Author Topic: Jim Lee's "Gee Bee" (Read 6975 times)

Sean McEntee · « **on:** July 23, 2014, 09:55:12 PM »

Anyone get good pictures of Jim Lee's "Gee Bee" at the Nat's? Caught a glimpse of it in one of Sparky's videos. Looked awesome and would like to see more!

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2014, 10:10:30 PM »

There's a picture on the first page of Nats News for July 17th.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats/natsnews.aspx

wwwarbird · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2014, 10:18:31 PM »

I noticed it too and I've been wondering about it. The caption in the Nats News photo says it's an original design by Jim. It looks really cool and very scale-like. We need more info and specs on this one.

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2014, 11:23:31 PM »

Very nice plane. Cast balsa fuselage. Jim carved a foam block to shape, 3/32 balsa was formed over the buck. We love those 30s pylon racers.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:26:33 AM »

I was pleased to take these pictures on the day it was first test flown in Topeka.. A neat new plane !

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:27:20 AM »

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2014, 05:30:04 AM »

Very Kewl!

Hope he is at WKSI so I can get up close.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2014, 07:10:48 AM »

Jim has had several Gee Bees and keeps improving it. Unless his newest Gee Bee is a total new design, Jim did not design it.

The airplane that Jim is pictured with looks bigger, so it might be a new design, influenced by Bob Miller's airplane.

The Original Gee Bee Sportser was designed by the late Bob Miller of Long Island, NY. Here is a picture of Bob with his original airplane taken at The Garden State Circle Burners Snow Bird meet in February 23, 1964. The airplane was published in Flying Models.

James Mills · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2014, 07:38:00 AM »

It looks very cool in the air. I told Jim if there was a "coolness" award at the Nat's he would have my vote.

James

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2014, 08:37:08 AM »

I just talked to Jim Lee.

Jim's is an entirely new airplane. It is based on the Gee Bee Model Y. Whereas Bob Miller's "Extended Gee Bee" is only a semi Gee Bee look alike. Jim's past "Extended Gee Bee" was the influnce for making a new design that is closer to scale in appearance. The fuselage width at the nose is 6 1/2".

Jim's new airplane has a molded fuselage and is slightly bigger with a little more wing area and dihedral. It uses and Evolution .60 for power.

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2014, 09:25:52 AM »

The Gee Bee Sportster, or Model D, looks like this. A much easier build, because the fuselage is a box construction, just like most stunters. Power here is a Stalker 51.

Floyd

James Lee · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2014, 11:19:50 AM »

The Gee Bee has been a long process!! As Tom pointed out, I've had several of the Bob Miller 'Extended Gee Bee's'. Especially the last one had a direct influence on this one. But, this one is a clean sheet of paper... Slightly more area at 675 sq in, 62" span, with the big fuselage, low wing and dihedral. Short nose and long tail, with the outline as close to scale as possible. Fuselage molded on a blue foam buck turned on the lathe. I had no idea where the problems were going to be, so if there is a MK II version, it will have several detail changes, most notably, a weight reduction program!! The 'Intrepid Aviator' pilot has had some some hair raising moments, but hasn't bailed out yet...!!!
I must give a lot of Thanks to Todd for his encouragement! And the occasional kick to get back to work on it!! And to Billy Werwage for his thoughts on how to deal with big fuselages.
Thanks to everyone for their kind comments about the plane.
Jim

Sean McEntee · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2014, 01:55:57 PM »

Jim, that's one of the coolest semi-scale jobs I've seen in awhile. Great job!!

James Lee · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2014, 02:35:38 PM »

Sean
The coolest thing for me is that it is ALL mine and not a modified Nobler....

And after twenty years (

) it is a NEW plane!!!!
Jim

Avaiojet · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2014, 02:55:34 PM »

James,

Really nice model!

I think all of us have this thing for aircraft of the Golden Era, I know I do.

Can you do a run down on your model? Basic info.

It's large, do you fly in on 70' lines?

Inspiring to say the least.

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:17:54 PM »

I hope you bring it to our TGD Contest in Sep. !!
Beautiful model!

James Lee · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:26:58 PM »

62" span, 675 sq in, Evolution 60 with LMS custom venturi ( what else..!), Scott Dinger custom muffler.
Sig Champion 10% fuel, 12 3/4 x 4 1/2 CF prop - Bob McDonald/ Billy Werwage design, 65' 6" lines. 5.7 sec lap time
1 1/2 deg down thrust and some positive incidence in the stab ( thank you Bob Whitely!)
molded balsa fuselage
and it weighs way tooo much....

