Author Topic: my Suarez phantom is done (test flown yesterday) (Read 12172 times)

dave shirley jr · « **on:** September 20, 2009, 07:57:53 PM »

I finally finished my Bill Suarez Phantom
it took allmost three years. I kept setting it aside to do other projects but i finally got around to painting it this last week
It is a classic legal design that you dont see very often
Dave jr.

Bryan Higgins · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2009, 08:09:22 PM »

Wow

A Phantom Control line stunt plane. Dave you have great skillz.
That is one nice jet.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2009, 08:37:52 PM »

Classic legal, hmm? Well, Dave, how about bringing it to VSC-22 next March?

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2009, 08:39:15 PM »

Very Cool, Dave Jr.! It will look good next to Larry Fernandez's Crusader. What's the power?

Steve

James Mills · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2009, 10:50:46 PM »

Dave,

Slick plane, I've plans for that one someplace (I was looking at the article a couple of days ago). How about some details (finish, motor, all that kind of stuff).

James

dave shirley jr · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2009, 11:44:38 PM »

Mike:
I might make it to Tuscon this year but not sure yet.
the paint is a mixture, the white on the bottom surfaces is laquer the USAF light grey on top is Perfect enamel(they dont sell it anymore)
and all the other colors Black,yellow,siver,dark grey and titanium are testors model paints the insignias etc. are decals done on my home laser printer. and the clear is automotive polyurethane clear
here is a picture of the cocpit before it was covered up
the engine is a LA40
Dave.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:04:49 AM »

That's awesome, Dave. I love it. How's it fly?

Hope you can make it to VSC. I actually get to go next March.

RC Storick · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:50:40 AM »

Problem with it is? Its too nice to fly! Great job!

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2009, 01:54:25 AM »

Looks Great, Dave! Any chance you're bringing it Golden State?

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2009, 04:17:01 AM »

That is a beautiful airplane ...... WELL DONE!!

FlySafe! Larry

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2009, 06:10:13 AM »

WoW! A job well done!

Dave:btw Hows your dads bipe repair coming along, or did he can it? That was a beaut as well...you Shirleys make some nice birds!

Bill Hodges · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2009, 06:27:01 AM »

Fantastic looking plane!! Are the plans available? If so, from who?

Bill Hodges

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:41:16 AM »

This is one of the most beautiful and interesting stunters I've ever seen. Awesome work,
and an awesome design.

L.

"Aibohphobia: the fear of palindromes."

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:34:51 AM »

OUTSTANDING! looks like it came out of a time machine. Got test flights yet?

john e. holliday · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2009, 10:10:13 AM »

Dave, you have out done your self on this one. It is absolutely gorgeous and if it weren't for the prop would look real. Hope it flies as well as it looks. DOC Holliday

Michael Boucher · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2009, 10:31:44 AM »

Beautiful model Dave !

stunt1 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2009, 10:49:11 AM »

Hey Dave,

There's not much I can add here everybody has already said it's awesome and I would Ditto that.
Good Luck with it and Happy Flyoing.

Cheers,

Bob "Champione" Lampione

Robertc · « **Reply #17 on:** September 21, 2009, 11:02:04 AM »

Your Phantom looks great. I built one in the late 70's and it looked really nice in the air.
Can't wait for the flight report.

W.D. Roland · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2009, 11:18:05 AM »

Wow Dave

That is pure D beautiful!

Please post flight report!!!

David

proparc · « **Reply #19 on:** September 21, 2009, 11:19:30 AM »

LA 40?

Are you sure that is enough power. I have flow LA 40 powered profiles, and they seemed to be "somewhat challenged".

Randy Powell · « **Reply #20 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:16:33 PM »

I'm not sure how big a plane this is. No reference in the background. AN LA40 may be fine.

Gene O'Keefe · « **Reply #21 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:28:09 PM »

TOTALLY AWESOME !!!!! Love the front landing gear/strut

John Miller · « **Reply #22 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:32:51 PM »

SU-PER-LA-TIVE.

Michael Floerchinger · « **Reply #23 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:42:59 PM »

Incredible!

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #24 on:** September 21, 2009, 01:46:45 PM »

That is just too Kewl !!!

Or as they use to say in the 70's.... that is Boss!

Now if you can just get black smoke to pour out the back it would be great for Scale.

The first and only time I heard a sonic boom was when I did a dependent cruise on the USS America back in the 70's. They put on a small air show while cruising in the Med, and a F-4 did a fly and shook the whole ship!

Matt Colan · « **Reply #25 on:** September 21, 2009, 02:15:02 PM »

Um...

WOW!!!!

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #26 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:10:03 PM »

Outstanding! That will bring tears to Bill's eyes. We will have get a copy of the picture to him, since he does not to my knowedge go on the forums.

Bill was very successful with his Phantom with a Fox .35. Or, is this a later version?

