Paul60

I know, I'm slow to the party!

Is your bird still with us ?

Danorn

My Feedback: (1)

Ya throttle, if set up properly, needs a bit of speed to keep up with response desired but not an issue here. I hope your not going to 3d it

Paul60

You have convinced me to set the old servos aside. I'll just buy 2 sets of the better Hitecs.

No 3D for me. Just a scale type flyer. And this will be the largest plane I've built & flown. My experience with glow engines went as far as a Precedent Low Boy about 20 years ago!

Just been flying helis & large foamies since so I will need to be on top of my game flying this thing!

hemiflyer1

My Feedback: (2)

Paul, I did all the mods on mine, and it really flys nice. You have to be carefull on take off, and stay ontop of elevator. Mods included; moved the tank back, shimmed gear forward, put upper mount on tail wheel, reinforced gear and firewall. I did not glue wings together. Also hooked up radiator scoop to throttle servo. Mine's a little underpowered with saito 91, but only small holes in cowl where front of valve covers show. And It's lighter with less motor. would post pics, but can't seem to with my smart phone for some reason.

Paul60

Thanks Hemiflyer1

Regards the cowl and engine, I am keen to use the Tony Howard, Pacific Scale Air Filters & Exhaust stacks.

I don't suppose you'd know if the RC Specialties http://www.rcspecialties.net/products.php?model=TH13X1A would fit without cutting the cowl ?

Looks like the Keleo http://www.keleo-creations.com/index...roducts_id=207 exhaust stack system works but expensive & I don't think it looks as neat as Tony's dummy exhausts.

I don't have a problem cutting the cowl for the valve covers (looks cool) but I'm loathe to cut that third ugly hole for the muffler elbow if I can help it.

hemiflyer1

My Feedback: (2)

Actually, my stock muffler is all in cowl, just the very tip sticking out big outlet hole in the bottem of cowl.

Paul60

From my measurements, I think I'll be ok with the RC Specialties muffler and the right angle adaptor they supply.

Paul60

Hey, I just ordered a Slimline Xtreme 'Joe' Pilot for this bird!

Hope he's not too big to look scale.

(looks a little loony tunes cartoon'ish)

Big cigar hanging out of his mouth!

charlie1960

i used JR ST47's in all applications on mine and she flew flawlessly. The control sufaces on this plane arent that big, and the control throws arent that big.

Paul60

Hi Charlie

So you think I'd be ok to use the Hitec 422's for elev/rudd/throttle ?

charlie1960

actually yeah i do. they make 43oz torque at 4.8V.
would make even more, just a couple more oz @ 6V
i've been using 6V batterys in my planes for a while.

the 5 cell 2000mh hydramax http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXNHS4&P=ML

charlie1960

all i have left of that plane is one retract with the servo, tony's exaust stacks and the wheels........lol

Paul60

As long as you had some fun while it lasted. Nice plane.

Thanks for the heads up on the 422's. Will save me about $120 !

Servo's arn't cheap down here. : (

Desertlakesflying

My Feedback: (28)

I've been using these in my 30cc MXS-R and they have been solid. Using a power expander to run dual lipos too.

http://www.redwingrc.com/index.php?m...1oc2mr563jk1v5

Paul60

Thanks for the link. They look pretty decent & a good price!

Paul60

Anyone know if the rudder is all one solid piece or is it sheeted ?

Not game to poke mine around enough to find out.

But if there is enough meat down the bottom I am just going to use CA & three decent SS wood screws to fix the control horn and skip the backing plate.

Would look heaps neater, avoid drilling at that insane angle & also save a tiny bit of weight.

Danorn

My Feedback: (1)

Well mine finally flew it's maiden. Dle20 w/ a 15x10 at about 8400rpm at 3000'asl. I did a lot of whining as I was putting this arf together, however, after today I seemed to have forgotten most of the frustration. I did all the mods and strengthening recommended, thanks all, and it took off and flew excellent with only a few clicks of down elevator. It was blowing somewhat cross wind at 15k so not too bad and the 51 handled it easily. Mine came in at 11.1lbs using one 2500 a123 battery and an Ultra IBEC running ignition. Again, thank you to all the initial builders of this arf and letting us know it's good and bad points.
Paul I'm not sure if the entire rudder is built up, but there is a block, I think balsa, in the bottom corner but I am not sure I would trust screwing into just that. It may work though.

jet22b

Hey Danorn;
Congrat on your maiden flight !!! I may have to pickup one of the Hangar 9 Blue Nose P-51, before they take it off the market!!
Again, congrat on your maiden flight!!!
Sonny
aka
jet22b

Danorn

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks jet22b
I had a lot of with it today.

Paul60

Congrats Danorn!

All the work and effort paid off in the end.

How did the DLE20 perform?

Can't wait to get mine in the air!

Cheers.

Paul

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

I read all the posts on this plane and it appears the con's outweigh the likes. I did this knowing that it would be compared to the TF P-51 which I'm getting ready to maiden. It is my opinion that HH is not at fault for all the crashes put the fault lies with the pilot in control. Wing loading has not been addressed by any of the posters and I believe that is the root cause of the all the crashes.

Paul60

Hi flycatch,

I've been reading all the disasters people have experienced with this model. Interesting.

I have a spare Co Pilot II that I am tempted to add to this plane. Not sure if that would help or be a bigger hinderance especially on the ground, takeoff & landing.

Works great on my helis but I guess it would only try to counter any tip stall with ailerons and make matters worse!

Haven't tried the Co Pilot II on a plane yet. Tail Draggers are a bit different too as it always attempts to maintain a straight & level attitude

Danorn

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Paul, the dle performed well swinging the 15x10. Plenty of speed and power if needed.

Flycatch, I believe the majority of cons, certainly mine, were from the construction side and not the flying. Putting it together properly took a lot of work for an arf. I have built and help build many warbird kits and they were not near the pain this girl was. I agree that lots of crashes come from not flying properly and respecting wing loading is vital on a warbird. That being said, I don't like "foamy" feeling planes and appreciate a well flying P51.

Paul60

I've heard the DLE20 is a good engine. I almost went with that over the Saito FG-21 but I found a dealer selling the FG-21 at cost price.

Didn't get me far. Now I need to shell out another $100 for an exhaust that will work without cutting the cowl up too much !

Paul60

Danorn,

Did you use the tank & fuel lines supplied in the kit or did you opt for a smaller tank?

Any idea if the supplied tank & fuel lines are gas proof ?