New P-51 Project For Me!

[P-51flyer]

So I went to the local hobby shop today and picked up a new toy to build :) . I plan to convert this world models P-51 1/7th scale to electric. Probably a AXI 4130/16 with a 6 cell lipo. I have the electric version with a AXI 2808/24 so ill have 2 matching planes :D . Heres a couple pics of them both, ill be updating this as i go but may be a couple months before i get this in the air. Im in no rush, this is my 1st larger scale plane and i wana do this right the first time.

Enjoy,

Aaron

[markmm]

What are the specs on this Mustang?

I'd be interested in seeing your process, as I might possibly be trying an electric converison myself with a similar scale P51 (60" wingspan).

I have Brian Taylor's plans, and I haven't even built it yet, so your process would be very helpful in planning and possibly redesigning it, if I go electric with it.

[drksyd]

Looks pretty good, I like the exhaust already on the cowl.

[P-51flyer]

This is The World Models Mustang. 64.5" WS. It was a toss up between this plane and the hanger 9 miss america plane. I ended up with this plane for a few reasons... Ths plane has a built up tail which has a airfoil to it unlike the flat hanger 9 tail group. This model also has flaps and since this is my 1st plane of this size i figured it would be a good choice to have flaps to slow it down for landing. My landing skills are pretty good but i just felt that the extra help of the flaps couldn't hurt.

Makrmm, you can get the specs off their site, here is a link for you

http://theworldmodels.com/para/products/airplanedetails.php?airplaneid=60

[markmm]

This is The World Models Mustang. 64.5" WS. It was a toss up between this plane and the hanger 9 miss america plane. I ended up with this plane for a few reasons... Ths plane has a built up tail which has a airfoil to it unlike the flat hanger 9 tail group. This model also has flaps and since this is my 1st plane of this size i figured it would be a good choice to have flaps to slow it down for landing. My landing skills are pretty good but i just felt that the extra help of the flaps couldn't hurt.

Makrmm, you can get the specs off their site, here is a link for you

http://theworldmodels.com/para/products/airplanedetails.php?airplaneid=60

Very similar in size to my Brian Taylor plans. I totally love flaps. I still haven't even finished my first build, but I got to know a guy with a glow P51 with flaps and he lets me fly his. I love working the flaps on landings. They do help on heavier birds. I still have to come in a bit hot, but without the flaps I think landings would be a blur. :eek: :D

[drksyd]

Not sure about the Worlds Models planes but my H9 .60 P-51 would slow down for and easy landing. I think I actually slowed it down too much to land on the mains, not enough speed to roll and let the tail touch down as it bled speed.

Nice to have flaps, does it come with retracts too? I'm thinking it does, I've heard others say that the WM kits have fairly good retracts. One thing that H9 needs to work on.

[P-51flyer]

Yeah it comes with retracts but one of mine is bad. Im going to take it apart and see if i can fix it if not ill have to order a new set. One side flaps around, it doesnt lock very tight at all. One stays right up in the wheel pant, but the other drops out a bit. I have never done anything w/ retracts before. Does anyone have a idea at what this may be?? Is it fixable or do i need to just bite the bullet and order some new ones. This is gonna be an expensive project so i need to keep costs down as much as i can.

I figured that this was my 1st "big" plane so flaps may be nice if i get in a hairy situation. I would consider myself a pretty good pilot but everyone has those accidents every once in a while so i got the plane with flaps.
Thanks guys.

[P-51flyer]

:D Well got the airframe pretty much together this week. Just oredered my max amps lipos, 2 3s2p 4200's. Should order the servos this week and hopefully get them in sometime soon. Not a whole lot of time to work on it so i try to wokr it in when i can. Birthday is just a couple weeks away and hoping for a nice new AXI 4130/16 or CC Pheonix 80 :D. We will see. I am also trying to make this plane not so much a "ARF". I started changing all the blue to olive drab. Dont think its a truely "scale" color scheme with how im doing it but it will look like it was meant to be on a Mustang. This project seems to be moving quicker than i thought. I may be able to get this all done by the beging of the year. Who knows. Here is a couple more pics for everyone!


