ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

An old project with new life. Started years ago by another builder, he lost interest when his building buddies passed away. My brother and I have taken over with a fuselage crutch built and partially sheeted. Only the tail wheel was installed but it needed to be reworked. One wing was partially framed up, but it also needed work in the gear area. She is now coming along nicely. Both wings are built and 90% sheeted. Tail feathers are built complete. Fuselage now has an engine mount for the 3W 80, and most of the mechanical s are installed including the air system, all control servos except the one for the canopy, fuel system, and supporting structures. I'm going to use the scale hatch on the starboard side just below the canopy to hide the switches, air valve, pressure gauge, and charging jacks. The switch and charge jack for the engine will be up front behind another scale inspection panel. We plane to use Flight Metal for the aluminum finish.

Limey

My Feedback: (9)

This is a remarkable coincidence. My buddies and I inherited a Meister 1/5 P 47(actually a Trillium)barely started and sitting for a long time.We only took interest when we saw one fly,and decided to finish it. We are farther along than you and about a week away from a maiden.I approached it differently than you,less scale and more weekend warrior.I joined the wing together permanently,as well as the belly pan(ala Top Flite). I put all the air system in the wing,used Shindin gear(great stuff compared to Century),Brison 5.8,servos back by the tail(ala aerobatic aircraft) and many other personal touches.Keep us informed as to your progress and we will do the same.Dean will be happy.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

That is cool. How did yours come out for weight and balance? I am concerned about it being too heavy in the tail and didn't want to add led if at all possible. That is why I have all the servos up front near the stated CG. Rudder and tail wheel are both pull-pull on separate servos. Elevators are on push rods. i also have servos for the choke and canopy up front as well. All well behind the engine though. I'm still on 72 mhz. You are correct though, we are taking a more scale approach. We did make some compromises on scale for simplicity, like you. No intercooler doors, no Fowler flaps, no landing lights or such, but she will have a very nice scale skin I think. Not Top Gun material, but very respectable, I hope. Please post some pictures if possible. We are keeping the two piece wing, but I wish I had gone with a similar mod as on my P-38. We could have very easily made it a three piece with plug-in out board panels. She could have stayed on the gear. O well, next time.

IFLYRC-RCU

My Feedback: (28)

Hmm,

What is this? A trend ?

I too picked up an abondoned Meister P 47... $400 all framed with retracts.. covered in some strange stuff... with panel lines of sorts. However, it needs stripping down and glassed properly... but all the basics are done. Build level is OK, but I'll be redoing a lot of things.

So, 1/5 scale.. is that the 102" version ? If so, that is what I am working on. However, I will not get it complete this year I suspect ! I am also need to order a razor canopy as the one I have is cracked.. and a new cowl-this one is butchered.

But hey, 400 bucks?? Couldn't pass that up.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Yes, 102" is the same 1/5 scale we all have. You did well. Ours was $500 with the mains with the scale tires and wheels, retract tail wheel (installed), air system (mostly), a scale cockpit kit, bubble canopy and fiberglass cowl, and all the other molded parts they offer for the build up fuselage. Also got all the plans and two big boxes of cut out parts and wood. As you, building was OK, but some things needed fixed, redone, or scrapped, like the engine mount. We hope to get ours in the air this year yet. It won't be completely detailed, but that can wait till winter. Hope we can share tips here. I see nothing on the plans pertaining to radio component distribution. So I am keeping as much as I can in the wing saddle area so she doesn't get too tail heavy. I would be interested to know how others have approached this and how much if any led ballast was necessary. Build on.

Limey

My Feedback: (9)

If you need anything for these aircraft contact Dean at Meister-Scale.com.Right now,fully loaded,we are at 36 lbs.All we hav left is paint. I use large battery packs and mount them way up front,like where the carb is for your 3W.I built the tail really light.I didn't use a retractable tail wheel and have added no weight up front.I cheated just a little and moved the firewall 3/4 in. forward.I woul rather build in extra strength up front than add weight.My other Meister(a green razor back [Cherry Mary]) came in at 42 lbs(not built by me)and flys great.I flew it at "Wabirds over the Rockies" in 07 and thought the altitude would be a problem,but because of the flyability of the plane(flat bottom wing etc.) had no trouble at all.Because of the size of this plane,the placement of radio gear,batteries,servos,etc. is truly up to the builder.Thats why I love the thing.Will send pics as soon as I conquer the tech involved.By the way,Idont think there is another warbird out there that will fly as slow with everything hanging out as this one will.Later.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

All good to here tempestmk5. Looks like with all the radio in the middle, we should be good with a slightly heavier tail than yours.

I also like large batteries.

What engine was in Cherry Mary?

Also, we filled the compartment around the gear with expandable foam after the top was sheeted, trimmed it flush to the ribs, then sheeted the bottom. Very strong, very light. All sheeting is being done with Gorilla glue. Works great. I put the glue on the frame then apply the dampened sheets. I hold it down with stretch wrap. Easy, strong, and fast.

Thanks for the info. We will be back for more, I'm sure.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Here is our wing with foam installed around the gear bay. Both wings have since been sheeted.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Worked on a hatch for the air valve and radio switch/charge jack. It is scale in location and size. I plan magnetic latches for the door. I used aluminum tape for the interior, after a coat of Balsa Rite.

The engine switch will be up front under another smaller scale hatch.

