Author Topic: Kaz's new F6F Hellcat... (Read 4404 times)

Scott Richlen · « **on:** November 17, 2011, 06:09:19 PM »

Latest edition of Stunt News has a picture of just the nose of Kaz Minato's F6F Hellcat. Anyone have more pictures of his plane. It really looks good!

How about plans?

Scott

linheart smith · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2011, 06:35:16 PM »

Found this on Face Book.

Linheart

Brett Buck · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2011, 06:38:41 PM »

Quote from: Scott Richlen on November 17, 2011, 06:09:19 PM

Latest edition of Stunt News has a picture of just the nose of Kaz Minato's F6F Hellcat. Anyone have more pictures of his plane. It really looks good!

It looks even better up close. Beautiful work.

Brett

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2011, 07:48:02 PM »

A couple of other Kaz F6F-3 pics:

Randy Powell · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2011, 07:54:33 PM »

Gotta love the 4 blade prop.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2011, 09:07:34 PM »

Very cool model, and built to Kaz's excellent standards. Thanks for posting the pics guys.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2011, 11:06:46 PM »

I have a bunch of photo's of it ( just not where I am right now )

What cannot be seen is - that its fully take apart - Wing is 2 piece Yatsenko style, breaks in half at the Fuse - tailplane and fin all removable.

Craftsmanship was quite exceptional.

Interesting - Kaz elected not to fly this model in Brazil Nats - instead flying a BM comp model.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2011, 12:58:39 AM »

Here it is at the Nats. Kaz stripped the glow plug threads in his engine's head. People pounced on it and got a new head installed in about five minutes so Kaz could get his flight in.

That's PJ in the background, dressed for stunt, rolling up his lines.

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2011, 04:41:18 AM »

Ya know, there is just something about those Grumman Cats. Very nice.
Wayne

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #9 on:** November 18, 2011, 04:54:09 AM »

That photo Howard - there were more notable names ....

Don Mcclave
Paul Walker
Kaz Minato
Mike Haverley

I just cannot zoom in enough to work out who was flying....

John Stiles · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2011, 05:16:51 AM »

Quote from: linheart smith on November 17, 2011, 06:35:16 PM

Found this on Face Book.

Linheart

Man that's a super nice model! Thanks for finding and posting that pic!

louie klein · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2011, 06:27:29 AM »

Now that is something to save and look at once in a while, WOW!---LOUIE

Doug Moon · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2011, 09:44:00 AM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on November 17, 2011, 06:38:41 PM

It looks even better up close. Beautiful work.

Brett

Yeah, it is way more badass in person!

Oh, I wanted to steal that 4 blader so bad.....

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2011, 09:51:34 AM »

Gorgeous Kaz! Do luv the Cats too...

But jus' curious....How come some pictures will blow up in size when I click on the picture? And others I need to click on the picture name below the pic and let my photo program blow it up? Hunh?

W.

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #14 on:** November 18, 2011, 10:24:34 AM »

Thank you everyone for posting the pictures! That is one good-looking airplane!

Scott

Bill Little · « **Reply #15 on:** November 18, 2011, 10:49:42 AM »

That brings back memories of the last Contest held at Hobby Park in Winston Salem 9very early '90s). Kaz was flying a Blue Max, IIRC and Tommy Luper was flying a stock ST .60 mounted inboard on a Hellcat profile. Tommy lost by 2 or 3 points in Expert. Tommy can wiggle a handle!

I believe Scott had his Silver Lancer there.

Big Bear

Gene Martine · « **Reply #16 on:** November 18, 2011, 01:00:53 PM »

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #17 on:** November 18, 2011, 01:56:18 PM »

Funny I didn't notice it in person, but it seems Kaz doesn't believe in doubling up hinges at the flap tips, nor in a lot of elevator hinges... Though I must admit that these days, I also feel need for less hinges if the surfaces are taped correctly... but only 2 elevator hinges? My mentor is out there cringing somewhere. Heh.

Kidding aside, it obviously works, and works well for Kaz. Probably shaves a few grams of tail weight off too.

