cls8995

test on pictures so i can upload a bunch for your guys opinions thanks

cls8995

here are few of the pics i would like u guys to see and comment since its my first major build sorry for multiple posts however it seems they only allow me to post a few at a time and i have many

cls8995

more pics

cls8995

few more apologize again for usen so many replies but i have more

cls8995

few more . i have alot more pics however ill tell u what im looking for in response to these pics.. This is my first major build i accidently built 2 of the same wings ( as before posted) im trying to decide wether to just start over on a new p 51 kit or just buy the replacement parts of half of the wing.. So if these pics look good ill do that if there are some problems with them that u guys can see ill start over a rack this one up for experience. Really no big deal either way however id rather pay 160 for a kit than 85 and then 160 anyways.

thank u all for your comments ahead of time and please for my benefit take alook at these pictures and give me your thoughts.. THE PIECES HAVE NOT BEEN FINISH SANDED AND FILLED YET TO MY DESIRED LOOK.

THANKS

cls8995

next post is my last with pictures on I PROMISE

cls8995

ok since i got the last photos uploaded (thanks for not crucifying me on the amount of posts it took ) but for some reason it would only let me do a few at a time

all pieces have not been final sanded (ull see alot of elmers wood glue) Id glue the piece usen elmers then tack it at the spot with thing ca .. seemed to work well .. The wings havent been sanded or touched up at all since i left them soon as i found out about me building 2 of the same wings.

Please give me your imput on the pictures... Please be honest on them (In great detail thank you for your time )

cory

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

cls:

All I can say is "it depends." If this one bites it on the first flight, or gets heavily damaged, are you going to get discouraged and quit? If so, you might want to think about building something else that's a bit simpler. The Mustang is a nice kit, but it is complicated, and everything has to fit real good and be glued real good for it to come out straight and to be strong enough. I'm seeing a lot of gaps between your fuse formers and the sides and top. This is going to cause an alignment problem at the very least.

As you said, it's your first major build, so it's natural to make mistakes and learn from the experience. Don't let it get you down. A good kit that has some similarities to the Mustang but is much simpler is any of the the Sig Four Stars. The 40 or the 60 are good sizes to learn tail draggers and low wings on, and yet flies really well.

cls8995

lol na id build another and do it over doesnt matter it take ten builds to get it but my question is this

in your eyes is it worth starting over and learn from the mistakes or keep goin with this one.. ever since the thing with building the same side wings ive been tryin to decide wether to start over on the p 51 with a new kit or to buy replacement parts for the wing


money standing if this helps ya out


85 usd for parts to replace half the wing

160 to replace the entire kit


so if them gaps that u are seeing would cause issues maybe should just buy another kit and start ovr and rack this kit up for exp

feel free to chime in anyone ( first major kit build ) i like critic my pics but PLEASE KEEP IT RESPECTFUL like the previous post

Missing Link

Keep going! Why stop now? Your getting great experience and if you started over on another kit, you may progress a little further than you did on this one but run into "new" problems.
Keep going on this bad boy and learn from your mistakes as you go...we've all been there. Wouldnt it be great to get all mistakes out on your first shot on a 'major' build? (If only it really was that easy...lol)
Progress on this kit and consider it a problem solving exercise. As you continue construction, your mind may create solutions to the previous problems as you work through the build. Worst thing that can happen is your going to get valuable experience...and possibly an airplane that flys like a brick which presents an entirely new set of challenges to overcome.
My opinion, for what its worth, is to continue on this build and reinforce any noticeable weak areas in the airframe as you put it through a few "stress tests" as it gets closer to completion.
When I was in the hobby as a youngster in the 70's, I remember a few old timers who used to glass a fuselage, then take a broom handle and drop it through the wing saddle knocking out almost all the formers....not that I am recommending it, it just demonstrates the strength of the "finished" model.

Keep going!

cls8995

lol i like your thinking thats how i feel.. And i am planning on glassing it which will idealy add alot of strength.. my thoughts is mainly wether its worth buying another p 51 kit or pay for the 85 usd for another half of a wing section since i screwed up and built 2 of the them being the same side.

too left wings if i remember correctly lol .

keep up the comments see what most think.

gmohr

Hi cls,

Here's my take... you've got to redo the wings anyway right? And you've probably learned quite a bit from what you've done already... I'd take those lessons and apply it to a new kit.

I agree with Bob, you've got to strive to get better fitment on the parts before you glue them. A clean fit of every part to the adjacent parts is crucial to a straight airplane, and warbirds are notoriously unforgiving of structural problems. In addition, it seems to me that you are using too much glue on all joints. If things fit better, you can use far less glue. Glue is heavy, also something you dont want in your P-51. And it is hard to sand that much off without undercutting the surrounding balsa.

So if I were you, I'd start over. Go slow and easy, and make each part perfect.

