Redwulf__34

Hiya Bull,
I'm sure she was tail heavy on you. Be encouraged and don't get down on your skills. Never totally trust the plans. I found the same thing out. I just balanced my DUS dead on where the plans called and it was WAY tail heavy. I recognized it right away and got her on the ground then rebalanced.

Take a loot at the link I posted earlier. Its an easy way to check CG. It does all that fancy math Bob just did!!! All you need to do is input the numbers. Bob must be some kind of genius or somthing to do all that math!!!!!!!

Sean

bull51

Redwulf,

Even with a full gas tank, you think she was still tail heavy? Man oh man, to think I put weight in the tail.

I was doubting my skills after the first flight, but no longer. I dont think the take off could have been any smoother. I was trimming her out, I raised the landing gear and I got to hear my 120 pumper scream! I was tickeld pink to see her fly, and who knows, maybe there was something wrong...something I missed from the first crash (besides being tail heavy). I think Im going to get the Top Flite ARF version this winter and have her ready for next summer. Ill get something a bit smaller to put my OS .46ax in, for now.

I sure do appreciate all of the time and advice everyone has put in this thread. It was an experience I will remember for ever! I'll keep checking on the post to see how everyone makes out.

Mustang, it'll be interesting to see how yours flys with the cg forward of the plans cg. Please keep us posted.

bull

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Will do, buddy. Hang in there, and be careful of factory CG locations.

bull51

Redwulf,

To answer you question a few posts back, I started flying with a NexStar Select trainer. Then I built a Tower Fun 51...that's a profile P-51 (in case you arent familiar). Next was my U Can Do 3D foamy. The last model I flew prior to the Big Beautiful Doll was a Phoenix Models 40 size Spitfire. The Fun 51 I flew for over 3 years without a single mishap. The Spitfire I had three great flights with, then got shot down by radio interference, hence the reason I put 2.4 in the Stang. I'm itching to get me another warbird. Just have to wait a week or two. Oh, I almost forgot, I also have some stick time on a large scale J-3 Cub which bleonged to a fellow club member.

Thanks again

bull

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Bull:

There's a review on the TopFlite 1/7 ARF P-51 in the latest Fly RC magazine. They liked it.

bull51

I dont have the money for it right now, but its definately on my Christmas list. I'd have her ready for next summer. For now, I'll have to settle for a smaller model in the .40-.50 range. Along with other models, I was considering this:

http://www.eastrc.org/shop.cgi/page=...15044194.30666


Profiles are a lot of fun. Not sure yet. I have to wait until the end of the month anyway.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Looks like fun, Bull.

Have you looked at the Great Planes 40 size P-51 kit? It's not scale (it's a Stangized Super Sportser) but it looks good and is a gas to fly. No bad habits at all, and a 46 is more than enough for it.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ571&P=0

bull51

Yes, I have looked at that kit, but I'm not really up to another kit build. I would much rather go the ARF route. I want to get in the air a soon as possible.


Post crash analysis.....I've been taking all my gear out of my stang. Guess what I forgot to do during the build.........I forgot to glue in the elevator joiner [X(]. I'm no expert with these things, but I assume this kind of mistake could leave slop in the elevator and cause erratic behavior. Especially after the first crash. Boy, if that's what caused this....what a shame. I think that could explain why she suddenly rolled while in a turn. what do you guys think?

Thanks bull

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

I guess it's conceivable that relative motion between the left and right elevator halves could cause some roll problems, but you'd think that the ailerons wouldn't have any trouble overpowering that.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Like I said, I had been putting off the flaps because they scared me. Turned out to be pretty easy, only taking a couple three days instead of 6 months like the main landing gear.

I didn't quite get a hinge or two on the radius center of one of them, and so had to sand a bit off the bottom for smooth operation. Other than that, it was easy. Having the Robart hinge drill guide really helped. I bought it years ago and hadn't used it but once.

