GeeBee R1 Racer, 1:33, Rafal Ciesielski

[shrike]

The streamlined covers for the wheels are traditionally referred to as 'Pants' if they are seperate.
If they are integrated into the landing gear, then they are 'spats'(US), or "trousered"(UK)

 

[cgutzmer]

And to think all this time I have been referring to them as "those thingies that cover the wheels" heh heh
Chris

 

[Bowdenja]

Well since I've become a card modeler I've come to give them a name that is three words long................ they make me say them everytime I have to build the darn things!:grin:

 

[shrike]

I'm not sure which three words those are exactly, but I'm 100% certain I've used them in the same context.
I have a love/hate relationship with them.
I love airplanes of the era when they were prevalent. Four of the last six models I've built have had them, and the next in the queue will bring it to 5/7.
I HATE doing them. Or rather I hate the way they turn out. The pants on Rafal's GeeBee have been my favorite so far because of the building method.

 

[Bengt F]

GeeBee R-1 Racer

Rick,

Your build of this beautiful well-known 30s racer airplane looks VERY good indeed.
I´d also like to build this one - it´s printed out already and it´s waiting in long line of "to-do" projects. I´ll certainly look at this thread when I get to it. Your observations on the parts fit, etc, will be most helpful. Thanks for the fine pictures.
Take care, Rick.

All the best,
Bengt :grin:

 

[rlwhitt]

Thanks Bengt!

Long time no chat! I have not been spending much time hanging out in the Space related forums lately. Perhaps once Greelt P. releases his Saturn V first stage it'll be time to make another foray into that category!

Rick

Rick,

Your build of this beautiful well-known 30s racer airplane looks VERY good indeed.
I´d also like to build this one - it´s printed out already and it´s waiting in long line of "to-do" projects. I´ll certainly look at this thread when I get to it. Your observations on the parts fit, etc, will be most helpful. Thanks for the fine pictures.
Take care, Rick.

All the best,
Bengt :grin:

 

[rlwhitt]

Continuing with the wheels

Now that the laminated wheel disks are dry, they have to be sanded to shape and size. Mine were too large in diameter and needed to be cut down a bit to fit into the spats.

Shown here are the wheel disks mounted on a dremel cutoff wheel mandrel, which happens to have a screw shaft about 1mm. Then it's easy to spin and sand!

 

[rlwhitt]

Wheel after sanding:

 

[rlwhitt]

And painted, then put on the "hub cap" parts.

 

[rlwhitt]

Rigging

Can't mount the wheels just yet, since they would be in the way of the rigging lines that pass through the spats. So we'll do the rigging next. This first picture shows a handy tool I fashioned from thin wire. Poke the thread into the hole a ways and hook the end with the tool to draw it out the front bulkhead hole. Then tie a knot in the end, put a dab of glue on, and pull it back out the side of the fuse for a secure mount.

You may notice the shiny finish I've got now. Before I started the rigging, I sprayed it with Krylon gloss varnish.

 

[rlwhitt]

Here I've threaded the rear rigging line through the wing and the rear hole on the outside of the spat. This line terminates here. Pin the line taught while you glue the thread inside the spat, cut it off when dry.

 

[rlwhitt]

Repeat the whole process with the forward line. This one passes all the way through the spat to head off to its termination point on the bottom of the fuse.

 

[rlwhitt]

And finally, do the trick with the hooking tool again to draw the end of the line outside where you can hold it pulled tight while you put glue in the hole to hold it. I used CA at this point for max strength as there will be no knot in there to hold it.

 

[rlwhitt]

Rigging Complete!

Rigging done, little wires glued on and painted, wheels mounted with bits of wire.

All that's left now is the tail wheel, canopy, cowl, and mount the engine!

 

[cmdrted]

Dude! That is the coolest thing I've ever seen! I've never seen wheels come out that way before! You just chuck it in the dremel. What did you use to sand the shape like that? Also the rigging stuff was definetly way cool! This little plane you've built has shown some great tips thanks!

 

[rlwhitt]

Thanks! I just used plain old sandpaper held against the turning wheel, working down the corners until they are rounded. I helps to start by running it against a sanding block to get the diameter right and everything even.

Dude! That is the coolest thing I've ever seen! I've never seen wheels come out that way before! You just chuck it in the dremel. What did you use to sand the shape like that? Also the rigging stuff was definetly way cool! This little plane you've built has shown some great tips thanks!

 

[shrike]

Get ye to the local beauty supply shoppe!

In the nails section you can find foam boards covered in sandpaper in a lot of different grades ( my current fav is 100/180 grit wet/dry) that are perfect for doing wheels this way. Firm enough to shape, yet with just enough give to make the operation easier.

 

[Alcides]

I'm green of envy !!! :shock:

Why your plane is lookig so good? :-o

Great work !!! :grin: What do you use to paint the wheels?

 

[rlwhitt]

Thanks!

It's just plain ole flat black acrylic model paint.

I'm green of envy !!! :shock:

Why your plane is lookig so good? :-o

Great work !!! :grin: What do you use to paint the wheels?

 

[rlwhitt]

Almost there!

Tonight we did a tailwheel, nothing special to note here.