rikusvan50
Sep 07, 2007, 07:22 PM
Hello there! Any of you flying PZ models out there will no doubt have noted the fragility of these planes at some point during their sometimes short lives,but read on people because I have a tried and tested mod here which will considerably extend the life of your P51D, Fw190, Spit etc. and it's very cheap and easy to do. My modelling experience to date (since about 1966)has mainly been scratch-built balsa,nitro powered models. After reading the "hype" on these electric models I decided to try one out for the first time and bought my first P-51D Mustang.In short,the plane lasted 6 flights,flight No2 bringing about the first vert."nose-in"and subsequent patch-up,and flight No6 saw it go into a tree as a model and come out the other side as a "snowstorm".
Now..not one for giving up easily,I purchased another "Frankie" but before I even fitted the wing I bought an aerosol can of "Polycell"expanding foam.This is the stuff you can buy in most hardware shops for blocking up gaps and draught-proofing at home.It's two main benefits are that it has a high "crush" resistance when cured and it weighs virtually ZERO. The weak spots on the Mustang are those immediately in front and behind the battery area,inside the cowl,and the fuselage immediately behind the wing trailing edge,where you would be holding the model while launching.While holding,your fingers can exert quite a bit of pressure on the sides.When filling the cowl with foam make sure you leave enough gap around the motor for in-coming cooling air.The brittle plastic cage which the battery sits in becomes especially strong when the foam flows around it.I also filled the dummy air scoop under the wing (because you land on it !) and the first 5 or so inches of the wing roots prevent the wings from developing creases when pulling high 'g' dives from a great height. Another useful mod. for the lower part of the cowl is "thick vinyl" as used for decals and protective patches on motocross motorcycles. It's self-adhesive and you can buy transparent sheets of the stuff from most bike shops,cut out small shapes to fit inside the cowl and warm it with a hair-dryer before sticking it around the inner surface. It grabs...really well!! and has a good bonding effect if the cowl takes a healthy hit. Mustang No.2 has now flown more than 45 flights and has sustained nothing more than "weathering". Mind you,I haven't encountered any trees...yet ! Hope you find this helpful.
Now..not one for giving up easily,I purchased another "Frankie" but before I even fitted the wing I bought an aerosol can of "Polycell"expanding foam.This is the stuff you can buy in most hardware shops for blocking up gaps and draught-proofing at home.It's two main benefits are that it has a high "crush" resistance when cured and it weighs virtually ZERO. The weak spots on the Mustang are those immediately in front and behind the battery area,inside the cowl,and the fuselage immediately behind the wing trailing edge,where you would be holding the model while launching.While holding,your fingers can exert quite a bit of pressure on the sides.When filling the cowl with foam make sure you leave enough gap around the motor for in-coming cooling air.The brittle plastic cage which the battery sits in becomes especially strong when the foam flows around it.I also filled the dummy air scoop under the wing (because you land on it !) and the first 5 or so inches of the wing roots prevent the wings from developing creases when pulling high 'g' dives from a great height. Another useful mod. for the lower part of the cowl is "thick vinyl" as used for decals and protective patches on motocross motorcycles. It's self-adhesive and you can buy transparent sheets of the stuff from most bike shops,cut out small shapes to fit inside the cowl and warm it with a hair-dryer before sticking it around the inner surface. It grabs...really well!! and has a good bonding effect if the cowl takes a healthy hit. Mustang No.2 has now flown more than 45 flights and has sustained nothing more than "weathering". Mind you,I haven't encountered any trees...yet ! Hope you find this helpful.