Aaron

[markmm]

I don't know how scale you want it to be...but I modded the GP .40 retracts on my (47" WS).

They aren't exact to scale because I am dealing with very little room inside the wing, but it's closer than the stock coil wire strut they come with. You can see in the pic that the strut bends around to the inside like it should, but the bend should only be to the centerline of the wheel, not all the way to the inside like I have it. I had to do that to fit the wheel in the wing. A larger plane would afford more room for true scale.

Just a thought. I've got a pic of how I built them, if you are interested. It's a pretty easy mod, though a bit time consuming.

[P-51flyer]

Im not a scale builder or anything but i like it to look like it would belong on the plane. Im thinking about putting air retracts one it but havent decided yet. There really isnt much room for a bent strut like that with the wheel wells that are alread in the wing but im gonna see what i can do.

Is that the House of balsa p-51??? Sure looks like it. I have one of thos sitting in my apartment getting built right now. If you have more pics id love to see them! What motor are you gonna run in that plane??? I have a hacker A30 that i was thinkin of fitting in there but not sure yet.

[markmm]

Im not a scale builder or anything but i like it to look like it would belong on the plane. Im thinking about putting air retracts one it but havent decided yet. There really isnt much room for a bent strut like that with the wheel wells that are alread in the wing but im gonna see what i can do.

Is that the House of balsa p-51??? Sure looks like it. I have one of thos sitting in my apartment getting built right now. If you have more pics id love to see them! What motor are you gonna run in that plane??? I have a hacker A30 that i was thinkin of fitting in there but not sure yet.

Yes it is the HOB electric one. However their design is not a "D" version as the kit claims. It has the straight LE wing as in the "H" version, so I am going all out on a P51H scale mod (with scale reference material from a guy who is restoring a real P51H).

My build thread starts here...http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=396242

I'm mainly just documenting it there...and talking mostly to myself. :D

I'll be using the recommended Astro 803G...though I've thought of using something with more HP. :D But Bob at Astro says the 803G will pull up to a 4 lb. plane. My motocalc specs say it will do alright, but it won't win any speed contests. There seems to be plenty of room to mod the motor area to fit almost anything you want. In fact, I even toyed with the idea of putting an OS LA 15 in it!!!

[P-51flyer]

The HOB is a really nice kit. Im impressed so far. This is my 1st "kit" build and so far its turning out pretty good. I just have a brand new hacker layin around so ill probably try to get that in there. This is going to be my 3rd flying p-51 so not sure how much ill fly it, i got it more just to pass time and get my building skills up so who knows.

As for my world models mustang, im thinking of doing robart air retracts, or rather any air retracts. Anyone know what will fit on this plane?? Are air retracts worth it or are mechanicals just fine??

Thanks alot guys
Aaron

[markmm]

The HOB is a really nice kit. Im impressed so far. This is my 1st "kit" build and so far its turning out pretty good. I just have a brand new hacker layin around so ill probably try to get that in there. This is going to be my 3rd flying p-51 so not sure how much ill fly it, i got it more just to pass time and get my building skills up so who knows.

As for my world models mustang, im thinking of doing robart air retracts, or rather any air retracts. Anyone know what will fit on this plane?? Are air retracts worth it or are mechanicals just fine??

Thanks alot guys
Aaron

There are a lot of people who have built that kit and love how it flies. I initially bought it as a kit, but since I'm a scale nut, I couldn't leave well enough alone. :D It is a pretty straight-forward build. Just follow the plans.

Make sure when you get to the step about the motor mount, that you consider your hacker motor placement. You may need to build your own mount for it, or mod one of the two mounts included in the kit.

[P-51flyer]

Well i guess ill get ot find out for myself how it flys :). Im not too much of a scale builder but the plane does have to look nice and be at least CLOSE to a scale version.