Good luck!
-George

skip_168

Hey Cory, Don'tcha hate that whole "two left wings" syndrome?... I've only done it twice... all I did on one was buy another kit & make two right wings.. The other, I just traced out the ribs from the left over die cut pieces out of some bulk balsa i had & made the other wing...
if you are like me, the first kit I got, I was in a real hurry to see the P51 rise outa the box, so I made a ton of errors... I have been in woodworking since I was 5, so I could fix them all with some stock balsa wood & some time. I'm on my third 1/7 P51 from TopFlite, I'm always screwing up, tearing the basa apart & fixing stuff... I think that is what I enjoy about building... tinkering... So what I would do in your case is buy another kit, use the wing components so you have two complete wings laying around... Have one with fixed gear, and one with retracts... I'll tell ya, it was real nice to just swap wings and keep flying when the air system or retracts were acting up, or the landing gear got ripped out from a rough field.

cls8995

funny u are right about kinda hurrying it up. I told myself that i would be very patient (unfortanelty patience for most comes with age at being only 28 guess i got a while to go with things lol ... anyways i was lookin over the parts more tonight and have decided to go with another full kit..

Also are the les on the back wing and stab suppose to be like i did or are u suppose to cover over the le hope thats not confusing but i got pictures posted that shows the le on the tail ...... not talking about the skin i put on the tail instead of keepin ribs since im glassen the plane whenever i get a good one built


thanks guys for the ideas of what to do ..

on a positive part the 2 left wings that i made are straight as hell one comes up about 1 16 inch of the table other one doesnt at all lol

anyways anyone got more ideas what to do let me know

thanks

skylarkmk1

cls8995,

You can upload a total of 12 pictures per post. You may have to upload a few, hit the edit button after posting and upload more photos until you run out of browse buttons.

Riddle4U

I like skips idea! Buy another kit..now this time build two of the wings that YOU HAVEN't built yet. Then you have two usable kits. Finish the one you are on now as another suggested wisely, if only for practice and to get out a few more inevitable mistakes before you start the second one. You will be using the new kit to use one of the wings for the one you have started already..then keep one of your "extra" wings (already built) for the new kit when you start it (just restating the course of action)! Read the manual carefully from beginning to end before you do anything else (I read the whole manual several times before starting). Their directions are almost a no-brainer if you follow the steps exactly and understand the whole process from studying and thinking about the process. This should at least allow the second one to be VERY good. Good luck.

p.s. Whatever you do don't make two more of the wing halves you already have...if that we're to happen I would just kit bash it into a byplane..ha ha!

Riddle4U

Oh yea..Bob has a nice suggestion in building the Four-stars. They can be framed in a weekend and covered the next. They are an excellent way to get your skills ready (almost) for something like the Stang. Building a Mustang as a first build is the oldest mistake in the hobby, and often results in giving up the hobby after a very short flight. Disregard this if you have flown a similar sized ARF mustang and can do a rolling 360 degree turn (not a roll..a roll while flying in a circle). This is definitely not a first-timers plane for building or flying. I like your enthusiasm though! This plane does fly well If you are ready for such a type.

CGAV8R

My Feedback: (2)

If you still have the balsa sheets that you punched the wing ribs out of, you can use them to trace new wing ribs onto balsa and ply, and then cut them out and use them to build the new wing half. You can buy the other balsa you need at the local hobby shop. Just a thought that may help you out.

Aaron D.

Riddle4U

Thats a nice suggestion Aaron! There isn't much to cutting out the ribs the way you suggest and along with some simple balsa stock from the LHS he could save most of the 85.00 for the wing kit! I suggested something similar awhile back here (he didn't seem interested). So long as he's digging into his first "major" kit build, he might as well get used to cutting out a few parts anyway. Maybe he will be the next "plans builder" later on because of it?

gmohr

Tail's done! Wing to follow. And... my LADO retracts shipped! Wohooo it feels like winning the lottery after reading some of the horror stories of others trying to actually receive those retracts.

thedeuce

I just recieved the lado retracts as well, they are sweet. I purchased a pair of Robart Robostruts 440 series(7/16" Dia). Installing them onto the lado's using the 3/16" Dia music wire method. I will post pics when I get there.

Cheers,

John

gmohr

Ok guys.. check this out (LADO retract). I'm not sure why one would ever do air if these are available for your application. And yes, they look as good in person.

Estang

Anyone try the Robart hinges? I am getting my kit in a week and was looking at the different items needed.
 This will be my first build in over 20 years and have a lot of catching up to do.

Mustang Fever

My Feedback: (2)

If you mean the recommended hinge points for the flaps, there's not much of a choice. You'll see why when you look at the instructions for the flaps. They recommend CA hinges for everything else, and that's what I did, and they work great.

gmohr

I was considering using Robarts on all control surfaces. What is your thought on that, Bob? I hate CA hinges, although I recognize how easily they go together. I can never seem to avoid making a bit of a mess.

Regards,
George