kingair41

My Feedback: (13)

Here is to let everyone know that the widow will fly with one engine out. I was landing and had to abort and go around. When I throttled up the left engine quit (the muffler came loose). I was able to bring it around for another approach and landed in one piece. Of all times to quit, in front of about 350 people at a fun fly this past weekend. It was controllable with rudder and aileron inputs. I'm very pleased with the performance of the p-61. Will not hesitate to pick-up another one in the event I loose this one.
kingair41

mboland

Just thought I would share the news that our LHS forwarded the link of the maiden flight and crash to the Australian distributor, who in turn forwarded it to VQ Models.
An offer came back that was just too good to refuse, and the NEW Black Widow arrived on Friday.
A big thanks to VQ, there is no way they had to, a real sign they at least feel a bit for their customers.

WooHoo .... here we go again

Skyflyer

My Feedback: (122)

I would very much like to know how many inches, from head to toe, the crew of the VQ P-61 measure...I don't want the scale ratio. At the risk of being branded a rabble rouser, I don't like the figures that Tomas was supplied with to sell. Would someone please whip out a ruler and tell me how long they should should stand? Thanks!
Jerry

Skyflyer

My Feedback: (122)

I would very much like to know how many inches, from head to toe, the crew of the VQ P-61 measure...I don't want the scale ratio. At the risk of being branded a rabble rouser, I don't like the figures that Tomas was supplied with to sell. Would someone please whip out a ruler and tell me how long they should stand? Thanks!
Jerry

Adonis

For a 6' tall crew at 1/9 scale, they should be 8" tall.

Skyflyer

My Feedback: (122)

Adonis...much obliged

Launch Pad McQuack

Here are a few pictures of the Widow at the Woodland Davis Wings of Victory this past weekend. Thanks to Steve for taking these for me they look great. [8D]

Skyflyer

My Feedback: (122)

Nice plane and great pix! What engines did you use?

Although Saitos are my favorite, I bought a pair of Magnum 91 4 strokers because their size would allow minimum cowl cutting and more scale appearance. But I have heard nothing about anyone's use of the Magnums. Has anyone out there owned and had experience with the Magnums?

kingair41

My Feedback: (13)

skyflyer......
My P-61 flies on .91 Magnum 2 strokers. My Cessna 310 has 2 Magnum .61's two stroke. My Topflite Bonanza has a 1.80 Magnum four stroke, and my KMP Ov-10 has two Magnum 1.20's four stroke. I have never had a problem with any of these engines once set up and broken in. Yes the hinges on the rudder were an issue on the 61. Replace and you're set to go.
Always do a walk around. To much to lose otherwise.
Doane

I also put the cockpit kit in this one. Really nice touch

Skyflyer

My Feedback: (122)

That is great news indeed! I for one have been getting antsy-pants on that subject. I've watched two P-38s furrow the bean fields after one engine quit... and hoped the Widow's larger fin and rudder would save the day. Another reason that I'm concerned over engine selection.

Launch Pad McQuack

Skyflyer I am running OS 120 pumps on mine. There are 2 others Widows in the club one is running the same OS's and the other is running the Magnum 120 4 strokes. The engine out is a non issue on the P-61 as long as you are not in a bad situation when it happens and you recognize it when it does happen. My Widow started life with RCV 120's and I had several engine out landings with it. I have not had that happen yet with the OS's. The OS's work out great for us because we are also running scale 4 blade props and loose some efficiency there, but it just sounds and looks so good.

Also I concure with KingAir on the rudder hinges. I memntioned that earlier this year in this thread. I was at a scale contest and got down with the bottom hinge broken and the middle on its way. So keep a close eye on them. Always do a pre flight check before every mission.

duanen

My Feedback: (1)

guys i have just taken del of this bird and am thinking of putting gas engines into it.Does anyone know if anyone has fitted gas engines to this plane, or can anyone suggest any ideas.Im thinking about the Z20ei or the evo 26

rslstft

My Feedback: (10)

duanen,
I thought of using the Evo 26 also, but when I got into the airplane I don't think there is enough room in the booms for the ignition and battery. Once the gear, servos, and fuel tank are installed, there isn't much room left over. Also, I know many of the others here have said they had to put some nose weight in to get it balanced, but I think the gassers would be too heavy themselves along with the ignition and batteries. I asked the same question here quite a while ago and nobody ever said they used gas engines. I ended up using 2 YS110's, and even those stick out of the cowl some.

Russ

nemesis4u

My Feedback: (77)

DUDES...

I have 3 OLIVE DRAB/GREEN VQ P-61s left instock and 2 sets of SHINDIN RETRACTS... I also have VQ FACTORY COVERING so you can make repairs to your models to keep them looking their best for years to come...

Covering is available in Black and green/OD...

Luke has made me 5 more cockpit kits... this may be the FINAL RUN OF COCKPITS>.. IF YOU DON"T HAVE ONE YOU NEED TO GET ONE!!

mboland ,,,, LUKE made one for you ... FREE OF CHARGE as a replacement... EMAIL ME SO we can get it to you...
all you will pay is shipping to you....

ANYONE WHO NEEDS ANYTHING LET ME KNOW... [email protected]

-CHEERS
TOMAS
www.vqwarbirds.com

nemesis4u

My Feedback: (77)

Anyone have any updates on their VQ P-61s...

I am prepping my OLIVE DRAB for a flight soon...

Got the TWIN SYNC onboard.... (2) RCV91-CDs...

