Well I just got home from our monthly club meeting and I won a NIB Dynaflite P-40 kit. I have never researched this kit before or even been interested in building it, but now that I got it for the right price I may just have a go at it.

Anybody have any hints/tips on this kit?

Engine power? I would prefer to go with an inverted 4-stroke but the plans show an upright 2-stroke. Looks like some mods will be needed.

Also what about retracts? The plans show fixed gear but I couldn't do that to a warbird.

Any suggestions?

I had one that I wound up selling before I built
due to other committments , but all the ones
I have seen fly did really well. Older technology
but seems to be a good basic design. I agree with
mounting a 4st inverted on that plane as it would look alot better. I have a Dynaflite Spit 40 size
that has alot of the same kit features as the P40
with a Saito 56 and it is a perfect match.
I have fixed gear but retracts would be a
good addition.

Sam

I'm converting same kit to electric with 16 Sanyo 1950AUPS and geared Astro 25. I have flown three versions of the P51 kit with glow 2S 40's. Speed was around 60mph full throttle in level flight. Needed gear bent forward so axles were even with leading edge to avoid nose-overs.
Needed some down trim for level flight at full throttle, no down trim for landings. I imagine that a 4S 46-52 would be ok. I don't like trouble of inverted engines , exposed ugly cylinder makes for better cooling, easy starting and easy maintenance. This plane can make you look good!

I had a 40 size P-51 with a Saito .50 inverted, all you could see was the end of the muffler and the rocker covers. I think they all have basically the same wing....very easy flyer...probably the easiest to fly warbird you'll ever build. A little detail makes them look good, but hardly scale. I have a Kit for a .60 size P51 and a Magnum .91 4 stroke, when I get around to it the engine will be inverted. I'll also build another .40 size from the plans, maybe this winter, nice relaxing airplane..but it would snap roll real well, fly inverted pretty good, but with that airfoil it isn't great at outside loops, and flying inverted requires a lot of down in the turns. One of my favorite planes. I've been keeping my eye open for a P40 and a spit, the prices on e-bay are usually more than I'd be willing to pay, I may just order the plans from dynaflite. I'm going to buy a dynaflite Corsair soon, I know where there is one for a reasonable price.

Sorry 'bout that, I just think these are good fun planes.

I have seen a few of these funscale planes fly. I too wish they were available again. They were kinda plain but flew just fantastic.

Mark Shuman

I am currently flying both the Dynaflite .40 size P-40 and Spitfire. They are both great flyers but the P-40 is built lighter than the Spit and flies smoother (maybe a balance issue as well). The P-40 has an OS46 and the Spit has an Enya 45CX so neither lacks power. I recently completed the P-82 Twin Mustang which also appears to be a good flyer...only four flights...lost an engine on first three !!! It has twin Enya 40Xs and shouldn't lack power either. The unreliable one was replaced but the plane hasn't been flown since.

The second plane I owned was a Jemco P-51, another great flyer. I am also looking for a source of Marks Models/Jemco/Dynaflite WWII kits, plans/templates. I kept the templates for the P-82 but the P-40 and Spit were purchased completed. I would like to get P-40 templates to bash into a fun scale Hurricane.

Perhaps individuals who have kits may take the time to make templates to allow some scratch builders to kit their own : )