rare bear part qustion

[BEARCLAW777]

so i am a fan of rare bear and i would like to start to build models of it but i need help on finding out when parts were added or changed out. so when did it get the streamlined canopy like what year. what prop and spinners where used. when did the tail fillet peace show up when did the bear get tires and wheels from a T-33 and what year did rare bear switch from the normal bear cat cowling to the one used on the DC-7

[Big_Jim]

Re: rare bear part qustion

so i am a fan of rare bear and i would like to start to build models of it but i need help on finding out when parts were added or changed out. so when did it get the streamlined canopy like what year. what prop and spinners where used. when did the tail fillet peace show up when did the bear get tires and wheels from a T-33 and what year did rare bear switch from the normal bear cat cowling to the one used on the DC-7

The first low-profile canopy was 1971-72, but the current 'style' was in 1973...though I think it's been replaced two or three times now.

The first few years it used a DC-7 prop and spinner, then switched to a Skyraider prop with a P2V spinner in 1971. In 1974 it was replaced by a P-51H spinner (discarded by Howie Keefe), and then went to the custom-blown spinner in 1987.

It had a rounded tail fillet from 1970 through 2008 when the boil off was installed...so the new stinger in 2009?

I think the DC-7 cowling went on in 1987 as part of the first round of Dave Cornell mods.

[ChrisMX105]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Current canopy is new after 2012. I heard several inches taller.
Spinner is from a Blackburn Beverly.

[BEARCLAW777]

Re: rare bear part qustion

guys thank you all for helping me sort out the part history of rare bear

[BellCobraIV]

Re: rare bear part qustion

The interim spinner between the DC-7 spinner and the P-51H spinner was a P-61 Black Widow spinner. The DC-7 cowling was first used at the Hamilton race in 1988. The short wings were first used at Miami in 1973.

[Race70]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Current canopy is new after 2012. I heard several inches taller.
Spinner is from a Blackburn Beverly.

I knew it looked taller! Also, does anyone know what that rectangular thing is on the leading edge of the left wing where the old intake inlets were?

[hm66sk]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Cool project. Check out "High Planes" models from Australia. They have a couple versions of the Bear. Mostly 1/72 and some 1/48. They're on egay all the time. Could save you hours of modification and custom decals. They also produce different versions of some of the other unlimiteds too.

http://www.hpmhobbies.com/categories/Scale-Models/Aircraft/1%3A72/Kits/High-Planes-Racers/

[BEARCLAW777]

Re: rare bear part qustion

so i am working on making 3d printed parts for plastic model air planes. and whats cool is they can be made for any scale you can think of but for my bissness i am starting out in 1/48 scale. but for a conversion for rare bear like lets say the famous 3 blade prop. i will have for sale in the conversion the canopy,cowling,prop and spinner,tail fillet peace. and wheels if they had the T-33 wheels by then

[Big_Jim]

Re: rare bear part qustion

so i am working on making 3d printed parts for plastic model air planes. and whats cool is they can be made for any scale you can think of but for my bissness i am starting out in 1/48 scale. but for a conversion for rare bear like lets say the famous 3 blade prop. i will have for sale in the conversion the canopy,cowling,prop and spinner,tail fillet peace. and wheels if they had the T-33 wheels by then

LOL, well...back in my day we had to make the parts from scratch and then cast them in resin....but I made up a Rare Bear conversion kit for the 1/48 Testors model. Sold the molds to Scotty G several years ago. Not sure if he ever did anything with them.

[RichH]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Also, does anyone know what that rectangular thing is on the leading edge of the left wing where the old intake inlets were?

It's not where the intake was, but if you're talking about this it looks to be a camera:

[Dialtapper]

Re: rare bear part qustion

It's not where the intake was, but if you're talking about this it looks to be a camera:

Is that for taking pictures of all those planes in front of you?

[toldjaso]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Is that for taking pictures of all those planes in front of you?

Why Yes, the ones you are lapping, of course...

[toldjaso]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Is that for taking pictures of all those planes in front of you?

Say, bet they got some great shots of 232's tailwheel hangin'out in the breeze

[Dialtapper]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Say, bet they got some great shots of 232's tailwheel hangin'out in the breeze

Now that's funny!

[BellCobraIV]

Re: rare bear part qustion

Ironically that's about the location of the stock gun camera on a stock F8F. Lyle actually had to remove that during the initial build in 1969. So another step closer to the factory build.