SHINDIN MACHINE VQ P61 Scale landing gear,

and prepped for a ZOLLNER VQ P-61 cockpit... (no cockpit as I ran out) but it is prepped...

This is one heck of a machine!! IF anyone has ever seen one in person... SERIOUSLY... IT IS AWESOME!!!

I hope to get some good flights in on this one and then later put an onboard video camera system in it...

CHEERS!

-TOMAS
VQ WARBIRDS
www.vqwarbirds.com
[email protected]

mboland

Mine is sitting in it's box waiting for ANY news on a Zollner cockpit before I start construction.

Is there any?

ETA??

After building one with a cockpit it would seem to be lacking to put one together without the cockpit [&o]

Launch Pad McQuack

Section 8 guys in Norcal have been flying. We had 3 of the Widows out a couple weeks ago for a day of fun. A pair of us have 2 new ARCs in the box and are thinking abount doing a conversion over to F-15 reporters. Will see if it comes together. Will there be any more interior kits coming out?

nemesis4u

My Feedback: (77)

GENTS.... AS FOR THE COCKPITS.....IT is all up to ZOLLNER MODELS....

He is an artist and works at his own pace... he is his own boss ...

It would be great if he finished making enough for everyone... I personally need 1-2

AS for the F-15 REPORTER.... that is an awesome idea!!!

I can't wait to get this JAP BATTY FLYING...

I do have the 1/9 Scale Pilot, gunner, and RO figures... Email me if you are interested in a set...

I also stock the 4" ROBART WHEELS, nose wheel and also ROBART BRAND ACCESSORIES if you all need anything..

-"KEEP EM' FLYING"-

=TOMAS
VQ WARBIRDS
www.vqwarbirds.com
[email protected]

nemesis4u

My Feedback: (77)

Yo' LUKE...

If you are there... or here... if you want to let us all know if you have any Scale Cockpits available...

WE are looking for about 4-5 of them...

Hope all is well BIG LUKE ;-)

-TOMAS
www.vqwarbirds.com
[email protected]
VQ,ASM, KMP, RCV/MAGNUM ENGINE DEALER

nemesis4u

My Feedback: (77)

IF ANYONE has a ZOLLNER VQ P-61 SCALE COCKPIT that they are not going to use/install please email me and let me know..
I would like to buy it!

I have not heard from ZOLLNER MODELS in a while ... I have a few customers / friends who need some cockpit kits..

email at: [email protected]

-CHEERS!

TOMAS
VQ WARBIRDS
"KEEP 'EM FLYING"

mboland

I still haven't started mine in the hope that a cockpit kit would become available.

Please, Please, Luke, if you read this, on bended knee we humbly beg you for some more cockpit kits.

And Tomas, If you do get any, I hope I am still in your list wanting customers?

MIke.

mustang11

All,
Here's an interesting site for P-61 information, apologies if it's been mentioned before......... http://www.skylighters.org/night_fighters/nfs.html
One can spend hours surfing this site, at least I did . Larry

Launch Pad McQuack

Well we have lost another P-61 here in the section 8 Airforce in Northern California. We had a mass flight of 3 Widows 2 P-38's and 2 P-51's going. I had setup for landing but was a bit long so I turned it into a touch and go. I got back in the air and started back around the pattern but the Widow was not performing or climbing. As I got around on the downwind and pointed back at myself I could see the port prop static and that was the engine I was turning into. I stayed with the turn trying to get back around and make a mid field landing. However gravity took over and the adverse yaw caught up to me. The Widow rolled over and went in from about 25 feet high and cart wheeled. There was nothing really left of the airframe. The good news is all the equipment survived just fine and can go in the ARC I have had sitting up on the shelf for awhile. It will be a bit before I get to building the new one. Am still debating staying with the P-61 or kit bashing it over to a F-15 Reporter. In hind sight I should have gone for a down wind landing and probably would have made it. I have had a couple other engine outs with the Widow and she is so forgiving. But this was the absolute worst situation to be in. Just breaking ground from a touch and go and having no air speed and no altitude. O well things happen and we move on to the next project. Will start posting when I start the new ARC Widow/Reporter.

Thanks, Forrerst

kram

My Feedback: (7)

Sorry about that, dude!

I've always said that these reports of "flies great with an engine out" were conditional to the situation.

Sure, if you lose the correct engine with plenty of altitude and airspeed and some forewarning, and a good view of the aircraft, saving it may be easy. But losing it on a go-around, with very little of the aforementioned advantages AND a "dirty" aerodynamic profile due to flaps and gear........that's a whole different animal!

Getting below (or being below) Vmc, it doesn't matter how good a pilot is on the sticks: you're going in.

One other comment I have about your loss is that with that many planes in the air, I'll bet you may have missed some subtle earlier clue from your port engine that it wasn't completely healthy, and if there were other twins growling when it actually quit, you may not have heard it quit immediately and that may have cost you a precious second or two. It has been my experience that bad things tend to happen with engine-outs when there are multiple planes in the air: the classic of these was my stupidity running out of gas with my first VQ-38 5 years ago. I went up first, one of the other planes had starting problems, another of the planes had to land sooner than planned, both me and my spotter forgot to watch the clock due to the adrenalin of a group flight, so the end result can be seen below.


mt

SWORDSN

My Feedback: (13)

To anyone that has built this model How did you deal with the slop in the flaps? I just started assembly of a model that I got about a year ago. When I turn the wing over the weight of the flap alone will cause will cause it to move about 1/4 inch. The leverage advantage seems to be reversed. Any sugestions would be great.

Swordsn