I am comfortable with the plane.
John
What a great job you've done! We can't wait to see this baby fly. Talk about an appropriate backdrop!!! (Webmaster)
John recently (10/13/2004) added:
Last Wednesday was one of the best flying days of the year for me! The winds were almost calm and I flew from 10 AM until 3 PM. What a day! I
even managed to do some very smooth aerobatics, rolls, split "S", Stall turns, loops and I tried to hover but the power and my skill wasn't
there. The best thing all planes returned home in one piece and flyable. I did lose the spinner from the Formosa when the prop came loose.
Minor thing.
My favorite pose sitting down.
John