P-38 Lightning Brotherhood
#1201
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ChristchurchCanterbury, NEW ZEALAND
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This inspection is just a common sense check to see that the structure is true to the plans and is of a suitable standard. The control system is checked to ensure that the mechanisms are robust and that the servos are appropriate for the expected loads.
There is also a prescribed process for maiden flight and further comissioning flights to prove reliability.
Regards
David Read
.
There is also a prescribed process for maiden flight and further comissioning flights to prove reliability.
Regards
David Read
.
#1202
My Feedback: (34)
I didn't know there was a P38 Club, can I join .... LOL
I rebuilt this Ziroli P38 with 2 DL 50 motors, Robart Retracts. Its a great Flying bird, I did add a Demon Cortex gyro to it, and it really changed it.
I love the Cortex Gyro in my jets, but it really locked this bird in, doing low or high speed fly bys you could see no movement rock sold, and helped on my loops also.
This is a great flying plane, sadly I had 2 belly landings in one month, the first at a NASA Scale event in Muncie IL the home of our AMA insurance, the retracts just would not come down, turned out the bolt around the Robart air valve came off and the servo was just moving it around, broke both my Belia 3 blade props and ripped up my home made muffler, I found a shop to weld the muffler local so I could still compete, but it cost me $100, and $220 in props. Smooth belly landing did not shut the motors off.
2nd was at my flying field, and we have the great beans, well this time only one retract would not come down, so I thought it better to belly land it in the beens vs our run way as our grass is very short and hard, this time I was about 3 feet up from the beans had my boy shut the motors off, bad Ideal, it really stopped flying quick and slightly stalled on the left wing, It destroyed the left wing, and cracked up the fuze in a few spots. And still lost the props!
So I have rebuilt the wing and fuse and will start repainting again this week, going to stay with a 2 blade 21X12 vs 3 blades fly's so much better with 2 blade, with the power hungry Bleia 3 blade 20X10 I was barely able to do a simple loop, and even a wing over was a challenge. But with the 2 blade props, its a speed monster, and flys a light as any of my Top Flite Giant Birds with DLE 55.
Sucks I loved the look of the 3 blade props on the ground and the air, but the difference in flight was night and day, I thought about trying the Xora wood 3 blade props, but Im sick of all the $ Im putting into props with this bird. Anyone have a 3 blade prop they love with there P38?
I rebuilt this Ziroli P38 with 2 DL 50 motors, Robart Retracts. Its a great Flying bird, I did add a Demon Cortex gyro to it, and it really changed it.
I love the Cortex Gyro in my jets, but it really locked this bird in, doing low or high speed fly bys you could see no movement rock sold, and helped on my loops also.
This is a great flying plane, sadly I had 2 belly landings in one month, the first at a NASA Scale event in Muncie IL the home of our AMA insurance, the retracts just would not come down, turned out the bolt around the Robart air valve came off and the servo was just moving it around, broke both my Belia 3 blade props and ripped up my home made muffler, I found a shop to weld the muffler local so I could still compete, but it cost me $100, and $220 in props. Smooth belly landing did not shut the motors off.
2nd was at my flying field, and we have the great beans, well this time only one retract would not come down, so I thought it better to belly land it in the beens vs our run way as our grass is very short and hard, this time I was about 3 feet up from the beans had my boy shut the motors off, bad Ideal, it really stopped flying quick and slightly stalled on the left wing, It destroyed the left wing, and cracked up the fuze in a few spots. And still lost the props!
So I have rebuilt the wing and fuse and will start repainting again this week, going to stay with a 2 blade 21X12 vs 3 blades fly's so much better with 2 blade, with the power hungry Bleia 3 blade 20X10 I was barely able to do a simple loop, and even a wing over was a challenge. But with the 2 blade props, its a speed monster, and flys a light as any of my Top Flite Giant Birds with DLE 55.
Sucks I loved the look of the 3 blade props on the ground and the air, but the difference in flight was night and day, I thought about trying the Xora wood 3 blade props, but Im sick of all the $ Im putting into props with this bird. Anyone have a 3 blade prop they love with there P38?
#1203
My Feedback: (14)
I have been very happy with Fiala's propellers have used them on several different projects and notice a good performance increase compared to other brands even of the same dia and pitch on the same plane. I still have to finish my P-38 but I'm sure they will work as well on it as the other planes. Fiala will make props of what ever pitch and diameter you need 3,4,5 blades are available.
#1204
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 166
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Finally got around to doing the upgrade to put this bird back in the air!
