????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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!!:D:D

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.

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

I'd love to see some pictures.

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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.

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Lands like an angel with sore feet?

Thats a good one!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Glad you liked it!LOL!!

Dale

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

Bets regards from Sweden

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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?:D 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!;)

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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.

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

here is my p51 with a da50 video

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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.

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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 .

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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]

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

that is a beautiful plane willey congrats on the maiden

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Thank You!! looking forward to the next flight;)

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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..

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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:D:D

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

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 !!!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

WIILY I JUST LAID BATTERIES WERE I APPOX' HAD THEM . THEIR NOT STRAIGHT AND NEAT OOPS! SENDING MORE PIC"S HERES THE FIELD WERE WE FLY MEESING AROUND WITH GLIDER!!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

WOW! nice field!! how long is your runway?

Your mustang looks great! just make sure you put anything you can as far forward as you can, double-double check your balance point from the plans-add the weight that you need as far forward as you can, thats all you can do.

I made a form/box out of light plywood scraps, (I used CA glue) - inside dimensions of form/box was made to fit behind the spinner bulkhead, I melted enough lead to fill the form, let it cool, break away plywood form then shaved away to fit, drilled through bulkhead and into the lead, I used 2 small screws one for each side, screw in to test fit- makesure the screws pull the lead tight against the bulkhead, remove screws and lead and I applied Zap-A-Goo to the lead weight and re-screw to bulkhead.

My weight needed was about 1/2 lb. so it fit real nice behind the spinner bulkhead, now for 2 lbs. you will probley have to come up with something a little different, just try to get it as close to the front as possible, further forward less weight needed.

Just to let you know I had everything (batteries, receiver, on-board battery) placed were it was easy to get at (under the wing but forward), put it all together then balanced it, [X(]I needed alot of weight to balance, SO I thought "I hate too" -but- "I have to" - I took it all apart and moved it all the way to the back of firewall, saved more than I thought, Time well spent;)

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

HI willy here are more pics the plane is what i think is balanced approx 114.4 ozs`it came down a little man!!! please look at my jigs tell me what you think please if you see a problem tell me maid them last night .well change subject the flying field is huge it
's lake shawneedel' river is at base of mt.s in back ground a rc club alows us pa residents to fly her along as we are coverd by ama !!!cool ok talk to you!!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

looks good, you want to make sure your a little nose heavy (slightly) then you'll be good. I balanced mine upright which I probley should have done it inverted like your doing, but anyway's I had it sitting on the jig held it by the spinner in the level possision-let it go and it so slightly falls nose down. that's what I did, and it flew perfect I thought. I might try down the road to move the CG a little, but for know it works fine.

what's the 114.4oz? is that the weight it took to balance? tad over 7lbs?

51 looks nice!! did you get a overall weight yet with the lead you need to balance?

willey

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Hi willy answer to your qestion no 114.4 =ozs 1pound 14ozs balance weight. well moved every battery up front as far as possible . still wants to balance out 1pound 14.4 droped a little . must be rudder thats at the end of seesaw!!!! put nickel on it when balancing amazing what nikel will do to balance! well waiting for digital scale to arrive see what it weights .i used .056 glass z-poxie cut z-poxie 50% alcohol brushed thin layer on cloth sanded add light layer .well please keep writing to me if you get any ideas ok!t hanks willy

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

make sure if falls to the nose - charge it & fly it!! It will be fine!!;);)

build another rudder in the winter and re-balance then

let me know how the maiden works out. when are flying it???

Here my experience so far, Keep in mine here our very short grass runway is approx. 3-350' long, my first flight was with 0 wind and I had a to high of an idle w/3/4 flaps:( not a good idea, comes in way to hot! NOW the 2nd flight I had about 5-8mph wind much better/easier for the landing and I also set the idle WAY down this time, also w/3/4 flaps -- perfect landing!!;)

The take off - simple -(this is once trimmed out) if you want short takeoff (about 40') use 1/2 flaps, if you want a NICE long takeoff:D- use no flaps.
I'm guessin a perfect/realistic looking take off - use about 1/4 flaps ease the power up to about 70% and ride that baby out to about 300' and she'll be ready to Rock!!!! Well that's what the is plan anyways next time out.:)
Have only a couple flights on it so far, FYI it's a piece of cake to fly thou, at 1/2 throttle it flies very smooooth/scale looking like it should be!;)

good luck
willey

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

willey!

Beautiful Bird!

My kit finished in monocoat, Robart's, G-45,
working inner gear doors, cockpit kit & a GI
Joe for a pilot came in at 23 pounds. This
is the one that I haven't flown in 5 years.

I always thought that if it survived a few seasons
flying, I would strip, glass & paint it. I have drop
tanks, too, but I haven't installed them yet. I may
do that if I glass it.

She's a beaut! Take care!

Johnny C!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Thank you JohnnyC, yours sound very nice as it is, nice setup!! If you would post a pic of it in the thread below, check it out! we need more mustangs:D:D

next flight I'm planning to fly with the wing tanks so I'll let you know they work out.

