Full Scale Replica WW II aircraft

[p51]

Perhaps, like the Me262, a deal could be struck where the Chicago Ju87R is restored by the consortium who, at the same time, reverse-engineers it to produce some B-model replicas to fly?

I wouldn't hold my breath. That 262 that was taken apart wasn't in that great a shape to start with and needed restoration. I don't know for sure but I've bene told that the Chicago Stuka (which I've seen in person) is still in the condition it was in when captured, including bullet holes from combat. I don't imagine anyone would let you do anything to that other than wipe the dust off it every now and then.
I would also say there's alo an issue on how easy to fly these planes originally were, but I've heard from a pal who's flown a Fokker DR1 replica who said it was a nightmare to fly, yet there are many copies of them flying today.
All that said, does anyone know if Stukas were easy to enjoyable to fly? If so, a replica or one would be good for the owner if its a stable flying platform.
I know if a scaled replace stuka, saw it at a 1992 event, but they weren't allowed to dive with the thing to show off the siren they had on it. Such a shame, and I'd assume a replica 1:1 scale stuka might be restricted in the same way at airshows?

[JimH]

The replica market is dictated soley by demand...and are, unfortunately, seen by most as glorified homebuilts. They are also incredibly expensive and some no where near facsimiles of their WWII counterparts. Others are extremely accurate but have taken 20+ years to complete...so choose your poison, known flying examples, or grow old watching something being built from scratch.

its a pretty cool list...so far
FW-190
262
F3F
Oscar
P-12
P-26
Zero
P-51A

jim

[Snake45]

And I believe someone is making a full-size Martin Baker MB.5. Sorta kinda.

[marine air]

I guess I was daydreaming about the "what ifs" of when the fighter project market dries up. Seems like there are several Yak 11 projects yet to be converted to fighters. Maybe a couple of G-59's converted back to G-55's . It doesn't sound like anyone has tackled a scratch built Corsair. Plenty of T-6 basket cases to build a P-64 or Boomerang replica.
For my money, I would buy a Yak, FW-190, or FM-2 Wildcat on the top end. How much would it cost to build one of those fabulous full scale Spitfires?
There's a strong argument for having someone build you a JURCA Spitfire for what, 1/4 the cost or less of a real one.
Let's see, an original Spitfire costs twice as much as a P-51, parts are twice as expensive, and twice as rare. Originals must be restored with correct engine mark, propellor and accessories, and paint , or the purists will have you put in front of a firing squad.
With a new build replica , you pick what paint scheme and model you prefer, then finish to that model number. As heavy or light as desired, as authentic or modernized as desired. $400k dollars versus a few million. Both take thousands of hours to build/restore. Because of the scarcity of original Spitfires, I believe the replica would fetch a fine price on the market.

[Dragonflydh90]

The Fokker DRI is a delight to fly if built nicely.

Every one of the replicas are different however and some will most certainly be worse than others depending on engine, center of gravity and general rigging but if done well they are great fun.

[Warbird Kid]

Aside from the B-17s coming out now, the new-build / replica aircraft have all been single engine fighters or bombers. Keeping with this thread, here is a short list of wishful thinking.

- SB2U Vindicator
- TBD Devastator
- OS2U Kingfisher
- B5N Kate
- D3A Val
- Ju87 Stuka
- P-40B/C (Modified engine mount and setup to utilize short nose Allison variants)

[shrike]

I'd love to see an IAR 80/81 with an R2000.
Best part is that most of the jigs and tooling could be used for PZL P.11/24 production as well.

[Mike]

...PZL P.11/24 production as well.

Now you're talking!

And the correct engines (Bristol Mercury) are available too.

[quemerford]

Salmson 2A2 or AMC DH.6 for me. The latter would be easy since TVAL have made RAF engines and it's all straight lines and common wing ribs!

[C VEICH]

I'd love to see an IAR 80/81 with an R2000.

Excellent choice of subjects shrike! Here is one I think would make a neat and relatively simply replica which could also use a readily available American powerplant. Built light it should be a fine performer.

[p51]

Here is one I think would make a neat and relatively simply replica which could also use a readily available American powerplant. Built light it should be a fine performer.

