tuchadwick59

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I had this kit with DLE 20 RA's and it was a little powerhouse. Ran beautifully..... However, two issues arose. One as with the cowling of the motors. With the cowls off, there were no problems, with them on, I really had to baffle them to keep from getting overheated. And with two, it was real finicky because if one got hotter than the other, it messed everything up.

The second issue was the construction. Kind of a pain with the servos set in the booms. If I had to do over again, I would put the servos for the rear of the plane in the tail and horizontal stab.

stsguy

Hey folks I picked up a P 38 arf. its a 96 inch ws pain in the rear...LOL It will NOT break Down. So I must carry this BIG H shaped plane when I move it. Question is Who made this plane/.???? Thanks for the help
( Im guessing there is few 96 ws arfs in the world that will nor break down.. It looks like a Nitro plane caliber)

70 ragtop

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Somehow I lost my subscription to this thread, and just thought the thread died out. Just surfing thru Warbirds section, and see it......1302 posts is not too bad. There is some P-38 love out there

STS guy, post a picture.

john comp

Hi, please add me to the list of p-38 lovers.
I have a Wing Manufacturing p-38 short kit and want to build it with two OS 40, olive drab, and bomb drop.
I've had the kit for a few years but are getting back into RC

zrooster

I just noticed your question about the PAU. I might be interested, but need to know details on the plane and how much money we're talking.

Did a little research... Still need details, but VERY interested in an ARF of this caliber.

zrooster

Thought I'd give the thread a little bump. I don't really have anything of significance, but I've been thinking about the weakness (weak point behind the wing) of the ply/balsa booms on the Ziroli and how to get around it if a good set of fiberglass booms doesn't become available. Off the top of my head, CF strips in the weak area seem like a viable option, but my inexperience might be showing here. Has any among you thought through the problem to the point you believe (or have implemented) a viable fix?

samparfitt

My Feedback: (43)

For new builds, cutting new wing supports using aircraft ply and extending them back to the next former would strengthen this area.

zrooster

That makes sense. I need to take a hard look at how the original plans have it. I was going off discussions on other threads.

Edit: To be clear, was hoping to spark a conversation on the subject amongst some of you experienced types. Consequently DID NOT do my homework before hand.

P38J

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I'm building a blown-up Ziroli but I'm using the same fix that worked on my smaller P-38's. I use the top hatch as a stressed member to carry some of the load from the rear booms. It is bolted to the firewall bulkhead and to the bulkhead aft of the wing opening this plus using spruce for the crutch rails stopped the cracking of the booms aft of the wing trailing edge. the plans don't say how to attach this hatch but making sure it is tied in properly is important.

zrooster

Great! So you have a proven fix...exactly what I was hoping for!

flyingpiggy

Here is some footage taken a couple of weekends ago when the weather was good enough for a fly.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVeFfv0g-ST/

Regards
David

flyingpiggy

Hi Guys
ever since i first flew my VQ P38 I've had issues with the Spring Air nose gear failing to extend. Each flight ended in some rather un-scale aerobatics to flick the nose gear into the down & locked position. The problem is that the steering arm causes the gear to rotate while it cycles {much like a P40 or Corsair}. On the bench this is not a problem but in flight with slipstream acting on a wheel facing the wrong way = a big headache. I fitted an air up spring down Robart unit but this was even worse than the Spring Air! My latest attempt to achieve retract nirvana involves the purchase of an Eflite 60 - 120 105 degree nose gear. Hopefully this will do what I need it to do. I must say that the Eflite unit looks like a quality piece of kit.

Regards
David

kram

My Feedback: (7)

David:

This is may seem like an out-dated reply, since I haven't flown a VQ-38 for almost 3 years, but I do love its flight characteristics

I got more than 200 good flights on a couple of them by doing some kit upgrades, most expensively: landing gear.

As you noted, besides keeping both fans blowing, there is NOTHING more important to the life expectancy of a 38 than strong, reliable landing gear.

After brief, frustrating flirtations with the kit gear, then higher grade Spring Airs, I finally opted for robust Robart 630 mains and 639 nose

It's a $300 upgrade, but I NEVER regretted it, and I think my last two VQ-38's lived long happy lives because of it and the 630/639's paid for themselves several times over

Make sure you order the correct bend on the nose gear: I can't remember if it's left or right without digging up a photo


Mark

70 ragtop

My Feedback: (24)

Wondering is anyone has an old set of gear for a Yellow P-38 kicking around. I broke a main gear trunnion yesterday.