I don't see any ribs, is this the picture or is the airplane sheeted?

Again, that is a beautiful airplane.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #27 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:48:11 PM »

Quote from: Tom Niebuhr on September 21, 2009, 03:10:03 PM

Outstanding! That will bring tears to Bill's eyes. We will have get a copy of the picture to him, since he does not to my knowedge go on the forums.

Bill was very successful with his Phantom with a Fox .35. Or, is this a later version?

I don't see any ribs, is this the picture or is the airplane sheeted?

Again, that is a beautiful airplane.

Tom I think this is the early version. Billy had a bigger F-4, which you may remember, but he powered it with an ST 60. You may ask how I know this because I wasn't around during that time, well I've seen video of him flying it at the circle burner field.

Dave, that is an OUTSANDING model, it really looks like an F-4 for stunt, if it flies half as good as it looks, the plane will be a winner.

dave shirley jr · « **Reply #28 on:** September 21, 2009, 05:41:50 PM »

I havent flown it yet but I intend to fly it this weekend at the meat n meet ,or is that meet n meat?
anyway please get bill a copy or let me know if he has an email and i will send him one.
it is in fact the early one he built before the classic cut off date and flew at the 70 nats. the plans as published in M.A.show a fox 35 so i think a LA 40 will be fine if not i will put my LA 46 in it.It isn't real big,about 530 squares i think. the wing is built up and sheeted then covered with silkspan.
Dad is just about to get started on the second Bip,e it took me awhile to redraw the plans and get them to him.
Dave jr.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2009, 06:23:42 PM »

Matt,
Bill's P-38 was in M.A.N. April 1966, I don't know the date for the F-4. One of these was also published in the same issue with Vic Macaluso's 1st F-14.
Both of Bill's airplanes had many wins. Bill is a treasured friend and a great guy.

Dave,
I am sending you a P.M. With Bill's contact info. I am almost certain that he does not have an e-mail address.

BTW, where did you get the great looking pilots? As you probably know, I think that all stunters should have some cockpit detail. I just don't think that paint = a cockpit.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #30 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:03:39 PM »

Quote from: dave shirley jr on September 21, 2009, 05:41:50 PM

I havent flown it yet but I intend to fly it this weekend at the meat n meet ,or is that meet n meat?
anyway please get bill a copy or let me know if he has an email and i will send him one.
it is in fact the early one he built before the classic cut off date and flew at the 70 nats. the plans as published in M.A.show a fox 35 so i think a LA 40 will be fine if not i will put my LA 46 in it.It isn't real big,about 530 squares i think. the wing is built up and sheeted then covered with silkspan.
Dad is just about to get started on the second Bip,e it took me awhile to redraw the plans and get them to him.
Dave jr.

And Dave, that Bipe also looked great!!!

dave shirley jr · « **Reply #31 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:09:24 PM »

Thanks Tom
I got the email.
the f-4 was published june of 1971 in american aircraft modeller along with Vic Macaluso's f-8 crusader.
I have a copy of a letter that bill Suarez sent to Tom McClain stating that the original was built for the 67 season but didn't get painted untill the fall of 69. he then flew it at the 70 nats.
I guess it wasn't published untill 71 for some reason.
too bad the crusader wasn't built earlier than 70.
the pilots are some GI joe types i found at the toy store they were about the right scale and were actually quite cheap as i recall i bought them 3 years ago at toys "R" us.
anyway thanks for all the positive comments guys.
hopefully it trims out well.
I agree on the canopy thing Tom. I still think you should have to fly with the same amount of visual ability as the model pilots have.(that might bring back clear canopys)
Dave jr.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #32 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:42:22 PM »

Dave,
You are correct that Vic's F-8 Crusader was in the same issue as Bill's F-4.

The F-4 will always be close to my heart. My first few years at McDonnell and Mcdonnell-Douglas in St louis, I worked in engineering on the F4C, D,E,J,K & M and the retrofits for the Airforce Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels. . Then went to the F-15 project.

Again, thanks for showing your great F-4.

James Mills · « **Reply #33 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:09:32 PM »

Quote from: Tom Niebuhr on September 21, 2009, 06:23:42 PM

Matt,
Bill's P-38 was in M.A.N. April 1966, I don't know the date for the F-4. One of these was also published in the same issue with Vic Macaluso's 1st F-14.
Both of Bill's airplanes had many wins. Bill is a treasured friend and a great guy.

Dave,
I am sending you a P.M. With Bill's contact info. I am almost certain that he does not have an e-mail address.

BTW, where did you get the great looking pilots? As you probably know, I think that all stunters should have some cockpit detail. I just don't think that paint = a cockpit.

Tom,

I had thought about building one of these several years ago and talked with Bill and he verified it was Classic legal. He was a real pleasant guy to talk with.

James

Jim Pollock · « **Reply #34 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:29:17 PM »

WOW,

That's very nice and so scale looking, I'll bet when Col Tom McClain sees it he'll start drooling.
He's a former Phantom Jockey ya know!

