dragonfly24_24

i started this build on 7/22/06 estemated completion time is going to be around december or january.i have completed the stab,vertical fin. almost done with the rudder and over half way on the left wing. I was thinking about glassing the hole thing and paint as well was thinking about (flitemetal) any thoughts would greatly app. it. Iam going to get the fuji 50 46.6 cc to fly it. this is my progress so far[sm=drowning.gif] sink or swim for me. p.s. CA is only for tacking only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rameleni1

My Feedback: (10)

I'm a little bit farther along than you are. I have put this project on hold until this Winter. This p51 is costing more than I planned on, and I have to put funds in other projects now. I will be watching this thread. Covering the plane is the major problem for me now. I have never glassed a plane before, and want to try with this one. I will be useing a g62, and I might make custom exhaust for it.

dragonfly24_24

http://www.keleo-creations.com/ This is is a web site that makes custom exaust for the p-51, check them out. You might have a big problem fitting the g62 in the cowl the mustang has a very narrow cowl the us 41 is a perfect fit no cutting on the cowl except for cooling in the front. this web sit also has a intake tube that remounts the carb for even a better scale look. i am putting the fuji 50 in it because of cost, i have a spicific amount of money for it and this was the best i could come up with for under $400 for engine.[sm=drowning.gif]

Ken Bryant

My Feedback: (10)

FWIW, I have mine sitting in the corner. I have the wing, and horz stab mounted but need to work on the rudder area next. I am taking a break from it as I still hav not come up with an engine for mine.

Tomcat_104

My Feedback: (42)

I found this post today. It was very helpful. The link to keleo-creations was particulaly helpful as I have bought a Moki 2.10 for my mustang. I work one handed now (a stroke a while back) and therefore pretty slow. I have several irons in the fire right now but the P-51 is one of my favorites. I have the plane built but nowhere near finished. My question to you guys is how many of you have considered Flite Metal as your covering? I would like to hear the pros and cons. So if you have an opinion let me have it.

Tomcat_104

dragonfly24_24

tomcat i am also thinking of puting flitemetal on it as well as glassing i am going to use 3/4 oz glass. I have never used it before nor seen it in action but i've seen picks of actuall flying models that use it. A lot of jet guys use it. I am still debateing several deffierent paint skeems. Anyone got any hints, one i am very partial to is the tuskegee airmen. Those black men did not get near the credit they deserved in the war but are now reseeving a lot of (RESPECT).
[sm=drowning.gif] this is a b model but i am going to make it as d

Tomcat_104

My Feedback: (42)

Dragonfly24,

Seems like we have about the same thing. I glassed mine with .56 cloth instead of .75 primarly due to the weight of the Flite Metal. I too have seen it on a feew jets at Joe Nall but have never worked with it before. If you get brave before I do please let me know.

dragonfly24_24

it will probeble be around december before i get to useing the flite metal[sm=drowning.gif]

geh3

My Feedback: (84)

I have had two of these and they fly GREAT. The first was a kit and covered with Monokote... powered by a FUJI 64. It would go straight up! I never had serious problems with that monokote since I put it on myself. This plane met an early end when the battery plug came out of the reciever! My second one was built salvaging parts from the first and using an ARF. ( see my model gallery under "geh3" ) I changed the scheme from the original. I had problems with the kit applied monokote job as it came out of the box very wrinkled. This version has a DA50 which doesn't have the brute power of the fuji 64 BUT the arf version came out lighter than the kit version so the reduced weight allows this plane to fly even better. If I ever decide to build another one of these I would get the ARC version and apply light glass with water based polyurethane... ende up being very ligh and stringer that monokote.
Good luck with your P-51 build.

