willey

My Feedback: (32)

Hi Guys, One last question before maiden voyage. Have to Ask!! Just put our Topflight Giant P-51 on the scale, came in at 26.25# less fuel - ready to fly. I had to add 1/2# to the nose to balance.

Is this HEAVY for a Fully LOADED Topflight GS P-51 "Kit" ??

Now this has flaps, both tanks drop w/one mini servo, manual sliding canopy, full cockpit w/full pilot, complete robart retract system including the aluminum 51 wheels, on-board glow system, Moki 2.10 for power w/Bisson muff. finish is glass & paint.

Were finally ready to fly it, and was just woundering about this weight. Were waiting for some good weather! outside right now we have about 20-30 mph winds w/40-50 gusts and lots of rain, thats what it's been like here lately, rain, rain, rain!

What do ya guys think of this weight? Good or Bad -"Come-on!" Lay it on me!! I can take it!!

What is the weight of your TF 51 GS, and how does it fly??

Thanks, willey


Please keep in mine that this is a completly built KIT not an arf.

rwright142

I'd love to see some pictures.

GreaTOne_65

Hi willey, my mustang is an ARF, but it weighs 20.6 lbs. I weighed it on my digital scales designed to weigh 134a refrigerant, it's accuracy could be close or not so close! I have a Fox 3.2 in mine. It flies very very well. One suggestion, if you have a computer radio, I dialed in 10 degress of down elevator with the flaps. With the flaps down, she lands like an angel with sore feet. LOL!!

Being in Michigan, the weather we've had to day does not bode well for flying this week-end.

Warbird Man

My Feedback: (95)

Lands like an angel with sore feet?

Thats a good one!

gary9648

My Feedback: (1)

Your 26 pounds for a kit built, glassed and painted aircraft is right in the middle I would say. I have the TF GS ARF that I turned it into a C model and glassed and painted it. I have Sierra retracts with Aerotech wheels and full cockpit with full pilot. It has a Fiji 50EI in the nose. Weighs about 23 pounds. I had a TF GS Corsair that weighed 32 pounds with full house equipment and it flew fantastic. Plane is owned by another now and really loves it. 26 pounds will give the plane more stable flight with better wind penitration. Just balance it slightly nose heavy.
By the way, beautiful job on the model.
Gary

GreaTOne_65

Glad you liked it!LOL!!

Dale

petsamo

Hello,where did you buy the droptanks? Can you drop the tanks also?

Bets regards from Sweden

willey

My Feedback: (32)

Thanks guys, ALWAYS great to hear others experiences!! Please keep them coming!!

Pending the weather were shooting for maybe next Saturday for maiden, weathers been pretty crappy here the whole month of October, both of our flying fields are very wet with a few "nice big" puddles here and there, maybe I should put some retractable floats on the 51- Hhmmmmm?? Well I'll post more pics and hopefully a little video when we fly it, well actually it will be after we fly it! by the way where is the best place to post a small video, I have not done that yet???

Angel with sore feet! that IS a good one!! "well" I guess we should be OK after that, that's pretty assuring! Thanks

Gary, thanks again for your input!!, I see you (from "Google Earth") are right next door to the TORKS field. So you must be going (or belong to the TORKS) to their yearly Warbird fly-In, wanted to take the 51 last year, but could not finish on time, BUT I am planning to attend your event next year if all go's well. I attended one of their Jet Rally's at Darby Dan's, very nice event!! If you could put me on your mailing/email list please send me any info/flyer of your Warbird event. I sure would like to come down like maybe Fri & Sat and fly with some other warbird pilots, sounds like it would be fun. Is there any hotels close by?

HEY!! If any of you guys do not have "Google Earth" or seen it , DOWNLOAD IT! way to cool!!
http://earth.google.com/


If anybody is intrested in a few more pictures of Princess Joanne, you can check them out here.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_48...tm.htm#4840119

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_47...tm.htm#4747528

Keep the info coming!

willey

willey

My Feedback: (32)

Petsamo, yes, the tanks do drop with flip of a switch, my Dad (Bud) installed these on the 51, their operated by one Hitec 55 in the middle of the wing hooked up with Sullivan pull-pull type string (the yellow stuff), the string is then hooked to a Foremost Release mechanism at the tanks, the tanks have a screweye in the top of each tank that attaches to the release mechanism, was that confussing? Were pretty excited to see them in-action!!

If anybody has input on "the dropping tank program" please post them also - because were new at the drop tank scene. We put no weights in the drop tanks so hopefully they will tumble/flutter and not drop, will have to experiment with them and see.

The tanks are fiberglass/halves you install a small wood block in the top for your hanger then glue together then prep/paint. They were bought from Frank Tiano a few years back, don't believe he sells them anymore thou, but I have seen them on Aerotech's website I think they are the same size. I have seen them at Toledo Trade show, they have very nice products.

hope this helps
willey

Also if you want to see more, check my GALLERY, I installed 500# Bombs (Frank Tiano) on the wings, and I scatch built a (center/fuse) FLAT fuel tank for my gold series P-47, that is fully loaded same features as the 51!

bigtim

My Feedback: (13)

petsamo you can get droptanks and bombs from www.wingmfg.com nice folks not to expensive

willey

My Feedback: (32)

Yes you can get drop tanks from Wing, they are a very nice tank for sure, I have a couple pair of those also, but they are not the same scale/shape for the 1/5 scale 51 as Aerotech's or Tianos. Length is OK but small in diameter.

gary9648

My Feedback: (1)

Willey, I am not a member of the TORKS club, just a guest at their War bird fly in. Wish I lived close enough to them to fly there on a regular basis. Really first class all the way. As far as their fly-in, just look in your AMA mag. for the date next year. It is not a truly war bird fly-in only, but a giant scale fly-in that a lot of war birds show up to. They have a great noon war bird fly and I really have a great time their.
Gary

serge760

http://www.rcuniverse.com/mvp/videolink.cfm?postid=3197

here is my p51 with a da50 video

rcwarbirdbuilder

My Feedback: (104)

