UK Thunderbird

Hi, My name is Ramon Wilson, but known as 'Tug' because of that surname and this is my first posting.
I would like to say how flattered I was that some one I don't know felt my T'Bird was worth showing (Sept 17th) and also to thank those who made such nice comments about the finish.

For those interested this was all Brodak from the wood up. The wings are covered in heavy weight Jap tissue and the colour enhanced by adding a couple of spoonfuls of Insignia Red to the clear; something I do on all clear finishes to help prolong the colour against fading.
Sorry to disappoint those who may have thought so but the colours were not so scientifically thought out. It's just White with addition of Grumman Green which is also the darker green. Gold trim is also Brodak. I could not get the tissue areas to buff out so reverted to the normal two pack 'floor finish' 'proofer that I use on nitrate. Thinned with butyrate thinners this applied a nice all over gloss without affecting the paint beneath.

The fillets are from glass(not epoxy)resin and micro balloons and I have had no trouble with Brodak shrinking and delaminating on this model or the previous one (Oriental)I find that I do not need to 'key' the resin, this being sanded as smooth as the rest of the airframe.

The all up weight was 49,3/4 ounces before applying 280ccs of proofer increasing to 50,1/4 after.

Only two flights so far, the ST46 on a smooth four stroke pulling it with ease at 5.4 secs on 64 ft lines. Full pattern was made on it's second flight and first impressions are that it is going to a considerable improvement on the Nobler and Oriental.

A keen 'classic' modeller this is a model I always dreamed about as a young man and now, at sixty, (still young I know!)it has given me an immense amount of pleasure to build and finish. I'm sure the flying will do the same.

Yours - Tug

Hi Tug!
Been seeing your name on Dave Day's site I believe, and in other places also. Great to have you here, welcome!
Very pretty T-Bird.
That was one of my favorite designs back in the early '60s, along with the Ares. Didn't build a T-Bird for 30 years, though. Now I am about to finish up a second one using the Brodak T-Bird kit with Brodak 40 to power it.
This winter will see a replica of the T-Bird that Mr. Palmer flew in the '60s WC.
Bill <><

>I would like to say how flattered I was that some one I
>don't know felt my T'Bird was worth showing (Sept 17th) and
>also to thank those who made such nice comments about the
>finish.

That be me, Tug. Bob Fenske was kind enough to forward your photos for me to see, and I thought that the forum folks would like your Thunderbird, too. Thank you for the permission to post them. And welcome to the forum.

If the weather holds, I'll drag Bob out to fly this weekend. Maybe I can talk him into going to the Twin Cities with us Sunday. Desperately need to work on my Intermediate pattern.

Is the bathroom finished?

All the best,
Kelvin Heath
Rochester, MN