I think I need yet another ARF on the shelf waiting to be assembled. I'd like to get a Spitfire, F4U, or P-51. I'm looking for one with retracts and flaps. I was hoping to find a .40 size one, but haven't found any with retracts and flaps. In the .60 size, World Models has a Spitfire and P-51 that meet the requirements. They've also got an F4U that has retracts, but appears to not include flaps. I've done some searches and in general, people seem positive about them.

For power I'd like to use a K&B .61 Twister. I have a new one that will be put in a GP F-15 when I make time to build it. In the meantime, it would be nice to use it. I'd probably use a pitts style muffler so there's no ugly standard muffler hanging out the side. If this wouldn't work, I'm considering buying a Saito .91, but I'd prefer to not spend so much right now.

Can someone offer some guidance with my plane and engine choice? Any serious problems with either? Should I consider any other planes?

VQ P40 has flaps and retracts but it may be to heavey for a 61 , you may need a 90 in it .

World Models Spitfire and P-51, Hangar-9 Corsair.

I took a look at the P-40. Looks interesting. Several color choices. Only concerns are it does seem heavy, and I saw several people say they'd never buy another VQ, but others say they liked them. It comes without retracts, but can take them. I guess that's better than including cheap retracts that need to be replaced. I'll keep this one in mind.

Thanks Carlos. I'm still leaning toward the Spitfire, they're not as common as the P-51. In researching the Hangar 9 Corsair, I saw a bunch of complaints. Have you had one? How was the quality and how did it fly?

egrandbuy.com
60 size mustang
Only 120.00 + 10 to ship so to your door for 130!

Or

Raidentech.com 135 Hangar9 replica Mustang for 135, 10 to ship so 145 to your door.

I've seen both of those sites, they've been busy on the "other" auction site. I bought one of the generic ARFs. Was not at all impressed with the quality. Parts did not fit together well, the covering started separating from the glue, firewall was not well fastened to the rest of the fuse, etc. Have you actually flown, or seen up close, the planes you suggested? I'm a little hesitant to buy unless I know they are better than the one I bought.

Oh, and one more thing about egrandbuy, did you see the Piper Cub which "includes retractable landing gear for added realism"? I really wanted to get one so I could be the first at my field to have a cub with retracts.

Piper Chuck,
I had the 60 size World Spitfire with a Super Tiger 90-K, very fast, great flier, great ARF, has the best retracts of any ARF I've had and has split flaps. Most people don't like the canopy but it IS a close copy of a little known "bubble canopy" Spit, the blue stripes are accurate as well but I removed them.
I have a H-9 Corsair but it's still NIB. They had their issues for awhile but their pretty much sorted out now. I've read good and bad about them as far as their construction but all the "fixes" are listed here is RCU and I think worth the effort. One is flying at my field, will do 3 point landings, no bad habits.
My friend Bill has the VQ P-40, the landing gear is junk, plastic ball links brake and push rods pull off.

Carlos, once again, thanks for the information. Unless I decide to take a chance on one of the "generic" Mustangs from China, it sounds like the WM Spitfire is the best choice. I considered the VQ P40 that was recommeneded, but it seemed heavy, had mixed reviews, and the price seemed high. I am a bit put off by all the mods that are needed for the H9 Corsair. Maybe I'll consider it later, after H9 works out the rest of the issues. Still thinking about the power options, I'd like to use the K&B. I don't think I want to buy a .90 2 stroke. If I get a new engine I'd like it to be a 4 stroke, probably Saito .91.

Chuck I also have the WM spit. VERY NICE flying plane, looks good in the air but it's not much to look at on the ground... I call it stand WAY off and squint scale Mine has a .91 FS up front , flys fairly fast and smooth WFO and only needs 1/2 throttle to cruise... a bit less if you drop flaps and be gentle on the controls. The retracts are fine on the dry lake I fly from... I have never flown off grass but it THINK they would be fine as long as it's not to ruff, our dry lake is far from smooth The Flaps really don't do much when deployed, no mixing in ele to keep the plane stable, they do one thing very well... keep the NASTY tip stall from happening. Mine will tip stall unless landed at Mach II without flaps, with them it comes in at a very nice pace for an"on the mains" landing, DO NOT 3 POINT THIS ONE!!!!! once on the mains the tail flys for 50 ft or so and sets onto the tail wheel.The plane goes together well and fly's well... not much more to say for an ARF scale plane, If I ever stuff this one I'm almost positive I'll buy another. for power I think your .61 would be fine, the review in one of the RC rags that sold me used a .61 2 stroke... webra I think. If you do decide to get a new engine consider the magnum 91fs... it's what I use and it's every bit as good as my saitos, you can catch them on sale for $150 at hobbypeople.

