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Apr 13, 2013, 02:09 AM
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Build Log

40" Scratchbuilt Laminated EPP P51


Here is a scratchbuilt P51 made of 9mm EPP foam with airfoil wing that I am currently working on. About 6 to 7 hours to build.
Conventional wisdom says it won't fly well as an elevon plane but I want to see what the flight characteristics will be. Then will add elevator then rudder if need be.
This is just like my laminated wings, very tough material, hard to bend. I did use some bamboo spits as spars but don't think they were necessary. Double laminated fuselage and tail pieces.
AUW is 550 grams.
1800kv motor, 1100 mAh lipo, 8*5 prop.
Based it on the dimensions on my Tower Hobbies P51D, just took parts and traced onto two sheets of EPP foam. Fuselage is 3 layers thick. WIng is two layers with a 9mm foam spar in between.

Update 4:16 It Works. Flies very sedately, can do rolls but no loops. Of course I crashed, first time into a tree, shook it out of the tree and threw it back into the air. Second crash was a spiral into the ground from a right turn, not sure what led to that. Broke a prop but no airframe damage, laminated epp is tough. Wish I had prop saver for this size shaft, may have to make one.

Will fly again a few times then try taking the horizontal tail off and see if I can get it to loop. Then will add tail back with elevator..

Video of flights here:
http://ipikz.com/EPP-P51-Elevons-Only_v8407

Update 4:17 Flew a few more flights. Flies like a motor glider, can only bring it down by spiraling. Flies similar to a directional thrust glider I learned to fly on. Have to control alititude by using thrust and elevons. Pitch control is very minimal as would be expected as the horizontal tail is dampening the elevon pitch. Motor thrust line is about 0 degrees so giving it the gas makes the plane climb, any downthrust will not allow plane to take off.
Had a few good landings. Now am going to remove horizontal stabilizer to see how it flies.
Update 4:19 Hacked off horizontal stabilizer and no control at all. Plane looks funny without it anyway. So will glue stabilizer with elevator on and hopefully have a real airplane.
Last edited by RightBrother; Apr 18, 2013 at 05:14 PM.
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Apr 13, 2013, 12:02 PM
all things Aeronca
addictedtoplanes's Avatar
Nice plane, but you might want to add the elevator now. elevons only work with flying wings.
Apr 13, 2013, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by addictedtoplanes
Nice plane, but you might want to add the elevator now. elevons only work with flying wings.
I'm one of those guys who just has to fall down (or maybe throw myself down) to find out that it hurts and that I don't want to do that again.

It just looks like a plane, in fact I just finished up the other elevon to find that I built the right wing a full quarter inch further back of the left wing. That's what I get for tracing. But it's only a bit of foam.

I will take video of maiden and show the comedy.
Last edited by RightBrother; Apr 13, 2013 at 06:03 PM.


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