Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
09-27-2008, 10:59 PM
#1726
Join Date: Mar 2006
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
It might be that Im not flying, you think? Because I tested my smoke pump on the ground real quick, so it might be that the engine wasnt hot enough??
thanks!
thanks!
09-29-2008, 03:17 PM
#1728
RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
Mike:
There is one for the Topflite 1/7 ARF P-51. Tower item #LXTZP9, $11.50 I ordered one on 22 June and it still shows out of stock. It appears to include the pilot, the upper part of his seat back, a recessed instrument and panel kit which looks very nice, and maybe a radio. I'm not sure. I did get the exhaust manifolds, tho, which are tower item LXTZR4 and are $11.
This stuff is so much nicer than what's in the BIY kit, I couldn't resist. Not for $25.
There is one for the Topflite 1/7 ARF P-51. Tower item #LXTZP9, $11.50 I ordered one on 22 June and it still shows out of stock. It appears to include the pilot, the upper part of his seat back, a recessed instrument and panel kit which looks very nice, and maybe a radio. I'm not sure. I did get the exhaust manifolds, tho, which are tower item LXTZR4 and are $11.
This stuff is so much nicer than what's in the BIY kit, I couldn't resist. Not for $25.
10-01-2008, 03:50 PM
#1733
RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
Thanks, Mike.
I just finished a real battle, fitting the lower half of the cowel. I'll post some pics later on this evening if I get it finished, with all the cutouts and stuff.
I used the fiberglass version available through
http://www.fiberglassspecialtiesinc.com/
I bought their belly scoop, too, as I want to cover the cowl and the scoop and I don't think the standard plastic parts can take the heat.
I just finished a real battle, fitting the lower half of the cowel. I'll post some pics later on this evening if I get it finished, with all the cutouts and stuff.
I used the fiberglass version available through
http://www.fiberglassspecialtiesinc.com/
I bought their belly scoop, too, as I want to cover the cowl and the scoop and I don't think the standard plastic parts can take the heat.
10-01-2008, 06:10 PM
#1734
RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
It's been taking a while hasn't it?, I know where your coming from, I built the p-47 and it took me 6 months from box top off to tarmac, it seemed to drone on and on with cut this, fit that, sheet here and sand there. But in the end it was awsome to see that plane taxi out on the tar in steamboat springs, made every hour worth it. I never had the peanuts to fly it until years later, and yes, I rolled it over because the alerions were reversed, but I fixed her up and flew it all season till the gear failed after landing and ripped the blocks out of the wing, shes on the shelf waiting for glass covering, but to be done very soon. The P51 looks great, which gear are you running?
10-01-2008, 08:24 PM
#1735
RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
I'm using the Robart 531RS. They're the ones that have the cylinder outboard of the unit, so the assembly is very low profile. They accept 7/16" robostruts directly. They're big and beefy, and I really like them, especially after using the Robart spring down units (They're SpringAirs marketed by Robart) They suck, not to put too fine a point on it. The 531s are very smooth and reliable. I've included some pics of how I did the mounts for them. We have a very rough field, so I kind of over engineered them. If they rip out, tho, it'll be after the wing is totally destroyed.
As you can see in the pix, a little more shaping required on the fuse aft of the lower cowel. I'll probably leave that until the forward wing fairing is complete. The black oval on the bottom will be cut out for cooling, as will the classic Mustang "grin" under the spinner. After the cowel there's this to do: forward wing fairing, belly scoop, wing fillets, cockpit, canopy, finish/cover. All the radio gear and controls are installed and functional. I might try to get the "Warbirds Over Paradise" guys to let me maiden it the afternoon before the airshow down there in Cape Coral next January.
You're right. It's a chore, and it's taken me over a year and a half, but it really does go together very nicely and looks very scale, even with my 1/2 inch cheat on the stab and fin.
I'm worried about the weight, tho. She's sitting on 12 pounds as of the last assembled pic. That's minus the fiberglass cowel and scoop, the forward fairing, the wing fillets, cockpit/canopy and covering. I think final RTF will be in the neighborhood of 13 pounds- 3 pounds more than TF says it should weigh. Without that big engine and mount in the nose, tho, I'd be putting a bunch of lead in the cowel. Right now she balances at 1/4" forward of the recommended CG with only the 1400 mAh battery located near the tail wheel. I expect the finishing epoxy and the covering to shift the CG further aft, so that the battery can come forward a little.