Jim Pollock

ptg · « **Reply #35 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:51:08 PM »

Dear Dave,

If you will indulge me, I'd like to say this about THAT.
"THAT" is just beautiful!
Absolutely love J & S Shirley stuff. You guys are always a pleasent surprise!
Hope to see it, you and Sr. next weekend at M&M. It should be a feast for the eyes as there will be other new planes. There's sure a lot of talent around here!
Congratulations!

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #36 on:** September 21, 2009, 09:01:05 PM »

Glad to see it finished Dave, looks great. You are without a doubt the fastest quality painter in C/L Stunt-dom (is that a word?, it is now!). Gonna miss you all at the Meet and Meat but I am awarding myself a consolation prize by hopefully making it to the Karl Marschinke contest in Tucson - same weekend. Hello to all.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #37 on:** September 21, 2009, 10:52:11 PM »

I really like this, I have a soft spot for Phantoms after working on RF-4C models in the air force.
Its always cool to see something off the beaten path too. especially for classic,,

Randy Powell · « **Reply #38 on:** September 22, 2009, 03:40:01 PM »

Stop drooling Mark. It's not becoming to an esteemed personage such as yourself.

dave shirley jr · « **Reply #39 on:** September 22, 2009, 05:52:54 PM »

Hi Pete!
we will miss you this weekend.
yeah i finally drug the phantom off the shelf and finished it.
I'll tell you how it flies after this weekend
Dave jr.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #40 on:** September 22, 2009, 08:28:16 PM »

That's really cool, Dave. Timely, too, now that skulls are fashionable.

Bill Little · « **Reply #41 on:** September 22, 2009, 11:11:22 PM »

Absolutely beautiful work, Dave!

I talked with Vic Macaluso a couple years ago and he said even though he wished it were so, he didn't design his Crusader before Jan. 1970, but Bill's Phantom was definitely done well before the cut off. Why the Phantom didn't show up until the 1971 issue I never did find out.........

Mongo

John Sunderland · « **Reply #42 on:** September 23, 2009, 10:36:55 PM »

Tom McClains version of Billy S.' F4 was quite nice. At the time I saw it, I had not yet met Bill. A couple of Nats later, I found he and his wife to be the nicest people you would ever want to meet. His spouse launched each and every flight all week long, and we shared a LONG HOT WEEK, at the RAMADUMP near the field and compared some close scores!

Your Version. GORGEOUS!

wwwarbird · « **Reply #43 on:** September 24, 2009, 08:10:43 AM »

THAT is REALLY NICE, very cool model Dave!

dave shirley jr · « **Reply #44 on:** September 26, 2009, 06:23:19 PM »

Well I got the chance to test fly the F4 yesterday afternoon and flew it at the contest today.
it flys pretty decent. after a couple of flap tweaks and severall prop changes on flight 4 it was flying pretty well. but the engine i had in it was running a little weak.(i found some debris in the spray bar after i pulled it out last night and the compression seems pretty low.).
last night i replaced the engine with my La 46 and replaced the 1.25 front wheels with some 1.74 wheels(it wasn't taking off of the grass real well)and reflew it this morning and it was much better. i got a couple of test flights at lunch time and got the needle set a bit better and put in a decent second flight.
so it has a total of 9 flight so far and i placed third with it so all in all I'm pretty happy with it.
I ended up with a 10-5 zinger on it but i'm pretty sure i will be trying other props and engine runs . but the airplane flies pretty good.
Great Design Bill!
Dave jr.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #45 on:** September 27, 2009, 06:06:00 AM »

Sounds good Dave! Are you running an LA 46 with a 10-5? That's seems kind of small to me, since we're running 12-5s on our LA 46 in grandpa's P-47.

proparc · « **Reply #46 on:** September 27, 2009, 11:27:09 AM »

Quote from: dave shirley jr on September 26, 2009, 06:23:19 PM

last night i replaced the engine with my La 46.
Dave jr.

I thought so!!! I was waiting to see that post!!!

Bill Little · « **Reply #47 on:** September 27, 2009, 03:37:51 PM »

Great news, Dave. Just make the move and throw a TT 36 in her and finish 1st!

Mongo

dave shirley jr · « **Reply #48 on:** September 27, 2009, 07:17:35 PM »

Yeh Matt thats a LA 46 and a 10-5 prop. unfortunately the ground clearance doesn't allow for any bigger diameter. i will be trying some 10 inch three blades when i can fly it off of some pavement.
i cut down a 11-5 to 10.25 and it doesn't have anywhere near enough ground clearance to fly off of grass.
the 46 runs fine in a high 2 cycle with that prop but it couldn't hurt to have a little more load on the engine.
Dave jr.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #49 on:** September 27, 2009, 08:02:44 PM »

You could try a 4 blade CF Prop at 10 inches. That should load it up a bit.