SR-71

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Aug 27, 13 9:16 pm

Had to walk away from this one for a LONG time as I was getting frustrated with the badly fitting tail section.
I started again just recently but only had the occasional hour or two over the last few weeks.
If I can just get this tail section good enough to paint then I will be able to make faster progress.

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Tue Aug 27, 13 9:34 pm

are you hiding in the loft ??

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Aug 27, 13 9:45 pm

andyrob wrote:are you hiding in the loft ??

Yes. It's my "special quiet place".

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Nov 07, 13 10:58 am

Slight progress. Ready to start painting now.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Nov 07, 13 11:13 am

Probably the BEST mechanical thing ever created

db · Post by db » Thu Nov 07, 13 12:09 pm

Sublime For 40 · Post by **Sublime For 40** » Thu Nov 07, 13 2:40 pm

The SR-71 . . . I have to say, even better than a Mopar.
Done in the early 1960's by less than 100 Skunk Works engineers using slide rules and lot s of Russian titanium . . . where is your Ti from ?!

Check my profile picture. The only one outside of the US sitting at IWM Duxford. Time it right and you can meet Col. Rich Graham (USAF ret.) who does a walk and talk around the Blackbird. He knows a bit, he used to fly them.

Saw the trans-Atlantic record breaker at Farnborough in 1974.

For those who say they never went to the Moon, I say take a close look at what Lockheed were doing 9 years before !

Have you ever seen some of the big 'RC' versions on You Tube ?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Nov 07, 13 2:46 pm

Sublime For 40 wrote: ..........Time it right and you can meet Col. Rich Graham (USAF ret.) who does a walk and talk around the Blackbird. He knows a bit, he used to fly them.

Yep, had a good chat with him and got his autograph... the Wold Altitude record holding plane....actually at Duxford

I can remember when they flew an SR71 over from America for the Farnborough Air Show and did not throttle back in time - they missed and over shot Paris!!!

When they flew it low and and at a low speed the fuel would pour out of it and catch fire from the exhaust, great balls of fire!!!

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Thu Nov 07, 13 2:49 pm

That is fantastic Dave and a great man cave!!

I saw a programme about these planes a while ago....absolutely beautiful plane! I didnt realise that all the panels etc leak on the ground and seal up a high (very high) speed as they expand with the heat generated from supersonic flight....bit like my Polara

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Nov 07, 13 2:51 pm

Yep, 70,000 pounds of thrust per engine - just like your Polara....

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Thu Nov 07, 13 3:02 pm

But about the same size!

Sublime For 40 · Post by **Sublime For 40** » Thu Nov 07, 13 8:51 pm

Special fuel, oil, tyres, electrical contacts, and yes, they couldn't get the fuel tanks to seal so they dripped whilst cold. Get Rich Graham's book which has 'stories' from the crews . . . if you think Muscle cars can be a bit unreliable and let you down, these high tech blow torches had some real scary moments. Try 'Skunk Works' by Ben Rich (who replaced Kelly Johnson at Burbank) - three chapters on the SR-71 and the stealth programme too. One of my favourite quotes was that "the air used to boil for 1000 yards behind those booming engines" which were the only ones to cruise on afterburners.

Form a group, buy one form a museum and do taxi run quarters at the 'Pod.

Adrian Worman · Post by **Adrian Worman** » Thu Nov 07, 13 10:41 pm

That model will look ace when you've got some paint on it Daveman

I love a big plane, spesh some sinister Bananarama! like that

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Thu Nov 07, 13 10:51 pm

Love it Dave...one of my Fav Planes by far.

Pete wrote:Probably the BEST mechanical thing ever created

Nah!!
SATURN V

Without doubt

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Nov 12, 13 11:27 am

Basecoat.

I now have to figure out how to get the correct colour. The real thing looks a dusty blue/grey colour with weathering.