I'd like to purchase a 40 size P51 reno racer style plane. What do you guys recommend. Do any of them have a fiberglass belly pan/radiator cowl? Most I see have ABS and we all know how ABS hold up.

Gary

The plastic belly pan on the EZ line holds up really well. I had no problems with either of my mustangs. EZ makes the Dago Red and also the VooDoo. They are pricey though. The only other that I know of is the World Models Dago Red. It has a fiberglass fus but Is not as pretty as EZ's. It also may be a 60 size.

*All* the World Models P-51s come with a fiberglass radiator scoop. They actually cover the scoop with ultracote!

Its also a little different from all other .40-sized P-51 models in that the scoop is not mounted permanently onto the wing or fuse - first you mount the wing, then the scoop attaches to the fuse. Its secured with a pair of dowels and a single screw. Should you damage the scoop it can be replaced without having to cut it off the wing or fuse.

I have the Miss America version, powered with a Saito .91. Because of the powerful engine I pinned the firewall and reinforced the wing joint with fiberglass and epoxy - otherwise its built stock. Its a tad nose heavy, but flies (and lands!) wonderfully.



Its waterproof, too


One of my mates bought himself a WM Dago Red. Its all fiberglass and looks really nice. He's going to put an Irvine .61 into it.

Ditto on the World Models ARF!!!!!! I loved mine, but I didn't like the Miss A. in the air. Beautiful on the ground, but didn't show up well in the air, but that could have been me. I am gonna get a yellow one.

I can't believe you put a 914s in that poor little plane! I bet it SCREAMS!!!

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I'm sold on the Dago Red WM. Where's a good place to purchase? Best price of course...

Gary

Mine shows up just fine. It must just be you

As for the engine... I originally had an OS .70 4C on it. It flew fine, and balanced *perfectly* the first time around with the rx and battery ziptied to a former right on the CG. No extra weight necessary.

After the .70 died (corrosion - forgot to run the fuel out once ), I noticed that the big Saito only weighed 2 oz. more than the OS and would fit into the existing holes I'd cut into the cowl, so in it went. It balances just a tad nose-heavy with this engine, but still flies well. It glides just fine too - I've had a couple of deadsticks (new engine) and have made it back to the field each time with no problems.

You're right - it cooks! In the 'damp' picture above I have it propped for speed with an APC 11x12 prop - its good for 100+ MPH in a dive. That prop is no good when landing on our short field, as it provides almost no braking effect! For everyday sport flying I'm running an APC 14x6. Lots less speed but *far* more thrust.

Goldenstaterc.com and Quantummodels.com both sell these planes for the same price - $190 for the balsa P-51s, $200 for the Dago - and will ship them to you free.

Here's another question. What about the Dago Red FG fuselage vs the others which have a balsa built up fuselage. I mean other than ~$10 price difference, what opinions do you guys have here?

Is the FG fuse any heavier than the balsa one?

Gary

Gary,

I also had a EZ P-51 w/91FS and it Held up well. It is also a pretty airplane. Needless to say I got over confident with it one day and lost it in a turn wide open. It had about 50 flights on it by then all the ABS was in tact and no problems to that point. I now have a Hanger 9 P-51 ready to go and I'm just waiting for a break in the weather.

Good Luck
Rudy

it certainly is better looking!

Can't be certain about the weight. My mate hasn't finished his yet.

I think that WM's specs say that its ~ 6 oz. heavier.

He did bring the kit out to the field for us to check out one day. The fuse is very well built, with wood formers & stringers attached with epoxy at all the stress points. It was lighter than I expected.

I gotta tell ya - he offered me to swap his (semi-new) kit for my built one. I nearly took him up on it!

The FG is great. It is covered in Ultracoat and looks good. The plane is shown as being a 1/2 pound heavier then the "balsa" Mustang. I have a Saito .72 in mine and it will go out of site real fast.
WM has some great ARF's. They will really spoil you