Alfa Mustang or FW190?

[Nate129]

Looking for some info from those of you who either have both of these planes or have at least flown both of them.
What are your likes and dislikes of the flight characteristics of these two planes? I currently have a MiG 15, and the new model P-47 - but I am trying to decide which one to get next considering the wife gave me the go-ahead.


P.S. I know I ask a lot of questions - but I am partly looking for answers, and hoping to build this forum up a bit too. ;)

[Old Shep]

Nate 129:
Glad to oblige both aims of your post...I, too, would like to see more activity on this topic area...I've flown Alfa Mustang, Corsair, Thunderbolt, Focke Wulf and Sabre...all fly very well. I think the FW rolls a bit better than the Mustang, but, equipped with the brushless motors HL recommends, they are just about equal. It becomes a matter of taste.
Enjoy which ever one you choose.
Old Shep

[Morb]

I am trying to decide which one to get next considering the wife gave me the go-ahead.



Any way to sneak in both? :D

Geof.

[Nate129]

Eventually, for sure - I would LOVE to actually teach her how to fly so we could go together (That would also make it easier to buy more planes!), but I don't think she has the patience. As of now, it's only the one plane I can order...decisions decisions...

[CUBANO8]

I Have the FW-190, and It flies really nice. I don't have the P-51D, but I waiting on their B verson to come out to get that one....


Here's a Video of my FW-190:
http://home.earthlink.net/~samrc6/ALFA%20FW-190%20Video.wmv

[Nate129]

Is the color scheme of your FW-190 part of the kit-included decals, or is that a custom job?
I am really leaning towards the FW....

[CUBANO8]

This was a custom job that I do that most of my electrics.

[Nate129]

Well, it will be the FW-190 for me...ordered tonight.
By the way, CUBANO8 - NICE job on your plane. I think I might go a little custom on my new Focke Wulf...I will post pics when I get her done. I have some ideas...

[Nate129]

Ost. Maj. Hermann Graf, France 1943.
Nice representation...

[CUBANO8]

Thanks Nate,

Good luck with the FW-190.

Sam

[zebspop]

I currently fly the FW190, P-47(newer), and the corsair. Of the three, I really enjoy flying the 190, really quick and rolls great. Also, a bit of advice. I recommend lining the forward fuselage with sheets of carbon fiber. It's one more step before you can fly but it really enhances the durability of these planes. I've had a couple of hard landings initially that I'm pretty sure they might not have survived without this addition. Be carefull though, use CA and kicker and wax paper to apply.

[CUBANO8]

I currently fly the FW190, P-47(newer), and the corsair. Of the three, I really enjoy flying the 190, really quick and rolls great. Also, a bit of advice. I recommend lining the forward fuselage with sheets of carbon fiber. It's one more step before you can fly but it really enhances the durability of these planes. I've had a couple of hard landings initially that I'm pretty sure they might not have survived without this addition. Be carefull though, use CA and kicker and wax paper to apply.

I would like to see a pic of that, if you have one.

Thanks,
Sam

[zebspop]

I'll see what I can do tonight to get pictures posted.

[fighterpilot]

Don't use regular CA as it will eat the foam.

[Nate129]

CUBANO8, I saw in another thread you also have a Hayate that you are using 3s2100 packs in - how is that working out? I am still trying to figure out the best batteries for my planes (P-47, FW-190, and MiG 15). The guy I got the MiG from says it likes 1500's with the 2015/4100 Himax in it. I am just a little worried about heating things up too much and/or frying something. I don't have much experience with brushless and LiPo's. Any suggestions on what to use with what plane? Here is what I have:
Hacker A20-20L
Hacker X-20 ESC
CC 25 ESC
Tanic 3s1500
Polyquest 3s850
Thunder Power 3s1320
Thunder Power 3s2100
I like using 8x6 SF props, but I am open to suggestions...
Thanks!
-Nate

[Morb]

Be carefull though, use CA and kicker and wax paper to apply.

Ok, I've been trying to figure out what the wax paper is for. I use wax paper to build on, as CA won't stick to is as severly when building balsa models.

Geof.

[the Swamp Fox]

FW-190 was my favorite Alfa .

Hacker A20-20L
Hacker X-20 ESC
CC 25 ESC
Tanic 3s1500
Polyquest 3s850
Thunder Power 3s1320
Thunder Power 3s2100
I like using 8x6 SF props, but I am open to suggestions...
Thanks!
-Nate


A20 / tanic1500 sounds good Aeronaut 8.5x6 glass or carbon prop all the way . the apc SF are too flexible for high rpm DD(high draw) . The "E" series are ok but aeronaut ,,,still the way to go .

take care all ~

[Nate129]

My FW-190 just took a, shall we say, dive to warbird heaven. The glitch is the reason I sold my Hitec Tx and bought a 9303. I was ready to move up anyway. I have been flying my Alfa P-47 A LOT lately, even though I still have a basically brand-new Alfa P-51...but I miss my FW-190 SO MUCH. I don't know if my flying style just matched the FW or what, but it felt far mor stable and was much more fun to fly than any of my other Alfa 'birds.

