RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

For some entertainment in the thread I thought you all would enjoy my TF P-51 story. I bought my TF P-51 back in July of 1997 and did the first flight after 1 and 1/2 months of building, first flight was in Sept of 1997, flew great right off the building board. Had an O.S. .61 and Rom Air retracts and was finished in Monokote. I flew this plane over the next 10 years through many moves and four states. I even flew it on the flight-line at McChord AFB in Washington, literally hundreds of flights and never had the O.S. quit on me!
http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ightDayJPG.jpg
Day of first flight
http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...s/RC18_028.jpg
At a new club and with a new computer radio I was feeling a bit nervous flying in front of so many new people and I even had some friends that came along to watch. Well, I had the P-51 on the wrong P-51 in my model memory, and yes the ailerons were reversed!
http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...s/DVC00494.jpg
http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...us/Recover.jpg
I let the model sit around for about 4 years and then decided it was time to build a new wing using another kit as a template. The nose was so fuel soaked I had to build the nose over also with a new firewall.
http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/.../glasscowl.jpg
I made a mold from a stock cowl and made my own fiberglass one. I then added Robart spring down air up retracts along with a Royal P-51 cockpit with an old TF pilot figure.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...acchus/012.jpg

This is how she looks today! Ultracoat silver and white with the rest in Monokote. Hope you enjoyed my P-51 story! :)

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...acchus/014.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...acchus/011.jpg

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Loved the resurrection... Really nice work and dedication!

Bob

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Lessons learned. Important thing is you know the real cause. Thats the most important thing about being a good pilot. Better than blaming it on the radio. I have respect for that. Now the repair is beautiful, so go out their and rip holes in the sky.
Best of Luck
Leroy Meade

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Finishing mine in chrome Ultracote... gonna be the Old Crow version

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...60146917_n.jpg

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Thanks Bob and Leroy!

Woodburner, looking forward to your progress on Old Crow, keep us posted! Looks extremely nice!

I flew the Big Beautiful Doll today and it was just amazing, I forgot how well this plane flew! Dump full flaps and it just slows down, no bad habits at all, I almost wish I would have converted it to electric, but I need a variety of birds. I'll make my next TF P-51 electric. I also did a tank drop, that was pretty cool.

I would like to make a comment about those that are having problems with the flight characteristics of this plane, built correctly it has no bad habits. It is easy though when sheeting the wing to twist it or eliminate the washout built into it. It has a weak spot at the flap aileron joint, this area can cause problems when sheeting the wing.

I had a friend when I lived in Washington State that built one of these, he was a cabinet maker by trade, he only understood straight lines. Just knew enough about airplanes to get himself into trouble. He calls me up and said that he got a twist in the wing when building it, he was confused as to why this happened. He then told me that it was OK and that he "fixed" it! :D I asked him what he did and he said he stripped the sheeting off in the middle of the wing and twisted it "straight" before re-sheeting it! I told him I better look at it, when I did I told him that he eliminated all the washout in the wing, he just said what is that? :D I told him it would not fly, but that I would fly it for him because it would last longer with me flying it that if he was controlling it. It would snap at anything under half throttle, it was a nightmare, but I managed to almost land it before it snapped on landing. I told him if you fly this thing NEVER slow it down without full flaps. He flew it a week later and slowed it down about 100 feet up without flaps and it spun in, totaling it.

So the wing is critical, mine flies better than the TF P-47 ARF, much more precise in the air, four point rolls are like it's on a rope.


http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...acchus/001.jpg

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

What does your current plane weigh, with empty fuel tank....and did you do anything to lighten the plane during the build ?

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

That is SICK man! Looks too pretty to risk flying it!