My Top Flite came in at 26 pounds with a little nose weight added, the plane just floats in on landings like a light weight trainer almost, got a G-62 in it and this thing really moves out if I open it up, George.

petsamo

thank you Willey and Bigtim for your answers. This thread is really interesting, lots of information and pics. I will send a couple of my p-51 when its ready to go.


best regards to you all from Stockholm

eugene

I have two TFGS 51s....Both ARCs, glassed , painted, detailed, flaps, retracts etc..... First one came in at 22.5#.. the second was bashed into a razorback B model, finished the same way, and it is 21.4# AUW. They both fly great with a US41, landing with flaps, it's gentle as a lady with a baby... At 26#, the wing can handle that with ease, but it will take more cajones than the US41 .

F18

HELLO JUST WANT TO TELL YOU NICE P-51 GREAT VIDEO CLIP PASSED ON TO ME FROM WILLY!!! ANOTHER GREAT LOOKING PLANE !! WELL THEIR IS MORE TO THIS CONTACT I JUST GOT DONE WITH MY TF KIT 1-5TH LONG BUILD !! CAN YOU HELP EZ MY MIND ON BALANCING OF YOUR PLANE MINE IS GLASSED 0.56 CLOTH DA-50 MOTOR KELEO EXHAUST ROBART RETRACTS DON"T HAVE FINIAL WEIGHT WHAT WAS YOUR BALANCING WEIGHT WAS IT NOSE HEAVY OR TAIL HEAVY? WITH DA-50 WAS IT TAIL HEAVY/ALSO ANY MOTOR BREAK IN POINTERS WOULD BE HELPFUL THANKS BOB ! OH YA IM AHOUR AWAY FROM THE WAR BIRD MEET QUAKER TOWN PA OK IF YOU COULD HELP ME I WOULD APPRECIATE IT BYE!!!! [email protected]

willey

My Feedback: (32)

Well Guys, I can tell you that at 26.25lbs. this flies perfectly fiiiine!! All my worrying was a waste of time!!! We have a couple flights on her so far, taking it back out next week, work has me strapped for a while[>:]or I'd be out with it tomorrow.

I balanced her just a tad on the nose side and it seems to track real well, after takeoff couple clicks of up and a couple to the right and she was straight and level ---sweeet!!!

That Moki 2.10 pulls this perfect I believe, most of my flight time has been at 1/2 throttle at most to keep it scale looking.

(Teaser) Coming across the deck with the wheels sucked up -adding power on the level -puLLLLLL - up into a nice big loop - I'm breaking over the top cutting back on the power - gently pulling back on the stick trying to make that perfect loop- coming around now --starting to add a little power--now were back on the level -were 200' down the runway now - bank a nice smooooth hard left to bring her around........ well you kinda get the idea - it was a very exciting flight!! Everybody at the field really enjoyed seeing it fly, we all had a great time.

I have to get a few bugs worked out - but all-in-all this stang is a keeper for sure!!! hope to have a video to post soon. also, the next flight will have the wing tanks on it, so I'll post the results and a few in-flight pictures. Till then....

Thanks to all that helped us here on RCU!!

willey

JR16

that is a beautiful plane willey congrats on the maiden

willey

My Feedback: (32)

Thank You!! looking forward to the next flight

F18

congradulations willy on your maiden flight hope mine goes as nice!! having some snags right now with balancing with d-a 50 it seems real light on nose end of plane is fiber glassed 0.56 cloth 2 coats not heavy.KELO EXHAUST ROBART RETRACTS . FOR SOME REASONIT LOOKES LIKE 2POUNDS OF NOSE WEIGHT!!!!!! DID YOU GLASS TAIL FEATHERS?/// I CONTACTED SURG ON THIS BEING HE HAS SAME MOTOR I DON"T KNOW IF HE GLASSED HIS WELL YOU ENJOY YOUR P-51 WILLY!

willey

My Feedback: (32)

f18, make sure you put your battery, receiver and anything else that you can towards the up most front as much as possible, I'm using a 1800mha 4.8 Nicad battery for extra weight and I mounted it on the back side of the firewall wrapped in foam. Hey if you need weight better to use a bigger battery then lead (dead weight).

Post a couple pics of your radio compartment if you can, what about you cockpit is there alot weight in there? might have put on more than needed resin on tail feathers? did you paint yet? what stage are you at with the air frame? post a few pics for us, maybe other will help out also with some ideas.

As for the DA50 I believe thats pretty close in weight as the Moki 210? the 50 might be a little lighter? also make sure you have the correct balance point, also when you balanced the plane did you have everything as if you were going to fly it installed????

willey

BobH

My Feedback: (2)

Im using a G-45 in mine and it ballances right on.. No nose or tail weight. Mine is from the built up kit and is covered in Monokote. If you have to add nose weight.. dont worry about it. The plane has plenty of wing..

willey

My Feedback: (32)

Now that I have a few flights on it I totally agree with Bob I was really surprised at how smooth if flew at 26.25lbs. tracked very well. At this weight or more thou, you just what to grease on your landings and you'll be fine, fly it in - don't let it fly you!!) know your sink rate, less repair that way

F18

Hi willy thanks for helping me through this i enclosed pics on radio compartment took foam off batteriers for better referance.The batteries i did run lenght wise not agaist fire wall that may knock some nose weight off! your right about weights on engine da-50 is very closeto moki 210. Well if you can countiue to help me i appreciate it .I did sheet ruder then glassed light coat resin !well reveiw enclosed pics thanks again !!!