Author Topic: Midwest P-63 Kingcobra (Read 9422 times)

Steven Kientz · « **on:** April 22, 2011, 08:47:14 PM »

Went to the LHS today. In the window was a P63 Kingcobra. It had been hanging in a garage for some time. Ended up bringing it home. Not sure if its airworthy, some of the hinges have deteriorated. It looks like the silk wasn't completely filled when it was finished, no paint , just sealed. I'd like to at least clean it up and hang it in the shop, what should I use? Could someone give me an idea when this kit was produced? Also is there an easy way to replace the old hinges?

Thanks
Steve

Peter Nevai · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2011, 09:21:10 PM »

Early 70's, good flying profile kit of the day.

W.D. Roland · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2011, 12:24:32 AM »

Steve if you enlarge pic the added sewn hinges replacing the failed cloth hinges can be seen.
Note cool yellow monokote over rotted silk span!.
This one built in early 70s and last flown this spring. Might need a redo...
The thing that refuses to die.
This and the P-40 both needed 4-5oz tail weight. Shortened nose on P-40 helped flying mucho.

David

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2011, 04:53:46 AM »

That series of kits by Midwest was a great idea. My favorite was the Skyraider and then the King Cobra. I only had one Sky Raider but three King Cobra's. Two of the Cobra's were in civilian dress and one stock kit military. I have one each of the Mustang, Cobra and Messershmitt on my someday to build shelf.
Wayne

Steven Kientz · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2011, 05:41:05 AM »

Any ideas on what to use to clean it so I can paint it? I tried Dawn Power Dissolver on the elevator. Still pretty dirty afterwards.

Steve

Leester · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2011, 07:29:41 AM »

You could try Accetone. I've got one of Larry Richards repro kits that I screwed up the wing on. I had Crist Rigotti cut me a Foamie for it (when he was in buisness) so that's on my to do list along with a P-40 Warhawk Richards kit.

Allen Brickhaus · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2011, 09:12:24 AM »

My first publication was a Bob Hunt foam winged revamp of the Midwest kit. This is a copy of a model produced by Charlie Reeves (for himself) as the Chuck Turner Flying Red Horse.

The second shot is of Charlie Reeves with his version of the Flying Red Horse.

The third shot is a close-up of Charlie's FRH.

The fourth shot is Robert Compton with a red painted version of Charlie's FRH.

JamieHolford · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2011, 07:43:23 AM »

Quote from: W.D. Roland on April 23, 2011, 12:24:32 AM

Steve if you enlarge pic the added sewn hinges replacing the failed cloth hinges can be seen.
Note cool yellow monokote over rotted silk span!.
This one built in early 70s and last flown this spring. Might need a redo...
The thing that refuses to die.
This and the P-40 both needed 4-5oz tail weight. Shortened nose on P-40 helped flying mucho.

David

A redo?!?!?!?! That is a understatement. We were lucky not to have those leadouts sanp on us but I blame my dad for causing that lol.

I liked the way it flew for my first time ever flying a big size plane!

bill bischoff · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2011, 10:29:37 AM »

I also have fond memories of this plane. In 1976 a friend let me fly his. It was the first plane bigger than a 15 that I ever flew. Of course it was awesome and I had to have one. The local hobby shop only had the P-51, so I cut the scoop off the bottom and made it trike gear to make it more like the 'Cobra. My first picture in a national magazine was with that airplane. I was all of 15 then. Fast forward 10 years, I decided to build one for profile scale. Different rudder, instant P-39! G21.-40 engine, J-Roberts control system, gear doors and Robart plastic LG covers. I flew it for years and did pretty well with it. One of our older club members really liked it, so eventually I gave it to him. It was his favorite airplane to fly. Unfortunately I lost track of it after he passed away.

Sorry for the side trip down memory lane. Didn't really answer any questions, did it?

Steven Kientz · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2011, 03:15:44 PM »

I tested some spray primer on the fuselage where I had cleaned it. It didn't bubble so the paint issue is solved. I think I'm going to set my Sea Hurricane aside to repair the P-63. Sewn hinges and 'cote on the wing, and maybe some wood repair around the motor mount. Probably use my Evo 36 w/ tongue muffler, as it is my lightest 35 size engine. Unless someone thinks I should go smaller(OS 25 F).

Steve

Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2011, 04:46:54 PM »

Does anyone out there have a PDF, or any electronic scan, of the Cobra or Skyraider? I had the Skyraider early on and it was the first plane I took home that didn't need some repairs! LOL Loved that plane. I never had the P-63 but always heard it was the best flying of the bunch.

Actually I wouldn't mind a PDF or something of any of them! They were all neat looking ships and could really take the abuse!

