RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Mike:

What a bummer... I hope you enjoy the new ARF

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I built the 1/7 P-51 Gold Edition kit, and lost it to a snap and unrecoverable spin. I've found the ARF to be much better designed and behaved.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I was turning to the right when it spireled down.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I am building this kit and want to spice up this thread. I like the myriad conversations about retracts and all the tips that can be found here. It took me a while to read this whole thread will all of its content.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

It's flying season, so my build is on the back burner for now, and now that I did a little Oh S*** with my Dewey, I have repairs to do on that one, so even less time to work on the Stang.  The engine that will go in it runs OK, but I only have half a tank through it and it still needs some tuning before I can put it in the Stang.  I think I will bench run it though, the DLE20 is too strong for the Deweyville. I think having it on that plane contributed to the failure today. I had the pushrod for the rudder come apart in the air, and I lost all rudder control, in fact it tended to move opposite of aileron which made it extremely hard to level off, and since I didn't have enough altitude to sort it out, nosed it into the field.  So that's what will be worked on, until the days get shorter, the stang will be shelved.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I built a TopFlight P51B model many years ago lost the engine on take off and the wing was totaled. After that I built the Great Planes P51D with the Kaos airfoil the plane flys like a pattern ship. Likily I traced each rib prior to building it. Recently I drew a set of planes for a new wing using the GP P51D airfoil and enlarged the ribs to fit the plans.The P51B flys great and does almost any manuver of a pattern ship. I am posting the photos of each wing. See if you can tell the differece.
P51Tom

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Now that is a slick idea.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Hey guys! Awesome thread with lots of useful insight for this build. Started my second TF p51 this week. My first one was 50% complete and got destroyed during a cross country move so i'm at it again. I've got the stab, fin and half of the fuselage done. I'm going to be working on the wing this week but i need my retracts first. This is were i'm looking for some guidance. I REALLY want to use electric retracts but i cant find info on any that will fit this kit. I've heard that Robart makes some for this kit but there website blows in regards to product searching and application. If anything i'll get the pneumatic 531's but, i would really like to go electric or even mechanical rather than pneumatic. A preemptive thanks to anyone with help!!

Pics to come.....


Ian

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Have you looked at the Eflite 60-120 size electric retracts?

I've used the smaller ones, and had good results.

Kinda pricey, but I hate pneumatic even more than you do, if that's possible.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I looked into the E-Flite's but they look to be incompatible with robostruts. I'm not sure if there are any other strut manufacturer that makes scale like stuts for the E-Flites cause the struts to me are just as important as the retracts themselves. I look more into the Robart site and they make electric retracts that look like they'll fit they just aren't marketed to fit this bird. A little spendy but they're made in the USA and i expect they'll be of better quality.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

You might look into the 531RS from Robart paired with the Wingspan Retract actuators. Looking at the specs, it looks as though it would work.

http://www.robart.com/products/85-de...obostrut-ready
http://www.wingspanretracts.com/LGA620

Scott

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Ian:

It's not that the E-flites are incompatible with the Robart Robostructs; if you want to pursue that solution you'll have to make some compromises.

The E-flite retracts come stock, with 5mm wire struts. If you wanted to fit 3/8" Robostruts directly to the retract, you'll have to drill out the hole in the trunions to 3/8". This will undoubtedly void any sort of warranty, and will leave you with thinner walls for set-screws and general mechanical strength. The other approach would be to drill out the Robostrut to accept a 5mm wire stud. I think the Robarts are sized for 3/16 wire, 5mm is just slightly bigger so this would probably not affect the mechanical strenght of the strut leg.

You can also go look at RCSkylite.com. They have metric sized robostruts for p-51's and P-47's, and have 5mm studs. I don't know about the scale looks, or overall quality (yes, they're Chineese built, but so are the E-flites), but it's an alternative.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

MHO on oleo struts is that they are too heavy and too expensive, BUT, adapting the Robart struts to the wire ones on the Eflites is probably the best compromise.

The main reason for this is that the TF P-51 wheel wells are designed so that the strut has to sweep radically forward from the retract. They did this to cure the nose over blues that these models get. The Eflite strut can be bent so that the Robart and the wheel will end up in the right place.

You'll want to use the 85 degree ones, too, so the bird will look right on the ground.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

our field is rough and most retracts of any kind lead to disaster. I will be installing fixed gear. Perhaps I will build one with retracts in the future.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

The thread has been dead for a while.... anybody flying or building?

I am getting ready to paint :)

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I still have on of these on the bench. I have it all skinned up and need to determine how do finish it. I want to put light glass on the wings. I am thinking of using water based Polyurethane to fill the glass fabric.

I still ahve a little putty work to do also.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I have one on the bench too. Making it an A or B/C model. Got the wheel doors working on the wing, the engine arrived today so I can mount it and fit the upper cowl. Then i can finally fit the wing and get the bottom and upper fairings done.  Going to glass it all and use auto paint to finish it.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I have one in the box too, just need to get motivated, power will be a Saito 125, Century Jet retracts. All the pieces are here, just have to get at it
bhady

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I am building mine with a Saito 125. a friend at the local club flys his with a Saito 100 and he has decent power. i expect the 125 will be really nice!!!

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I'm considering starting mine too. bhady and jkr, I'd appreciate any comments you have on the fit of the Saito 125. I have one too. I also have some electric retracts, but for now, the box has not even been cracked. I'm going to build it as a P-51C post-War racer.

Bob

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I've started building another one. I crashed the one I built last winter on it's maiden flight. My fault. I'll be using the same power system as before. All Electric. It was a good match and had plenty of power. I know this because I bought the ARF version and put the electric motor in it. I had 3 really good flights on it and then I crashed it. I'm blaiming that one on poor radio link. I'm quickly learning from my mistakes and hopefully this 3rd time will be a charm.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

My reason for asking about the use of a Saito 125 engine was because, in another project, I had bought a nice new Saito but it was too long to fit under the cowling. I reluctantly had to sell the NIB 4C engine for a 2C.

Bob

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I've seen the chrome cowl on someone's plane here... did you paint or cover it? I'm covering my P-51 with Chrome Ultracote but I'm kinda afraid to try it on the cowl and air intake.

Thanks!

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I have a new in box B conversion kit I will sell for $25 shipping included. PM if your interested. It comes with the canopy and all the parts needed to make a D into a B.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

<span style="font-family: Arial;">Did some work on mine last night, have the upper cowl in place now, and started shaping the belly in front of the wing. I had to add 1/4 ply to the firewall, so the nose looked a little funky, but I have since resolved it by doing some sanding. I</span>couldnt finish the sanding since the filler was still soft, but will get that done next week. I need to figure out how to attach the small hatch I made for accessing the upper compartment where I plan to stick the ignition, but other than that and the two pieces of wood on the cockpit, the fuse is assembled, just some final shaping of the wing and cowl, and I can glass it.