RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Got her up on her feet for a check on the nose gear strut length needed.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

While waiting on parts, I installed the radiator housings on the booms. With the curved bottoms, it was easy to mount them parallel to the thrust line as they should be.

RE: Nitro 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

hi
where did you buy your clink wrap from,what type of store/
thanks

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

hello ram3500
i was thinking that my shop is a mess , well , you give me some hope ....:D
good work

cobi

RE: Nitro 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

I'm pretty sure Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, among others have it. It is 6" stretch wrap and it will be in the moving/packaging supplies department.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

What is scary, I straitened up some before I took these pictures. :D

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

I saw some at walmart the other day right where he said you could find it. In the packing material section of office supplies.
Edwin

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Check

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

I applied some Sno White light weight body filler to the glassed areas and all I need do now is sand this out and I think I'm ready for the finish on the bottom in Grey. Still waiting on my nose gear to show up and I don't want to cut the gear door out till I have it. I weighed what I have so far including all the loose components, to see how I was doing on my target of 16lbs. So far, she weighs in at 13lbs 12oz which includes the two mounted engines. Still to add is the nose gear, gear door cylinders, air system with the sequencing valve, cockpit detail, spinners and props, and the Rx battery. Looks like I'm not going to get under 16lbs.

On the colors, I have decided to stay with the Olive Drab but I will go with the Grey on the bottom and add invasion stripes. Also panel lines weathering and other details will be added. When I'm done, this won't look much like the stock Nitro P-38, I hope.:D It will be a nice size 90" war bird that I won't have thousands of dollars invested in.

I'm hoping to make our local mall show with her. I still have about a month to get her ready.

RE: Nitro Models 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Fitted the outboard wing panels, and cut the access holes for the wing bolts. Works good and it is starting to look like something.

RE: Nitro Models 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

My pilot saw me fitting the wings today and is getting very anxious. He wanted a closer look. I told him it wouldn't be long and in the meantime, he could work out a little and maybe lose a few onces, cause we were going to need it. He told me not to worry because he could fly a Coke Machine if it had wings.:D I'm not so sure.:eek:

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Where did you get the pilot and how tall is he??

dave

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Got him off eBay for $15. he is supposed to be 1/6 scale (12" tall), but measures closer to 11". I think he will still be OK in my P-38. He is fully articulated with every joint movable.

I asked the guy when I bought him if he was checked out in P-38s because the box says P-40 pilot.:D

He was made by Dragon Action Figure and is item #70093. The box also says New Generation Life Action Figures. He comes with full flight gear including the parachute, side arm with even a magazine clip and holster, wrist watch, goggles, and of course the May West.

The back of the box has the web site. It is WWW.dragon-models.com

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

I've got one of those 1/6 scale pilots too. They look great but are just to big for my 1/7 scale A-26.

Dave

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

I think he looks about right on the P-38. What do you guys think?

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Started on the Grey. Gear doors close nicely.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Gary, what size gear are you installing in the nose? I started out with Spring Air retracts and Robart 3/8" struts. WAY too weak for grass. The main's scissors flexed more sideways then up and down, and the nose gear just didn't hold up.

Switched over to the heavier 7/16" and seemed much better. Nose gear really takes a pounding on these 38's.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

All Robart...rated for 12 to 24lbs....Mains = series# 630 with 1/2" struts and air up-air down, nose = series 747RS 105 deg and air up- spring down. I went with the spring down for positive lock on the nose gear. I was going to go with 7/16" then opted for the 1/2". They are really strong, look pretty good, and the trunnion is much larger on the 1/2".

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

looks great gary! i think i might need one of these lol

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Not to take anything away from Yellow. It is a very good looking P-38 and if I had a few thousand dollars laying around, I would certainly have one, but this one, even after all my modifications and scale details including the cockpit and pilot, is only 10" smaller, yet will weight less than half of the Yellow ship, even at 16lbs, plus has an almost flat bottom airfoil. I see all the time, guys debate and moan over wing loading, poring over formulas, but never mention the shape of the wings in question. I expect this plane to fly very well even after I get done with all my bashing.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Well, after waiting for some time for that 747 nose gear, I'm going to go another way. I'm going back to air up / air down with the Robart 640 model. I will have 9" of strut (I need it) and still get very close in scale size on the tire. The strut is going from 1/2" to 7/16", but I think this will still be plenty strong. The 640 is also rated for 12 to 24lbs. A couple other good things are, I can now download the specs from Robart for the 640 (they didn't have the 747) gear, and I can now use the same valve for all the gear because it all works the same. That means I can go ahead and have the mount done while I wait for it to come in. So, back on the gondola for gear and gear door (I'm tooling with the idea of going electric on the doors and air on the gear) work. Pictures to follow.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Been thinking about how to get exit air without cutting big holes in the cowls. Looking at the full scale, it had exit vents in the cowls for the radiators, so I pulled the engines and cut into the firewall and fuselage to open these up. Now air can flow out the vents already in the cowls. I also opened up the bottom just bit. This, together with the holes for the mufflers, and I should have what I need. I also finished the rear of the booms with some light weight filler. After sanding to shape, I coat it with thin CA. Done.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Well, looks like I'm back to my original plan on the nose gear. My LHS has told me that Robart shipped the gear last week. I expect it tomorrow, so I'll go back to the spring done and 1/2" nose strut.

After some static from the boss about the paint smell, I had to take a break and build a spray booth in the basement with an exhaust fan. Should have done it along time ago, but I finished it up and went back to painting this evening. The Grey is almost done. Then the Olive Drab and then I can start on the invasion stripes.

Once the gear comes, and it is installed it the nose, I will be able to start on the cockpit. Not sure how much room I will have yet. Hopefully I can get my full body pilot in. Even the full scale had a bump in the cockpit floor for the nose tire.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Gary, from memory, there isn't really any room under the canopy. Doesn't the wing actually cross it on this one? May have to poke a pair of holes in the wing to shove the pilots legs through. Or I guess with your skills, you could cut out an area and box it back in so no strength is lost.

Dang wifeys are all the same.

RE: Nitroplanes 90" P-38 (1/7 scale) with 3 piece wing and more
 

Yes, the wing is right there, but, the aluminum wing spar is about where the back of the seat would be. I don't think the leading edge adds anything the the strength nor doses the skin forward of the spar. I thought if I had to cut the leading edge and make a hole all the way through, with some bracing I would be alright, as long as I didn't compromise the spar. What do you think? To do it right, I'll have to remove all of the deck on the pod and most of the center front of the wing.