I would like to know from your experience with this model's retracts - how good are they and do they operate adequately with the 2 retract servos as designed?
I fly off a smooth hard surface but heard that usually ARF mechanical retracts just mean you will need to then purchase an after market expensive pneumatic system as a replacement, so I would like to know if this is the case here too?

Any comments on the model would also be greatly appreciated!
(BTW I have already heard the covering is no good so may re-cover the model right out of the box).

Thank You!

the retracts were fine on my one but they do need a powerfull servo to pull them and hold them shut, the model was covered in soft balsa and gave me the feeling that it would crush in my hands but they look and fly great even no elevator needed with full flaps

Which servos did you use for the retracts?
I noticed in this model there are 2 retract servos required, one for each leg.
BTW did you wire a separate battery for the retract servos?

The retracts on mine are much stronger than their mounts, which can rip out if you land hard in the grass. Mine did after my engine quit and my P-47 stalled into the grass. I glued and reinforced it, the left one, and they both have been fine. Many landings and hard turns on smooth asphalt, which can really be sticky in a hard turn. I have a few times made hard turns as the runway was coming up short. I could see the spring in the retract take the force of the turn leaning a good 10 to 20 degrees with no problems.

Were standard retract servos enough for the job?

EF, I have been flying the WM P-47 for two years. 82 flights so far and over 100 landings. The stock retracts work great and are strong, I added glue every where I could reach around the retract rails, zero problems so far. I am using the JR 791 retract servos but I think they are overkill. I think standard retract servos like the HiTec HS-75 would work fine, they each only have to pull up one gear and wheel. This is a great flying model, my best warbird yet but the covering is sub standard. Mine will need recovering soon but still I have got two good years out of the original stuff.

Best regards, old bird.

I bought metal gear retract servos from Hobby King to save money. They retract fine on the ground but not in the air since I run 4.8V. The aerodynamic loads are too high. To get them to retract, I have to do point rolls and sustained upside down. Even that does not work all the time.

I have bought some voltage regulator so I can run regulated 5.9V into my 12 ch 2.4Ghz Futaba receiver, which is rated at 6V max. I understand that people have no problem with unregulated A123 6.6V but I do not want to take a chance with my $200 receiver. I believe the cheapy HK servos will retract with no aid at 5.9V. We'll see.

old bird how can you have 82 flights and 100 landings? the retract servos i used were about 5kg but they were not strong enough to pull them up and the mounts did need more glue

Easy, you just bounce every time you land

That's right guys, out here we count every bounce as a landing. Seriously, ever hear of a touch and go? Staying on the ground until the tailwheel comes down and then taking off again counts as a touch and go. This plane handles so well on the ground that touch and goes are pretty easy. But it IS still a WARBIRD with retracts and all that that means.

Best regards from old bird.