Scale Aviator International Magazine Issue 3 | Page 44

one model, but usually have at least two on the
go. My scale bucket list is probably like most and
many we will never build, but look at the plans and
dream about them. Fortunately I have the time to
build what is on my list.
My modeling buddies think I am nuts, but I love
to build and working at Arizona Models, nothing is
impossible with laser cutters, CNC wood cutters,
CAD CAM, water jets. I am in heaven and almost
afraid to pick up my paycheck.

Bill then converted them through some magic into
program for the big laser cutter. Bill, after some set
up and wood selection, provided me a really nice
set of precision parts on the laser for this big bird.
Now all I needed were the long wood parts, fiberglass, some composite materials and lots of CA
and resin for the fiberglass. I suppose you could
say I was effectively just putting a big kit together.

The P47-1-RE took me about a year (or, maybe,
a bit more than that) to build. There was of course
This is the sixth Jug I have built and, by far, is the the hassle of figuring things out since no instrucbest flier of the lot (probably because it is the big- tions exist. I had a friend make the plug and glass
gest). It is incredibly stable in the air even in windy me a cowl for this project. I then made a lot of
conditions. Penetration is very real and it flies at other small parts. That took some time as well.
scale speeds, and capable of all the maneuvers
that this bird did in real life. The Moki cranks out When I flew the big jug for the first time, it was all
plenty of power for this big bird, but the sound re- worth the late evenings and effort.
ally makes the package complete.
The Deacon has made flying appearances at the
The plans are from Nick Ziroli’s popular P-47. I
had them blown up to an exact quarter scale sizeand scanned by my modeling buddy Bill Powers
at Arizona Models.

Warbirds over the Rockies in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the One Eighth Air Force Scale Fly-In
in Mesa, Arizona. I have flown many events now
and the big P-47 continues to impress me as well

44