Hey did my maiden flight on my B-25 Sunday with great success. I am very happy with the plane. Enough to go a head and install bomb bay doors this week. Thanks Sam for a great thread.

warks62 Congrats on your Maiden.... Pics...we want pics and a full report!!!!!!!!!!!

warks,
What retracts did you end up with?

Will have pics this weekend didn't take the camera out. I used Saito 72's with MA 3 Blade 12-6 props. Turned out to be a good combo, plenty of power. Used Saito down pipes which don't have a muffler but it wasn't that loud but had a great sound. Built it stock except for a few mods. First I built my own guns. I installed two servos with metal rods for the elevator instead of there setup. I used the cable idea for the rudders but ran the cable all the way from one side to the other through one set screw on the servo arm so that I could have the same throw on both rudders. For flaps I put a servo on both inner flaps then a cable to the outer flaps. This worked out pretty good. Used the stock retracts and all has been ok. I have a great field to fly from with about 700 X 50 paved runway so I think they will be fine. I installed Robart Robo Struts all the way around and Robart scale wheels. I cut out the stock retract mounts and made new ones so that the gear was on the correct side and position then swapped the lower nacelle covers. This ended up lowering the plane a bit which now sits more scale. Nose gear has more slop than I would like but may upgrade this but doesn't cause a problem more of just a look thing. Used a Robart air kit than what came with the plane. The hose is a little bit hard to get on the cylinders but will go on and I know they won't come off in flight. Landing is easy for the most part the flaps really slow the plane down. I used full flaps and to keep about 1/3 throttle untill just before landing. This was my first twin and I could not of been more pleased.

has anyone purchased the accessory kit for this plane, if so what comes with it? Does this plane have a one piece wing?

Thanks

I have some good news for KMP B-25 owners who want upgraded landing gear. KMP now sells a Robart tri-gear set made specifically for this plane. They just started taking orders yesterday; I ordered a set 10 minutes ago. They also sell scale wheels to go with the tri-gear.

The price was (I believe) $369. It's a chunk of change, but it'll make a great plane even greater. I spoke with the sales manager (Andrew is away at the moment) and he gave me some insight into why they're not offering the plane without the Chinese-made retracts. They only pay $25 or so for those retracts, so you wouldn't save much by buying the plane without them. The way I look at, I'll use those retracts on a smaller plane someday and at $25, they're a bargain.

The sales manager also mentioned that KMP is now offering a scale cockpit kit and scale guns. They weren't cheap, so I decided to do without them for now. Other folks may be interested, though.

Let us know what gear numbers they are using, when yours come. I have major discount coupon from Robart and I will order direct..

I don't think you can order them direct from Robart. I tried; in fact, I called Robart to order 630s and 639s and that's when they told me about the gear made for the KMP B-25. Since I had Robart on the phone, I tried to order from them. They said no, I needed to call KMP.

Regardless, once I get the gear, I'll post info about them here. I'd want to order direct from Robart, too, if I had a discount coupon.

I have a question for others that have flown their B25. I have had mine for a few months but due to health issues I have fianlly got to maiden it today. I checked the CG and set it slightly nose heavy on the marks shown in the manual. The plane was tail heavy and made for a very interesting takeoff , but after I gained alitute the plane handled great. Anyway what and where are you setting the CG at for the B25. Bomb bay doors are next on th list. I had already made the layout for the task just not enough time

I set mine per the plans just outside the Nacelles and 92.4 mm back. I balanced it right on and then added a ounce more to the nose just for good measure only because of horror stories I have heard of. Have bomb bay doors on mine just starting to play with them. Dropped a broken ST 90 muffler this last Sunday kind of fun.

I have ordered and received several sets of 630/639 gear direct from Robart the last year and a half.

$25 is about what the KMP gear is worth, so it's a fair price.

mt

In the recent issue of MAN, October, on page 76, there is a article on the KMP B-25 by John Kotleba...Check it out..........

I cannot make up my mind about the engines to use in my B-25.
Many people are using the RCV 91CD engines and it seems that they are performing more than adaquatly. What about the RCV 90SP? There will be no cowl butchering if the Sp is used. i have heard that cooling is a concern with the SP engines in a closed setup like a P-51 and the like but there should be suficient airflow in the open radial cowl.

Comments will be apreciated.

It's not the air going in as much as what you have exiting the cowl. More in than out can actually cause a dam effect ending in an overheat environment.

I am aware of the fact that the cross -sectional area of the air outlet behind the engine must be at least 2x the inlet x-sectional area. For the RCV SP engines it will not hurt if it is even more. What I really want to know is if anybody has used the RCV 90SP in the KMP B-25 and how did it perform.


Does anybody have a photograph of their engine setup using the RCV 91 CD engines. Either sideways or inverted. I want to see how much butchering was done to the cowl.

Thanx

Thaba Raptor
South Africa

I'd like to know as well; how much cowl butchering is needed for the RCV 91CD; they are great engines; have one in a scale Cropduster; little apprehensive about the RCV 90SP with the issue with cooling. Thanks [email protected]

I am interested in engine options too. I asked earlier but got no response. I wasn't going that large. I thought RCV .60's or .72 Saito's. Some posted they had real success withn the Saito's. I would like to read more on it

I went back and forth on engine options and finally decided on a pair of Saito 82s, which arrived in the mail this week. I thought hard about using Saito 91s or 100s, but opted for less weight and greater fuel efficiency. I hope the 82s are adequate, because I don't like an underpowered plane. I'll post a report once I've flown it.

I think I posted before but I am using Saito 72's with MA 12-6 3 blade props. Very good speed and has a great rate of climb. I am also happy with the fuel consumption of the 72's since the tanks are kind of small.

Randy

warks62,
What rpm are you turning? 12x6 3B seem a bit small. My engines are very strong and I was thinking 13x6 3b

They are right at 10,000 RPM seems to be a good combo. Has good speed and good climbing rate. Here is some pics I took yesterday at the field.

Very nice. I think I will bench run my engines again and check. If yours is fine mine should be. Isn't that a bomb bay door I see? What type of bomb drop are you using?

No bomb release yet. Going to carry 4 bombs but will have set up to release all at once since I am out of channels. I am using a servo on the doors that I am going to have a high rate set on it to activate the bomb release. So far I am dropping a old ST muffler that is fun. Started to work on gear doors tonight. Anyone reading this have you found a crew for yours yet? Need to find a 1/10th crew only have found one pilot from Hanger 9 so far and don't want them all to lok the same plus the Captain should have a Officers hat on. any help would be great.

Randy

[b]Randy:

Pilot, co-pilot, and navigator/bombardier were ali commissioned. The engineer, radio operator, and gunners were enlisted.

Bill.

warks62... nice photos... any inflight photos or video?? what retracts did you go with? sorry if I missed your post on retracts.. I know SamParfitt went with robarts.. man ...I need to get one of these for myself!!!!!! Nice job guys!!!!!