The Update & Annual consisted of:
All Servos Checked and Re-checked
3x Gear and Airlines re-plumed
Fuel lines & Clunks checked and replaced
Retract Sequencer system re-adjusted
2x Ignitions updated to 7.2v
Engines run and re-tuned
Taxi tested & nose gear adjusted
New Receiver platform / visible from cockpit
New 9-channel AS3X receiver
3 axis gyro initially programmed (that was crazy - its programmed using an app. on my phone) "Not" my new DX-18 Stealth Radio
Cockpit Clean up and general Misc. repair and touch ups.
All Servos Checked and Re-checked
3x Gear and Airlines re-plumed
Fuel lines & Clunks checked and replaced
Retract Sequencer system re-adjusted
2x Ignitions updated to 7.2v
Engines run and re-tuned
Taxi tested & nose gear adjusted
New Receiver platform / visible from cockpit
New 9-channel AS3X receiver
3 axis gyro initially programmed (that was crazy - its programmed using an app. on my phone) "Not" my new DX-18 Stealth Radio
Cockpit Clean up and general Misc. repair and touch ups.
#1206
My Feedback: (34)
The best advice i can give anyone build a Ziroli P38 with the big ROBART retracts bend the little hooked out of the way, these hooks are supposed to help keep the gear up in the body during loops , etc but as long as you have good gear doors there not needed. I'm even using 6in Robert wheels with brakes and no issues. I have had issues that the gear has not come down because of the hook
#1208
My Feedback: (43)
What is the feeling of the P-38 Brotherhood on having a Yellow Aircraft sized kit available again? It would be glass booms, center pod, and canopy frame with balsa over foam wings and tail. the entire wing would be sheeted foam, with plug in outer panels so that transport could be on the gear. Of course, being able to totally disassemble would allow transport in smaller vehicles and less storage space.
Existing Robart and Sierra Y/A P-38 gear would fit of course.
It would be offered as a builder's kit. You get the molded parts and the foam along with templates and drawings, you do everything else.
American made of course with epoxt resins and virgin foam, so it will NOT be priced like a Chinese EBAY ARF, nor will it be priced like a BVM Jet either.
Existing Robart and Sierra Y/A P-38 gear would fit of course.
It would be offered as a builder's kit. You get the molded parts and the foam along with templates and drawings, you do everything else.
American made of course with epoxt resins and virgin foam, so it will NOT be priced like a Chinese EBAY ARF, nor will it be priced like a BVM Jet either.
#1212
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (24)
Sounds interesting
If reasonably priced, I would buy one. Would have to have the right lines though. IMHO, so many RC versions of the P-38 don't look right. You going to use a YA-38 as a starting point for the plug, or starting from scratch? I seriously thought about making molds before I painted mine, but you could still buy them new at that time
If reasonably priced, I would buy one. Would have to have the right lines though. IMHO, so many RC versions of the P-38 don't look right. You going to use a YA-38 as a starting point for the plug, or starting from scratch? I seriously thought about making molds before I painted mine, but you could still buy them new at that time
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pcf_mark (05-07-2020)
#1218
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (24)
I've lost interest in keeping tabs on numbers, as I really don't see the point. Too many have chimed in once or twice just to get a number, never to be heard from again. If you guys really care, I'll update list and post, otherwise consider yourself part of the "brotherhood"!
There's a few cool projects out there, as can be seen in the posts above, and in previous pages. It goes without saying that everyone is welcome to post as many pictures and videos as you want. More is better
BTW, if anyone has a Yellow P-38 kit they are thinking of selling, I'm looking to buy. Can be NIB, started kit, or a rebuildable wreck. Not really interested in RTF. Please PM me here, RCG or Flying Giants under the same user name
Mike
#1219
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Hey guys - after years of service and several brush replacements my trusty old Dremel tool finally gave out.
What's the latest and the greatest on the market now for a replacement?
Is Dremel still the way to go or are their other manufactures that meet the standards now?
What's the latest and the greatest on the market now for a replacement?
Is Dremel still the way to go or are their other manufactures that meet the standards now?
#1220
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (24)
Same thing happened to me, old Dremel was at least 20 years old when it finally died. Bought a lower end Dremel from HD, and am asking myself why I was holding onto the old one
Mike JM
I just expanded your pictures and see it's electric. What motors did you go with? Did you PM me on RCG about motors? Looks like you made nose one piece with I'm guessing a battery hatch under cockpit? Please feel free to post some more pix
Mike JM
I just expanded your pictures and see it's electric. What motors did you go with? Did you PM me on RCG about motors? Looks like you made nose one piece with I'm guessing a battery hatch under cockpit? Please feel free to post some more pix
#1221
Yes the center section is one piece, I didnt want to weeken the structure since I will be placing a considerable amount of battery weight under the canopy.