Thanks

kram

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I'm yer man!

I crashed a Yellow-38 with the gear up a few years ago

I know the gear's in good shape because crash damage wasn't too terrible, so I put the gear down a couple of weeks later and ran the engines, but eventually cannibalized them for other planes and never fixed it

My buddy Rich crashed his Yellow with the gear up, also, so I think the gear is OK, and he gave it to me for parts, BUT

my set is much better because I didn't like the crappy cast aluminum struts and had Darrell at Sierra make me much better STRUTS!

The whole thing has been in my storage unit for several years and would be some hassle to dig out, but

I WOULD GLADLY TRADE THE WHOLE KIT'N-KABOODLE FOR A NIB 12X JR TRANSMITTER

kram

My Feedback: (7)

Let me re-phrase that:

"I would gladly trade it all for the knowledge of WHERE TO BUY a NIB 12X!!


Mark

Judah Ben-Hur

I forgot about this thread until I had an email show up in the inbox. Must be when I logged into the RCU site it did a update to subscribed threads.

My brother did fly his P-38 "Pudgy V" about a month ago so it adds to the 30+ years of it being in the air. He also did maiden his P-38 "Madu" about two weeks ago. He made numerous run ups and would lift it off about a foot or two then settle it down. That went on for about 15 minutes before it was time to fuel it up for a real flight. The flight only lasted a little over 5 minutes and he brought it in. He kept the gear down the whole flight because he wanted to test the retracts after they had some ground pounding on them. All is good in that department. One engine sounded a little off so he brought it in. Come to find out a tee fitting on the fuel line was melted when it got pushed next to the cylinder when putting the cover on. This one has the new .75 Super Tigres powering it where the Pudgy V has the H.B. .61's. I had my video camera with me but the viewfinder went blank right as he was taxiing out. I got tired of turning it on and off hoping it would come in. It worked perfect after the plane landed. Go figure!

Since the last posting, he built another Col. Art Johnson P-38. This one is done up in a European scheme of "Happy Jack's Go Buggy" with the yellow nose. I just received a .75 Super Tigre the other day off the net so all it needs now is servos, receiver, and battery and it will be ready.

I'll try and get some pictures when they are all together instead of wings and booms spread all over the place. lol

70 ragtop

My Feedback: (24)

Thanks Mark!!

Here's a little motivational video to help you get in the right frame of mind for this weekend

BigTeeEldorado

Loved the video Ragtop, that is an exceptional aircraft. Especially knowing its history.

70 ragtop

My Feedback: (24)

Thanks Tony

john comp

I'm sure someone on this brotherhood has built a Wing mfr P-38, I have the short kit and would appreciate any and all advice. Thanks John Comp

cz-7a

Hello Everyone,
I am new to this Forum and would like to Join and follow on everyones progress. I have acquired Molds of a P-38 and will be looking into possibly making one this winter if all goes well. It is a large project of which most of it is glass. Outer wing panels and stab are built up. Hoping to make some improvements and get started on the project shortly.

Thanks All.

kram

My Feedback: (7)

Welcome to the forum

What size is it?

What brand?

Look forward to pictures of your progress

mt

kram

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Happy News from Owatonna last month

The official coming-out party for my re-habbed CBA-38 with counter-rotating DA-50's

After some feeble trials on my part, DA re-built the engines for me. Thanks, guys

I spent all winter building Fowler flaps, mentored by Quissenbery. Thanks, Jeff

He also urged me to move the CG up to 5.5"

It also got new radios, new batteries, new fuel Viton lines and tanks and rebuild on the old sturdy gear

I picked Saturday at the Owatonna event because of their gorgeous 1,200 ft runway and perfect winds, but of course that meant I had to fly in front of 90+ pilots, at least 80% of whom I know are better than I am

As far as I know, there was no video taken

My brother, pro wildlife photog, whose cameras are worth way more than my planes, took these stills

His favorite is the pre-TO shot, because he says he's never seen body language that so perfectly telegraphed PUCKER!!!

Everything went perfectly and I greased the landing. I think I'll retire

kram

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In chrono order