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Skills aren't the issue

Posted by bdk on Mon Jul 21, 2003 10:26:44 AM

In reply top Rebuild of Mossies - New Zealand progress - etc inc Hornet posted by John Parker on Sun Jul 20, 2003 08:40:52 PM

I think that size is the issue. If you rebuild a Mosquito, unless you start with a nice airframe, you are in for a scratchbuilding project nearly the size of a B-25.

From a construction standpoint, glues and manufacturing processes have come a long way since back in the 1940's. I don't think the technical challenge is that daunting, just the logistics as would be anticipated by the size of the fuselage mould tool required.

I'm sure that for the amount of time spent on "Glacier Girl," you could build a Mosquito, it's just that the interest isn't there compared to the P-38. It is somewhat obscure except for a small group of enthusiasts (typically with more imagination than money- I include myself here). Added to that I think that the Mosquito is a lot harder for pilots to handle on the ground than a P-51, so some potential owners might be wary of it. And lastly, it is a large and complex twin engined airplane. It would require more than twice the maintenance of a P-51 or Spitfire- and a lot of fuel.


: There is no doubt that this interest is likely at some tim
: e in the future to yield progress but it seems to me that
: a lot of potential is being lost because of the technicall
: y daunting nature of the construction given that a lot of
: Warbird shops are based on more conventional metal constru
: ction.
:
: I can't really see that this is much more than people not
: wanting to "step outside the box' because they are more co
: mfortable with metal work or there is a perception that th
: e skill to do "wooden wonders" are no longer available.
:
: I am interested in peoples views about this because I woul
: d really like to see a little more activity focused in thi
: s area. The DH twins are obviously a very dramatic type to
: see in the air especially the Hornet and the skills are o
: bviously there so what is the root cause of the problem -
: is it technical , a lack of worldwide cooperation or what
: ?

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