now there’s an idea,i cant help out in the flesh but i’d buy one to help raise funds(now where to put a 1/24th whirlwind :dev2:)
Now then some very constructive suggestions guys.
The CAD drawings etc is a damn good one to help with the real finished thing.Having done reconstructions with wooden frames then metal skin and also full thing all metal I would go for the Latter every time the amount of effort that goes into producing a wooden frame is roughly similar to the metal version plus the metal version is lighter and not prone to damage due to damp etc.
A scale model to raise funds is also a damn good idea ,do we not have some input from a couple of guys involved with the moulds or friends of the guys ?.
Its getting someone to be willing to run a batch off and I think that we would have to commit to a minimum run this is were we could run into problems.
I do have contacts for Special T shirts and baseball caps etc at a damn good price so perhaps this would be a good fund raiser.
Yes building an aircraft in memory of Shed mans efforts goes without saying and we think it would be a good idea to have a plaque of some description on the finished aircraft in memory of him and creidt due as he is the main man who got us all so steamed up and showed the way.
Some one has been talking about costs and is it a realistic goal ?.
I have done a bit of research and the first two prototypes it is claimed got built for £29,500 each. Now if you bear in mind complete with its transporter trailer we built the RBL spitfire for not much different to that four years ago.The whirlwind is from memory 3 feet longer than a Spit and about 9 feet bigger in the wing span . So a full aircraft without engines and props is we estimate going to cost in materials and overheads about £40-45K labour free.
and start cutting metal back end of this year in the region of 4 -5 years build time.With the cost spread over a few years its not going to cost that much to acheive a free standing aircraft and if someone out there is feeling generous and wants one for their collection its easy to cut metal for two at the same time as it is for one and the material cost comes down slightly also.
The starting point would be the cockpit and nose section,Rear Fuselage,Tail Fuselage,Centre Section finally out main planes.So not all materials would be wanted at once the cockpit and nose could be built structure only with skinning on a pretty reasonable budget.
Some food for thought here guys we are willing to give input in between and whilst we are doing other projects and house the build but obviously we need support etc from all interested parties in a Whirlwind Fighter.
What do we think guys ?.Do we start a supporters club or what ?,how do we go about it,how would we raise the funds etc ?,would we have some form of Pay Pal account for funds raised and donated ?.Would we have some form of committee etc,etc, (We would prefer not to hold the funds jjust to request as needed)
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