George Waters · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2011, 07:39:47 PM »

I had two of these p63 kingcobras. #1 was used in int and was good until the control horn broke when my daughter was flying it at Brodaks. Total wreck. I built a second one and used a nobler wing in it. I gave this plane to a friend to use,it still flies well. Both were powered with fp 35 or 40. My son has a p40 which flies well with an fp35 and 1.25 oz. tailweight. George

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2011, 08:55:13 PM »

I have a King Cobra - .09 - 19 engine. Mine has a McCoy 19 in. It doesn't fly real well. I had to cut the nose. However, I did get into doing lazy eights with it which at the time, was a step up from what I had been doing. I flew it the other day - too much wind. I ran backwards a lot and salvaged the flight. It was my first flight of the spring. I don't have a stooge wire on my Smoothie and Nobler - my bread and butter planes nor on the Doodle Streak. I guess it's just a matter of putting on the wires. Have fun!

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2011, 12:04:32 PM »

I flew one at VSC 1 and 2. Fox 35 going full two stroke almost all of the time, Rev-Up 10x6EW. It has a thin wing, needs to go fast, not much on the corners, but a smooth, consistent pattern can be accomplished with a little practice. I recall the stab/elevator need to be bigger, I had big wheels and it still didn't outside as well as inside because of the low wing. Big heavy wheels are the key if it doesn't outside well.
Mine was heavy silkspan and dope with K&B Superpoxy in orange, it was pretty. My 14 year old picked up the handle upside down at a contest when he was about 10 and it was reduced to sticks.
Chris...

Terrence Durrill · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2011, 12:13:07 PM »

Not by Midwest but: You can see the P-63 in flight here.

THIS VIDEO IS BEST ON FULL SCREEN AND SOUND ON!
Subject: P-63 Kingcobra flight videos.

See the P-63 KINGCOBRA in flight........interesting video.

http://wn.com/P-63_Kingcobra

Steven Kientz · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2011, 02:55:06 PM »

Stripped the old covering off the wing bays, realized there was no tip wt. Is one oz. enough? Hope to post pictures after it is primed.

Thanks
Steve

Leester · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2011, 06:56:24 PM »

As long as you have it down to bare wood put a weight box in. That way you can be more accurate.

Damian_Sheehy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2011, 07:23:12 PM »

Quote from: Steven Kientz on June 20, 2011, 02:55:06 PM

Stripped the old covering off the wing bays, realized there was no tip wt. . . .

And each half of the wing has the same length, right?
Some older planes may not have a tip weight because the outboard half of the wing may be shorter.

Bill Little · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2011, 12:30:42 AM »

I Had, and or flew, most all of the 48" Midwest Warbirds. Have plans for a few of them now, including the last one, (AFAIK) the P-40. I also have plans done by Vince Micchia in Flying models which appear to be the models Midwest used and redesigned (added flaps, etc) for their kits. I liked the P-39 probably the best followed by the Skyraider powered by GMA's '72 Fox .40 Stunt. My favorite didn't fly as well as most of the others. A buddy had a P-51D and his just wasn't up to snuff..............

Micchia dew a couple more planes in that series that were not kitted, one being a KI-61 Tony. I plan to take that fuselage and add Mike Garmon's (1st series Brodak Warbirds) cut down '57 GB Nobler wing. Micchia's planes were all drawn with out flaps. but the dimensions are spot on.

Might do the same with Charlie Reeves Flying Red Horse. Mike came op with a good idea in the modified Green Box Nobler wing for that size plane. Slap a Magnum .36XLSIIA up front and have a bunch of power available there for $70.

Big Bear

Steven Kientz · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2011, 02:29:54 PM »

I'll look into a wt. box, I'm sure I have enough scrap laying around to build one. I plan on using an OS 35 fp for power. Its an RC version I converted to CL. The venturi is one my father had from the late '60s( fit a St 35). i fitted it with a Brodak NVA. It was on a Corehouse Pyscho.That plane is now a hangar queen, it didn't fly very well(my fault stab was crooked).Most people who tried to fly it called it EVIL!

Steve

john e. holliday · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2011, 08:25:35 AM »

Guess I will jump in here on the Midwest P-63. Mine was covered in Solar Film. Power was the McCoy .40 Stunt box stock. The combination was great for me. At VSC one year there was an auction. I won a P-63 by Midwes that was in a plastic bag. I paid for it and turned around and gave it to a young man standing behind me. Can't remember his name, but a year later he thanked me at VSC for the plane. He had built it and was flying it. Did I say that the P-63 was one of my better flying planes for being box stock.

Phil Spillman · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2011, 03:05:42 PM »

In 1969 I started my Skyraider shortly after my daughter was born I even wrote the date inside the plane! I finished it in 1970 and have been flying it ever sines! I have no idea of how many flights have been notched on it since then but it still is flyable! I think the secret to its long life is due to two factors: 1. I covered it in silk 2. I used large leather fillets in the wing fuselage joint. Last year it flew at Brodak's in N-30 to third in Expert.

The second one of the Midwest series I built was the ME-109 and it too flew well! This plane was my work horse to get through Intermediate and early Advanced matriculation. As I recall it needed an FP .40 to fly well toward the end. At last I sold it off and the new owner plowed it into the earth and then burned the carcass! Alas poor Urich, I knew him well!

Phil Spillman