RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

To do it right though, the dorsal should be removed, the turtle deck put on correctly and the dorsal reinstalled so it lines up correctly. Lot of work, but the lines will be cleaner.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

ummm ok...you have have to remember I'm doing this to an ARF not a kit....things are not going to line up perfectly. I have it as lined up and perfect as I can get it. I'm not going to rip everything apart to start over again..screw that.... that's what wood filler is for..besides who says I have to play by the rules???did the Galloping ghost or the Strega??? with they're modified turtle decks and clipped wings...

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

I was just saying, thats all. Didn't mean to be critical, just noticed all the sanding you needed to do for the canopy, and saw the reason why. That is all.   <div>
</div><div>See, I'm the type of guy who would go the extra steps to take the dorsal off, and build the turtledeck  the way the real planes are, and if I want the dorsal, would put it back on in a more scale like manner.  But thats just how I would do it.  </div><div>
</div><div> What you dont see in the pic I posted is how the cowl I installed looks like it got bent. I had added a 1/4" plywood firewall to push the engine out to meet the plans, and after I got the rest of the cowl built, discovered it was sitting too high, so mine isnt perfect either.  It's close, but it wont win any awards. </div>

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

well kiss my ***** and call me charlie. I did not know the B/C's had a dorsal fin! I like it!!! Makes it look 1970s pattern planeish.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

its all good man...everyone has there own preference. Sanding is my specialty as well as model making from bone scratch. Give me a piece of wood/modeling foam and ill turn it into a piece of art! Beside i like being unique/different..it gets boring seeing the same thing over and over again. Learned that from building show cars and going to car shows lol...I do have 2 walls full of plaques /awards and trophies from "winning" at car shows for just being different and unique....that's the way i build and what I like ;)

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Wow, this thread is 4 1/2 years old, and still going! I am just starting my 2nd P-51, first one got flown so much it just wore out. Wingspan retracts will be going in, along with new YS 115FZ for power. My old one flew just fine with a Saito 100, but more ooomph up front=more speed, and the P-51 just looks good on a low pass hauling azz!

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Badazz, looking good man! very neat work.

Cant wait to maiden mine. DLE 20 up front but have had to remove it as having some issues in getting reliable idle after doing some plumbing work in the tank. Engine on test stand so will sort asap and back on she goes. Decided to do some weathering in the meantime!

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Does anyone remember ever seeing a P-51 with black lightning bolts on the wings? Years ago I built a 1/72 scale plastic model of a P-51 with black lightning bolts on the tops of the wings placed at a diagonal. I don't remember any other details. I believe it was a civilian paint scheme or it could have been dreamed up by the model manufacturer. I'll be building my P-51 in January and I wanted something different. Any help or pictures would be appreciated.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Yes. I actually modeled one back in the '90s. I found the scheme in a book with various P-51 markings in it. If my memoryis correct the scheme was from thecampaing inNorth Africa durring WWII. Not as colorful as some of the others so probably not as popular to model. Unfortunately my Google search just resulted in a bunch of junk and no examples. Maybe I can guess the correct searchphrase after a cafinated beverge.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

thanks for the kind comments!!!
I have been moving forward on this mustang...I kinda screwed up on the turtle deck by over sanding the area by the canopy. looks like I gotta make a custom canopy now...hmmm BF-109 style canopy on the mustang.....could look very unique...i gotta draw some pics up of it or do my own design. Well see what comes out.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

By the way does anyone need any stock retracts for the mustang? I have a new set never used with wheels, axles and doors..let me know
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1736218

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Hey everyone here are the most recent updated pics i took last night. Started on the tail gear door area and I was able to get that canopy to fit.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...CBD001020A.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...CBCB79D583.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...CBD3E3D9A3.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...CBD7C85CC7.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...CBDB730A00.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...CBDDEE2B36.jpg

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

It's looking good. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the tail wheel.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Hey everyone!! I know I have been absent from this forum for a while but I have moved forward on this project and I know you guys are anxious to see some updated pics. Got tail wheel retract installed with the doors. The B conversion is complete and going to be moving onto DLE 20 install next. Enjoy and happy Holidays everyone!!!!

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...647CEACA37.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...647910EEA7.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...6475077D7D.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...64634911AA.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...646882EDE7.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...646DB77FA7.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...6471A087BC.jpg

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Does this plane come with fully sheeted wings,stab and elevators?

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

yes it does, rudder is built up with exposed ribs like the full scale

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

FYI. If anyone has not seen it yet, Tower has the TF P-51 ARF on sale for $249. If you are a buyers club member you can get $50 off of a $250 order. So add a prop and get the plane for $199. Mine is on it's way.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Thanks

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Well damn. Received a second ARF yesterday from the Tower Hobby sale (thatpart was great with good price, packing and fast shipment). Boy, has quality slipped at Top Flite. Maybe that's why they are blowing these out... the covering is wrinkled like a sharpei and sloppily applied with lots of overlap and messy corners. Good thing I boughtthis second airframe to glas and bash into a silverbird. Also started to mess around with the retracts just to see what was what... I have some Eflite .60-120 floating around with some nice RC Skylite struts. The good newsis that their P-51 strut is just about the perfect length for the stock location. The bad newsis that the E-tract is definitely not a drop-in, with a lot of cutting required to fit, and the whole retract areain the wing is a completere-do. The rails in mine aren't even straight and the whole shabang will failon the first less-than perfect landing. They actually used basswood for the rails rather than ply!!! You would think TF would correct these issues given the legth of time this ARF has been in production. Lazy *******s!

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

fuzzy, but viewable

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Wow, mine should be here in a day or two. I hope it's better than what you are describing. I too however would like to re-do the covering to a silver Mustang with lightning bolts. That is if I can find photos of the plane that I want to copy.

Thanks Drifter, those are very close to the Mustang I remember. If I can't find pictures of the one I'm thinking of those would also work.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Well looks like Tower must have sold a few over the last couple of days. The brown truck should be visting me today sometime cant wait. I also bought the kit last month must have gotten Mustang fever instead of the fluhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif. So do you think a YS 91ac would be a good fit?


Ken<br type="_moz" />

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Ok, then how about this one.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

Wow just received my new Mustang and I am very pleased with it. I will need to break out the iron but not bad maybe and hour taking my time. Still cant believe I placed my order on the 26th at 9pm and now here it is but then again Reno is close.

RE: Top Flite '.60 size' P-51D Mustang ARF: Building & Modifications
 

My Mustang arrived today and I have to agree with TTRotary about the quality of the covering job, wrinkles all over, poor overlaps plus mine arrived with a damaged wing panel. Not shipping damage but appears to be damaged at the factory. Looks like someone poked theirelbow into the top of theright wing panel. It would not be too difficult to repair.Tower Hobbies didn't skip a beat,told me to keep them theywould ship a replacement out Wednesday. That's why I like buying fromTower. Customer service as it should be.