I did Gorilla Glue the hinges into the flaps before covering so that I could get a really good test on the travel. I'm glad I did, as I would have had to remove the covering from one of them and sand on it some more had I not. I'm setting them up for about 1.5" total travel, a bit less than the maximum recommended by TF.

gords

Hi guys,

I figured I should post something after reading all the tips and hints on this forum over the past 6 months. I completed my mustang about a month ago and got to maiden it last week. I was pretty nervous after reading Bull's story. I balanced it a bit nose heavy (wheels down, empty) according to the plans recommended CG. I have a saito 1.50 on it and after reading the tips regarding the prop selection, I ordered a 15x10 and 15x11 (instead of using the 16x8). The take-off run was about 50', and I kept the throttle from 3/4 to full for most of the flight as I did not want to have to deal with any tip stall issues. It did seem a bit pitch sensitive, but it wasn't ballooning. The landing was nice to see with a 3-point touchdown. I had heard the bigger props (16x8) provide too mush low end thrust, making it difficult to slow for landings. This seemed to be true during ground tests as the plane wanted to move forward at idle with the 16x8. I was able to slow it down a lot better with the 15x10. Anyways thanks for all the tips, you can definitely see Ticketec's influence on the gear doors. Not exactly true to scale but they do close. I still can add some scale markings, etc. but I wanted to maiden it before I spent a bunch more time on detail work. It's based on the Valhalla scheme.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Gords:

That is one sweet looking airplane. Congrats on the successful flight.

teebox11

My Feedback: (33)

Anyone know who has the flush fit cowl for this kit? Thanks!

teebox11

My Feedback: (33)

OOPS, it's the 85" TF51 I'm looking for the cowl for.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Teebox:

Take a look at this page. http://www.fiberglassspecialtiesinc.com/catalog.htm

They have a selection of fiberglass parts for the Giant Gold Edition kit, their part numbers TF-19A thru 19H.

bull51

gords,

That's great to hear. Congrats on the successful flight!

teebox11

My Feedback: (33)

Thanks fever, I'll have to e-mail them since they don't have the pics nor detailsl.

gords

Does anyone have any tips on how to land a plane such as these P-51s? I have a saito 1.5 and a 15x10 prop on it, and the landing approaches are faast! I landed the other day and the plane must have been going 50 mph or so at idle, had full flaps on and the plane still rolled off the runway and bent the gear up/ ripped one out of the wing. I will check my idle and see if it can go any lower, I also could try a 15x11 prop, any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Gords:

Sounds like one of three things:

1.) Maybe your approach was too fast. These birds need time to slow down to a good approach speed, starting on the downwind leg. I haven't flown mine yet, but I plan to drop the flaps and the gear on downwind, and throttle up above idle just enough to maintain good airspeed during the descent.
2.) Maybe the idle speed is too high. If the 150 is turning 2000 rpm at idle like it's supposed to, the equivalent pitch speed is only 19mph, which is ideal for a fighter.
3.) Is it possible you landed downwind and didn't realize it? A 180 degree wind shift is not uncommon.

I'd look at all of those before I changed the prop.

gords

I will definitely check the idle again. Do you have to throttle up a bit on the turn from the downwind leg to final, as i am a bit nervous about tip stalls, etc? There was absolutely no breeze when i was out flying.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

I do the throttle up thing depending on what the airplane is looking like: if it seems to be gliding clean at idle, I leave it alone. If it looks a little "mushy", maybe doesn't turn the way it should and seems to be losing altitude too quickly, then I'll juice it. Can't splain it any better than that. Maybe someone else can.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

This kit is wearing me out again. It is taking forever to fit the wing to the fuse, in spite of being very careful about everything. I think it's safe to assume this is my first and last TopFlite kit. Too complicated, parts don't fit right, and too much work. [:@] If I hadn't bought all the stuff to finish this bird already, I'd probably sell it.

My only note on the fuse construction so far is to watch out for F3: It angles to fit the angle on the LE, and it won't do that unless one grinds out the notches in the crutch where it goes. (The pencil indicates the area.) If you try to force it without fitting it, it would probably break something.

bull51

Mustang,

Keep going. Believe me, I know (we all do) how frustrating it gets with this kit. But, it'll all be worth it in the end. I'm looking forward to your maiden!

bull

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks, Bull. I needed the boot.

Redwulf__34

I second that. Keep going Bob!!!!! I've seen a few of your builds. Don't get frustrated keep on building!!! She is looking good.

Sean