Interesting look, I wonder how tough it'd be to convert a T-6 or BT-13 into a representation of one of these...

[TheBoy]

I think most of the aspects of this have been pretty well discussed, as well as some of the top types I'd like to see duplicated. 20-30 years ago a "replica" was worthless. I think that is because they typically were not done to a very high standard. In the past 10-15 years there have been some exemplary examples of "replicas" that represent the originals very well (think F3F, Ki-43, Hughes H-1, FlugWerk FW's and all). Since then "repliacs" are enjoying a much more favorable view and when done right are treated just like more original warbirds.

Sometimes I wonder why we don't see more replicas. Stuff like Fokker D.XXIs, Buffalo, maybe even a Vindicator or Devastator seem like pretty low hanging fruit as far as having a flying version of an extinct or nearly extinct type.

My $0.02 on why they aren't done more? It is a an ENORMOUS amount of effort. Creating something from partial drawings is much more difficult than duplicating a bent or corroded actual part. The idea that any of this would be "low hanging fruit" is pretty optimistic, doing a Vindicator or Devestator would probably be 30,000-50,000 man hours.

Perhaps, like the Me262, a deal could be struck where the Chicago Ju87R is restored by the consortium who, at the same time, reverse-engineers it to produce some B-model replicas to fly?

I wouldn't hold my breath. That 262 that was taken apart wasn't in that great a shape to start with and needed restoration. I don't know for sure but I've bene told that the Chicago Stuka (which I've seen in person) is still in the condition it was in when captured, including bullet holes from combat. I don't imagine anyone would let you do anything to that other than wipe the dust off it every now and then.
I would also say there's alo an issue on how easy to fly these planes originally were, but I've heard from a pal who's flown a Fokker DR1 replica who said it was a nightmare to fly, yet there are many copies of them flying today.
All that said, does anyone know if Stukas were easy to enjoyable to fly? If so, a replica or one would be good for the owner if its a stable flying platform.
I know if a scaled replace stuka, saw it at a 1992 event, but they weren't allowed to dive with the thing to show off the siren they had on it. Such a shame, and I'd assume a replica 1:1 scale stuka might be restricted in the same way at airshows?

While I completely agree with you that this prospect is next to impossible, the Museum of Science and Industry has a history of doing something very similar to this. Their Boeing 40B2 flew in and was delivered straight off the line. 50 years later, in they 1980's the took it down and did some "restoration" (term used very loosely) and repainted it (i believe with house paint). Mind you that was 35 years ago now, but it has been done.

[Zac Yates]

p51 - I must admit I know very little about the Chicago Stuka other than it exists! If it is so original I agree, it's unlikely it would be a candidate for such a project.

Someone a while back mentioned composites. I remember in an issue of Classic Wings Downunder there was a brief article on a 1/1 composite P-51 powered by a turboprop. Anyone remember this, know what happened etc? From memory it had a three-blade prop with a pointed spinner, and may have been white. I don't remember much else.

A G.50 would be pretty cool to see, and now that we're seeing more German (and a couple of Japanese) fighters it would be cool to see the Italian machines on the circuit.

[p51]

Tjis seems like as good a place to ask as anywhere; I was at a D-Day re-enactment at New Orleans in 1992 on Lake Ponchartrain, and there was a replica Stuka. I recall it was a large scale model of one. Looked decent from what i could see, but I was lying prone on a beach, soaked from going into the lake to my shoulders, covered in beach sand while being shot at by German re-enactors, so clearly I didn't get that great a look.
Does anyone have a clue which one that was? I have searched online and found a few possible planes it could have been. I've always wanted to know which plane that was as I never heard about it again after that.

Someone a while back mentioned composites. I remember in an issue of Classic Wings Downunder there was a brief article on a 1/1 composite P-51 powered by a turboprop. Anyone remember this, know what happened etc? From memory it had a three-blade prop with a pointed spinner, and may have been white. I don't remember much else.

I mentioned that. I recall the photo, of the front end of a P-51 in what I recall as red colored fiberglass. beats me whatever came from that.

[Pogmusic]

Yep, I remember the New Orleans reenactment. It was a 3/4 scale, manned aircraft. Looked very good to me while in flight.