TF 1/5 Scale P-51 ARF Assembly (1ST MISHAP!!!)
09-23-2015, 04:51 PM
#3676
My Feedback: (9)
27 lbs, thats fairly light for model of this size. Nice!! Yeah their method of wing half attachment has always bothered me. Especially since after its all done you can see the seams. I don't have a problem with a one piece wing, even at this size. My Spit measures out at 83.5 " and it is manageable. If it were mine I would consider altering the wing to make it one piece. Creates good piece of mind as well. I don't think it would add much either. What do you think of the dual servos on the elevator? Seems complicated to me. I think that could be converted to one as well. Post some pics of it when you can.
Mark
Mark
09-23-2015, 05:36 PM
#3677
I have had to use this same elevator installation on several of my large gilders (one of which at 123 in wing span easily exceeds 150 mph in strong lift and has an air foil very similar to the airfoil this Mustang uses). Another larger glider uses 10 gram servos in each stab half and has a wing span of 134 inches although it is never flown fast, more of a slow floater. Besides, it comes closed up in a finished condition and is monocoque construction (stressed skin with stringers) not a box with rounded corners like the TF Mustang so cutting in and changing things would require careful planning. My first thought was to change it from pull-pull on the rudder and tail wheel steering but the amount of surgery required discouraged me. Besides the cable fittings provided are high quality so I just built it as per the manual.
The digital servos I installed in the little elevators of this Mustang have vastly more power than the gliders but it will probably never be able to reach the glider's top speed range.
As for the wing, other than preflight checking of the retaining screws for tightness I will never break it down except for maintenance so it is, for my purposes, a one piece wing. Just use thread-locker on the retaining screws. And most of the club members did not notice the wing seams until I pointed them out. I think it was done this way to get a large wing in a small box. It is a shame that an excellent job of design and execution should be spoiled by the wing tube issue.
The packaging was very good, my fuse box was penetrated by a forklift prong near the vertical fin but no damage was done to the plane. My complaint about the shipping was an infestation of Vietnamese spiders even though I opened it up and immediately tossed the boxes outside and then found a black shiny armor-plated Vietnamese scorpion on my lawn mower the next day. An application of insecticide seems to have cleared them out however, and the freezing temperatures here in winter should eliminate the survivors.
The digital servos I installed in the little elevators of this Mustang have vastly more power than the gliders but it will probably never be able to reach the glider's top speed range.
As for the wing, other than preflight checking of the retaining screws for tightness I will never break it down except for maintenance so it is, for my purposes, a one piece wing. Just use thread-locker on the retaining screws. And most of the club members did not notice the wing seams until I pointed them out. I think it was done this way to get a large wing in a small box. It is a shame that an excellent job of design and execution should be spoiled by the wing tube issue.
The packaging was very good, my fuse box was penetrated by a forklift prong near the vertical fin but no damage was done to the plane. My complaint about the shipping was an infestation of Vietnamese spiders even though I opened it up and immediately tossed the boxes outside and then found a black shiny armor-plated Vietnamese scorpion on my lawn mower the next day. An application of insecticide seems to have cleared them out however, and the freezing temperatures here in winter should eliminate the survivors.
09-27-2015, 07:51 PM
#3680
It was designed to fit a particular engine that they never released so whatever engine you want to install you will have to figure it out yourself. I used a DA 50 R I already had and I had to angle the cylinder head so the muffler did not be so close to the cowling. It has less room in the front than the TF GS Mustang so it is more difficult to make any engine fit. I got it done though and it flies great. At 27 lbs. ready to fly my wing loading is 12 ounces less than my TF mustang.
09-27-2015, 09:21 PM
#3681
Mine was on the radar gun at 90-98mph, 22x10 Xoar carbon prop, and weighs in around 26/27lbs AUW.
The 61 is on my radar too! Since my plane is already set up for this then its nearly a drop in upgrade.
10-28-2015, 05:14 PM
#3684
Well it's taken a long time, but I am nearing the home stretch! I am going to have my buddy paint some nose art on Friday, then have another buddy use some graphite for weathering, and then I will clear coat using nelson hobby clear. I'm really happy with it! I will have to practice up before I can overcome the nerves to put her into the air. It will probably be next spring to maiden as I am waiting on a 60 size warbird to come in the mail after I crashed my spitfire earlier this fall. I need a confidence booster first!
10-28-2015, 07:27 PM
#3685
Well I have finished the test flight and trimming phase with my H 9 P 51D and can report that this is the best flying Mustang I have had my hands on. With the DA 50 R it is not as fast as my TF P 51 B electric but it has a much wider speed range. The stall speed has been hard to pin down as it won't stall unless I fly it at dead slow idle and hold up elevator until it stops, then it will lower a wing and sort of slide off in that direction until I add throttle and fly away. I got it to break and drop once and it lost about 40-50 feet during the stall recovery and 1/2 turn. It seems to do it in slow motion so it is easy to recover. The approach speed is slower than all but one of my gliders and under perfect control all the way down and during the roll out. The testing shows an over sensitive rudder so I programmed 30% expo and the next flights were easy to steer on the runway.
