First glow plane
 

My wife gave me a Herr Engineering 1/2 A P-51 for X-mas and the construction is going well. My question is, this being my first glow plane, non-ARF and not having very much experience, what advise can any body give me on radios, finishing up and basics? I have always bought elec. with radios and everything installed. I am venturing into a new way of doing things and am really enjoying myself but do not want to plant my P-51 on the first flight. I am looking at a Futabe 6DA with the traing box to start out.

Any advise would be most helpful!

First glow plane
 

I saw an r/c hobby related joke the other day, it's a funny & sarcastic glossary of terms (reproduced in part):

BALSA - What dreams were made of.
BALSA - Also: What P-51 pilots have a lot of.
PROP NUT - What Glider pilots call Power pilots.
P-51 MUSTANG - What beginners use to learn to fly.
SWEPT AREA - The only part of your apartment not covered in balsa dust.
WETTED AREA - After Deefa the Wonderdog finds the swept area.

You really need to look into first flying a Trainer aircraft, others will definately be able to help you there, that's what i'm currently doing, building my first Trainer plane. The only thing I can suggest is search through this forum for people that have posted "what's a good first plane?" questions, those will give you an idea what you're you look for!

myself, I'd like to have a Stuka some day!

First glow plane
 

Well... the P-51 is not going to be a great choice for a low experience pilot. They are fast, and VERY sensitive to control input. You'll want to shelve the P-51 for a while, and gain some experience with milder glow powered aircraft.

Skip the 6DA. May as well get a Hitech Flash 5 and have more mixing functions. (the mixing of the 6DA is VERY limited.) Or just a few more $ and get the Futaba computer 6 ch. (usually, less than $20 more than the 6 DA)
I have a 6DA and am dissaponted in functions for price. The radio works fine.

Sorry. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] Not what you wanted to hear, but its the right thing to do.

There's a small glow power model (kit, not ARF... quick to build though.) which looks much like the 4*40.. I'll see if I can find the name of it. Should make a good transition model from the electrics to the small glow models, using the same engine and radio equip as the P-51. when you can fly that with 3 oz added ballast...you're ready for the P-51 on low rate controls. (after a more experienced pilot trims it... They ARE that hard to fly!)

**************

Found an ARF (which I've seen one of fly) which would also be good for a step-up plane from electric toward the P-51:
http://www.shopatron.com/product.pht...120&mfg_id=100

Its ALMOST an ideal step-up from a mild performance 3 to 4 channel electric toward the small higher performance glow models.

First glow plane
 

I have a norvel .074 in one of their hi wing ARF's (Classic) very hard to ROG , flies great fast for
a small plane & very sensitive . VERY sturdy airplane. I think their lo wing 1/2 A would be a real
terror in the skies with an .074 big Mig in it .


Good Luck got a deal on some .40 size stuff

First glow plane
 

The first question is: What type of flight experince do you have? you mention buying electric stuff, but knowing your skills can really help..

2nd: Scale planes should always be saved for your 3rd, or 4th plane. They are almost always at the upper end of the 'flying skill' ladder. So, if you've been with cubs and trainer types, you might want to rethink making this your first 'low wing' plane.

3rd, Going gas (fuel, methanol, glo-fuel, what ever - the wet stuff) wil require a few additinal purchaces: feild equipement! A starter, battery, glow igniter, fuel, means of fueling the planes, etc..

4th, the radio. It's really up to you, your choice. I would recomend the Futaba 6XAS, as it has a slew of features. JR have a similar radio, with an equal amount of features. Pretty much all the radois now-a-days feature a 'buddy box' port. But JR for JR, Futaba for Futaba, etc...

As for the buddy box, best to buy the skysport 4 channel radio. It's about 20 more than a typical Futaba flight pack (for your next plane) and you get an extra transmitter, that you can use as teh buddy box. Otherwise, you'll have to borrow from someone else..

First glow plane
 

Thanks for all of the advice!

I am still finishing up my P-51.