ATTENTION ALL P-51's - The Gathering of P-51 Mustangs and Legends
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6252298

Thanks Again
willey

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

HI WILLY YEA I THINK FILLING IN BETWEEN RIBS WITH BALSA ON RUDDER SO I COULD GLASS IT RESIN @PAINT CLOTH IS THE BALANCING WEIGHT FACTOR! WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO WITH RUDDER? IT LOOKS TO GOOD TO BE MONOKOTE!!!!! I DID MONOKOTE RUDDER ORIGINALY DIDN"T LIKE THE LOOK AFTER GLASSING 95% OF PLANE. WHEN STARTING THIS BUILD IF I KNEW WHAT I KNOW NOW WOULD HAVE EITHER MAID RIBS BELOW THE LEADING EDGE SO I WOULD HAVE ROOM FOR SOLID SHEET OF BALSA OR SOME OTHER MATERIAL !!i pretty sure this is factor with nose weight. i will let you know first maiden flight. Hey how hard was that canopy from areotec to install? MIGHT INSTALL WINTER . YOUR HELP HAS BEEN GREATLY APPRECIATED!! I THANK YOU!! WILL WRITE IN COUPLE OF DAYS WILLY THIS IS FIRST SEMI SCALE BUILD YOU KNOW !! I THINK I'M DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB? WELL THANKS AGAIN!!BYE

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Willey,that is really a great looking Stang.I have robarts full house and a Moki 210 in mine and she is about 21# and flies great.I had a Big beautifull Doll last year but got shot down.This year I have another TFGSP51 arc that I finnished and she is just about the same and that Moki pulls her along great.My wife and I are planning on going to the Gathering of the Mustangs in Ohio,should be great.Tom

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

F18, you'd never know that was your first scale job! looks great!!

you asked about the rudder, it's covered using the silk & dope method, and the canopy frame is homemade with brass rails mounted in the fuse, plastic i-beam mounted on canopy. The Aerotech canopy should work thou, just double check with aerotech on the width -because I think the TF fuse is wider (not as scale as the aerotech mustang). """I would love to own an Aerotech 51"""

Here's a couple other threads I started that might help you out also.

Questions/Issue I had with the Robart retracts:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_49...tm.htm#4906857

Canopy shots can be seen here post #13:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_47...tm.htm#4748562


prop wash, Thank's for the compliment!!;)
Is that you standing next to "your" excaliber?? she's a beuuuutie!!!!;););), pot a few pics of your TF stangs, would enjoy seeing them. I'm also planning to be there, once in a lifetime experience!!:):)

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Hi willy---- man you made canopy rails! nice job again i like to do inner gear doors but i like the canopy operational first. As i to have opto ingnition brd behind seat air gauge smart fly that was fun programing in ! likes full atv. Theirs something about this plane you know what i mean caint explain it p-51 with these body lines i love jets built a couple but somthing always brings me back to the p-51 . YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? VERY INGINUS WITH NOSE WEIGHT /CANOPY WILLY /MARK SPELL CHECK ON?OFF? OH WELL JUST WANT TO WRITE BACK THANK YOU GUY"S . I NEVER WORKED WITH SILK AND DOPE ? ONLY FIBER GLASS WAS THAT THE ACTUAL MATERIAL? SOLO TEX? THIS IS AREA 51 NOW !!!!HA! . WILLY HAVE A VIDEO REAL P-51 SCREAMING IN A DIVE IF YOU LIKE IT ILL SEND IT OK BYE THANKS KEEP INFO COMIN IN BYE !!!!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Willy thanks for canopy threads vantastic did you have to mill channels? is that a aero tec dash ? wait you guys probably maid it right!!! ha gee's man just building the kit is a long haul you know. you guy's are creative you have all the upgrades!! it's like having the camaro ss-# or the gt mustang w|427 motor! BUT YOU MAID THE PARTS OUTSTANDING!!! WELL WILL TALK TO YOU SOON THANKS AGAIN BYE!

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

F18, YOUR TOO FUNNNNNY!!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D far from an SS or GT!!!:D:D:D:D:D:D I'm still laughin:D:D:D hard for me to type!!!:D:D:D

Thanks thou!

Are you gettin-er done dude??? How we makin out there, did you fly it yet??

RE: ????? Topflight P-51 85" What's Yours Weight????
 

Willy you guys are area 51 !!!!!! you have little green aliens in your work shop come on !!! how the hell do you put those dam smily faces in ??// im not computer dumb!! i built a-p51 and can"t give you a smile face !!! well i probaly did now ha!!! well any way striped down rudder weighted the peices 1.7 oz willy i dont think thats to bad . that was wood peciecs glass cloth . Now i lowed hight of ribs 1-16th for clerance of a full sheet balsa fit it in nice! kept shape of rudder by making 4additional ribs to support sheet at the top of rudder and bottom looks good lighter ! i like to try new ideas. THAHTS HOW YOU GUYS BECAME AREA 51 HA !!!!!! I EVEN TRIED MAKING GLASS SHEETS DIDN"T LIKE THE LOOK AND DIFFICULT TO SAND OUT .You know the arf kits i think come out lighter because the body piecs aren't solid wood like our kits and finish we have. Is that correct willy ? well will glass rudder sun. that canopy blows me away guys !!! getting nasty stomes in stroudburg right now you to!! well i wil keep writing willy mark bye .OH YEA DID YOU EVER CHEK OUT EARTH LINKS P-51 SCREAMING VIDEO?