Hy.. i´m just new to this site... and, been a modeler for about some years... but i only flew sailplanes.. (loved to build them..)...
BUT!!! i cam across on the NET with a P-38 building plan .. full scale file .. it´s with 2 0.15 engines...
i´m building it from scrath .. because I FELT IN LOVE with that plane ...flew it in Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2 .. just to see how it behaved...;-)
Is there any tips you guys can give me on my enterprise of building that plane ???..
i´ll love to have a p-51 plan.. if anyone has it too. . because i was thinking to build it too ..as a trainer ;-)..

PS - as the p-38 has no rudder... it makes it very hard to fly ??? or is it affordable ??..
;-)tnks .
Rodrigo Meira

What is the wingspan of your plans? If it is small enough you may want to consider making it electric instead of using 2 .15's. The key to a twin (any twin) is engine reliability and personally I have a lot of trouble keeping anything under a .40 running. I know a lot of you guys have good luck with them, I personally have not. As for 3 channel, (no rudder), a P38 has small rudders anyway, so the weight penalty of the extra servos would not be worth the effort, and in a .15 size P38 space is a little sparse. A friend of mine is designing an electric P38, 2 m250 motors, 1 battery pack. In tests with this set up, using an8 cell NimH pack, run times are 8-9 minutes.
I would also suggest that you have some powered flying expeiance before you tackle a twin. Basics of flying are the same but there are some differences

It has a 64" wing .. well i agree with you on the rudder.. .and .. well i´m building the P-38 for LOVE for that plane ;-) but after reading extensively this forum... i´ve come to the mind that i´m going to buy a trainer first... i just wished that it comes in a 15 engine .. it´ll save me a lot of money ;-((..
but i don´t know.. still thinking about wich one..;-)
thanks A LOT for your reply !

I think that I have plans for a combat P38 that took .15 sized engines. Don't think it was very scale though (stand back and squint scale?) Gus Morfis also has plans for a combat P38 uses .09-.15 engines. Both designs are hand launch, I have built several of Gus' other designs and they all flew well (if I could keep those finicky little engines running)

Rodrigo,

Sounds like a great project! Good luck whatever you decide to do. Would you be kind enough to post the web address of the site where you got the plans?

Brian

rmeria posted a copy of his plans on another post. They look like the ones that I have had for several years, I think I got them from RCM magazine, or could have been MAN will check the mailing tube later.

Hey Bill. can u tell me what u think about that plane ?? how it flew?? any advice ? it´s my first twin .. and i´m a little afraid of what´s going to happen to my baby ;-)
PS - just got out today and bought the paint for it ;-) CUSTOM MADE!! green and gray .. it´s gonna look amazing ;-)
See u guys !
Rodrigo Meira

I didn't build one from these plans, I did have a old Royal P38, it was not straight it weighed a ton, reguired 1/8 inch of up aileron on the right panel with the left neutral + some rudder trim, two Super Tiger .40's, 350-400ft of runway to get in the air, but man when it got in the air, oh boy hang on, what a sight, instant love. The purr of 2 tigers in sync. All other activity would stop when she was in the air. Don't let her get too slow on landing and always make sure the engines are reliable. Believe it when others say an engine out will result in a snap roll faster than you can blink. By the time I got the engine(s) throttled back and got the snap roll stopped, I was out of airspeed and she stalled. Good bye old girl. Would I do it again? I AM, only bigger and better. Build it enjoy it and do not be afraid. Have FUN

Hey Flying2Bill, How much did your Royal P 38 weigh?
I am in the process of building one now and I'm trying to decide on engine size.

It seems to me that old plane weighed 8-9 lbs. Felt like it weighed 2 tons. was fast and wind did not seem to bother it.

Well but ..as my model will use two 0.15 OS LA engines... it will require some fine tune up to get on the air..;-)..and .. well i hope it flies well.
anyone has the plans for a twin warbird with .40 engines??
maybe my next project;-)

...or you can buy this little guy
http://airrayinc.com/25apr02pic/smp381.jpg

http://airrayinc.com/warbirds_for_sale.htm

Best of luck, Lightening are great aircraft.

Ray