Swamp Fox - From everything I have read on this board, you seem to be the go-to guy for Alfa planes...you still suggest the FW over the LA-7? I am definitely going to buy another Alfa this week, and am torn between the two. On one hand, I know the FW is a great-flying plane - but the LA-7 looks like it might fly a lot like the FW, as far as airframe goes. Sorry for the blabbing - it's late :o

[the Swamp Fox]

welp I don't know about that Nate but thanks ~

never had the LA-7 but it IS an ALFA and will fly great .

best of luck :)

[Mustang12345]

My first Alfa was the old-style mustang with the canopy-hatch. I've had a blast with the whole alfa family, though I consistently grab the FW-190 as a first choice. I just seems to fly better than the rest. All are powered by AXI 221234 and thunder power 3-cell lipo.

Only vice of the FW is that all-too effective camo. I darkened the top side with acryl black-green paint. Looks great and it's easier to tell top from bottom on an overcast day. Be sure to use only water-based paints.

Mustang has a wicked tip-stall, which morted my first model. I found that this can easily be cured by rigging each aileron about 2MM up--sort of an artificial de-camber. Now it stalls like a piper cub.

Flew the mig today. Not too terribly fast or aggressive on the thrust-weight ratio, but is looks cool. I added a wing-leveling piezo gyro and it flys like a trainer. Just watch out for a destinct slice in turns.

Have a great Alfa day.

[lammy1000]

My first Alfa was the old-style mustang with the canopy-hatch. I've had a blast with the whole alfa family, though I consistently grab the FW-190 as a first choice. I just seems to fly better than the rest. All are powered by AXI 221234 and thunder power 3-cell lipo.

Only vice of the FW is that all-too effective camo. I darkened the top side with acryl black-green paint. Looks great and it's easier to tell top from bottom on an overcast day. Be sure to use only water-based paints.

Mustang has a wicked tip-stall, which morted my first model. I found that this can easily be cured by rigging each aileron about 2MM up--sort of an artificial de-camber. Now it stalls like a piper cub.

Flew the mig today. Not too terribly fast or aggressive on the thrust-weight ratio, but is looks cool. I added a wing-leveling piezo gyro and it flys like a trainer. Just watch out for a destinct slice in turns.

Have a great Alfa day.

Can the Alfa's be fitted w/rudder control? Is it needed? Will the TP3S2110 pack fit in the alfa?

[Dora Nine]

The Alfa 190 does not need a rudder... I have been flying one since January now...with about 200+ flights on it. I've got the big blue with a SS-25 and use either 11.1V 1320's or 2100Mah TP's in it. Last night I was out in fact, and with the 2100 and a Master air screw 8.5X6 Electric only prop. I was going vertical for roughly 600-700 feet without any real issues. Having said that, the P-51 can easily acheive this as well. Both fly great, but I find myself grabbing the Fw190 to go fly more often.

[lammy1000]

The Alfa 190 does not need a rudder... I have been flying one since January now...with about 200+ flights on it. I've got the big blue with a SS-25 and use either 11.1V 1320's or 2100Mah TP's in it. Last night I was out in fact, and with the 2100 and a Master air screw 8.5X6 Electric only prop. I was going vertical for roughly 600-700 feet without any real issues. Having said that, the P-51 can easily acheive this as well. Both fly great, but I find myself grabbing the Fw190 to go fly more often.


Sounds like a blast. Is there any problems mounting outrunner motors such as the hacker 20-20? Where is a good source for buying alfas? I've seen videos and it looks like there is some knife-edging possible during hesitation rolls and i've wondered how that was possible.

[800mZero]

Sounds like a blast. Is there any problems mounting outrunner motors such as the hacker 20-20? Where is a good source for buying alfas? I've seen videos and it looks like there is some knife-edging possible during hesitation rolls and i've wondered how that was possible.


Shouldnt be any problem working with a hacker motor, and hobby-lobby.com is the best source for alfas.

[bernoo]

I have flown both the 190 and the P-51. The 190 is a better flying plane and looks soooooo good in the air. The 51 is a rocket ship....real fast but not as foregiving as the 190. The first 51 I had crashed due to the firewall seperating fron the fuse. The second one I fly now has been strengthened. I will purchase another 190 when the time comes.

Cheers

[Warbirds Rule]

Only vice of the FW is that all-too effective camo. I darkened the top side with acryl black-green paint. Looks great and it's easier to tell top from bottom on an overcast day. Be sure to use only water-based paints.

Have a great Alfa day.

Between my Dad and I we have 4 Alfas, I have the 190 and the silver P-47 and he has the Blackburn schemed Corsair and the "Marie" silver P-51. They are all setup with the larger blue MPJet outrunner and TP 3S 1320 batteries. They all fly in a somewhat similar fashion in that they are fast, light, and very stable for such small aircraft. In my opinion they are extremely forgiving as far as warbirds go. If pressed to say which one flies the best I'd say the FW-190, the others just don't feel as locked in as it does. It really does feel like it's on rails. The only downside to the plane is the scale camo pattern which is as Mustang12345 points out "all to effective". Here on the east coast you're always flying against a woodline and the little 190 just about disappears against that background......not good with a 50MPH+ warbird! So with all that said I don't think you can go wrong with either the FW-190 or the P-51. They are both excellent aircraft in every way. :D

Sean