Back in the Fall I went to a swap meet in Delaware. On one of the tables was a Bob Hunt Genesis missing the cowl but otherwise in good shape. The owner Tom was asking $100 for it. I was reluctant because the motor beams looked like a bunch of different engines were once installed based on the number of holes filled with 1/8" dowl rod. I was going to pass on it,but Tom lowered the price to $80 and I took it thinking how bad could it be?
When I got her home I burnt the midnight oil and mounted my newly reworked HP 40. The next morning I met John Saunders at the field to test fly her. She only weighed 42oz ready to go. I put my 61' Nobler lines and handle on her.
Once the plane was in the air I started checking her out and she was really good. Great corners, locked in on level flight,great rounds. I flew most of the pattern stunts then waited for the fuel to run out. When the engine quit I started to set her up for landing when all of a sudden the engine ,beams,and top block fall off the plane and were hanging below the plane held on by the muffler pressure line! I'm able to land the plane with minimal damage.
The plane was really perfect from the wing leading edge back so it was a matter of building a totally new nose. I saved what pieces I could to use as templates for new parts. I built the engine crutch exactly as Bob did originally and sistered in new fuselage nose sides and doubles.I fashioned new top and bottom blocks, shaped them, then hollowed everything out for weight saving.I made sure that the nose moment was exactly as the original.
Next I moved on to the engine cowling. Since I had nothing to go by I designed my own along the lines of the classic 60's ships with the snorkel in the front. Very sexy indeed!
When the construction of the nose and cowl was complete I glassed it all with the very light weight glass cloth and used Zpoxy finishing resin to adhere the cloth. I use one thinned coat to hold the cloth in place ,one thicker coat to fill the weave.At this point I mixed up my own sanding sealer of 1/3 thinner,1/3 talc,1/3 clear Brodak dope,a bit on grey dope to help with sanding. I'm at a stand still now with the finishing waiting for drier weather....she looks great in my eyes.
This ship has a bunch of history actually. According to Bob Hunt it was built around 74/75? After crashing his best plane Joe Adamusko bought the unfinished , but ready for finishing plane from Bob. Joe decided not to use it in competition as he didn't build it. The plane hung on Joe's wall for like 10 years when his then brother in law got into C/L. Joe put a nice finish on it for him, but I understand he didn't use it much. The plane hung at Joe's sister's house for years when Joe then went to pick it up to keep it from being placed in the trash!
I understand that Joe either sold or gave the plane away at one of the local meets. At this point it's history is cloudy,but Tom S. might know more. I'm probably the 6th owner ,but don't know for sure. Meanwhile the plane is 44 or 45 years old.....just amazing. Maybe Bob Hunt or Tom can tell us more about this plane....Cheers.PhillySkip
Topic: My Genesis Rebuild (Read 9677 times)