Jack Roethlisberger's Spitfire A/c Company Project (+photos)

[flightsimer]

I started a new job in Philly at the beginning of the year, so updates will be spread more sporadically now...

But right before I left, I snapped this photo. Jack has started working on the wings and has this little bit of trailing edge up.

[DH82EH]

Thanks for the pic Tyler. It's looking good.

Good luck with the new job

Andy

[flightsimer]

Some more photos. Im currently home on vacation until the end of the week, so was able to get these few update shots.

Jack has covered both wings with the exception of the very inboard portions. He has also started building up the leading edge of the wing to be sanded down to the correct profile.









Canopy is covered in dust, but this shot shows the back seat he put in it. It won't have any controls though.

[flightsimer]

Jack has continued to chug along on his plane. I did not get a chance to actually talk with him about it when I was home last weekend, but from what I could see he appears to have been working on the main and tail landing gear.

I believe he has started the electrical work on it, or at the very least planning for it, as I met a new member of the museum who had an electrical background from what I was told.

Just a few photos.



These exhausts were polished



And the tail wheel

[Sopwith]

Wow, it's looking good, thanks for the update.

[Scott Rose]

Thanks for the update! I think this project is very interesting and to answer an earlier concern, this thread can stay right where it is

[Warbird Kid]

I've become very interested in this project and can't wait to see more updates! Thanks! This gives a great deal of insight into a project like this that some of us "little guys" would foolishly consider tackling as well. Imagine if the CAF (or some other group) wanted to create a Battle of Britain reenactment demo. My first thought would be to build four of these 1:1 replicas.

[DarenC1]

Any more news on this?

[flightsimer]

check back later, will try and remember to post some photos this afternoon/evening.

He has steadily progressed on it. It sorta of stalled for a few months last year as Jack was in a really bad motorcycle accident last summer and there was only one person working on it while he recovered...

[flightsimer]

Somehow later in the afternoon has time warped into two days ( I legitimately thought I was only a day behind) but here are finally the pictures.

Im not grouping them together by areas, so you might see some photos that are nearly identical, but they are listed in chrono order.









Aileron














Cowling Form, Carbon Fibre cowling








Fuel Tank Form



Where the fuel tank goes


The tank being fabricated














These photos are from the end of August

[menards]

$320k for the kit... how much $ is there really in materials?

[flightsimer]

$320k for the kit... how much $ is there really in materials?

Don't know as it wasn't a kit.

[menards]

$320k for the kit... how much $ is there really in materials?

Don't know as it wasn't a kit.

I have more appreciation for the project now because its not a kit.... very cool.

[flightsimer]

$320k for the kit... how much $ is there really in materials?

Don't know as it wasn't a kit.

I have more appreciation for the project now because its not a kit.... very cool.

The Allison engine is the right engine off of a P-38.
The prop is a reprofiled DC-3 toothpick prop.
The landing gear are stearman landing gear legs that he reconfigured to be able to retracted.
The cockpit is done with all authentic spit gauges
My understanding is that it is an authentic front windshield and possibly canopy as well.

Jack, from what I can remember custom fabricated the exhaust stacks, tail landing gear, main landing gear mounts and retraction system, spade grip (control stick), main fuel tank and the engine mount himself but had someone else do the welding and he had both radiators custom made by a machine shop.

The cowling is made from Carbon Fibre. Other than the cowling and the above metal parts, plus the elevators which he did in metal, everything else has been built with wood using the same exact techniques that was used to build the Mosquito. This is true except for the two metal panels on each side that can be seen from the cockpit forward which were added to provide fuselage stiffening.

Jack is an award winning Stearman restorer and has I believe 2-4 planes under restoration right now.

[menards]

The Allison engine is the right engine off of a P-38.
The prop is a reprofiled DC-3 toothpick prop.
The landing gear are stearman landing gear legs that he reconfigured to be able to retracted.
The cockpit is done with all authentic spit gauges
My understanding is that it is an authentic front windshield and possibly canopy as well.

Jack, from what I can remember custom fabricated the exhaust stacks, tail landing gear, main landing gear mounts and retraction system, spade grip (control stick), main fuel tank and the engine mount himself but had someone else do the welding and he had both radiators custom made by a machine shop.

The cowling is made from Carbon Fibre. Other than the cowling and the above metal parts, plus the elevators which he did in metal, everything else has been built with wood using the same exact techniques that was used to build the Mosquito. This is true except for the two metal panels on each side that can be seen from the cockpit forward which were added to provide fuselage stiffening.

Jack is an award winning Stearman restorer and has I believe 2-4 planes under restoration right now.

Its amazing the amount of talent that is out there. I like the wood construction, and you'll have a full-size awesome sounding spit for a fraction of the cost, plus a ton of sweat.