JIMMYTHEEAGLE

My Feedback: (47)

Flite metal is easy to apply and moves along pretty quickly but obviously takes longer than monokote or fiberglass and paint. It's definitely a learn as you go procedure and then I learned a few new things after flying it as well. My plane flies on a moki 2.1 and fuel gets under the flitemetal pretty easily and the glue doesn't stand up at all. Any surface that will get fuel residue on it will be subject to peeling back. I've tried to seal seams with thin CA and I've also sprayed areas of the plane with flat clear lusterkote with some success. I personally wouldn't use flite metal with a scale exhaust system and a glow engine. That residue going across the entire side of the plane could add up to a lot of covering repairs. My p-51 weights 24.5 lbs with a full pilot, mcdaniel glow driver and full cockpit and wheel wells with working inner doors. I don't feel that flitemetal adds that much weight. The topflite kit can do with a lot of lightning holes,(especially in the tail area) and the sheeting can be sanded down before and after it's installed to save quite a bit of weight if you're going to glass it anyway. Jim

dragonfly24_24

i see the potential of future models and they are very cute indeed. Thanks for the advice. Iseen that you have the scale wheels also where did you get them.

leadgofer

My Feedback: (8)

My P-51 is on its 4th season ( probably has 80 flights ). I have a G-62 with monocote covering. Weighs 24.5 lbs. Has been clocked @ 105 MPH. Mine balanced perfectly with the G-62, muffler, spring starter, vibration mount, so keep the tail light or you'll have to add nose weight. I also use a 2400 mAh battery. You'll have to cut at least a 1/2" off the gear covers if you fly off of grass. I use full flaps to land, ( all throws are as reccommended in the instructions ). [img][/img]

ROGER RUSSELL

My Feedback: (12)

Brian tried to attach a photo of his P 51.
Here is from my files

dragonfly24_24

cool plane i love the yellow that is another color i was thinking of doing. i like yellow.

Tomcat_104

My Feedback: (42)

Roger,

I like yellow too. If it looks like that anyway. I have a 60 size Mustang that's undergoing a retrofit to a 4-bladed Bolly prop and a RCV 90 power plant. It is painted in LOU IV colors but like Dragonfly24 I really like the yellow that you chose. I will consider that color strongly for my Giant Scale.

scalebirdman

My Feedback: (6)

The G62 is a tight fit, but with a custom muffler, you don't have to hack the cowl to pieces.

ROGER RUSSELL

My Feedback: (12)

This is leadgofer's P51.
I fly with him and he was having problems posting a pic (I was only able to get one , myself)

dragonfly24_24

ok i was waiting on parts to arive they showed up last night. time to continue with the build. i was almost done with the first half of the wing and it told me to test fit the retracted and i went oopps i dont have them yet (TOWERS) help. but i have them now plus about $300 of other parts and misc. items. i also found a good 46cc moter on ebay for $200 it looks pretty good. its one of the poulen conversions.

Tomcat_104

My Feedback: (42)

Hey Dragonfly25,

TH is doing OK by you and me. I read the same thing in my instruction and called Tower for quick help too. I'm looking at Keleo Creations for an exhaust sytem. Have you looked there? I have a Pitts style for my Moki but am willing to put that aside if I find something better.

dragonfly24_24

if you would have remembered earler in this thread i put Keleo's web address up. I have been there and like the stuff i seen. but unfortunetly i will not be able to afford on this build.the engine i purchesed off of ebay keleo does not make an exaust for. depending on how this plane fly's and build's is going to depicked my next plane. i am thinking of another large warbird. maybe even a 33% or bigger (extra,cap,sukio,or something along this).

dragonfly24_24

ok people a couple more picks i have the other wing half ready to come of the board.with the retract installed.notice the type of screws used #6x3/4 button head. clean install.

Tomcat_104

My Feedback: (42)

I never thought of using button head screws. That is a really clean install. Looks nice, keep up the good work!

dragonfly24_24

ok here is the test mateing of the wing.

dragonfly24_24

found this pick of me on holloween a couple of years ago.

dragonfly24_24

ok people i am almost done with the wing just a few things left on it i have built the ailerons. it was a pretty strait forward build on them. everything goes as the instructions says.

one thing i did run into though was when sheeting the wing it tells you to make the skins before you actually put them on this is a first for me every time i have skinned a wing it has been one sheet at a time. not all the sheets. but the problem i did run into, is that when you make the skin they dont tell you about what you have left to do on the leading edge. near the center section where the leading edge sweeps forward is left bear by the full skin and you half to add sheeting to it.

other than that the wing is a strait forward build all i have left to do is to shape the leading edge, glue and shape wing tips and build the flaps.