Currently I have Suppo 7035/8 190kv Brushless Motors ( I went cheap) swinging Beila semiscale 22x10 3 blades. But I'm investigating smaller motors since these are way over kill rated at a 48lb plane each. Basically 70cc-80cc motors.
I'm currently looking at some Scorpion SII-5535-160KV motors and plan on getting CW and CCW 3 blade props.
Here is a picture of my canopy access:
I made a video/ picture montage of my build if you want to see my journey to date: https://youtu.be/xQbO1d5cZvw
I can add some pictures here if that would be preferable.
Mike
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pcf_mark (05-07-2020)
#1222
My Feedback: (3)
Flew the YA P-38 again today, flight 7, and it was a windy day! Pretty constant wind with gusts in the 18 plus mph range right down the runway. Windsock straight out at times.
It was no problem! Take off was right down the runway. I held it on the brakes and revved the engines up then released the brakes and off she went.
Looks so good in the air. I cranked it around this time out was the most aggressive I've ever flown it. Due to its size though you do have to mind the wind on the downwind and base turn. The first attempt I was blown out of the pattern. Second attempt I pulled up the flaps, not needed, and just came in fine.
The last few feet before touching down were a little hairy due to the wind but I managed to get it down fine and use the brakes. Love the brakes!
My buddy Stan shot some video and posted it to Facebook but I'll try and make a link or something.
It was no problem! Take off was right down the runway. I held it on the brakes and revved the engines up then released the brakes and off she went.
Looks so good in the air. I cranked it around this time out was the most aggressive I've ever flown it. Due to its size though you do have to mind the wind on the downwind and base turn. The first attempt I was blown out of the pattern. Second attempt I pulled up the flaps, not needed, and just came in fine.
The last few feet before touching down were a little hairy due to the wind but I managed to get it down fine and use the brakes. Love the brakes!
My buddy Stan shot some video and posted it to Facebook but I'll try and make a link or something.
#1223
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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The Suppo 7035/8 190kv Brushless Motors and prop combo looks great. I would complete the build using that combo, you will need the weight and the scale props will draw any excessive speed out of the motors.
High speed flutter on elevator has been the death of many a "high performance" built P-38's and there is video out there to prove the fatality of it. Your hinges all look solid so you should be fine and the props will look the part.
I have DA50's on mine and thats more than enough power using performance 2 blade props - I think you may just have stumbled on the correct combination of weight, power and looks. I am excited to see how they spin up.
There is nothing wrong with power on these, especially at initial rotation or on final flair. Also that occasional "sink hole" at the transition of the field to the runway can always sneak up on you during approach and a little tap on the power can be a gear saver right then!
This is one of the better and exciting builds I have seen in a long time - your jig looks more complex than the plane
I did a little clean up work on my nomenclature and turbocharger this weekend getting the bird ready for Warbirds over the Rockies.
Chris get that video link from facebook up.
High speed flutter on elevator has been the death of many a "high performance" built P-38's and there is video out there to prove the fatality of it. Your hinges all look solid so you should be fine and the props will look the part.
I have DA50's on mine and thats more than enough power using performance 2 blade props - I think you may just have stumbled on the correct combination of weight, power and looks. I am excited to see how they spin up.
There is nothing wrong with power on these, especially at initial rotation or on final flair. Also that occasional "sink hole" at the transition of the field to the runway can always sneak up on you during approach and a little tap on the power can be a gear saver right then!
This is one of the better and exciting builds I have seen in a long time - your jig looks more complex than the plane
I did a little clean up work on my nomenclature and turbocharger this weekend getting the bird ready for Warbirds over the Rockies.
Chris get that video link from facebook up.
#1225
Thanks Simple for the vote of confidence.
I'm only an amateur builder compared to a lot of the builders here.
I guess I’ll save the money that I was going to spend on the Scorpion motors and see how the Suppo’s work out. I’m still planning on going with counter rotating props.
I’m currently finishing up on fiberglassing, so I should have a few pictures after I put some filler primer on it.
Mike
I'm only an amateur builder compared to a lot of the builders here.
I guess I’ll save the money that I was going to spend on the Scorpion motors and see how the Suppo’s work out. I’m still planning on going with counter rotating props.
I’m currently finishing up on fiberglassing, so I should have a few pictures after I put some filler primer on it.
Mike