Jim

Jim Roselle · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:31:57 PM »

James,
I am curious about the reasoning behind the downthrust and the positive stab incidence.

Jim

James Lee · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2014, 04:41:46 PM »

Jim
The downthrust is something Bob Whitely has been touting for some time. He can give you all the tech details!! It does work! The positive incidence in the stab is to overcome reduced turn rate on outside corners with the stab being rather far above the wing... And it also works!! A plane with motor, wing and tail inline does not need it. but as the tail moves above the thrust line, positive incidence is needed. I had a Westland Whirlwind ( the stabalizer is half way up the rudder) very semi scale plane many years ago that would turn very nicely on inside corners, but not worth a darn on the outsides.... Many years later, I found out the fix....
Jim

Avaiojet · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2014, 06:33:35 PM »

James,

Thanks for that information.

How can I get in touch with Scott Dinger? The email I have on him doesn't work.

I may need a custom muffler or two.

Charles

Monty Summach · « **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2014, 07:22:10 PM »

Here is a couple of pictures of Jim's plane in flight at the Nats.

RC Storick · « **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2014, 09:02:14 PM »

cool factor of at least 10

Mike Keville · « **Reply #22 on:** July 24, 2014, 09:05:03 PM »

Quote from: Robert Storick on July 24, 2014, 09:02:14 PM

cool factor of at least 10

======================================
As is Jim Lee himself. Great, fun-loving guy!

Juan Valentin · « **Reply #23 on:** July 24, 2014, 09:15:23 PM »

Here are a few more one at appearance judging and the other at the L pad.
Juan

Colin Collyer · « **Reply #24 on:** July 25, 2014, 02:26:31 AM »

"Way too heavey" and "5.7 lap times".One of them ain't true !

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #25 on:** July 25, 2014, 05:29:52 AM »

Quote from: Tom Niebuhr on July 24, 2014, 07:10:48 AM

Jim has had several Gee Bees and keeps improving it. Unless his newest Gee Bee is a total new design, Jim did not design it.

The airplane that Jim is pictured with looks bigger, so it might be a new design, influenced by Bob Miller's airplane.

The Original Gee Bee Sportser was designed by the late Bob Miller of Long Island, NY. Here is a picture of Bob with his original airplane taken at The Garden State Circle Burners Snow Bird meet in February 23, 1964. The airplane was published in Flying Models.

This is indeed an original by Jim. I spoke to him hoping for plans but he's not ready, and may not be. He's spent many years developing the GEE BEE and is his, I respect that. I judged one of his flights at the Nats, a very able airplane!

Doug Moon · « **Reply #26 on:** July 25, 2014, 07:10:17 AM »

This plane is VERY VERY COOL! I remember sneaking peeks during the appearance judging and catching a glimpse of that plane and wondering who's it was. When I heard it was Jim Lee's I thought, "What, no Sun Flyer?"

He runs and EVO60 with his own muffler of course and it sounds awesome!

VERY COOL PLANE!!!!

Jared Hays · « **Reply #27 on:** July 25, 2014, 06:58:14 PM »

Very cool plane indeed...I remeber Jim saying at the Des Moines contest he had something new in the works!

Joseph Patterson · « **Reply #28 on:** July 25, 2014, 07:21:24 PM »

Neat and cool! Probably the most talked about stunter at the NAT's.
Doug

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #29 on:** July 25, 2014, 09:16:11 PM »

Jim's airplane cries to be published.

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #30 on:** July 29, 2014, 05:59:34 AM »

Quote from: Tom Niebuhr on July 25, 2014, 09:16:11 PM

Jim's airplane cries to be published.

I agree, but I expect he will bask in it for a while and that's his to do. I'd clear the beach and build one right now if I could!!!!

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #31 on:** July 29, 2014, 11:56:08 PM »

Quote from: James Lee on July 24, 2014, 02:35:38 PM

Sean
The coolest thing for me is that it is ALL mine and not a modified Nobler....
And after twenty years ( ) it is a NEW plane!!!!
Jim

We sincerely hope the Sun Flyer got a gold watch for years of service!

Does balsa dry rot?

?

That is one beautiful airplane Mr. Lee...oh! Mr Lee, Mr Lee, Mr. Lee.....oops. got carried away. Hugs to Lila. Love the Gee Bee!

Ted and Shareen

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #32 on:** July 30, 2014, 06:03:44 PM »

Great looking plane Jim. Impression points are off the chart.

Author Topic: Jim Lee's "Gee Bee" (Read 6975 times)

Jim Roselle