John

hey,

Check out [link=http://www.winnerrc.com/Arfairplane/60SIZEARF.htm]Winner RC[/link]. They have sever warbirds in the .60 size, with preinstalled retracs. You can also buy the planes as combos with engines. I'm looking at the Zero.

John

Thanks John, took a look. Many of the planes look familiar. Perhaps World Models and others? There's a few possibilities. They've got a good selection, but it seems some of the prices are all set at MSRP.

Ya, Winner R/C has lots of World Models, the GeeBee-Y and Tiger Moth are from Pacific Aero Models. The Hangar-9 models are listed as such.

If you want to go G.S. war bird, the World P-51 and the ZERO is a good way to go, I don't know much about the G.S. Spitfire.
I have two W.M. P-51's with Saito 180's in them, my friend has the ZERO with a Zen. G-38 with smoke and it's a great combo and even with the extra weight of the gas engine and the smoke system the factory landing gear holds up but it is very easy to install SpringAir 404 gear with oleo's in it, thats what I have in my W.M. P-51 "Ridge Runner".
You will want to look at the Top Flite P-51 ARF also, and it's a little bigger.

I think the .60 range is the upper limit of what I want to go with. Anything bigger is going to mean more money than I want to spend for plane and engine, plus it'll ripple into bigger servos, etc. Since most of my planes have been in the .25 range, .60 is a big step.

That's cool but most all of today's giant scale sport and war bird planes use standard servo's.

So, all I need to do is get over my fear of going from .25 cubic inch planes to 25 cubic centimeter planes? Oh, and to increase my budget a bit.

And you'll need a bigger starter too.

Chuck I have the new VQ version 2, its a very nive plane with Flaps and built tuff . YOu have to add your own retracts and they were at one time giving out the oleo struts , you will have to call them to see .
Rich -in the warbirds section has some great flight video and a onliine built of the plane .
For the money its probably the best p40 if you want the flaps and retracts .

I have not flown mine yet , just picking out the engine but very happy with the arf appearance , glue joints ect

Starter? What's a starter? Just kidding. I actually have a starter, but I usually leave it home. I've been starting my engines by hand for years. Still have all 9 fingers

LDM, thanks. I'll keep the VQ P40 on the list to consider.

Quick followup, I decided to go with a .45 size WM Mustang for now. This will save some cash because I can put my K&B .61 Twister in service. I think this will be adequate. The plane doesn't have flaps, but does have retracts. I briefly considered using flaperons, but the feedback I've gotten is they are a bad idea for this type of plane. I guess the flaps will have to be done some other time. I added a .45 size WM Cub to the order and still spent less than I would have if I'd gone with a .60 plane and .91 4 stroke. Thanks for all the input, I'll file the recommendations away for the next round of purchasing.

Piper Chuck,
Good choice, I had two of um, a bunch of us raced them for fun at my old club.
My non-race plane had a K&B Screamin 48 in it and was clocked at 99 mph. The early versions had soft landing gear wire and had to be checked for alignment constantly but were easy to straighten, I think the new versions have been improved.
As I remember the landing gear uses a standard servo but it needs to be a "high torque" servo.

Another followup post. The plane is ready to fly. Ended up with the Miss American color scheme. For a short time I was considering buying a Saito 4 stroke, 82 or 91, or using the OS 70 that I already have. I wanted to use the K&B .61 but didn't want the cylinder head sticking out the side. I finally went with the K&B and mounted it inverted. This means there is a muffler hanging out the side, but it's low and not too ugly. It's also much better than having the cylinder head sticking out the side. For the retracts I ended up getting a Hitec retract servo. I figured it would work better than a standard servo. Now I've just got to get it in the air.

I sold my VQ P-40 to one of my buddies. It was one of my best flying warbirds. It tracked like an arrow and landed slowly, predictably, and easily with full flaps. My buddy repainted the plane in Army Air Corps color scheme with olive drab on top and gray on the bottom and added Army Air Corps markings. That P-40 has well over 100 flights on it to date.

Edit: added three pictures of the repainted plane