Posts: 433
Joined: 3/12/2005 From: Fort Collins,
CO, USA Status: offline
Well, I've looked around and not found a build thread yet on this new warbird from H9, so here goes!
Picked up mine, along with a Saito 220, this last Tuesday, and will start on it sometime this weekend. Initial impressions:
1. the box is freakin' huge! Pick yours up in an SUV or truck! 2. the construction, and covering is up to H9's typical high standards, though the covering on mine has a few minor bumps and blimishes; nothing to complain about. 3. the retracts look serious! About 0.4" diameter oleo struts, with 3.5" diameter tires, all bolting into a metal wing mounts that hold individually mounted servos (JR NES-791's recommended; 260 ounces of torque @ 4.8 v.) Wing mounts look pretty robust, too, but hard to tell what they are tied into when they disappear under the sheeting. Minor complaint: the oleo struts are painted a light gray. 4. comes with a 5" diameter, pre-painted aluminum spinner. Also, comes with a cool scale, static 4-blade prop set-up. The spinner is uncut, so you can use it for the scale, static prop (drill 4 holes) or use it for the flying prop, which would require the blade cut-outs to be done (with supplied template). I'll probably use the H9 spinner for static, and buy a Dave Brown 5" parabolic (~$58) for flying. 5. Comes with a pair of wing mounted bombs. Too heavy, hard and dangerous for dropping while flying, so I'll probably leave them off. 6. Steerable tailwheel in ~scale location doesn't retract, but fuselage could be modified to accept a forward retracting mechanism. 7. Stabilizer and vertical surfaces are airfoiled; stabilizer has tubular spars connecting through the fuselage. 8. Nothing impressive on the cockpit side (shallow depth, plastic seat, decal-based instrument panel), though I'm going to check out the possible fit with a Top Flite P-51 cockpit.
I'm leaning towards the Keleo slim-line Pitts style exhaust for the Saito 220. Looks like it'll fit mostly within the cowl, with just the twin down-pipes exiting just ahead of the firewall and the angled engine compartment vent built into it on the underside.
Pictures are below. Everything in the box laid out, plus close-ups on the gear, airfoiled stabilzer, spinner, etc. For scale, note the Futaba 6-channel transmitter near the fuselage in the "all parts" picture.
Cheers!
Bo
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The more planes you have in your "hangar," the less likely your wife will notice a new one!
Posts: 758
Joined: 10/1/2006 From: Columbia City,
IN, USA Status: offline
Rip...ya beat me by three days. I like to build slow, so i'll be interested in following along. You leaving the stock retracts in? Already asked in first P-51 post(the loooong one), but do you or anyone else have experience with the Evogas engine line? Looked at the 26GT tonight at the LHS and it really appears well built. The specs are pretty impressive too. Am in the process of converting to gas for my Pitts, so along with my glow stuff I can go either way. Just curious. Good luck and keep the info coming.
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Are the wheels supposed to fall off when you land? No? How about the engine?
Posts: 433
Joined: 3/12/2005 From: Fort Collins,
CO, USA Status: offline
Hey Reincarnate,
Well, I'm a slow builder too, and though I picked up the 'Stang a week ago, I've barely gotten past the pictures and inventory stage. With the holidays coming up, I'll be able to make some better progress.
I've also started going back through the earlier version P-51 build thread to capture the best tips, mods and improvements. LOTS of posts there to sift through!
Yes, the retracts look more than robust enough to retain; in fact, if they hadn't been, I may not have purchased the plane. My LHS owner let me open up the box and examine them before I made my decision. Had to upgrade my H9 60 P-51's stock gear (bad case of the "wobblies" to Robart 609HD's, and had hoped this plane wouldn't require a similar, but probably much more expensive, gear upgrade.
This new P-51 has the engine bracket holes in the firewall spaced for a Saito 180, so I have to slightly modify their location to handle the wider Saito 220. Just ordered the Pitts-style muffler from Keleo for her, but I won't see that for 4-5 weeks, unfortunately.
Sorry, but I have no experience with the Evo gas engines. I don't dislike gas, but I'm obviously a fan of 4-stroke glow, and this airframe is (supposedly) a great platform for Saito's biggest single. I don't care if I have to wipe the plane down after each flight, and also don't care if a flight costs $5 in glow fuel each time; she's not going to be in the air 10 times each weekend.
Good luck on the build!
Bo
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The more planes you have in your "hangar," the less likely your wife will notice a new one!
Posts: 433
Joined: 3/12/2005 From: Fort Collins,
CO, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: BankYank
From your pic the retract rails still do not look that great but,,,,That is the only real issue i had with mine(old style) Pat
Pat,
I understand the rails to be a serious weak spot on the previous incarnation of this plane. I'll certainly pay special attention to them as I begin my build, and reinforce as both possible and necessary.
Bo
_____________________________
The more planes you have in your "hangar," the less likely your wife will notice a new one!
Posts: 95
Joined: 8/8/2003 From: St Petersburg,
FL, USA Status: offline
I started mine yesterday. Got two planes ahead of this one but couldn't resist. Looks good unpacked. The odd little finish detail to fix but pretty minor. Got a hot ST 2300 in another 15 pound plane, running a 16 / 10 3 blade prop. Planning to swap out that engine to this plane and replace it with a new one in the old plane. I have good luck with these engines. Will do push pull on the rudder. Going to link the two elevators and use a flex cable inside so it is a "Pull" for up . Figure that I can get at the area via small hatch cut into the side of the rudder at the back of the fixed stab to get at the tiller, and then use a long drill from the tail wheel hatch to the area just above the last metal tube to to cut a small tunnel for the flexrod to catch up with the tiller on the elevator joiner. Should result in a weight saving and more positive "pull" for up on elevator instead of the sometimes mushy push on a split "Y" arrangement to the elevators, and save the weight of 1 servo as well. Opened up the wheel wells to 4 1/4" to use some bigger wheels. I have some 4" foamies that are lighter and better looking than the small wheels supplied. Hope my retract servos will lift the gear. Looking forward to all your tips as we go. Glenn
Posts: 758
Joined: 10/1/2006 From: Columbia City,
IN, USA Status: offline
OK Rip, never flew a 4 (only have two's and 1 gasser). On board glow driver neccessary? Don't have one, but if I go this way, whats a couple more bucks. I just spent an hour researching engine specs and that 220 is a monster. That Evo I mentioned looks like it will fit completely inside the cowl, but the Saito is about .75 cu in larger and only 5 oz heavier. The Evo is a hundred bucks cheaper...but I'm gonna keep my options open. Put the iron to the 'stang tonight, but not a lot of wrinkles. Mine almost was passable right out of the box!
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Are the wheels supposed to fall off when you land? No? How about the engine?
I too was impressed just seeing the ad a few weeks back in a magazine YET ANOTHER ARF with an impressive "Sport Scale" look . I mean I think I remember how to build still
Posts: 3
Joined: 11/21/2004 From: Logan,
UT, USA Status: offline
Hey guys,
I was suckered into buying one too. Here are some pics with it temporarily assembled. Pretty nice, hope it flies as good as it looks. I'll be running the Saito
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> RC Warbirds and Warplanes >> New Hangar 9 1.50 P-51 Build 
New Hangar 9 1.50 P-51 Build - 
to Robart 609HD's, and had hoped this plane wouldn't require a similar, but probably much more expensive, gear upgrade. 