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

My fish scale broke, but if I remember correctly it weighs about 9 3/4lbs. With the O.S. .61 and 12-6 prop it has plenty of power for big loops and other maneuvers. I was throttling back to about 75 percent power most of the time. My plane is completely stock, the fuselage especially is built very strong so I could see some areas that it could be made lighter, but to me it's not needed. I know people add servos to the wingtips, but mine has a singe servo in the center sections with bell-cranks, and they work great.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

My thoughts exactly, lol

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Really nice resurrection there, Luke. Glad to see you saved it from the trash heap.:D

I had a similar experience in just putting the type plane in the Xmtr. Luckily I caught it on the ground. Now each plane has a name indicative of the specific plane. Ie) The Mustangs are "Willy G." and "Duble Nuthn", the KI-61 is "Kobayashi", the 109's are "JG27 M'shmit" and "Euro-Shmitt". Etc. Makes me think twice when dialing it up as well.

Cheers!

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

I finally got around to weighing my P-51. The wing is nearly done, one flap is installed, still need to do the other one. So without the servos, one flap and ailerons, but with the retracts installed and the wheel door servo and contraption, it weighs in at 3 1/2 pounds. The Fuse with the tail and engine mounted, 4 pounds.  Add in the glass, 8 servos, RX, air tank, ignition and 2 Life packs( or one Life, one 4 cell Nimh), and I think it will come in under 13 pounds when finished.  Currently with engine and retracts, 7 1/2 pounds.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

That is extremely cool Woodburner. Curious how you did the lines and rivets? Did you just indent into the wood and film using a pointed object and tube? Is the wood underneath treated at all? I understand the sheeting on these is super thin and fragile.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Almost there.... missing only the stripes on the airscoop... notice the original "Pilot's training manual" in the cockpit.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

TTRotary

I used a marking wheel from a sewing kit, lol.. just run it along a straightedge, carefully of course because the sheeting is thin. No treatment on the wood at all.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Man, that wing looks great. Almost looks like a real p51 wing. Great job, thanks.
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RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Hi! Looks awesome! What chrome paint did you use for the lower portion of the engine cowling? I'm working on a "chrome" BARF of the Mustang Quick Silver but have no idea how to get the plastic parts "chrome" finished to match the chrome covering.....

Thanks!

- Michael

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Thanks Steve!

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Michael211

Hi! Looks awesome! What chrome paint did you use for the lower portion of the engine cowling? I'm working on a ''chrome'' BARF of the Mustang Quick Silver but have no idea how to get the plastic parts ''chrome'' finished to match the chrome covering.....

Thanks!

- Michael


Hi Michael,

I used a domestic brand similar to Alsa´s Mirrachrome, but I didn't get quite the same results... it's OK though...

[link=http://www.alsacorp.com/products/mirrachrome/mirrachrome.htm]Alsa Mirrachrome paint system[/link]

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Is that marking wheel something along the lines of the woodpecker tool?a little spiked wheel?

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Exactly, Steve....

It's called tracing wheel, not marking wheel, sorry.....


http://www.ez.org/pages/bsiu/Images/...rawings_02.jpg

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Well it looks pretty darned good to me! The 4-stroke muffler has a perfect mirrored copy of itself in the engine cowling...

Your attention to details is extremely impressive, I even notice the "rivet" marks inside of the canopy. May have to pick up one of those pinwheels and experiment with it some on scrap to see how to get the effects you've managed! Impressive!

- Michael

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Try it sometime... it's ridiculously easy! And the panel lines are done using a well dulled and rounded X-acto blade and a flexible straightedge....

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Fashionably late to the party.....
Just picked up this kit and looking forward to the build. Many thanks to all the talented builders who have contributed to this thread. I have no doult it will save many a headache.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

i just maidened mine and this thread was a HUGE asset throughout the build process. good luck and we will all be more than happy to help. btw, there id a whole section on mods for this kit. steve.

RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build
 

Jwottowa, if you just bought this kit, could you do me a small favor ?? If you look at the parts sheet labeled "P516SO1" you will see the fin trailing edges and rudder leading edges ( total 4 pcs.). After you label the pieces, could you cafefully trace the pieces onto a piece of paper and mail the drawing to me ? My parts are badly messed up, not the same side to side, die cutting is beveled, ect. If you send me a PM with your full name and mailing address, I will cover postage.

Neil