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Thread: TOPMODEL Pilatus Porter 3.2 meter build

  1. #11
    Sorry to hijack your thread, but just wanted everyone to know that I have my Porter up for sale. I'll get a ad written up soon and put it in the "for sale" forum soon. PM me if anyone is interested.

    Thanks! Randy

    Now back to your regularly scheduled program in progress...

  2. #12
    Administrator Len's Avatar
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    Why would you ever sell a Porter?
    It's not complicated, bigger is better.

  3. #13
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    Hi
    Just a small word here ...ICARE-RC does now carry a 4 meters Porter with the choice of cowling and...look at the tailwheel and main gear....Nice !
    Daniel

  4. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Len View Post
    Why would you ever sell a Porter?
    No one interested in towing here and my 150 needs VGs, flap and aileron gap seals and a new GPS!

  5. #15
    Member jmcowart's Avatar
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    I've got to say that 4 meter Porter is very interesting. The brakes on the main gear and the structure of the main gear struts is way cool. The tail wheel is impressive. The whole thing is kind of exciting. Apparently it will be a limited production kit. I bet it would really be something with the Turbo Prop engine....
    Makes me think of selling my dog, wife, and car. Well, maybe just my car and wife..... Just joking, dear.
    Mike

  6. #16
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    4 Meter Porter

    Mike,
    I can't find any info on the 4M Porter??? Can you send me a link? my email address is kd4jaz@gmail.com

    Marc



    Quote Originally Posted by jmcowart View Post
    I've got to say that 4 meter Porter is very interesting. The brakes on the main gear and the structure of the main gear struts is way cool. The tail wheel is impressive. The whole thing is kind of exciting. Apparently it will be a limited production kit. I bet it would really be something with the Turbo Prop engine....
    Makes me think of selling my dog, wife, and car. Well, maybe just my car and wife..... Just joking, dear.
    Mike

  7. #17
    Administrator Len's Avatar
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    It's not complicated, bigger is better.

  8. #18
    Member jmcowart's Avatar
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    While going over the machine translations of the French language assembly guide for the Porter, I again came across this instruction:

    "We will adhere to a side of 235mm between the original bulkhead and the plateau of propeller and a anuglar position based on this couple."

    I was thinking this means 235mm from the original bulkhead (firewall) to the plateau of the propeller (thrust washer). But 235mm is about 9.25 inches.

    Does anyone have a better translation, or a simple clarification for a simple mind? Thanks guys. Mike.

  9. #19
    Super Moderator JimD's Avatar
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    Mike,

    We have assembled both versions of the Porter (3.2M Sport and 3.3M Super Scale) and 9-1/4" is the distance we measured between the front of the fuselage (orginal bulkhead) and the front of the cowling. We allowed for 1/4" clearance between the backplate of the spinner (thrust washer) and the original bulkhead, so the measurement for us was 9-1/2".

    We constructed a wooden box out of aircraft plywood to extend the firewall on which the engines were mounted. We measured the length of each engine (DA-85 and DLE-111) to get the distance from the engine mounting flange to the thrust washer. This was subtracted from the 9-1/2" measurement and the resultant number was the length of the wooden box we needed to make.

    On the Porter with the DA-85, we cut a hole in the original bulkhead (as shown in the French instruction manual) and made the wooden box about 1-1/2" longer so it would extend thru the hole in the firewall. It was then secured with hardwood triangle stock around both front and back.



    On the Porter with the DLE-11, we mounted the wooden extension box to the front surface of the original bulkhead with bolts and then used the triangle stock around it like we did on the other model.

    A Site For Soar Eyes

  10. #20
    Member jmcowart's Avatar
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    Thank you very much, Jim. Indeed the light goes on! Its all so obvious once you point it out. Thanks also for the excellent pictures. I notice one of those neat main gear brackets on the upper strut. Do you have a source of those, or are there anymore about?

    On the mount question - I would appreciate your opinion on an option I was considering. I have read and heard about Blazing Star Engine Mounts and thought a system using a one inch extension Blazing Star mount would be useful by providing an inch of working space at the rear of the engine. That would be 6.25" for the engine, 1.0" for the mount and 2.0" or 2.25" engine box outside the firewall, with as much inside as can fit with triangle stock reinforcement. Do you think that extra inch of working room would be worth the trouble? The Blazing Star mounts are solid and strong, according to all I have read and heard, but maybe I am just making complication where it is not needed.

    In any event, I now fully understand the arrangement and the 235mm injunction in the manual. Thanks again, Jim. Mike.

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