Bob Faram's P-51D MustangIt's not a myth - it's a monster! Although once thought to be a figment of Bob's always active imagination, photographic proof has now been obtained to prove that the Mustang is alive and well and on it's way to completion. Bob has been working on it for several years now, with assistance from other CMAC members. Seriously, this project is an extremely ambitious one. The aircraft is approximately 1:4 scale with a span of 104inches and an estimated flying weight of 30lb. An 80cc 2-stroke Sachs-Dolmer petrol engine swings a 24x20 propeller, while the whole shebang sits on an undercarriage that uses Don Bentley custom-made sprung oleos. The creation of the fuselage almost demands a story by itself. The fuselage is custom-made fibreglass that has been designed and manufactured by Bob. While not wanting to risk inflating an already substantial ego, Bob has justifiably earned a reputation as a master 'glass maker and this effort will only serve to reinforce this. To make the fuselage, a 'plug' was constructed from timber and automotive body-putty. A mould was then made from the plug, and the fuselage is laid into each mould half, the two halves being mated up and joined (see photos below). More photos will be added to this page as construction progresses. Planned completion is See Bob's profile here Last modified: January 14, 2004 Click on a picture to see a larger version, then use the
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This is the man himself; Bob Faram poses with the pilot figure for the P51 | ||
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The pilot waits impatiently for his mount to be completed. Latex figure painted in oils and acrylics. |
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The fuselage plug finished and ready to be moulded | ||
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The fuselage mould cabinet. Another view is here. |
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The completed fuselage before fit-out. Another view is here. |
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The model sits on it's custom-made undercarriage. The wing, although large, is of a traditional rib & spar construction. | ||
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The model nears completion. Major assembly is complete, and only the rest remains... | ||
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This shot shows the undercarriage and cowlings in place | ||
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Details of undercarriage and underside fittings Check out Bob's collection of flying models on the wall in the background. Guess who made the fuselages? |
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More underside details. Note the flap and aileron controls. | ||
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The cockpit is finished and the canopy fitted. Other external 'trim' pieces are being applied - the exhaust stubs can be seen in this shot | ||
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Another view of the completed cockpit. This one shows the instrument panel and some of the equipment | ||
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Look at the size of that sucker. By comparison, the light fitting behind it is 4 feet (1.2metres) in length | ||
