Jim Barry Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Here's progress on the Bearcat I've mentioned in my Fury Thread. Stuff is happening with this build though the Fury is still #1 on the bench for takeoff. I thought I'd delay starting this thread as pressure to work on the Fury, but then I thought I'd be so lagged with pictures I figured I better start logging the work before it's too late. So far I've learned a lot about CAD and 3D printing in the last few months. That's certainly a world, one I can't believe I broke into thinking that was simply something for others and honestly not that in love with more time in front of a screen (I do that at work already). My playing around though had a few breakthroughs and before I knew it, I was hooked. So far I've designed and printed the 18 cylinders of the P&W R-2800. I did the propellers and hub, and the wheels/tires (I printed a test wheel which is not what I'll have in the end as it had some flaw in the design). And finally I've gone pretty far designing the landing gear which I hope to see it retract as the real one does. Tons of work (twisting propeller blades in 3D and making extruded diamond tread that embosses a torus). This post looks like it might be easy. It's not. It is fun thankfully (or I'm just not sick of it). Much of the rest of it will be traditional scratch build and I'll get into that as it rolls out. I think of the 3D stuff as personal use aftermarket parts, things really I would struggle with were they handmade and parts that are, as it turns out, simply not available as aftermarket parts to my knowledge (1/24 being so rare) Goal is to finish by Xmas. And one final intro statement. Thanks to everyone here on the forum that encouraged and supports my work and handed out careful advice. It's super motivating and truly helps me. So here I am: And finally the retracting gear (WIP) on youtube. Don't miss this one. It's pretty cool. https://youtu.be/1HiEMfWkb94 AlexM, 109, mark31 and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconspit Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 ...you are so kidding me..., awesome work..., very cool... Jim Barry and AVbob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn M Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 what I see I really like! Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyrosjzmichos Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Holy cow! Those parts look fantastic Jim! Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark31 Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 OMG Mark Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Lovely! Bearcat has always been a favorite of mine since my father used to tell me stories about his time in the AF and Navy after WWII, and watching the P-51 pilots get super pissed off, when the Bearcat pilots would show them up............. Will be watching fore sure Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVbob Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Great..... now I have to learn how to do this before I die. Very cool stuff !!! Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brahman104 Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Massively impressive what you've been able to achieve in a few short months of playing Jim! It seems you're a much faster learner than I Craig Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorbenD Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Super stuff - cracking video Jim, dead impressed. Torben Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Paxton Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 Love scratch building. are you scratching the entire plane then? Dan Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted June 15, 2017 Author Share Posted June 15, 2017 Thanks everyone for weighing in. I'm really looking forward to this one and very happy to see the 3D stuff work out as well as it has. Highly encourage other to test it out. Fusion 360 is free for hobbyists and Shapeways' resin printing is two thumbs up from me. Brian, Glad you like it. I have read about the Bearcat vs Mustang story. I think it was in Louisiana. The Mustangs had no idea what hit 'em. Dan, Thanks. There are a few more 3D parts to do (tail wheel and engine block maybe some cockpit details) but the rest of it will be much like you see with other scratch builds here with formers and filler and a ton of sanding, surfacing and paneling/scribing with my hands. It does not appear to be that difficult. (famous last words) as it was a smooth surface with flush rivets. The Fury may be a more difficult build in that regard. Dan Paxton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel_W Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 Jim, Don't know how I missed this when you 1st posted it. All things Grummans interests me. Now a Bearcat in 1/24 scale is truly something we would rarely see. And from just the engine, wheel, and prop, this is going to be one special build. I'm really looking forward to your next update. Joel KUROK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka HI Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 ! (Another thread that there's nothing much to say but to enjoy the awesomeness...) Joel_W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 Interesting Jim, if I may ask, what are you using for plans ? Shaka HI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted June 18, 2017 Author Share Posted June 18, 2017 Joel, I thought you'd like this. Working on a Grumman always feels good. LSP scratch build bucket list (before I die) has F4F and F6F on it. Shaka Hi, Hope to keep it interesting. Cheers. Mike, Love your racing Bearcat. I have some 3-view drawing I've pulled off the Internet and Squadron's Bearcat in Action book. There is also a 530 page Erection and Maintenance manual at avialogs.com that I can pull up if I want to see just about anything up close. I like real pictures quite a bit and so in the end it's sort of an impression/scan from many angles kind of thing. I would not claim to be an accuracy freak at this stage but it is coming on as I keep on working. I'm a WIP! Joel_W, Shaka HI and MikeMaben 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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