Hey Bob, thanks for the info. I will check out that other thread. I have also been considering going electric and reversing one motor for counter rotating props. What do ya think. This plane was always meant to be stand-off scale, but, I still believe it can be made a little better looking with a little effort, and creativity, and given its low price, may be one of the best values going for a P38 of this size.
ORIGINAL: Bob Paris
hay Ram3500-RCU,
There is another guy doing exactly what your doing to his large NP P-38 (in the twin engine forum). It's in the other thread about the NP P-38...and he managed to use carbon fiber tubes to do the mod. I am making my elevator removable, as well as installing retracts I picked up from VQ (Spring Air units with offset nose gear), a four flap wing and a pair of .61 2-strokes side mounted, w/Slimline pitts style headers.
There are issues with the low fuel tank placement in the kit too, and I bought two Perry pumps to cure that low fuel tank placement...but if you use an engine with a built in fuel pump, you will be set. I bought two 2 1/2" aluminum spinners, 4" Robart scale wheels for the mains (w/foam inserts), and a 2 3/4" nose tire. 16 oz. fuel tanks with DuBro easy fuelers. I also bought the TwinSync with a glow driver and digital tach.
The stock kit has weak main landing gear blocks...and most the guys have either removed and re-epoxied the main landing gear blocks in, or went with retracts. The kit has no provisions for retracts...so you will have to make your own formers for the gear.
All the models have flown well...and with over 1000 sq. " wing...and under 15#...she is a floater. One modeler had a wieght of nearly 19#...and his flew well also. So a few mods will make this an acceptable stand off scale P-38. The stock kit has you epoxy the stab to the engine pods...and this is a very weak and dangerous way to build this model. If you do build it stock...you will need to make some kind of rigging to support the engine booms (pods), for transporting the model. The stab is built light...but I seriously doubt it is stiff enough to transport stock built with out damaging the stab, pods or both.
One guy installed Super Tiger .75's, another went electric. Most have used .61's and all flew very well. So a good pair of .60's is all you need...but I'm sure some one out there will stick a couple of .90's in theirs.
Good luck on your build and do post pictures,
Soft landings,
Bobby of Maui