Hi All

I'm looking for a good first war bird kit. I'd prefer something in the .60 size range, around $200. I plan to learn glassing, painting, and air retract installation with this kit.

For some background: I just finished my first kit, a Great Planes Easy Sport. It's my first post-trainer airplane. I also have the Hangar 9 T-34 ARF sitting in the basement. I'll put it together once I "master" the Easy Sport. In the mean time, I'd like to have a war bird kit to putz around with on rainy days.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Bill

once you are ready, the P47 is a very forgiving plane to fly, as well as the zero.
the TF 190D9 flys like a trainer as well. there are a couple of ARF's out there for
the P47 and zero, unless you want to build a TF P47 from a kit

todd

Although not scale, the Great Planes P-51 is a great kit to begin with. It also is a great flyer that you will really enjoy after flying the easy sport.

Apart that it is a .40 size plane, I suggest starting with it before trying a TopFlight or Pica kit.

If the GP P-51 just won't cut it, then look at the kits by Skyshark RC. These laser cut kits don't require a lot of guesswork and finish as a nice warbird that you can glass, paint, and install retracts.

Scott

get the Top Flite P-51....you'll love it

Are we talking about the .40 size GP P-51? Looks nice, and I like the price compared to the SkySharks (If I need to buy a second to replace something I screwed up, I'm just about even with the price of a SkyShark). But it says that the wing on the GP is "open bay".... How would I finish that if the rest of the plane is glassed? And will it take pneumatic retracts or just mechanicals?

Thanks for your input.

since the GP uses cap strips....all you have to do is sheet the wing rather then using the cap strips in the kit. Plus this will help in making the wing a bit stronger....

I am currently in the same situation as you. I am building a skyshark SBD dauntless and it is an impressive kit. All laser cut, I have installed retracts, it is 60 sized, and I am going to be glassing it. Do a search on here for the build that Fred did. This is my first warbird, first retracts, first glassing. I highly recmmend them, especially over top flite. A couple of years ago I started building a TF P-40. I got rid of it as I felt that the die crushed parts, and fit of parts left a lot to be desired.

good deal with the Skyshard kits as well. all of them are excellant, I dont think you can
go wrong with them for sure!

I vote for any of the Top Flite Warbirds--- Gold Edition if possible---

You can glass it and paint it and use retracts, Spring Air is what I like---

Go for the P-47 by topflight, the only thing I must tell you is they're lengthy builds. Not hard but many, many parts to fit and assemble, if you want an idea of the build time, go to topflights web site and download the manual and skim it. Even when skimming the booklet, it will take you 1/2 hour. Other than that, they're great kits and fly even better, here's mine I built when I lived in Colorado, still got it and will never sell it off.

Thanks for all your input, guys.

So now I'm leaning towards the TF P-47 over one of the Skyshark kits. I looked at the manual for the P-47 and appreciate it's detail. I also like the availability of aftermarket parts for the P-47. However, I've had a bad experience with die-cut parts and am concerned about having to repair a quarter of the pieces after getting them out of the die, like with my EasySport. Can anybody that's put one together recently vouch for the quality and fit of the parts in this kit? That'd put my mind at ease.

Bill: I cast my vote for the TF Gold Edition P 47. If you don't mind the building, it builds into a reasonable representation of a Thunderbolt, certainly good enough for weekend straffing missions. It builds straight and strong. A .75 or .90 2 cycle will haul its ashes nicely. I have flown one with a Super Tigre .90 and it was more than enough power. That wide track landing gear is a real plus for solid ground handling, especially in crosswind conditions.

The caveat with this plane is to keep it light. The one I flew had retracts, a pilot bust, and a monocoat finish. ( the one illustrated on the box) If you intend to do a full paint job with a full cockpit and other details, you can add alot of weight. That will increase the wing loading, raising the stall speed. Because of this your landing speed will be faster. It also means it will not be as forgiving in certain situations [X(](low speed / pulling a tight turn or down & dirty, banking too steeply in a landing approach) . This applies to ANY aircraft.

By the way, if you don't already do it, use the RUDDER when making turns. Start the turn with rudder and use the ailerons to level the wings. All full scale aircraft do this as it causes less altitude loss to complete the maneuver.
Well that's it. Good luck with whatever subject you select. Happy landings, Tony.

I have built TON of TFs kits over the years and I've never had any problems with their die cut parts... Top Flite has always seem to make sure they put the best wood in their kits. and if I re-call right I have only had 1 MAYBE 2 kits (one was the AT-6 that is no longer made and the other was the P-51) that had some bad sheeting I didnt like. I have also built their P-40, P-47, AT-6, TONS of P-51s (for myself and other people) and the hawker sea fury.....hope this helps.

John