I figured i would have to build a new motor mount for it sine im going to use the hacker. I just cant fork out the cash for a new astro right now since my big mustang is takin up all my money. Battery motors and esc's just get so much more expensive when you are tryin to move a bigger plane :). Is it worth it? OF COARSE! hahaha

[flo]

Hi P51 Flyer,
i have to admitt that i usually do not browse the gte forum as i normally build my own or even desingn myself. so i just found your treat. nice one so far. i will follow it.
Mechanical retracts will do fine.
have a look at www. einziehfahrwerke. de for example.
I use one of his sets in my 70` B-mustang myself. they are good and not expensive. Make solid connects and make sure your rx-bat is big enough , even when one jams and you will be fine.
On the other hand pneumatics are good as well. Springairs come to mind. Only hard to get at least here in gemany. The eurokits are good as well . lots of others. What i dislike is the fact that you cannot drive them slow without some amount of additional work.

Love using flaps. would not do without them anymore. definetly use them.

On your motorchoice- what w/kg you are thinking of? 6s lipos sound a little on the low side. 7/8 i might have guessed. depending on your final weight. I use 9s on a 70 ws. plane. perfect!


greetings
flo

[P-51flyer]

Thanks alot flo. This project is a slow one indeed. I live up in an aparment in Sacramento CA during the week for school then on the weekends i drive back down to San Jose and sometimes get a few hours to work on my planes.

I got my Maxamps 3s2p 4200 packs and yet again, awesome battery. Between me and my pops we now have 5 Lipo packs from Maxamps and will buy many more if needed in the future from maxamps.

As for retracts, im going to stick with mechanical retracts for now since this is my 1st larger scale plane and who knows what will happen... not to jinx myself but theres always that unknown factors... Plus i have the mechanicals, it will cost me 30 bux for a servo compared to like 200 for a whole air set.

On the motor i have seen stats that a AXI 4130/16 and the maxamps i have made into a 6s pack with a 17 x 10 prop is pulling 51 amps and 1047 watts. Thats about 125w/lb. Should be more than enough to pull this mustang around

Thanks for your intrest everyone

Aaron

[drksyd]

Aaron
I would suggest using a 16x10 prop on the Axi with a 6S. Running high current through the Axi will surely shorten it's lifespan and cause it to throw the magnets. Trust me, been there. The best way to get power out of the Axi's is to run it at high voltage with a smaller prop. This will yield higher efficiency, less amps, and will be easier on your packs.

[P-51flyer]

Thanks alot drksyd, I will deffinately look into that. This is an expensive project, dont want to make it cost more than it already does!

[drksyd]

I know what you mean. You'll be just fine with the 6S.

[P-51flyer]

So again... little by little this project is coming together. Guess i was good this year cause opened my presents for my b day today and there was a AXI 4130/16 : ). I should have a CC Pheonix 80 on the way as well. Hopefully within the next 2 weeks ill order the servos, ubec and misc. stuff needed to finish this project. Thing that sucks is that its about to be the rainy season and it will be done. Hopefully i can at least get a few flights outta this plane during the rainy season. We will see! Im gonna try and finish the covering soon and ill get some pics of it up.

Aaron

[DrBill]

Be careful using the 6s lipos on the CC80 as they are truly on ly rated for 5S lipos. If you go on the CC forum you'll hear it directly from them...the new HV series is more expensive, but will handle the 6s setup easily.

DrBill

[P-51flyer]

I checked the forum and couldnt find anything on the phoemix 80 and lipos. I emailed CC and still waiting for the response. They say it will run up to 24 volts w/o bec and 6s is 22.2... I really hope i can run 6s cause i already have the controler on the way and they are not cheap.

Aaron

[feathermerchant]

Nuts on the Phx80 and only 5S. I've taklked to Shawn many times and have been flying my P-51 for almost a year now on 6S and a Phx 80 with no problems other than pilot error.
If you want to go HV anyway, the 45 is all you'll need. I fly an HV45 on 10S at ~50A with no prob and it will do 60A.

