Daywalker

Thanks Chuck! I'll be sure to stop in with pics now and then. I would agree, my experience in dealing with them so far has been stellar. They are always willing to answer question and offer advice when asked. I did get a pneumatic rivet puller, after trying a few by hand helping a buddy on his it was one of the first tools I purchased for the build. As for getting built components out of the house, yes I do have a plan for that. The tail and wings will be no problem, and just around a corner with a very wide doorway there is a patio door in which the doors can be removed. The fuselage sans landing gear will fit, and once I get to that stage we can pull it out of the workshop into the garage. I have my name on three local airports for rental hangar space, and if they don't yet have space for me when it's time to take the airplane to the airport there's a very nice, brand new storage facility about a mile from me. If I have to wait for hangar space past the time I'm ready for it, the airplane fuselage and separate tail and wings can go there. Final rigging will be once she's in her hangar. I still need to decide on avionics, engine and FWF (firewall forward) which I plan to begin researching a bit later on.

Good, tell 'em to take the stickers off before I take delivery. And have 'em paint my callsign on the canopy rail too!

I think so, she seemed happy to just be with the rest of the pack for the trip. She's a rescue, so aside from the trip home from the rescue and local trips to the vet or groomer she hasn't spent a lot of time in a vehicle since we got her. Honestly, how she would handle an all day trip two days back-to-back in a loud, bouncy U-Haul truck was my biggest fear of this entire project. She was an absolute angel, in fact, I think she was the most calm of all three of us! Indeed, she's a one-in-a-million and I am so lucky to have her. She's willing to do just about anything to help me realize my dreams. Even standing around on a ramp with a handful of fighter pilots while I am up tearing around the sky with a buddy! You got it my friend, saw signs for that airport on my way down and back to Mexico. I really enjoyed telling people at work before I left that we were picking up a U-Haul truck and driving down to Mexico to pick up some "items" while on vacation. Mexico, MO that is! They do! Brilliant idea, isn't it? No, you have to build the wings from typical components like ribs, spars, skins, etc. The kit does come with match-drilled holes which greatly speeds up construction. They say it takes about 400 hours to build, I'm hoping to be under 1,000 knowing how I am. Will do! Not much for markings options, but they did give me a couple of little stickers! Planning on leaving it NMF, at least until the flight test phases are complete. I REALLY like the look of P-51's as delivered from the factory with nothing but an OD anti-glare panel in front, national markings and serial number on the tail. I might just go for that! It really does, doesn't it? That was one of the things that initially drew me to them. I love the way the wings look on these.

Hell yeah brother! I thought of you while passing through Iowa, what's the closest airport to you there?

Before deciding whether ACTUALLY building an airplane was something I could handle, I bought their introductory rudder kit. I absolutely LOVED building it, and couldn't wait for more.

Number three on my bucket list, I finally was able to pull the trigger on purchasing my first airplane this week. After earning my pilot's certificate, the next one on that list was flying a fighter jet - something our very own Pete Fleischmann helped me achieve last November. Around that time, I began looking at my finances and shopping around for kit-built aircraft. I have always dreamed of building my own aircraft, and after months of research I decided on the Zenith Aircraft 750 STOL. My good friend and CFI owns a Zenith 801, and flying that one gave me the itch to get my own. In fact, in March we flew his aircraft down to the factory in Mexico, MO to see the facility and allow me to test fly their 750 STOL factory demonstrator. I was thrilled with it the moment I saw it and flew it, and ordered my kit the following week. This past Monday, my girlfriend Katie and our dog Dory rented a U-Haul truck and drove down to Mexico to pick it up and bring it home. As if Katie wasn't already the most amazing girlfriend a guy could have, she allowed me to turn our unused third bedroom in the house to a small living room so that I could convert our larger living room into an airplane building workshop! I still need to decide on an engine and avionics, but at least I now have the entire airframe and finishing kits to get started on. Flying down to Mexico in the 801 with a stunning sunrise! Flying the factory demonstrator Picking up the kit this week! The workshop under way, to protect the wood floors from building an airplane I put down vinyl plank on top. And this is what a kit airplane looks like immediately after unloading it into the house

That is awesome, I wonder where I could find a guy who could teach me how to fly it if I won it? Have fun flying her Pete, what a dream!

Happy birthday Karim, hope you are able to get some bench time in on your special day my friend! Cheers!

In 1/32 scale, my top three are: 20 Tamiya P-51Ds 17 Tamiya F4Us 15 Tamiya F-16s

Been there, done that but still waiting for my T-shirt! Seriously, I've binned a few over the years when I realized the stress of seeing them on the SOD outweighed any sense of satisfaction i would have enjoyed seeing it through.

Gorgeous build, the finish looks just like the real deal. From where I'm sitting, one of the finest builds of the Tamiya P-51D I have seen.

Honestly, I hadn't checked in on this build in quite a while. After seeing your "RFI" post, I had to come back and read through your entire thread. Love the work on this one, from the extra work done to fix some issues to the final finish - a stunning build all around.

Indeed, looks like it was a great day for it. So was this!

Always loved the S-38, never knew there was a kit of one! Though a vac-form kit is not in my wheelhouse, I would love to see this one built!

I like this one a lot, really has the "feel" of an early war Zero. Well done!

Wish them luck on their checkride! I looked at the density altitude at our local airport earlier this week and it was over -3900'. Unfortunately, our old Cessnas don't have heaters to cope with cold that goes along with it. Wish I could have been up there with you!

Awesome! I was hoping to fly today too but had to cancel to stay home with my sick doggie. As much as I love flying, she always comes first. Looks like a beautiful day out there for flying!

Very nice, I think you nailed the color mix.

+1

Thanks Mike, I have yet been unable to find any other images, but will continue to search. I had forgotten about the paint mask forums, if I can find a better image perhaps I'll try over there. Thanks again!

Thank you for stopping by gents, sorry I should have mentioned that I knew about those "D" markings! MikeC - I am all for masks, but don't have the ability to make them myself. I could probably cut out the code letters and possibly the serial numbers, but the nose art is beyond my capabilities. Do you know anyone who could do masks for me?

Having found a photo showing P-51K "Ferocious Frankie" in later markings, and seeing a 1/48 decal sheet from Kagero I would like to add this one to my collection. Has anyone ever seen these markings in 1/32, whether decals or paint masks? I know markings for P-51K's are relatively rare, but I would like to build this one if I can source some markings for it. Kagero 48th scale decals Thank you!

Awesome news, I have hoped they would do the XI ever since their XVII was released!

Awesome photos, tell me more!

Hey Pete! Awesome flight indeed, thanks for making me look good! Appreciate the feedback, that L-39 was such a beauty to fly - I can see why pilots love them now. No flying for me for a bit, in the middle of a battle with Covid (my first time) right now. Can't wait to get back in the air, for now all I can do is keep watching our video from that flight. What a day!