13 pounds works out to a stall speed of 27-30 mph, depending on altitude. The numbers on the 120AX say I should be able to get 90mph and 10-14# of thrust. Should be enough. I'll just have to be a little more patient on TO, and careful to keep the speed up on landing, tho the flaps should help a lot there.
As you can see in the pix, a little more shaping required on the fuse aft of the lower cowel. I'll probably leave that until the forward wing fairing is complete. The black oval on the bottom will be cut out for cooling, as will the classic Mustang "grin" under the spinner. After the cowel there's this to do: forward wing fairing, belly scoop, wing fillets, cockpit, canopy, finish/cover. All the radio gear and controls are installed and functional. I might try to get the "Warbirds Over Paradise" guys to let me maiden it the afternoon before the airshow down there in Cape Coral next January.
You're right. It's a chore, and it's taken me over a year and a half, but it really does go together very nicely and looks very scale, even with my 1/2 inch cheat on the stab and fin.
I'm worried about the weight, tho. She's sitting on 12 pounds as of the last assembled pic. That's minus the fiberglass cowel and scoop, the forward fairing, the wing fillets, cockpit/canopy and covering. I think final RTF will be in the neighborhood of 13 pounds- 3 pounds more than TF says it should weigh. Without that big engine and mount in the nose, tho, I'd be putting a bunch of lead in the cowel. Right now she balances at 1/4" forward of the recommended CG with only the 1400 mAh battery located near the tail wheel. I expect the finishing epoxy and the covering to shift the CG further aft, so that the battery can come forward a little.
13 pounds works out to a stall speed of 27-30 mph, depending on altitude. The numbers on the 120AX say I should be able to get 90mph and 10-14# of thrust. Should be enough. I'll just have to be a little more patient on TO, and careful to keep the speed up on landing, tho the flaps should help a lot there.
10-02-2008, 09:45 AM
#1736
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
Bob
The bird is looking great.
Thought I had better check in and let you know I am still here.
I built my cowl and air scoope out of balsa. The air scoope has 1 bolt that fastens it on so I can get to my flap servo, The cowl has 2 dowels in the rear and 2 bolts virtical by spinner that you don't see, to hold it on.
The bird is looking great.
Thought I had better check in and let you know I am still here.
I built my cowl and air scoope out of balsa. The air scoope has 1 bolt that fastens it on so I can get to my flap servo, The cowl has 2 dowels in the rear and 2 bolts virtical by spinner that you don't see, to hold it on.
10-02-2008, 10:28 AM
#1738
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
I thought I put pic's here have to look if not I will take some. You guie's are just about caught up with the first part of the thread. Great to see people keeping this thread alive.
A lot of work for such a small plane
Still working on the finer parts like control movement and Landing gear[:@] getting just the way I want it
A lot of work for such a small plane
Still working on the finer parts like control movement and Landing gear[:@] getting just the way I want it
10-02-2008, 12:04 PM
#1739
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
Mine came in over 13 lbs as well. Take-offs are not a problem with the Saito 1.5 (should be equivalent to the Ax 1.20), the landings are FAST though, head winds help greatly with slowing things down!
10-05-2008, 04:24 PM
#1744
RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
Thanks, Bruce
I sealed the balsa on the wing with thinned finishing epoxy, maybe 40-50%. Just enough to harden the balsa so that I can't dent it easily. I'm planning on doing the same to the fuse before covering, which will be ultra cote. Weight right now with a 1400 mAh battery is 12 pounds. I'm expecting close to 13 fueled and ready to fly. I'm sure I could have saved two pounds by going with fixed landing gear, but I think WWII planes flying around with their wheels hanging down is an abomination.
I sealed the balsa on the wing with thinned finishing epoxy, maybe 40-50%. Just enough to harden the balsa so that I can't dent it easily. I'm planning on doing the same to the fuse before covering, which will be ultra cote. Weight right now with a 1400 mAh battery is 12 pounds. I'm expecting close to 13 fueled and ready to fly. I'm sure I could have saved two pounds by going with fixed landing gear, but I think WWII planes flying around with their wheels hanging down is an abomination.