[P-51flyer]

Directly from CC,

Aaron,

Yes the 80 can handle 6s lipos, but you must be sure to disable the onboard BEC and keep the current below 60A as you are pushing the voltage limits of the components on the controller. To disable the BEC, lift the tab on the servo connector and pull the red wire out the back. Make sure you tape the wire back onto itself to avoid a short.

Joe Ford
Product Specialist
Castle Creations

Im only gonna be running about 52 amps so i will be just fine. Its good to hear that since i already ordered it and it showed up today and it was shipped only monday! Big thanks to NorthRC, great price and great service!

Picked up my servos today but like an idiot only got 4 hitec 225mg servos when i need 5 so ill have to make a run down there agian tommorow. Tuesday my motor mount, ubec, prop, prop adapter and a few other things should arive and i should have almost everything if not everything i need to get this plane in the air! Well im gonna get out to the garage and start getting some work done! Have to find some red monocote for the tail. See what i can find.


Aaron

[P-51flyer]

Well im starting to finish up this project. Been super slow as i only get maybe a couple hours a week to work on it if im lucky. Heres my problem right now... I need to find a new spinner for my mustang. I need a 4" red p-51 spinner that will fit with my prop adapter from Espirit models. Metal back plastic spinner. Anyone know where i can get one of these?

Im about to mount the motor hopefully this weekend while im not doing any christmas activities. Servos are all in. Then to just make a battery hatch and mount the speed control and BEC and it should be pretty much ready to go once i get the spinner. Thanks alot everyone.

Aaron

[markmm]

Well im starting to finish up this project. Been super slow as i only get maybe a couple hours a week to work on it if im lucky. Heres my problem right now... I need to find a new spinner for my mustang. I need a 4" red p-51 spinner that will fit with my prop adapter from Espirit models. Metal back plastic spinner. Anyone know where i can get one of these?

Im about to mount the motor hopefully this weekend while im not doing any christmas activities. Servos are all in. Then to just make a battery hatch and mount the speed control and BEC and it should be pretty much ready to go once i get the spinner. Thanks alot everyone.

Aaron

God, I can relate to having no time!!! I too, only get a few hours a week to work on mine as well. Very frustrating...I think about it all the time, but actual work? It's tough to find the time.

I know you are looking for a plastic spinner, but Tru-Turn would be a good place to get the spinner you need. They are very lightweight (even though they are aluminum)...and they will make a perfectly balanced one, just the way you want it.

Got any more pics of it?

[Lynxman]

I'm considering one of these myself now. Is the spinner diameter really as big as 4"?

[feathermerchant]

Also Tru-Turn makes lightened backplates and now spinners just for electrics.

[drksyd]

I'm not sure how big the Tru Turn electric spinners go up to but they have adapter kits for electric motors.
http://www.truturn.com/af_electricmotors.htm

Quantum Models (http://www2.mailordercentral.com/quantummodels/) has Dave Brown spinners at half the price of the Tru Turn.

[P-51flyer]

Thanks alot guys. Didnt really want a aluminum spinner but looks like I may have to go with that. The Dave Brown spinners look like a much better deal then the true turns are. The true turn electric converter collet looks pretty cool! May have to pick one of those up.

Lynxman, yes it is really 4". For quality I would deffinately recomend this plane. I haven't flown one yet so I cant help you there but hopefully I will be able to tell you about how it flys pretty soon.

I have some more pics that I can post up later when i get a chance to pull them off my camera. Trying to get all the electronics together and in the plane then finish up the color scheme change and then she will be ready to fly as soon as i can get a spinner. Hopefully have it finished this week but not too sure on that one. Weather is finally clearing up here so looks like i may have to go fly tommorow :). Gotta get those days when you can as well.

Ill try and post up the pics later tonight and thanks again for the help guys!

Aaron

[Coop]

Hey drksyd I couldnt find those spineers. Could you post a direct link.

