Author Topic: Jet Falcon 1964 (Read 8006 times)

Tom Niebuhr · « **on:** March 04, 2016, 04:57:51 PM »

A while ago I showed pictures of John D'Ottavio's jet styled version of his JD Falcon. He started construction in 1964 but never completed the airplane. Bud Wieder, myself and John's sons were the only people that saw the airplane all those years ago.
John agreed to send the airplane to me, but he passed away before hand. Nick D'Ottavio helped get to airplane to Texas and it over a year as it went though several hands and locations. The airplane was finally delivered by Les Demmet.

The airplane has many unusual contours and in many cases I had to stare at the airplane dumbfounded asking "How Did He Do That"!

The wing and tail surfaces are stock JD Falcon but that is where the similarity ends.

Construction has been very slow due to life getting in the way, but it is finally at a stage where it is looking like it is intended and is exciting to work on. My intention is to have it ready for VSC 2017.

I am sure that you will agree that the "Jet Falcon" is a thing of beauty. I hope that I am doing justice to John and his unique design.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2016, 04:59:54 PM »

Continued

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2016, 05:11:24 PM »

The rudder is not permanently attached to avoid damage while still working on the cowl. Worst thing now is that year old dremel died last night. My last one lasted 35 years.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2016, 05:41:35 PM »

Real shock. New Dremels are not as well made as the old ones.

proparc · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2016, 05:41:51 PM »

Excellent work Tom.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2016, 06:10:36 PM »

I've never seen a Jet with a red velvet seat, must be French?

Avaiojet · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2016, 06:34:45 PM »

Tom,

Congratulations with the "Jet Falcon."

Great project to take on and I'm sure you will do it justice.

Will there be a progress build?

Charles

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2016, 09:27:48 PM »

Wayne,
I had a picture of an ejection seat with those colors, it was not French. I used red felt with some streaks of black. The cockpit detail is sparse, but time is of the essence.

Charles, I will show progress.

I have to do more work on the cowl, then permanently mount the rudder, followed by carbon veil and fillets. A lot of work ahead for sure.

I am also starting a new job, so that will cut into available time, but will also make going to VSC 2017 possible.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2016, 10:26:07 PM »

I was just kidding around there Tom, the Falcon is looking good.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2016, 10:11:44 AM »

I can see this is going to a great plane that you are doing for your friend who is no longer with us. He was always a gentleman to me at the NATS.

Steve Hines · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2016, 09:56:05 AM »

Tom I have some brushes for the old dremel if you need them.

Steve

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2016, 08:23:39 AM »

eve,
Thanks, but that old Dremel went through several sets of brushes. The bearings finally went, so I have discarded it many moons ago. Two newer Dremels did hot hold up. The last one was a single speed that died in less than a year.... What happened to quality?

That original tool lasted over 30 years. Today I will be buying another that I need to finish work on the Jet Falcon.

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2016, 10:17:21 PM »

So Tom, has there been any progress on the Jet Falcon?

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2016, 11:53:35 PM »

Quote from: Tom Niebuhr on March 07, 2016, 08:23:39 AM

eve,
Thanks, but that old Dremel went through several sets of brushes. The bearings finally went, so I have discarded it many moons ago. Two newer Dremels did hot hold up. The last one was a single speed that died in less than a year.... What happened to quality?

That original tool lasted over 30 years. Today I will be buying another that I need to finish work on the Jet Falcon.

Tom, take a look at this tool, its precision, quiet, runs cool and its well made,, I just bought one to replace my dremel recently and I heard about this from a Scale builder on You TUbe,
its a little spendy but given the number of Dremels you have worn out, you might look at this?

http://shop.prox-tech.com/c/hand-held-power-tools-115-v_professional-rotary-tool-ibs-e?pkey=ab44e6b8750e4c04dc951e6a66f856e4&ckey=1098125.1029645.0.0.0

It is precision made, one feature I like better than my dremel is that you set the speed then there is a rocker on off switch,,
anyway, no vested interest except getting good tools in hands that appreciate them,

the build is very interesting, lots of curves and shapes,, It is looking good

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2016, 08:37:39 AM »

No new pictures yet. I had some paint issues requiring rework in some areas, but the airplane is now all white and I have started the masking and made vinyl paint masks. (Sure is handy when you have a cutter.)

The top of the wing and horizontal tail will be the Corvette red that I used on my "Top Hats". (This is a deeper red than on the new Corvettes.) The bottom will be white. The top and bottom of the fuselage will be dark blue. The rudder will be red with falcon clip art. Panel lines and placards are also planned. A mountain of work ahead for sure.

Suffice it to say that this will be the last airplane that I use auto base coat/top coat. I will go back to dope and use toners.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #15 on:** October 24, 2016, 11:32:21 AM »

Will we see it at VSC?

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2016, 08:59:25 PM »

Randy,

I wish that I could make another trip to VSC, but it does not look possible at this time. Finances just too tight.

The Jet Falcon and the Curtiss Swift would make a great combo!

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2016, 05:45:23 PM »

Here is a small preview. Again, the bottom of the wing and tail surfaces will be white, The top and bottom of the fuselage will be dark blue. The panel lines and placards before clear coat.. Many hours of work ahead.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #18 on:** October 27, 2016, 05:46:32 PM »

Preview 2

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #19 on:** October 27, 2016, 05:47:51 PM »

Preview 3

wwwarbird · « **Reply #20 on:** October 27, 2016, 07:39:04 PM »

Wow, lookin' good!

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2016, 04:36:06 PM »

Colors now on. Now touchups and detailing. A few weeks of work ahead before clearcoat.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2016, 04:37:22 PM »

Colors 2

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2016, 04:38:51 PM »

Colors 3

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2016, 06:10:28 PM »

Looks good, Tom.