Contributed by: David Johnson | Published: September 2006 | Views: 54389 |  Email this Article
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Review by: David "Mordib" Johnson - email me
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UltraFly Models - Great Planes
P.O. Box 9021
Champaign, IL 61826-9021
Telephone: 800-637-7660
website
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Quality construction
Great, scale-like flyer
Complete design features
Retracts included
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| I've been keeping an eye out for a sweet looking electric P-51 that offered more than the rest... then here comes the Ultrafly P-51 EP Mustang ARF with retracts, flaps and more... Ultrafly has pleased me before with other offerings so I knew I had to try this one out. Let's get to it! |
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Kit Name: P-51 EP Mustang ARF
Price: $69.99
Wingspan: 36.6"
Length: 31.1"
Weight :22.9 oz.
Motor Used: Frio E/10/10 Brushless Outrunner
Prop: 9x7 (supplied)
Transmitter: Futaba 9CAP
Receiver: HiTec Electron 6
Servos: 4 x Futaba S3111 (2 more if using flaps) HDS-811 Digital micro for retracts
Battery/Charger: CellPro 2000mah 11.1 volt pack & CellPro 4S Charger
Manufacturer:
UltraFly
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Carton contents
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Tailwheel bracket
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Fuse assembly
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| What an offering! The UltraFly P-51 EP Mustang ARF came MORE than complete... and included 3 spinners to match the scheme of your choice. I got the combo kit that also included the Frio E/10/10 brushless outrunner motor and selected the Typhoon 25 Amp Speed Controller. These are now discontinued, but sure was is a nice controller that uses a programming controller card to set the setting. The first step is assembling a tailwheel bracket that gets glued into the fuse. Once assembled it is slid in place, glue applied and rubber bands used to hold the two fuse halves together while it fries. |
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Cut off airscoop
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Assemble elevators
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Spar install
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| The airscoop is cutoff and later applied to the wing. The elevator control horn is best installed prior to the elevators being joined with a joiner wire. I also opted to use DuBro micro pinned hinges instead of the supplied Tyvek strips. The fiberglass spar is then glued in one half of the wing. I did only one half because I felt it would be too easy to warp the wing trying to bend the spar until the glue hardened. |
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Spar install
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Paint job
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Firewall
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| When one side was set, the other side was then glued in place, and I used pins to hold everything together while the second side set. A quick fit of the surfaces and it was time to paint. I chose the wrong type of "Krylon Fusion" paint, and it melted the foam just a little... be careful that your paint is foam safe! I then installed the firewall and dry fitted the motor. I had to relieve a little foam to make room for the motor's mount. |
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Motor, prop & spinner
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Stab install
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Hinging the tail
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| The motor, cowl, spinner and prop were installed next. Everything fit perfectly. The stab is then glued in place making sure it is level with the wings and also square to the wingtips. Next the tail surfaces are hinges with the DuBro hinges. I also opted to apply the decals as well. I did notice that the decals tended to bubble away from the foam no matter how I tried. Not enough to peel off, but enough to effect this bird's great looks... one might want to paint the effects on if they really want the best results. |
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Retract servo mod
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Retracts in place
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Aileron servos
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| I opted to install the retracts but not the flaps. The manual states pretty clearly that this model doesn't really NEED flaps for excellent flight and landing ability, but are there for scale looks. Instead of just hotmelt gluing the servo in place, I chose to blue in ply rails to screw the servo to. I also chose a small digital micro servo for the retracts as they needed the extra umph. The retracts were slick, fit well and worked flawlessly. I then installed the aileron servos in the wing using the supplied double stick foam tape. I cut the connectors off and manually wired the servos for a perfect fit. |
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Aileron hinging
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Airscoop attachment
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Radio compartment
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| The ailerons are hinged with the same Dubro hinges too. Then the airscoop is glued onto the wing. Finally the tail servos are installed in the radio compartment and linkages setup. There is plenty of room in the fuse for battery pack and receiver. The CellPro 2000 pack I used was a little wide, but with a little coaxing fit in nice and snug. |
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CellPro Lipoly and Charger
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| Speaking of CellPro... I was really impressed with the system the FMA people have devised. The CellPro 4S charger is a relatively new offering that makes charging and maintaining your lipo packs a breeze. Just plus in the pack and it auto detects cell count, voltage, charge rate and more. With many display modes, it shows the separate cell voltages, and charges them equally until they are all at 4.2 volts. Excellent and foolproof! They even offer an adapter to allow the use of lipos with ThunderPower and Powerquest balance taps installed. I love this charger and I have two of them now. Won't charge my 2-4s lipos with anything else! |
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The
UltraFly P-51 is a great looking bird. With retracts, it really
catches attention on the tarmac and in the air. Since I fly
off grass mostly I opted to hand launch and simply fed about 2/3
throttle into it. Off she went without any ill effects from the
hand launch.
It always can be a little nerve wracking not knowing what a plane will do, but the Frio motor pulled it into the sky with no chance of stall.
This plane rocks! It can be a fairly speedy little bird for those low, hi speed passes, but also slows down well for the victory rolls and low speed passes.
Loops are no problem for the Frio E/10/10 combo and can be flown large and scale-like.
Aileron and rudder authority are great on this bird and I recommend staying at the recommended throw settings. Roll rates were crisp on high rate.
Dropping the gear surprisingly made little difference to medium speed flight and they looked so cool going up and down on command.
The plane slowed down pretty well on final with no tendency to stall until the last bit of lift was used up. Any low wing trainer capable pilot should enjoy this model with little to no problem.
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| A great electric P-51 has come to market with features like working flaps and retracts. For only $120 street price WITH a brushless outrunner motor, it is an excellent value. Options like multiple color spinners make customizing your P-51 easy and without additional cost. Performance is excellent and it was really fun to fly. Looks great in the air as well as displayed on the desk. There are several P-51's on the market... but this one offers a lot the others do not. If owning a parkflyer P-51 is your goal... please consider the UltraFly model... I know you'll be happy with your choice. |
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UltraFly Model - Great Planes Manufacturing
P.O. Box 9021
Champaign, IL 61826-9021
Phone: 217-398-3630
Fax: 217-398-0008
Website: www.ultraflymodel.com
Futaba Corporation of America
Distributed Exclusively in the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico by:
Great Planes Model Distributors
P.O. Box 9021; Champaign, IL 61826-9021
Website: www.futaba-rc.com
Products used: Futaba 9CAP transmitter, micro servos
FMA Direct
5716A Industry Lane
Frederick, MD 21704
Website: www.fmadirect.com
Products used: Cellpro 4S charger & charging adapter, 2000 mah 11.1 volt lipo pack
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The comments, observations and conclusions made in this review are solely with respect to the particular item the editor reviewed and may not apply generally to similar products by the manufacturer. We cannot be responsible for any manufacturer defects in workmanship or other deficiencies in products like the one featured in the review. |
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EMAIL THIS ARTICLE OR CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GREAT REVIEWS! |
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