TJTX

I hit that realization that if I'm going to accomplish it I just have to pull the trigger and make it happen. I'm not going to have more time in 5 or 10 years. And I dont want to lose the opportunity to share this with people very important to me. I've lived most of my life afraid of "what if?". Its kept me from things that I regret now. I dont want to live that way any more, and I dont want my Daughter to learn to live afraid.

The air cam is cool as all get out but your 40k in just on the engines. I should be able to have the Horizon all built up for 40k. Gonna probably run a Continental C-85. Great mix of weight and enough power for the aircraft. Going Day/Night VFR so nothing fancy upfront. Very basic instruments, since I spend my working time staring at complex avionics. I've seen it built with both spring steel gear and bungee style. If I can I'll go spring steal and then I've got a really cool paint scheme picked out. Of course you'll have to come by and check it out once I get into it.!

That's what I love about it. Its absolutely my roots. Its horsepower range and useful load are exactly the same as a Champ. Its specifically designed to carry a larger pilot like myself too. The owner of the company talked a good while with me on the phone about options and build choices that can further my comfort in it. Of course mine wont be painted like that.

Really it ain't that different. The major stuff with mine is wood held together with T88 epoxy. The only big difference is the added internal components. You should go for it!

The major construction is wood, so it fits as well as I can measure and cut. They do accomplish a large amount of the more difficult cuts and slotting to help you. All I need major tools wise is a table top belt sander, band saw, drill press, and router, and compound miter saw. I've picked up tho ones I didn't have already. Next is building my 16' workbench. The key is its straight, square, and strong.

Absolutely. And this will be something to share with her and help her remember grandpa too. I've even got a tail number picked out which is her birthday and initials.

I can certainly share as I go along. The wing kit is what's coming first. I'll build those up so I can hang them in the garage then build up the fuselage.

I've finally been distracted by my ultimate squirrel build. I'll be leaving modeling for a number of years as I embark on my number one bucket list item of building my own aircraft. It's been my dream as long as I've been around airplanes (which is a very long time) to build my own airplane. As I'm now closer to 40 than 30, and with my father creeping closer to 70 than 60 , I decided it's now or never. So, I put a downpayment on the first half of a Fisher Horizon 2 and started prepping my garage for the upcoming project. I have it planned out for 5 years based on other build times and my available schedule. My parents will be spending 4 months a year near us in the metroplex so my dad can be apart of the build as well and my mom can see her grandchild a lot more. I cant explain how absolutely over the moon I am about pursuing my lifes goal.

Thanks for the pictures guys. Those were all ones I had not seen yet. There is a US one with shark teeth that i thought was pretty neat.

No you are spot on Hubert. As usual I get going a bit too quick and don't use proper phrasing to clarify my remarks. I'm looking for ideas for a Bird Dog from the later years.

I'm about to embark on a very special build and I'm searching for photos of bird dogs. I want something unique but also not gaudy. If you have any ideas or photos to share u would be immensely grateful.

Been crazy busy, but finally gotthe fuselage halves together and wing tops and bottoms glued together.

Please do show some pictures. I've got a Mustang build coming up.

Fuselage halves are together and drying. Now I'm turning a C wing into an E wing with the AML set.

That does look very good. Perhaps my Zero will be a dirty bird that I can play with. I'll be building one that was rushed onto Rabul for defense of Guadalcan. It was crudely painted and should have been very dirty operating in those conditions.

Yup, that's something I struggle mightily with. I'm always too scared to mess everything up by weathering. And because I dont try it, I dont get better at it. Im stuck in a vicious circle to nowhere.

That's something I have6tried yet Mark and it would probably help spraying a flat on it. Heres literally a two minute experiment. Original left and quick wash and pastel on right.

I decided it was bring your kid day, I was lucky enough to have the airplane at an airport about 15 minutes from the house. Went to lunch with the wife and kid before heading out on the next trip.

Cant seem to get a good picture, but a quick test of applying a fast enamel wash and brushing on some pastels and the belts look great. Then I put in water and removed them from backing paper. Dont think it's very easy to ruin that vinyl.

One thing that also doesnt stand out is the "texturing" in the seat belts. It's got that thick seatbelt fabric stitching too it. I've got two more sets for my Zero and Mustang and I'm going to try and give then a wash on the backing paper before removing them.

Yea, I was playing with that a bit. That's my only knock that they're a bit shiny. I'm gonna go over them with some pastels and maybe try a wash real quick to see how they look after that. I will say they do look more realistic to the naked eye when compared to photos on my phone.

Cockpit is almost wrapped up.

Shes doing great. We had her in an airplane shirt to come visit Dad at work of course! She doesnt say anything yet but boy does she talk a lot!

Just to clarify, the cockpit looking that good has nothing to do with me, it's all the Quinta sets. I've got a second set for my Mustang and another set coming for my Zero. I'll be buying another set for my 2nd Mustang and a set for my Corsair when they have that as an option.