Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
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Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
Hey folks. I am frustrated as hell. Iam trying to fit these E-Flite Retracts into this .60 scale P51-D kit from Top Flite. When they are mounted should the be flush below the ribs or will they extend beyond the ribs. I have tried a ton of things to get this thing lowered down, you would think it would be easy but in order to maintain the angle for the strut it is complicated. If anyone can give me a hand Iwould appreciate it. I have attached some pictures of what Ihave done so far, I apologize for the focus i guess Ineed to clean the lense on my iPhone.
One other question the plans refer to the right and left wing panels. The wing you are looking at was made on top of the right wing panel blueprint. However when looking at the gear the are being mounted on the top so when you turn over the wing and put the wheel on th ground does it not become the left wing? I am so confused.
Thanks in advance.
One other question the plans refer to the right and left wing panels. The wing you are looking at was made on top of the right wing panel blueprint. However when looking at the gear the are being mounted on the top so when you turn over the wing and put the wheel on th ground does it not become the left wing? I am so confused.
Thanks in advance.
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
If the plans is only showing one wing panel, what you do is build the wing that is shown, then for the other panel you suppose to flip the plans over in order to build the other panel. I usually do a light oil spray on the plans so the lines show through better on the other side. How ever you should make a copy of the wing and do the build on the copy so you don`t destroy the original plans.
As for the retracts you want it either flush with the top of the ribs if you will be doing wheel well covers, then the covers will be flush at the top of the sheeting when the wheels retract in. If not covers then you could bring it up so it will be flush with the sheeting.
As for the retracts you want it either flush with the top of the ribs if you will be doing wheel well covers, then the covers will be flush at the top of the sheeting when the wheels retract in. If not covers then you could bring it up so it will be flush with the sheeting.
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
I am continuing to attempt to make this work but my issue is when I get the top within the ribs the bottom portion of the Retract is outside the ribs on the top side. I could probably make this work but it would require almost nothing out an entire portion of a rib leaving like 1/4" of material (probably a little less). The rib would be able to support the covering but not much else at that point. The mechanism itself is just huge, I would have though they could have put all of those components in a somewhat smaller footprint. I will keep trying but if anyone has experience with this issue, even if it was the Lado retracts they are very similiar in design and any and all help, pictures, measurements etc would be of huge help.
Thanks in advance.
CaPilot04
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
You said you are working with the right wing. I also see retracts on the plans but the wire strut does not show on the retract box, so my opinion is the retract you have needs to be turned over and mounted on the bottom of that RIGHT wing!! It's a right wing. You are showing the right wing with leading edge forward so retracts mount UNDERNEATH!
See the plan. The ribs are drawn solid over the retract mecanism. That means they are over top of the mechanism.
Flip the retracts(roll forward 180 deg) and mount on bottom.
If I am right and you couldn't read the plans by seeing the ribs drawn over top (solid) then please get a little experienced help to sort a few things out in person. Will save you loads of errors possibly.
See the plan. The ribs are drawn solid over the retract mecanism. That means they are over top of the mechanism.
Flip the retracts(roll forward 180 deg) and mount on bottom.
If I am right and you couldn't read the plans by seeing the ribs drawn over top (solid) then please get a little experienced help to sort a few things out in person. Will save you loads of errors possibly.
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
I had recognized that something was not making sense. If you look at my original question I asked this very questions. Thank you for confirming that I was indeed reading this correctly. I had always thought that something seemed wierd. But what confuses me now is that the instructions tell you to put the jig tabs down which I did, and then when I attempted to put in the Retract Gear Doubler it only fit smoothly on the top. Even the pictures in the book show it being installed the way I was attempting to do it. They must have turned over the wing and switched which wing they were working with for the picture. That would explain my difficulty. Thank you very much.
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
As it turns out I was correct after all. There is a tiny little note stating that the wings are built upside down so the top section is actually the bottom, therefore the right wing planbecomes the left wing and the left wing plan becomes the right wing. Very dumb seems like over complicating a simple thing to me but the wording was not very clear the first few times Iread it but after evaluating the comments here, looking at the plan, looking at the pictures in the instructions it became obvious pretty quick that I was truely not working on the RIGHT wing I was working on the left wing over the Right Wing Plan. What poor wording for these instructions, i would assume this is par for the course with most kits right?
Thanks again for the assistance.
CaPilot04
Thanks again for the assistance.
CaPilot04
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
Hmmm, not sure what you are referring to. I don't recall any comments on tabs, can you elaborate what you are talking about?
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
when you build the wing upside down there are tabs on each wing rib that need to be held flat on the building table so you build a nice true wing, also most of the moving parts,flap hatches and servos,bell cranks for ailerons,and retracts are on the bottom of the wing, so
TF has you build it upside down so its easy to access those areas before sheeting the wing, this is the answer to why TF has you build the wing upside down on there warbirds.
also if you sheet the bottom first your strengthening the wing and keeping the wash out into the wing it is usually about 1.5 deg of wash out on TF models then you can cut the wheel wells out and do some of the other minor details before you sheet the top
TF has you build it upside down so its easy to access those areas before sheeting the wing, this is the answer to why TF has you build the wing upside down on there warbirds.
also if you sheet the bottom first your strengthening the wing and keeping the wash out into the wing it is usually about 1.5 deg of wash out on TF models then you can cut the wheel wells out and do some of the other minor details before you sheet the top
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
Ah ok Igot ya. Yeah I figured it was because of ease of access and I know tht tabs to which you are referring and I understand the purpose of them. I finally was able to get these installed to wehre the only portion above the rib line was the screws. I went to the hobby store today and picked stell countersink screws with lock nuts that from what Iam told are used on the chassis for RC cars and trucks. This will put the last remaining portion of the retract below the rib line. I will post pictures of what I have done, if I can save someone else the time trying to figure this out I will post the rib cutout pattern and screw types etc to make this easier for someone else I will post them as soon as I complete the right (i mean left) wing pattern.
Thanks again for the help.
CaPilot04
Thanks again for the help.
CaPilot04
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
I did the same thing(installed blind nuts for the retracts) when I built my TF P-47 kit because when I was pulling the gear in and out I began to ream out the holes in the rails, it makes for easy maint when you need to pull the gear,for any reason and I can really make sure the screws are tight as well.
I also installed additional sheer webbing to the rails since I needed to dremmel out allot of wood to get my CJ gear to properly fit in the wing wells they need to be recessed in the wing deeper than the Robart units
I also installed additional sheer webbing to the rails since I needed to dremmel out allot of wood to get my CJ gear to properly fit in the wing wells they need to be recessed in the wing deeper than the Robart units
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
Hey a couple of quick questions. I'm just starting my P51 1/7th scale (non-ARF) build and also plan on using the Eflite retracts.
Looking at the P-47 above, are those robart struts in Eflite retracts? Do they drop in or did it take modificiation.
Also, for the P-51 I'm thinking of boxing the gear mount and recessing it a bit. Would a small about of glassing along the area to reinforce it be a good idea or a pointless addition of weight?
Thanks!
Looking at the P-47 above, are those robart struts in Eflite retracts? Do they drop in or did it take modificiation.
Also, for the P-51 I'm thinking of boxing the gear mount and recessing it a bit. Would a small about of glassing along the area to reinforce it be a good idea or a pointless addition of weight?
Thanks!
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 Scale P51-D Kit (not ARF) and E-Flite Retracts
Tons of info on this kit in the kit building section:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2886581/tm.htm
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2886581/tm.htm