Hi all,

This is my build log for a Guillows P-51 Mustang - RC electric conversion. I built one of these Guillows kits when I was a kid, over 20 years ago , if I recall correctly it was a Hawker Hurricane. So here I am today building a plane again with some RC gear this time. Looking forward to the challenge of getting this done, having zero flight experience I'm also building a foam plane for my flight tester.

This model is going to have Rudder/Elevator/Aileron and Throttle control.

Gear I'll be using (on its way from HK):
Turnigy 9x (cheap and able to mod)
Frsky DIY module (really wanted failsafe)
V8R4 Receiver 2.6g
HXT500 5g servos
Turnigy Park250 2200kv outrunner
H-KING 10A ESC
FlightMax 150/250mA 2S batteries

Here is a link to my Picasa web album for more pics / better resolutions pics: Picasa

Some pics from the balsa construction. Apologies for the poor lighting.

Pinning down the tail. Note the omission of the elevators at this point - they will be built separately. Plan is to use glass reienforced tape or similar for the hinges (edit: used hot glue for hinges - two drops near each end - cut/trim until the glue hinge is flexible enough).

Wings built as per the plan. They will be modified to fit the ailerons.

Worked on the ailerons last night. Currently these are solid balsa carved to shape. May lighten these up. For the hinges I'm using "Super Light Hinges 26x20x.5mm" from HK. I cut the hinge into 3 pieces because its too stiff as is. So I'm using 2/3 of a hinge per aileron.

Planning to use torque bar method with a single servo in the fuselage to control the ailerons.

Add tubing for the torque rods couple of nights ago (edit: when I do this again in my next plane I will measure and drill before assembly ). The rod is piano wire from my LHS. I'm quite pleased how this is turning out.

The torque rod is bent perpendicular to the aileron hinge edge, the short end is slotted into the tube that I've embedded into the aileron. It's free floating - but does not have any play in it.

Excuse the rough finish on the aileron, that will be sanded down / covered later on.

Strengthened up the aileron hinges. Will lighten the ailerons later (maybe).

For the aileron torque bars I'm using ball joints. The cup joints are from a little helicopter I had, and the ball joints are carved from some tough plastic spue from an RC Car model.

I've also designed and built the hinge i'll be using for the elevator lever. Hopefully the lever is going to be fully enclosed in the fuselage with only the bare minimum protruding outside and under the elevators.

Radio gear should be arriving this week so hopefully I will be installing it this weekend.

I received my radio gear this week, not much progress, been playing with flight sim with the Turnigy 9x.

However, some progress has been made building the motor mount, quite pleased how this will look and sit in the plane, tho I'm not sure if its really supposed to be like this.

Also put everything on the scales - looks like it will come in a little over 100g.

Wings are now glued on and testing servo location and mounting for ailerons. See video for operation. Not too bad....

Guillows #905 P-51D Aileron test (0 min 10 sec)

Pete

Plane has a tail now. Hooked up elevator, will do the rudder tonight.

I hope your going to glue that servo down, you can see it moving in the video!

Originally Posted by Dan Parson

I hope your going to glue that servo down, you can see it moving in the video!

haha - yes - its been hot glued down quite securely now - nice spotting.

Here is the elevator test. Since this video the tail has been strengthened to reduce the flex. The rudder is also working nicely too. I used hot glue for the hinges. Where the hinge was too inflexible I either reduced its size with a knife or drilled out the centre. I preferred drilling so that the glue hinge isn't weakened to much.

Last night I strengthened up a few places on the plane - added the long spars on the fuselage and started put the landing gear on. Hopefully start covering it today.

Guillows #905 P-51D Mustang Elevator test (0 min 10 sec)

Pete.

Vertical tail fin is hooked up. Here I'm using an L hook with CA+heat shrink to keep it from lifting out. Also did this for the wheel axles.

All the balsa wood construction is complete (except for the battery hatch). Ready for sanding down and covering.

Pete.

Nice job so far!
Can you post pics direct to the thread instead of links to them? Takes ages to load up.

Will be interesting to see how it goes in flight.

Phil

Originally Posted by Smokin' Beaver

Nice job so far!
Can you post pics direct to the thread instead of links to them? Takes ages to load up.

Will be interesting to see how it goes in flight.

Phil

Thanks Phil, If the maiden lasts longer than 10 seconds or/and crash is spectacular i'll be happy Will post it here when the time comes

I've seen your builds and they are impressive. I've got a either a FW190 or BF109 40x series Guillows coming later this month as a b'day present so the radio gear from the P51 will be reused (personally I think my P51 is over weight and the gear is better suited to a bigger plane).

Pete

Video showing all control surfaces and motor. This shot is taken just prior to begining covering with tissue + dope.

Guillows #905 P-51D Mustang - All systems test (1 min 13 sec)

Pete.