Evil_Merlin

My Feedback: (13)

I like that idea of the foam. Cannot add that much weight and adds a heck of a lot of strength near the gear...

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks. I have used it quite a bit over the years. Great Stuff works fine and is easy to find. A little goes a long way, and I wait a couple days after applying to be sure it is done. Then, a hack saw blade works nice to slice off the excess. Your right, it weighs nothing. I have also used it behind firewalls, around around landing gear areas, and sometimes around bulkheads in fiberglass fuselages. It sticks to anything including you.. It makes leading edges on built up wings much more durable as well.

Evil_Merlin

My Feedback: (13)

Thanks a bunch for the suggestion. I'll put it to use on my Meister Fw 190D9...

Limey

My Feedback: (9)

Cherry Mary has the same Brison 5.8.26-10 prop. The foam sounds interesting.I thought it might be heavy and hard to remove in the event of a repair.We made the landing gear plate larger to absorb the shock of hard landings.Holding the sheeting with stretch wrap is a good idea.On another aircrft we made the mistake of holding the sheeting with hand pressure or weight.this rolled the washout right out of the wing.We also make doublers for the ribs around the l.g. bay.By the way,you guys talk about the nominal money involved,I bought Cherry Mary damaged from being blown out of a storage shed during a hurricane for small money,and the new one was given to me for nothing.I truly believed in Top Flite P 47's with G 62's,but the presence the Meister has and the gentle flying convinced me to step up.Take care.

G-Pete

RAM, I like to ask you for a favor. In the attached picture you see your firewall, I need the measurement of the width of the fire wall at the motor center line.

Thank you!!

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Mine measures 11 1/16" at the center line. A little of this will be sanded off, but not much.

BTW, the aluminum tubes are the guides to get in on the carburetor needle adjustments.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks for the info tempestmk5. You must feel very 'gifted' with your Meisters.

The foam weighs nothing, and I have never had to repair an area backed up by it, so in that I can't say. Damage that bad would be severe indeed. Foam safe CA, epoxy, even Titebond, all stick to it though. I built a Balsa USA Enforcer years ago and used it in almost the whole built-up wing. I could almost stand on it, it was so strong. Sold it long ago, but I suspect it still exists. The pilot was a Ken doll from Walmart.

G-Pete

Thank you!!

rcwarbirdbuilder

My Feedback: (104)

Hay good luck guys! this is one big great flying airplane. I powered mine with a Quadra 100cc and the C/J retracts for this plane work good, I have so far had two these P-47 botj done in green, in fact I have one for sale now on RCU, hate to let it go but i need to fund and complete other projects.

Limey

My Feedback: (9)

While I was re-reading the posts I thought of a few things that happened to us with Cherry Mary. The elevators needed thin 1/32 strips covering the hinges. We experieced slight flutter at high speeds.I don't know if you already build like that,and being that I bought it almost completely built,I don't know if it was a flaw in the process. The flaps are so huge that we had to put very powerful servos,otherwise they wouldn't extend fully until very slow flight.Be ready for the takeoffs-it just levitates when power is applied,To make a low pass you have to hold it down when in ground effect.I noticed the green ones are bubbles but don't have the spine up to the veritcal stab. I've heard that there is extra stability to be found with either the spine or the razorback configuration.Cherry Mary is a razor,the new one is a bubble,and I added the spine.Just thinkin' out loud. Later.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks again. Good tip on the elevators. The full scale bubble version had problems till the dorsal was added, so we figured just adding it. I think it looks better with it anyway.

Not surprised at the floating with this big flat bottom wing.

I have Hitec 5645MGs for the flaps. Hope they will do the job. 8411s on the ailerons and elevators, an 8611 on the rudder (pull-pull), 5625 on the throttle and a JR4721 on the choke, and a JR4131 on the air valve. I have a JR retract servo on the tail wheel at 260 oz torque and metal gears as well with a Y on the rudder and tail wheel servos. TBD is the canopy servo, the only other one we need.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Nice looking birds.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Hey, BTW, I see you installed a pilot and was wondering which one you found to be a good fit, or anyone else that may have a suggestion. Thanks.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

G-pete, I hope this is just over thinking it, but I looked at your lines on my picture and what you actually asked and I would like to add this. Just the firewall without the outside sheeting is 10 3/4"at the horizontal center thrust line. After looking at your question again, not sure if you need the overall width, or just the firewall.

rcwarbirdbuilder

My Feedback: (104)

Vailly Aviation has nice 1/4 scale full figure pilots I use in my big planes, they need to be painted they are about $40, my first P-47 has a dorsal fin and the fuse is built up, flew with none of the difficultys described above, the second one without dorsal fin is built using C/J Meister fiberglass fuse and it flys with no problems, they both fly about the same, the fiberglass fuse plane comes out much heaveir and needs full flaps on landings or it won't slow down, using 1/4 scale servo on the flaps I have no problem with the flaps not wanting to go down, George.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks rcwarbirdbuilder. I'll check them out for pilots.

We ordered the Flight Metal system for the finish, nomenclature and insignias from Meister, and I'm looking for a good source for .75oz cloth to glass her.

I installed the fuel fill fixture in a compartment where the full scale fill cap is for the main fuel tank. Should be pretty cool. It will also have a door with mag latches. Still need another compartment for the engine switch. I'll put it up front on the port side behind another scale hatch.