v6goose

Hi guys...

I have finally got my sh*t together to get a Top Flite Giant scale (chuckle) P51-D on the bench! Bout time!

I have watched all of you for months and years build my favourite fighter, now its my turn to have a hack at it.

Having just returned from The Gathering of Mustangs and Legends in Ohio (photos coming), I am refuelled and keen to get this underway

This is the second TF Mustang for me having tackled the smaller 1/7th scale gold edition kit many, many years ago...

I am a painfully slow builder and add to that I am changing things on the fly (pun intended) and will have to wait for some things because of $$, you may die of old age before she gets airbourne, but
hey! I will need some help and be looking to you for answers...

So thanks for watching, contributing and helping me out with this in advance...

Lets go!

Goose

v6goose

So a quick tidy up in the shop and lets see whats in the box.

Thats a fair pile of wood!

v6goose

An inventory is performed with the help of my trusty pilot to find two parts missing from the die-cut section (P51GF03 Aft Fuse).

Begin assembly of the stab as per the instructions.

v6goose

Bam! First problem... gonna need you guys earlier than I thought.

The TE of the stab (P51GS01) is two die-cut pieces of 3/16" balsa laminated vertically, however mine is 1/4" laser cut. This makes my TE 1/8" too thick and pushes the elevators backwards by 1/8" causing problems with the precut stab tips etc.

What did you guys do to resolve this?

Yes, I did check, check and double check the codes on the plans, in the book and on the parts and they all match. The book mentions some crushing with die-cutting this thickness of wood, so I'm assuming they replaced die cutting with laser but the thickness is wrong.

BobH

My Feedback: (2)

I built the kit about 6 years ago and didn't have the problem you have. If I did though I would sand 1/16 of the front and the back so the center remains where it should be.

v6goose

Thanks Bob... sanding might introduce inaccuracies... especially with my sanding, so I think I will recut it from stock...

Cheers

Goose

Meschmidt

My Feedback: (15)

I see the problem already. Your workshop is too clean and organized! How do you expect to get anything done? Seriously, your gonna have fun with this plane because it flies sooo good! What motor do you plan to use? I always start with a motor. Paul

v6goose

Hey Meschmidt ...

*lol* yeah for the first time in my life I actually have a workshop! Comes from moving into a new house and priorities

Great! Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have pondered motors for a long time and today I'm going with the Revolution 52 because I figure I can get it in the cowl without chopping it to pieces (even with that cooling fan and shroud).

There are a lot of things I am going to try on this bird so progress will be a little slow but the finished product should be great.

What engine did you put in yours?

Goose

thevirginian

goose
I admire your clean and organized work shop. Great condition for a project like that. What is that white sheeting on your work bench, if I may ask?

Meschmidt

My Feedback: (15)

I've flown a friend of mine's a few times and plan to put together the ARC version. He runs a Husqavarna 3.7. w/20x12 prop. I want to outrun him so I bought a Husqavarna 4.4. w/20x14 prop. I like the way the plane is so easy to land. A real Cadillac! Paul

v6goose

Thanks Virginian...

We have no curtains and not much furniture but I have a workshop *lol*

The white sheeting is ceiling tiles. I had used this method back in New Zealand with the smaller '51 and it works well, however next week when I get paid I am overlaying the tiles with a sheet of glass.

Cheers Meschmidt... Are your Husqavarna's converted weed wacker engines? Small gas powered yard tools is the only place I have heard of H before.

Heres a couple of shots of the stab framing, and as of tonight, about to be closed... should be finished by the end of Sunday

Cheers guys

Goose

v6goose

So I skinned the stab and roughed out the counterbalance holes, going to pick up some sanding bars tomorrow to finish that and the stabs done.

It doesn't have a shroud nor does the rudder unlike the flaps and ailerons so I am adding some triangle stock to close that gap.

The fin is framed up and ready for skinning tomorrow as the skins are drying now.

While that is happening I'm in AutoCad figuring out an intermediate former between F9 & F10 to support my tailwheel. Yes I went for the scale one that retracts correctly... forward. I figure another former rearward of the tailwheel doors should do the trick but it is getting pretty skinny down there. Will see what happens...

Happy building guys...

Meschmidt

My Feedback: (15)

I see your pilot is there overseeing the production. You're showing him some pride in your work. Hope he does the same! Haa. Paul

v6goose

Ha! So do I... No pressure there pilot buddy but you better not crash while out smokin' gerrys...

Cheers

Goose

willey

My Feedback: (32)

Hi goose, lookin good, but make sure you keep that tail as light as possible, I'm runnin a moki 210 with about 7-8oz lead up front. But even at 26.5lbs she flies great, I thinkin about buildin another just because

Have fun with your build!!

v6goose

Hey Willey...

