"Project Re-Buc"
By Tommy Gray
AMA 17063
After I removed all the old covering and started inspecting the airframe, I discovered a lot of weak parts, and stuff that needs replacing due to age. When I checked out the side sheeting on the fuselage, I found that it was very brittle and easily cracked, so I removed it. During the process several outside formers basically disintegrated and had to be replaced. There were also a few diagonals and other parts that needed to be replaced. In the pictures below you can see that I found a pretty ragged structure, but nothing that will be too hard to rectify. A lot of the problems were from the multiple rebuilds the plane has undergone through the years, and some were problems with the original build.
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The darker wood you see in the picture above is from the original 1937 Berkeley kit. The lighter wood is from subsequent rebuilds. The lightest is what I just put on it. I am going to have to make new landing gear as the old wire is rusted, and pitted, and looks like it could break if subjected to much strain. I went to the local hardware store and got some new wire, so I have what I need to replace it with. I finally finished up my first of December SAM secretary chores (December is my busiest month of the year) and now I have time to get seriously into the rebuild. I am especially wanting to finish it soon, as I have another large project waiting in the wings that I really want to get to. I will share what it is a little later but not right now. Now that the hardest part of my SAM duties is behind me for a few days, I will start working on the "Buc" with a vengeance next week, in hopes that I can finish it by Mid January.
As you can see in the picture below, there is a ton of room for radio gear in the Super Buccaneer. The pushrods from the previous installation are still in place as are the servo mounting rails, and the box i put the radio and battery pack in which can not be seen too clearly in this picture. Previously it has had 72 MHz radio gear but this time, since I have converted totally to 2.4, there will be a nice JR dual receiver radio in it. Nothing is too good for my old "Buc".
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As shown below, there is a lot of room in the nose for the new Anderson Spitfire engine I am putting in the plane this time. I will build an old "Ladder" type mount for the engine, and ignition gear much like the plane had in in back in the day.
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The new engine is a lot more powerful than the old Super Cyclone .60 I had in it years ago. You can see that the Anderson Spitfire .65 is a beautiful engine.
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Compared to the old Super Cyclone, it is larger and in my opinion better looking as you can see below. The Super Cyclone has the orange fuel tank. There are a lot of similarities but the Anderson is much sturdier, and heavier built. The Super Cyclone is a great engine and has given me a lot of airtime, but I look forward to having the extra power in the Super Buccaneer that the Spitfire will provide.
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Here is a look at the tail feathers before I had a chance to clean them up. Note the airfoil shaped stab. A couple of the reproduction Super Buccaneer kits I have seen do not have the airfoil stab and are not in my opinion a legal SAM airplane, as the rules state that you cannot change the airfoil.
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This picture from the bottom of the fuselage gives you an idea of just how big this bird really is.
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The old Luan based plywood that is in the original Berkeley kit for the landing gear is going to be replaced with some 1/4" good aircraft grade plywood when I rebuild the gear. The landing gear replacement will be the first thing on the agenda as I continue the rebuild next week. I need it done, as I want to get all the planking replaced and install the engine mount next week. At least that is the plan at this point. The Christmas holidays are upon us so I don't know how much of a problem I will have fending off the family as I try to get in some work on the project. Wish me luck!!
More to come.....Tommy!