Yes it matters and if that vent is upside down it will not fill properly. Get over being able to see the tank as it fills you will know when its full when the fuel squirts out the vent line removed from the muffler. If that bothers you then slip on a small catch tank on the line from the vent.

Turning and airplane upside down to fuel just makes no sense. Install the tank properly as intended or you are just asking for running problems.

John

So...

I started the plane today. I was shocked that it actually ran so well. I let it idle through half a tank of gas and throttled up a few times and back down. The plane never stalled and I could not tell if it was running rich or dry, I turned the needle but did not notice an effect. The nose cone and nut came lose while trying to start it which was concerning. I brought it to a parking lot and taxied through a tank of fuel and got a feel for the plane, as much as can without flying.

Issues I noticed that I should take care of before I fly are:

The gas tank shuffled around a bit and also was soaked with fuel on the outside of it. The stopper on the tank is incredibly cracked so I'm guessing thats is the issue with a wet tank. I need to lock down the tank some how and velcro will not do the trick in this case.
The plane would not taxi straight, even though the rudder was straight, I'll figure something out.

I just felt like sharing...most people have probably lost interest in the topic.

lgmac if your tank stopper is cracked then do not fly untill you replace it. I recommend you replace the entire tank though and change to one of these:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK831&P=RF

Its a Hayes and you will have far less problems with this type.

Now this has gotten confussed, what airplane are you running in a parking lot? Operating a glow powered airplane in a parking lot is a really bad idea, This whole parking lot idea with this airplane is quite disturbing even if you do not intend to fly. Are we talking about that older P-51 arf or are we talking about the Eagle trainer?

Please remember if you try to fly it without help i.e. an instructor on a buddy cord then this airplane is not likely to live more than a minute or so.


John

Probably more people have noted the length of the list of problems you've had that would have been fixed almost immediately if you had found an experienced flyer to check over your airplane.

I would hazard a guess that every experienced flyer who has helped in this thread feels a bit of anguish. They know just how many problems you haven't found and that probably won't show up until that plane leaves the ground. It hurts a lot of us to help someone get to the point where the next problem will most probably kill the plane.

The plane won't taxi straight? That's just a guidance problem. The rudder isn't the only thing that guides the plane. Good thing however, is that ground guidance usually isn't instantly fatal.

Don't sweat people losing interest in the topic. It's human nature. Some people are just like that.

Good luck.

We are talking about the P-51 ARF.  I just got the Eagle trainer kit so it will be a quite some time before it's built.  How is running it in a parking a lot a bad idea?  There were no cars or anybody around, it never picked up much speed and nothing bad came of it.  Even if an experience flyer takes it off there is a still chance he or she will crash it<div>
</div><div>Unfortunately I doubt that tank will fit in the plane.  The tank in there is kind of a round rectangle shape, and the wood is curved to fit that.  It looks like a good tank to keep in mind for the Eagle though.</div>

If that one will not then this one will:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK830&P=RF


Now why is the parking lot a bad idea? Well first off this airplane is not, and I repeat not a park flyer or a small electric. Virtually every time someone tries to teach themselves how to fly by themselves they will everytime underestimate how much room is needed. You have said nothing about your experiance flying a long time ago (your words) or what you were flying, Ever fly a warbird? Ever fly any taildragger and did you ever even solo before?.

These are important questions? They are not calculated to belittle you, they are needed to be asked before someone gets hurt possibly even yourself. You need to understand that you or your parents if thats the case are completely liable for your actions. The AMA is certainly not gonna help unless you are a member and not then if you do not have permission to fly wherever you are doing it.


I beleve this airplane will soon expire and you will move on unless you do it right and get involved in a club and the ama and most of all find a mentor (yes the evil instructor) before you waste this airplane or worse.

I also beleve all the responders in this thread have exhibited a desire to help and guide you so you can realize the achevement but when it becomes apparent that you are not going to heed the advice, then thats why most have backed off.


John

Who said it was a bad idea to taxi it?

Sorry I didn't spell it out.