Cheers. Hmmm thats a bit of worry with the tailwheel assembly further back, an extra former and an electric acuator all jammed into the skinny end... do what I can!

Do you have any pix of yours?

I am having fun and its only just started

Update: Finished the fin guts and skinned both sides tonight, will rough some shape into it and possibly get into the rudder tomorrow. I bought 3 Great Planes sanding bars tonight, man having the right tools for the job makes a world of difference!

Slowly but surely...

Cheers

Goose

willey

My Feedback: (32)

goose, as long as it's balanced right, it'll fly great!! don't worry

here you go, more in the link too if intrested, have not flown with wing tanks yet but will, lots of fun to fly!

http://www.rcuniverse.com/community/...le&memid=46342

Hey those sanding bars are nice, way while back I bought 3 - 2 footers and cut 2 of them up in 3 different lengths, they work great! you will definitly use them alot!

v6goose

Hey Willey..

Thats one sweet ride! Awesome job...

Whats the specs on it?

Some great pix too...

I have only had the bars one night and I'm loving them. I had a b*tch of a time getting the counterbalance slots square, true and correct... bars to the rescue.

Cheers

Goose

v6goose

Hey guys...

I didn't make much progress over the weekend, had a few things to do including spending most of sunday flying

However, the fin is all but done and I'm in the middle of the rudder. I made a mistake with the counterbalance slot in the fin by framing it as per TF and cutting as per documentation. Its not out by much but enough to warrant a 'repair'.

I had forgotten about the Top Flite method... where one glues on an enormous block of wood and carves it down to a sliver of its former self... phew!

Hope you all had a productive weekend...

Goose

v6goose

Hi all...

Now I got that rudder counterbalance just about right, after doing some serious maintenance to my disc sander that I discovered has a warped disc [:@], I remembered that I hate the way TF do the fin to rudder hinge line and now have to hack it off.

Oh well. Next one will be that much better

Instead of the triangle section being carved into the rudder leading edge to sit against the flat trailing edge of the fin, I'm rounding mine like the real one and adding triangle stock shrouds to hide the line. X-craft put me onto this with his Jug (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=685431). Yeah it moves the hingeline slightly rearward, but the real 51 has this and I like it. What other reasons do I need?

Extra work, but well worth it in my opinion.

Happy building guys...

Goose

v6goose

Hey...

I have been sick for a few days which really slows things down, well apart from lack of cash of course, but I did manage to fix the counterbalance and slot, as well as add the shrouds I mentioned earlier.

The trim tab slot is opened up and I have quickly discovered that the TF is very sport scale.

Yeah I knew that and have had to 'fudge' a couple of areas already but its part of the fun

A little more time and a final sand and it should be Ok...

Cheers

Goose

v6goose

I managed to put some more time into the 51 this weekend and have the slab sides assembled.

This gives those of you who are not familiar with the size of the giant scale some perspective... pilot buddy is 12" tall.

Was lucky enough to spend a few hours photographing a real P51 this week so that is helping with details to come.

Thanks [link=http://www.vintagewings.ca]Vintage Wings[/link]

Cheers...

Goose

(ps) Yes my slab of glass finally arrived

v6goose

So I have managed a little more progress on the 51, still slow and steady, need to win the lottery!

I tack glued the fuselage doublers together and then the balsa sides in order to get it all lined up nicely. I remember issues with alignment in the 60 sized Mustang all those years ago.

Next I split them apart and was reminded how strong half a drop of CA really is.

Then the crutch and forward formers are assembled and glued in. Pilot buddy checks that all is good.

The first two firewall pieces are glued together and then into the nose with help from you-know-who. DL-50 is due in this coming week.

You can see I have too much time by the joints in my tri-stock *lol*

Cant do much more until my tailwheel gear arrives (Sierra) and I have decided on a Glennis tailwheel... More to come as it happens....

Cheers!

Goose

v6goose

The tailwheel unit has been ordered this week from Sierra and the Lado actuator and Glennis tailwheel should be ordered tomorrow.

This update includes a little more done to the front of the fuselage and my DL-50 turned up.

This is one hell of a lot of engine for those of use who are used to glow, and the power this thing put out on the bench was amazing!

More to come as it happens...

Cheers

Goose

PS: Yes that is pilot buddy's flightsuit on the left... he needs an 'operation'

Mikel-t

My Feedback: (12)

Geez Goose, I've heard of people that were vertically challenge but it must take you 10 minutes just to strap one of those sanding bars to your back.....don't be embarressed to ask one of the kids in your hood to help you pick up things.....remember
It's not the size of the dog in the fight ..,it's the size of fight in the dog!" just keep up the good work my little friend...Geez and stay away from that CA stuff...why it would be days before someone would find you stuck upside down under your little workbench thingy!!

( That little man is all heart is all I gotta say!)