Jim Barry Posted October 14, 2022 Share Posted October 14, 2022 Some might remember a scratch project from 2018 that never quite took flight, the Grumman XP-50. I got as far as engines and cowlings and some fuselage but then lost steam. It's an interesting airplane, but I really did not have enough love for it. Gotta be careful with flings! So, fast forward to now: The 3D engines I drafted and had printed in 3D (at some $50-$60) were sitting on a shelf I was organizing the other day and it dawned on me to repurpose them. But how? In 2018 I was touring the USS Yorktown in Charleston, SC and as I wandered by the S-2 Tracker on the deck and it sort of captured my heart somehow, especially noting it had Wright R-1820 powering it (and I had just complete a 3D project on that engine). Maybe then I was thinking how I could do that plane? Hard to say, but for the last few weeks the S-2 has been in my mind. I'm thinking it might have been a spark visiting a static display of a PV2 Neptune in Brunswick, ME (where I live). 50's tech and all. It dovetails into the Bearcat as well. I've been going back and forth whether to launch this project here but figure it is officially WIP since it has engines and I'm thinking a lot of how it will be done. The other controversy is I really want to a) Finish the Bearcat and b) Build Dan's Vigilante I bought last month. It's possible I can do it all in parallel production. Let's give it a a go. Here are some images to kick things off. And yes, It's huge! But it also has folding wings so the display issues for a 36" (90cm) wingspan are manageable. ivanmoe, Gazzas, patricksparks and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted October 14, 2022 Share Posted October 14, 2022 Wow, all the very best with the project. Jim Barry and Out2gtcha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 14, 2022 Share Posted October 14, 2022 59 minutes ago, Kagemusha said: Wow, all the very best with the project. X2!! Love the tracker for SURE. Love to see this one come together! Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 Now we're talking - awesome project! Can't wait to see this one come together. Reminds me of the printed 32nd scale one sitting on my shelf... Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 I knew you two would like this Brian and Ben! Long road ahead but the engines are largely behind me. I thought it would make a great plane to "peek inside". Will probably carve wooden masters of the fuselage and nacelles and vacuuform some shells. Maybe the wings too. We'll see. Anyone have a good rendering or picture of what the crew entrance looks like inside? Also, I'm thinking this is the last combat plane that served with a radial engine in US service, but I'm not 100% on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share Posted October 19, 2022 Back into Fusion. It’s been 4 years. The dust is heavy. Rockie Yarwood, Starfighter, LSP_Kevin and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share Posted October 19, 2022 Oh good. Fusion skills are coming back online! Sending these 3D files to Shapeways today! (redid cowl, it was just too different from the XP-50, really) Landrotten Highlander, Trak-Tor, KiwiZac and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share Posted October 19, 2022 (edited) For those curious about cost, this is a $77 US job. The rest should be pretty cheap so it's all good. Props and Hubs in "Smooth Fine Detail Plastic" and the cowls in "Versatile Plastic" (Terms used by Shapeways) Edited October 19, 2022 by Jim Barry LSP_Kevin and themongoose 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekon Posted October 19, 2022 Share Posted October 19, 2022 Always loved sub hunters. But the thing that hooked me on the S2F was being at a small airshow and being allowed to sit in a C-1A when they started it. The sound of those radials. Jim Barry and KiwiZac 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share Posted October 19, 2022 Yeah, me too. I grew up in Brunswick, ME. P-3s were my everyday and we could almost taste the Cold War with the number of friends and neighbors that conducted ASW. (while my Dad helped build guided missile frigates in Bath). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archimedes Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 Totally impressed with the ambition of this project. Watching with great interest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 Thanks! It’s ambitious for sure! MikeMaben, themongoose, Rockie Yarwood and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Yikes !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brahman104 Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 This is exciting Jim! Looking forward to seeing this one evolve Craig Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 This is a very interesting project! Good luck! Jim Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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