[drksyd]

http://www2.mailordercentral.com/quantummodels/products.asp?dept=11

[blewis01]

Well I finnaly have gotten some time to work on the planew finally! Been getting some good work done on it. Got the motor mounted All servos are in, speed control and bec are mounted. Tommorow im going to try and get the aileron linkages installed and change the tail covering.

Here are a couple of pics for everyone. Been tryin to get the plain built and havent been focusing too much on the color scheme. Going to repaint the cowl with the red, olive green, and silver. The now blue tail is going to be covered with red.

Hopefully tommorrow will be another productive day!

Aaron (p-51flyer) accidently on my pops name

[Lynxman]

Why can't you use that spinner? Wrong screw size?

Looking forward to pictures of the finished product. I'm not a big fan of the blue nose. :)

[P-51flyer]

Yes, the spinner nut doesnt fit onto the collet i have for my AXI. I could probably make it work but don't want to paint the spinner as well and have it start chipping off later down the road. Would rather have a red plastic one that will stay red. Still not sure what spinner im going with. Probably a dave brown spinner...

I like the blue nosed color scheme but i had the smaller electric World Models mustang that has the blue nose so it was time for change. Hopefully this weekend i can get some more time to work on it. Looks like its finnaly going to be sunny this weekend so i will probably have to go and fly which will cut down my work time. Gotta fly when you can right now, soon i will have plenty of work time and no play time.

Aaron

[P-51flyer]

Well I finnaly ordered a spinner for it. Ended up going with a Dave Brown 4" spinner from quantum models. Looking forward to finishing this project up within the next few weeks. Problem is trying to put together 3 planes at one time! Have this project, a P-51 Slope ship, and a Epona DLG... Times going kinda between all 3 right now, well the little time that I have.

Pulled the covering off the tail and may recover tommorow. Came off surprisingly easily. Going to try and get it recovered tommorow morning before I have to drive back up to school. Thats about it for now.

Aaron

[///samson]

Awesome project!

I just picked up this plane off E-bay -- yes, I know, kinda bought it on impulse. But it has virtually the SAME dimensions as the plane featured on this thread. There is no real brand name,, and the major difference is the lack of flaps. Any thoughts?


WORLD MODELS SPECS
Wing Span : 64.5 in / 1640 mm
Wing Area : 755 sq in / 48.7 sq dm
Flying Weight : 8.4 lbs / 3700 g
Fuselage Length : 56.0 in / 1430 mm
Engine Required : 2C 0.60 cu in
4C 0.91 cu in
Radio Required : 6-channel radio w/ 7 servos


http://theworldmodels.com/para/products/airplanemodels/parts/A155.jpg



E-BAY P51 SPECS
Product Name: P-51D MUSTANG 60
Wing span: 65.5in / 1664mm
Wing area: 745 sq in / 48.1 sq dm
Flying weight: 7.8lb / 3540g
Fuselage length: 55.8 in / 1420 mm
Engine Required: 2c 0.61-0.75 cu in , 4c 0.91 cu in
Radio Required: 5 channels,6 servos
~Installed retracts~


http://photos.imageevent.com/uhobby/uhobbyfirstalbum/websize/DSC01997_1.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/uhobby/uhobbyfirstalbum/websize/p51-60-1.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/uhobby/uhobbyfirstalbum/websize/p51-60-8_1.jpg

[P-51flyer]

Couldn't really tell you about it but it looks like a pretty good plane! Looks alot like the AK Models plane with different covering. They need to put a bigger spinner on it than they have on there. Doesnt fit the cowl. Make sure you open up the cowl undernieth the spinner to get air flow into the plane. Then you need somewhere for the air to get out as well. Alot of these models on ebay are manufactued over seas and go out to several companies to put their name on or what not. From what i have been reading for the most part they are pretty good quality especialy for the price so you never know, you may have one hell of a plane on the way! The one thing that sold me on the world models was the flaps and that it has a airfoil on the tail. Its not just a flat chunk of balsa. What motor/esc/batt set up do you plan on running??? Best of luck to you and make sure you let us know what you think of it when you get it!