The initial CG at the manufacturers recommended point needed 8 ounces of lead bolted to the firewall and three battery packs behind the firewall. This proved to be nose heavy needing a lot of up trim for level flight and a tendency to nose over. After removing the 1/2 lb. of lead and moving 14 ounces of receiver packs from the fire wall to behind the wing the needed up trim is a more reasonable 4 clicks. The nose over tendency has gone away and it really grooves at full speed easily keeping up with other warbirds with larger engines.
Considering the airfoil used it needs very little down elevator for inverted flight and the roll rate is faster than my TF planes.
Hanger 9 has a winner with this model and I am already planning to get another. The performance with the DA 50 R is so good I just might buy a new one for the next plane. My only complaint was having to cut into the wing center section to re-align one of the fiber glass tubes but that only took a couple of hours. I have had to do extensive modifications to all of my TF wings to make them usable so this one fault is minor in comparison. I tried to use the steel clevises supplied with the H 9 ARF but after a couple of flights they all cracked where the pin is pressed into the fork. luckily I spotted this before trying to fly that day so it only spoiled my fun rather than re-kitting the plane. The cracks are tiny and hard to see but a loss of control would result from a complete failure.
Anyone who is interested in this plane should get it-you are missing out on an excellent flying experience. Except for one belly landing caused by a binding retract all of the others have been greased in on the mains and I have 20 flights on it now on grass and hard top runways.
The initial CG at the manufacturers recommended point needed 8 ounces of lead bolted to the firewall and three battery packs behind the firewall. This proved to be nose heavy needing a lot of up trim for level flight and a tendency to nose over. After removing the 1/2 lb. of lead and moving 14 ounces of receiver packs from the fire wall to behind the wing the needed up trim is a more reasonable 4 clicks. The nose over tendency has gone away and it really grooves at full speed easily keeping up with other warbirds with larger engines.
Considering the airfoil used it needs very little down elevator for inverted flight and the roll rate is faster than my TF planes.
Hanger 9 has a winner with this model and I am already planning to get another. The performance with the DA 50 R is so good I just might buy a new one for the next plane. My only complaint was having to cut into the wing center section to re-align one of the fiber glass tubes but that only took a couple of hours. I have had to do extensive modifications to all of my TF wings to make them usable so this one fault is minor in comparison. I tried to use the steel clevises supplied with the H 9 ARF but after a couple of flights they all cracked where the pin is pressed into the fork. luckily I spotted this before trying to fly that day so it only spoiled my fun rather than re-kitting the plane. The cracks are tiny and hard to see but a loss of control would result from a complete failure.
Anyone who is interested in this plane should get it-you are missing out on an excellent flying experience. Except for one belly landing caused by a binding retract all of the others have been greased in on the mains and I have 20 flights on it now on grass and hard top runways.
10-29-2015, 10:19 AM
#3690
My Feedback: (53)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: milwaukee, WI
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bad aileron servo mount. It was an internal mount. Not the standard way TF mounts the servos to hatch cover. These where mounted to plywood and screwed to hardwood blocks epoxied in the wing.
Wing got wet at an event last summer. I thought I had dried it out. The plane flew another dozen or so times after that. Over the winter, the plywood de-laminated right after take off on the first flight of the year,
The aileron flopped and stood the plane and the left wing, when trying to turn plane around to head toward our flightline, it spin in.
Wing got wet at an event last summer. I thought I had dried it out. The plane flew another dozen or so times after that. Over the winter, the plywood de-laminated right after take off on the first flight of the year,
The aileron flopped and stood the plane and the left wing, when trying to turn plane around to head toward our flightline, it spin in.
Last edited by chris923; 10-29-2015 at 10:27 AM.
10-29-2015, 01:10 PM
#3692
A shame, I know how you feel-I lost a B model that took me 3 years to build to a 654mg servo on the right aileron that went hard over during landing. It happened on the 5th flight of it's first day of flying. Was my first plane with gear doors and everything worked fine except the servo. I didn't nail it down as the cause until after installing it in the next B model. During several hours of backyard testing it began to glitch and finally failed hard over. Since that experience I always spend several days in testing with the motor running both tied down and taxiing around the yard. The sad thing is, I did not get a single picture of that B model, like it never existed.
10-29-2015, 01:26 PM
#3693
Back when I was trying out 3d planes I was experimenting with roll mixed with the elevators as a way to better control high alpha flight. It worked for that but also saved a plane that had an aileron servo fail to full up. I was able to move the good servo to full up and control the plane with the elevator-roll mix.(it had flaperon mix and crow mix for slow vertical dives). Putting the wing in crow moved both ailerons full up with little roll response from the ailerons. I was using an old AIRTRONICS Stylus with an optional 3d memory card.
I have often wondered that if I had the same mix on my B model would I have been able to save that plane too. I always use the taileron mix on my jet models as it gives positive roll control on swept wings at high angles of attack when the wing aileron surfaces cause adverse yaw.