Awesome airplane. I have some pic's I took at the Nats to add. Some from the 180 building before and after the rows were sorted, as you can see it stayed near the front row... and pics from the work session on his head.
I can't tell from the pic, but I wonder if it may be a magnesium head, judging from the unusual head color? Totally a guess, maybe Kaz anodized it to blend in better for all I know...Howards pic appears to show a shiny, normal looking head going back on. I'm guessing Randy Smith could fill in the details.
EricV

Doug Moon · « **Reply #18 on:** November 18, 2011, 02:07:39 PM »

Eric,

It looks like a mag head. They turn gray pretty quick.

I think he uses lots of composite stuff in his planes. With the proper strength he can get away with less hinges. Probably makes for a smoother operations as well.

His stuff is so cool. I have voted for his planes for concourse on more than one occasion.

Will Hinton · « **Reply #19 on:** November 18, 2011, 05:21:59 PM »

At the nats this year, Kaz asked Mike McHenry to pose with him and the "Cat" beside Mike's Zero. It was funny, when they got ready for the picture, Kaz grabbed Mike's Zero and had Mike hold the Hellcat.
I haven's received my copy yet (hint, hint, wink) but maybe someone will post it here.

RandySmith · « **Reply #20 on:** November 18, 2011, 07:58:32 PM »

it was an older Mag head he stripped, I got him a std al. head to finish the contest, he did and all was well. I have the mag head here tried to repaur but the mag would not hold the coils as it was mostly gone
Kaz had a great plane, as he most always does, and if your gonna use only 4 hinges small you better make sure you have a full line of tape down the hingelines
Randy

Brett Buck · « **Reply #21 on:** November 18, 2011, 08:24:40 PM »

Quote from: RandySmith on November 18, 2011, 07:58:32 PM

it was an older Mag head he stripped, I got him a std al. head to finish the contest, he did and all was well. I have the mag head here tried to repaur but the mag would not hold the coils as it was mostly gone

Randy, have you ever considered heli-coil or some other thread insert from the start? We don't even bother trying to thread aluminum or even beryllium any more, just put inserts in the original part. Or at least we did, when we still built things ourselves.

Brett

RandySmith · « **Reply #22 on:** November 18, 2011, 09:48:38 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on November 18, 2011, 08:24:40 PM

Randy, have you ever considered heli-coil or some other thread insert from the start? We don't even bother trying to thread aluminum or even beryllium any more, just put inserts in the original part. Or at least we did, when we still built things ourselves.

Brett

Hi Brett

Yes I have, I have had almost zero problems with the aluminum , as the grade we use holds up very well, The mag has had a few people strip it, Helicoils don't work well in the Mag, steel inserts may but are hard to find, I will have to make them, or I am looking at now making some aluminum or bronze inserts for the mag heads, That is what I am about to do with the failed head that KAZ gave me, since the inserts didn;t hold, What may happen is it will just become a clamp.

Randy

john e. holliday · « **Reply #23 on:** November 19, 2011, 07:46:55 AM »

Does a mag head make that big a difference in the performance of an engine? Inquiring minds want to know. Kaz is one terrific builder and flyer. Also is a great gentleman as well as his son and flying partners.

RandySmith · « **Reply #24 on:** November 19, 2011, 10:04:37 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on November 19, 2011, 07:46:55 AM

Does a mag head make that big a difference in the performance of an engine? Inquiring minds want to know. Kaz is one terrific builder and flyer. Also is a great gentleman as well as his son and flying partners.

No there is no differance in the engine performance, the only reason to use one is just for weight reduction on the nose

Randy

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #25 on:** November 19, 2011, 11:10:50 PM »

Quote from: RandySmith on November 19, 2011, 10:04:37 AM

No there is no differance in the engine performance, the only reason to use one is just for weight reduction on the nose

Randy

Hi Randy; If you remember, what was the weight difference? Significant for a part that size? Like Doc, just curious. Magnesium is a funny metal. Doesn't age well and gets brittle with age. I mess with vintage enduro motorcycles, and need to tap an old magnesium case every now and then. From the sound you would think I was trying to cut glass! I have mesmerized several of my riding buddies when I was able to weld and save some rare vintage magnesium parts for them. Welding magnesium is pretty easy, finding the welding rod to do is pretty difficult! I even called Scott Dinger one time trying to track down a small quantity.

Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Author Topic: Kaz's new F6F Hellcat... (Read 4404 times)

Eric Viglione