It's usually quite simple to troubleshoot a plane that doesn't taxi straight.
It takes a bit more to troubleshoot a plane that doesn't fly straight.
You did a smart thing, testing it's taxiing.
Have you figured out why it didn't taxi straight?
It was an ARF. Did it come with the tail wheel already rigged to the servo?

Steering straight has a lot in common with flying straight.

Alright John, seriously chill.  I have listened to everyones advice and tips so stop saying I have not.  I have met someone who has several planes and he said he would help, so I will unlikely being flying it the first time solo.  We also have a RC field here and it's out in the middle of no where and has a large clearing this is where I will fly.  I know this P-51 is not a "toy" and could potentially do serious damage to a persons well being or their property and I'm not a retard, I'll fly it in the appropriate areas.<div>
<div>Like I thought I said already there was no one else in the parking lot yesterday, the most damage I could have caused was to myself or to a tree, and I'm positive neither of those two things will sue me.  I never took the plane off and simply drove it around.</div></div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

Hey da rock,

No one said not to taxi it. I did start the plane on my own which maybe isn't recomended but I did so by following instructions that a guy I work with gave me. I have not taken a second look at the back wheel to see how it's attached, but it looks like the rudder and wheel are not individually adjustible.<br type="_moz" />

The wheel that steers and the rudder and all surfaces really do have to be adjustable. ARFs will have adjustable rigging, even if it's factory installed. What ARF is that P51? Who mfg'd it?

Taxiing is a good idea. It gets you used to dealing with steering. It gets you used to steering when the plane is coming at you. It shows you how the controls work differently when the plane is coming at you.

The usual warning about that is focused on safety.

I hope the guy at work explained how to safely secure the model and what to look out for.

I also never said do not taxi it, what I did say is a parking lot is bad idea and yes you said you would not fly from there however the infamous accidental take off is likely the most common occurance of all, even happens in full scale. If the location as often happens is to small for the airplane then it can get interesting.

Any way you may want to consider the fuel tank I linked in my previous post. That will stop all your plumbing problems.

John

Ok thanks. I'll get the tank, I have a spare stopper too.

Let me explain the differance between the Hayes tank and the conventional type you have with that expansion stopper. The Hayes does not use a stopper plug like that, instead the main plug is much smaller and is a hard plastic and there is an 'O' ring on this plug the only line through this plug is the clunk line and is the one that goes to the carb or needle valve.

Actually this does not go through as it has a molded in nipple on the inside and the outside. You only need to cut the clunk line to length and slip on the nipple. The line to the carb can be slipped on later.

This plug is a tight slip fit into the tank outlet and there is a steel ring to slip on the outlet that prevents any spliting of the main tank. This set up is far easyier to use and more reliable.

The vent on this tank is molded into the tank itself and is the top one of two nipples at the front of the tank up top. Your muffler line will connect to this top vent and the tank has to be oriented with the vent on the top when the tank is in the airplane.

There is a second nipple that is just below the vent nipple this is a fill line and I recommend not using this it is sealed anyway so you have to do nothing there. For your airplane definately use just a simple two line setup.

You will enjoy the Hayes tanks after you begin to realize all the advantages.

John[8D]

John is one of the most well respected posters here on RCU and any advice he gives should be seriously concidered in my opinion...He gives his time with an honest desire to help..He is saftey orented and that is a very good thing..Many of us have seen some some awfull things that could have been prevented had a person been more saftey concious..A person does not have to be a Retard to make a mistake and get himself or someone else hurt..

Never doubted it biker...<div>
</div><div>Just bought the tank.  I could not get the old tank sealed well and all the spare peaces did not fit.  Every time i tried to cut the metal tube that goes through the stopper i kept pinching it shut.  Hopefully I don't have to deal with those tubes with this tank.</div>

There are no metal tubes to deal with at all on a Hayes

The brass or aluminum tubes that are used with the other tanks can't really be cut with diagonal cutters, Instead you can use either a tube cutter that is just like a small pipe cutter made by SK and Tower has them or you can use an abrasive cutoff wheel in dremel type tool.

John

You can cut those tubes with a sharp knife by placing the tube on a hard surface and rolling it under your knife...It is a bit hard on blades though....Getting a tube cutter is the best way...