American Jet Hustler

[Crabby]

Hi Comrades since the demise of the other site I was able to finish up a few other projects and start on this thing. I have had my eyes on this for a long time the long fuse and swept wings do something for me. I have the fuse built and will send pics soon

[Crabby]

Heres a pic of the jig and the top half of the fuse. The plan is deceptive. It looks simple but its not. I already have plans for some Crabbification.

[Crabby]

FYI The short story on this plane is back in the 80s the rich needed yet another plaything to jet around in. This monstrosity had a turboprop in the front for take off to altitude and a jet turbine in the rear for quiet cruising about. After two prototype failures the thing ran out of vogue and the project was temporarily shelved. It never carried one beautiful person to even one secret Caribbean island for even one night of sinful debauchery (sp?) I however am gonna sin like crazy getting this thing to fly one circuit about my swear-laden flying field. Oh the tales the meadowlarks could report about me. The saints would shake their heads and shower me with lightning bolts.

[MKelly]

Neat build Crabby!  I started one from this plan in high school but got distracted after building the tail surfaces and never came back to it.  Will be fun to follow your build.

Cheers,

Mike

[Crabby]

Hi it's me again. If ever you decide to build this thing you are on your own. I got sucked in like a school-boy! I really don't think the guy who drew this up ever built it.  Don't get me going. I'm OK, just thought this was gonna be a simple project just to keep the mojo lubed. But no I had to Crabbyize to the extent of a state of distraction! The man in the mirror expects me to finish this project before he lets me start other headaches!

[OZPAF]

Don't stop Crabby - the meadowlarks will miss your mellow comments!

John

[Crabby]

Good am comrades. Here is my progress at this point. I must say I fought hard to go at this per the plans but I had to kind of have to make em up as I go.

Round fuses in my shop are always a bit out of round in some way that makes wing-mounting a chore. So a fixed "dock" had to be made to hold the fuse while I figged out the correct attachment technique.

This technique is as simple as just glueing the wings on, but I am paying attention to the incidence and the dihedral. It is said that swept wings do not require dihedral but I dont have the coconuts. So I am going with a slight bit.

I am remembering the hassle I went through with my Mig 15, which had flying surfaces set-up similar to this thing, so here we go again. The Mig flew spectacularly (and) crashed in the most gut-wrenching and hilarious manner. It really was a spectacle to observe.

the odd thing was that the Mig took a few degrees of up-thrust to fly which I didn't believe at first so I installed a dial-a-thrust system designed by my wild-haired and nutty professor Dad "Thee Olde-Man", and sure enough, upthrust, period.

The other touchy thing was the empanage. The Mig, (and this plane I bet) was and will be,very sensitive to tiny tweeks. One step out of line and the confounded thing was shot out of the sky by un-seen Sabre-Jets.

I have had a hard time getting up for this plane, but I can't deny the pretty lay-out. I am building a gorgeous little plane, who is also a stubborn and complicated little so & so to boot. I was hoping for a one-nighter, but this thing is taking ME for the ride. Stay away from this one mates she's an Eliza Doolittle all the way.

Looking at the down view I see the mistake I made whilst wrapping the formers I wrapped them without subtracting the wrap thickness from the original former so now I have a shovel-headed snake to look at because I am not going to fix this error, unless someone makes me. Bring your gun please.

[dputt7]

No more grumbles, just get on with it!  Nice work1

[OZPAF]

It's looking great Crabby. Lots of curves. I see what you meant about missing design features -your neat solution should work well.

John

[Crabby]

Sorry for all the grumbles. I guess the kids were right to tag me Crabby. I'll never change. Building models challenges the problem-solving skills and keeps one sharp. I can get dull, dopey, and  Crabby at times. That's one reason why I build model planes, to be bright, happy and chipper as a meadowlark hopping about.

In other news my wings bowed slightly down. I plan to give them a dunking in the hot tub, then dry on the cookie drying rack. It's a good thing because air gets to all sides, it's metal and I can use magnets. Sorry for the novella guys I like to write I guess. No Chaucer just a old bugger with bucket of bull s*it to slop about!

[OZPAF]

 

John