Morphing a Cobra into the P51 concept

[Metal-morphous]

We have started a real unique project , we are going to create the p-51 concept cobra just like the attached photo with even a few few more of the aircrafts options.
First we are going to aluminum plate the entire body with our metal plating process and add panel lines and fasteners. We are going to use the same technique we use on the scale aircraft we have done.


Concept cobra


Here's a 1/5 scale jet that we morped. This cobra will be getting the same treatment




The ERA being morphed

[Tommy]

I'd very much like to see more pictures of the project as it progresses.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Tommy

I'd very much like to see more pictures of the project as it progresses.

I'd like very much to second that thought!
Please do share.

[mr bruce]

hey Ron, I have a Lemans hardtop if you are going all the way with the P-51

[Buzz]

Interesting. When I originally designed and posted these concepts, I was half hoping the Kirkhams or someone else might feel like doing a P-51 inspired show car. The single seat versions have a Dzus-fastened aluminum half tonneau covering a removable jump seat on the passenger side. The side exhaust tips would be a challenge and as you can see there are 6 per side. Various hot rod 12 cylinder engines were thought of, including the Falconer V-12; but that monster would require serious modifications to fit.

[Ron61]

That is an interesting concept and I too would like to see more pictures of it. Buzz, when you drew the concept what engine were you thinking of using in it? And would one of those monster engines run on the water that we have for pump gas here now?

Ron

[Buzz]

Ron - this was the dream powerplant. It was immediately decided back then that it would be too big, but looking at the actual engine dimensions, it could be doable with a bit of fabricating.

Welcome to Ryan Falconer Racing Engines! - Falconer V12

[Ron61]

Buzz,

That is really quite an engine. Boy would you get the lookers at a car show with that in a Cobra.

I am going to borrow that picture if you don't mind to post on another site where a friend is having trouble getting his webers to work right.

Ron

[HealeyRick]

Buzz,

I really like the full canopy version. Very cool. Someone already did a Spitfire fighter with a Triumph Spitfire, albeit with a much lower budget:

[Buzz]

Lol! Way cool - but he should've stretched the budget enough to do a BRG and brown camo paint job.

[HealeyRick]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Lol! Way cool - but he should've stretched the budget enough to do a BRG and brown camo paint job.

Triumph actually did that in one of their ads:

[Buzz]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about! I used to lust after a beautiful, long-legged woman who drove a shiny maroon Spitfire when I was around 12 or 13. Not sure which one I was jonesing for more - her or the car.

[Metal-morphous]

We came up with a very unique exhaust.
It's going to have 6 ports on each side tucked in nice and low just like the concept. The look is just perfect but not practical due to fact the the owner and his wife would be inhaling carbon monoxide fumes while driving so we are installing a split system. When driving he can switch the exhaust to exit in front of the rear tire and with a flick of a switch he can make the exhaust exit threw the 12 ports, oh and did I mention we are adding flame throwers to the 6 port exits!!

Buzz that's a beautiful engine, sure would be a tight fit in tge ERA engine bay!!

We are fabricating these stainless panels but in a smaller scale, the 6 ports exit threw them.

[750hp]

[Metal-morphous]

I'll be using the same technique to achieve panel lines and fasteners that we use on the scale aircraft we do.
As you can see in the full scale P51 mustang photos the panel lines are very clean and sharp as are the fasteners. One of the top scale modelers I met once said "The details shouldn't jump out at you" With our metal plating process I can achieve a raise panel simply by using a thermal mask to mask out the raised panel then re-plate that's area!!
I'll be posting lots of photos as thing progress.
Here's a 1/5 scale F-86 that we added the panel lines and fasteners as I described.



Chech out the panel lines on the P-51 I'm climbing into

[dallas_]

That's cool. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

Oh, the Falconer V12 is a nice looking powerplant. Since your wallet will be so much lighter, that can help make up the weight difference.

[Metal-morphous]

Like my father always told me "plating is nothing more than a reflection of what it's applied to" In short, if the surface being plated is not smooth and scratch free the plating is just going to enhance the flaws and that includes ours plating process. So we need to make the surface of the cobra perfectly smooth and since this cobra already had an older paint job on it , it's just a matter sanding it down, removing any pervious paint imperfections and applying a special polyester primer that not only removes any trace of the old paint stripes but also give the surface the perfect porosity we need for our plating process.
I've already taken the doors and trunk to our Wallingford plating facility to get aluminum plated but unfortunately I'm not allowed to post photos of the plating equipment.

[J.Jensen]

Looking forward to following this project. The P-51 is the most beautiful flying creation out there.

[Buzz]

^^^What he said!

[P-51 Cobra]

Buzz - We've been wanting to do this since we first saw your concept drawings. Thanks for the inspiration!

Mr. Bruce - The Lemans hardtop may well be phase II. I've been eyeing your tops for a while. Where are you in PA?