Aaron

[Coop]

Samson will you do a build thread since I am very interested in doing this one also? What type of motor will you use as well as motor mount?

[///samson]

I will for sure post the progress on this plane! It was supposed to arrive today (Chicago) but weather may have delayed. I am a huge fan of digi pics - so you will see it all. However.,., I suddenly hesitated on putting an electric setup in this plane. I have a perfect O.S. 60 FP that would power this plane nice - add a pitts muffler on it and she'd look spicey. We'll see.

BUT I did find out that this E-bay plane of mine is the SAME exact plane as the one sold on this site: (Which ALSO has the exact same specs as the Hanger 9 P-51 60,,, could these all just be Hanger 9's?)
http://www.raidentech.com/pwwwanirarec.html
~proof it is a generic over-seas brand~

An exacto-knife would open up the nose vent nice.

http://site.intelspy.com/newmust601.jpg

http://site.intelspy.com/newmust603.jpg

Here is the Hanger 9 version,, same specs,, opened nose cowl:
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2375

[Lynxman]

The hangar 9 has wing fillets. Other than that they look very similar.

[P-51flyer]

Pulled the covering off and recovered the tail red. Looks orange in the picture but its really red. It was about midnight whe the pics were taken, need to take it out into the light and get some better pics. Soon i will hopefully have time to paint the cowl and im still waiting for my spinner from Quantum models... Thats holding me up right now. Need the spinner to figure out the balance and where to put the batteries. Hopefully will show up this week.

Aaron

[Coop]

So this is the model for the gas.60 engine right?

[P-51flyer]

That is correct Coop.

[Coop]

So where did yoou get the motor mount and motor from? Please give details on you build cause I am thinking of doing this one also.

[P-51flyer]

The AXI 4130/16 motor came from Hobby Lobby. They are 150 bux. The motor mount is from www.espritmodels.com under accessories, e motor mounts. You order the front and back plates then however many and long posts you need. You will need 4 4 1/2" posts. Using a CC Pheonix 80 controller and a Ubec. batteries are maxamps.com 3s2p 4200 packs. Using 2 of them in series to get a 6s2p pack. Apc 17 x 10 prop should put out a little over 1000 watts at 52 or so amps. Will test once everything is together. All Hitech 225MG servos except the flap servo which is just a airtronics 102 and retract which is a Hitec 75 retract servo. You will have to make adapters for the servos since they are smaller than the servos they recomend you using. The spinner is a Dave Brown Models 4" P-51 spinner which im still waiting on. Any more questions feel free to ask!

[P-51flyer]

Finnaly had a chance to do a little work on it this weekend. Getting close to being finished. Have to still do aileron control horns and rods, balance and mount batteries, paint cowl, and do final radio and gear set up and should be good to go!

Heres a pic with spinner for everyone. Just imagine what it will look like with the cowl painted!

[feathermerchant]

Most use the 16X10 with the AXI on 6S
I cooked one using a 16X12 so be careful.

[Flatspin]

Aaron..I just put a maiden flight on my CMP P51 Sunday...I had a OS91 on it and decided to sell it but no bites...so I had a nib Axi 4130/16 with nothing to do so made the conversion...I'm glad I kept the plane now, flew great, better than the glow...you have picked the perfect motor IMO. I have a Fliton Extra with the same setup...running TP4000mah 6s2p and Jeti esc. Flew the stang hard with a lot of full throttle passes and the motor, batt and esc were just warm to the touch...running a 16x6-10 Zinger cheap prop but It's flying great...my Auw was 7 1/2lbs...the instructions look just like the World model's...little symbels, cut here, glue here,,,,duh! lol
I paid 119.00 for it from Egrandbuy plus 14 shipping. Its not up to par with the Hanger Nine quality wise but I was quite happy with it, especially the way it flys. Goes where you point it, knife edge, slow rolls and large diameter loops. Your WM may even come out a little lighter but I'm sure it will fly fine. You'll be makeing those power dives and low high speed passes that look so cool with warbirds.

Ron