I have often wondered that if I had the same mix on my B model would I have been able to save that plane too. I always use the taileron mix on my jet models as it gives positive roll control on swept wings at high angles of attack when the wing aileron surfaces cause adverse yaw.
10-29-2015, 04:06 PM
#3694
nice work Chris! It looks like quite a few people have moved on to other planes, threads, or both! I like the hangar 9 mustang, but decided to go with the h9 corsair as I already had this mustang. I need to work on my skills though.
Anyone have any tips or suggestions on what to look out for on this plane?
Anyone have any tips or suggestions on what to look out for on this plane?
10-29-2015, 05:39 PM
#3695
My Feedback: (53)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: milwaukee, WI
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spit,
I have way to much invested in mods for the TF mustang to abandon them.
I am just finishing a 81" Spitfire from Gator rc. It has a DLE 55 swinging a 4 blade Beila prop.
I have way to much invested in mods for the TF mustang to abandon them.
I am just finishing a 81" Spitfire from Gator rc. It has a DLE 55 swinging a 4 blade Beila prop.
10-31-2015, 05:37 AM
#3698
My Feedback: (53)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: milwaukee, WI
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The plane won't fly until spring. I did some mods on the engine mount box to hold a DLE55. The plane is set for a 35 or electric. As in most arf's like this the details you would like to see in the manual are there.
All in all not bad fro the price.
11-22-2015, 07:40 PM
#3700
My Feedback: (209)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Waterbury, CT
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Warbird Pilots 1/6 ~ 1/5 Scale WWII USAAF Pilot, Top Flite Giant P-51 Mustang
Hello, My name is Adam Martin of Warbird Pilots. www.warbirdpilots.com I get a lot of questions as to which pilot fits the Top Flite Giant P-51 Mustang. Since this is one of my favorite airplane and by far the most popular aircraft I sell pilots for, I wanted to take a second to show you the pilot I offer for this aircraft and how it fits.
The pilot is the 12" Tall, 1/6 ~ 1/5 Scale WWII USAAF Pilot Figure and the USAAF Tuskegee Pilot Figure.
http://www.warbirdpilots.com/product...lot-figure.htm
http://www.warbirdpilots.com/product...lot-figure.htm
As you can see the pilot comes with all that is shown. Pilots come completely dressed and ready to install. The figure comes with a beautifully painted head and highly detailed clothing and equipment specific to the USAAF. I also made all the clothing, accessories, and equipment fully removable to allow you to change the pilot and give it your own personal look. Finally, I designed it with a wire frame, cotton body that is incredibly light (7 ounces) and allows it to be manipulated and bent in any position.
As you can see from the pictures below, the entire figure fits incredibly well, and is very easy to adjust and to sit in the exact location you want. One advantage with the wire frame cotton body is that the figures seated height can be adjusted just by bending the figure further up or down its waist. That will allow the figure to sit higher or lower in the seat and get his eyes to look right down the gun sight.
Don't forget to look at the servo operated moving head option. I install a Hitec HS-55 Servo in the figures chest allowing the head to be moved left and right. If you add this option, the figure will come complete with a wire coming out his pants, ready to plug and play.
http://www.warbirdpilots.com/product_p/servo-head.htm
I hope this helps you decide the correct size pilot to fit into your Top Flite Giant P-51 Mustang. Feel free to call or email me with any questions or if you just want to talk shop. I have been flying for 25 years and love warbirds.
Adam Martin
www.warbirdpilots.com
Business: 203-528-4352
[email protected]
The pilot is the 12" Tall, 1/6 ~ 1/5 Scale WWII USAAF Pilot Figure and the USAAF Tuskegee Pilot Figure.
http://www.warbirdpilots.com/product...lot-figure.htm
http://www.warbirdpilots.com/product...lot-figure.htm
As you can see the pilot comes with all that is shown. Pilots come completely dressed and ready to install. The figure comes with a beautifully painted head and highly detailed clothing and equipment specific to the USAAF. I also made all the clothing, accessories, and equipment fully removable to allow you to change the pilot and give it your own personal look. Finally, I designed it with a wire frame, cotton body that is incredibly light (7 ounces) and allows it to be manipulated and bent in any position.
As you can see from the pictures below, the entire figure fits incredibly well, and is very easy to adjust and to sit in the exact location you want. One advantage with the wire frame cotton body is that the figures seated height can be adjusted just by bending the figure further up or down its waist. That will allow the figure to sit higher or lower in the seat and get his eyes to look right down the gun sight.
Don't forget to look at the servo operated moving head option. I install a Hitec HS-55 Servo in the figures chest allowing the head to be moved left and right. If you add this option, the figure will come complete with a wire coming out his pants, ready to plug and play.
http://www.warbirdpilots.com/product_p/servo-head.htm
I hope this helps you decide the correct size pilot to fit into your Top Flite Giant P-51 Mustang. Feel free to call or email me with any questions or if you just want to talk shop. I have been flying for 25 years and love warbirds.
Adam Martin
www.warbirdpilots.com
Business: 203-528-4352
[email protected]