I am also trying to find a 40 trainer. The Futaba 6AX looks like a good computer 6 channel as well.

If anything, I will learn allot about the hobby by building the Mustang. I will shelf it, after I finish building it, until my skills have come up to the point I will not smash it the first time I fly it.

I started out with a 40 trainer 10 years ago when I was in the A.F. and had to sell everything I had due to all of the moving. I loved it then but only dealt with ARFs and already set up planes, never from scratch.

Trust me when I say I will be in contact with all of you. My job put me overseas and not living on a military base and around many Americans it makes communicating with my Japanese neighbors tough.

Thanks again and take care.

First glow plane
 

For the .40 size trainer... look at ww.spadtothebone.com the trainer is the "Debonair". However, with some flying skill already... there's an "Ugly Stick" sort-of-clone and a few others which may be more suitable. The Debonair can get a bit boring to fly for some people...

I'm working on a .15 to .25 power SPAD trainer design... can scale it down for the .074. (its mainly how to keep weight down that would cause problems with coro construction and the .074.)

First glow plane
 

I notice you mention the Futaba T6XA. The one I have is an excellent radio and with other flight paks I use it often. I have several other radios that work well but like the T6XA best.
RE: your P (F) 51. Just remember that all fighters are inherently unstable. They're designed that way for manuevarability. Unfortunately for us the scale models of the aircraft inherit the same qualities. Some have a bit more stability designed in but a true scale will have the same flight characteristics. 51s with scale gear have a great tencency to do three point landings. Spinner and main gear.

First glow plane
 

Mustang's fine, but you really need a good Trainer first. Hi wing or mid wing, bigger the better...

First glow plane
 

CONGRATULATIONS! I've heard no complaints about Herr kits. I have two, not built yet. If you build, then put it on the shelf, it will not be the first time someone thought they were not ready for an upgrade. I have 3 on the shelf untill I feel real comfortable with 3 channel electric. Just enjoy. I do not know why Futaba is pushed so much though. I've talked to owners of Futaba transmitters who brag about all the bells and whistles on them, then tell me they do not know what some of those things do, and do not use them. I really like (for electric) the price, computer, and control I get from the JR XF421 ex. 5 Channels,computerized, mixing, memory ain't bad for
around $150 with a micro flight pack. (Battery included). What electric planes have you flown?

First glow plane
 

First it is well to know that all fighters are basically unstable. They have to have instability designed into them so they can be highly maneuverable. Just ask any full scale F-51 pilot if he ever took hands and feet off the controls for very long. Models of the full sized airplanes tend to acquire the habits, good and bad, of the 1'=1' scale aircraft. The balance is critical. The 51 gear is too close to the balance point. Most models even if scale have a "fudge factor" built into the gear so it won't land three point i.e. spinner and main gear. If you decide to shelve your 51 until you have more trainer time, good for you. Try to get a trainer with taildragger gear.
Best of luck

First glow plane
 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]Thanks everyone for your input!
I have purchased a FUtaba 6 channel Skysport and am currently working on a SPAD trainer. The P-51 looks good on hanging up and in one piece for now.

Here is a copy of the P-51 after it is finished. I am not sure if the picture will post but I'll try anyways.

Thanks again for the advise and I will keep you all posted!

FallconFixer[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

First glow plane
 

OOPS! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

Here is the pic!

FalconFixer[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

First glow plane
 

Some after advice for what its worth......finished mine as well, yours looks better than mine. Replaced the retracks with lightweight LG. Anyway after flying many trainers, cubs, sport planes, etc...took up the P51.......with 6XA, not a lot of throw I thought, but anyway, very sensitive on the sticks, made a couple of rounds and finially found it in the ground, straight down, four inches, took days to removed the mud & dirt, never have seen a plane fold up so "Well" in my life, tail section still in tact & thinking about converyting it into a Spade, a little less expensive. Also: footnote to the above, learned that you can never have enough trainer experience, I'm back to flying them. Shelved the JCub, P47D Thunderbolt, 3D U Can Do..................Good luck in your venture.